anotherscott wrote:For reading some of the tablet displays that wash out in sunlight, I read where someone suggested the polarized glasses that they hand out at 3D movies. I never tried it personally. (Also, I think different 3D systems may use different kinds of glasses.)
Depending upon how the manufacturer of the laptop has oriented the display, wearing polarised shades can result in seeing a completely black screen or just seeing everything as if you're wearing shades, or somewhere in between. In no way does it improve the experience of viewing a laptop screen over wearing regular shades, or no shades at all.
For tablets: iPads (and iPhones since the iPhone 4) are among the very few that will actually work with polarised glasses regardless of orientation, though the color and brightness will shift and the image may have a slight shimmering effect. Wearing polarised glasses makes the image dimmer, in any case. It is not helpful in sunlight.
Frame of Reference: Three years of playing Mainstage gigs with a MacBook Pro and an iPad (2, then Air 2, then 10.5" Pro) while wearing polarised shades.