There are improved DSTN screens which is called HPA (High Performance Addressing) or "Fast Scan". Improved DSTN screen is divided into halves, and each half is scanned at the same time. The process is doubling the number of lines refreshed per second, which gives a sharper image, but they still lack performance compared to the active matrix. The current standard, TFT (Active Matrix) laptop screens update faster and have wider angle of view.

Even though both types uses similar transistors as a backlit LCD shutters, they work and arranged differently. DSTN laptop screens have one transistor per each row.The sign of irreparable damage of DSTN displays could be a solid black line (or many lines) going in vertical or horizontal directions. That is caused by failed transistor inside the matrix. There is nothing you can do to fix this thing. Try to avoid it. Active matrix screens are comprised of  many and many thousands and even of  several million of individual transistors, each and every pixel is controlled by one to four transistors, therefore damaging one of them would not bring such devastating consequences. You would be looking at screen with randomly scattered sparkles, which not necessary be black. If you are not intended to be in Christmas mood all year round - keep off such otherwise entertaining thing.

DSTN screens are not designed to be used for serious video, gaming, and other applications that involve fast moving objects on the screen. Typical use would include word processing, simple 2D gaming, Internet surfing, etc. TFT laptop screens can tolerate all the above and much more, but you should be ready to pay higher price. Nowadays prices constantly have been sliding down, therefore you have a good opportunity having most advanced TFT for the same price that you would pay for DSTN several years ago. The standard LCD screens today are Active Matrix (TFT).  Manufacturers don't make DSTN laptop screens anymore, so you don't have to worry about them if you're buying a new model.

You may wonder if you could upgrade your laptop screen. Here is the answer. Computer laptops have internal electronics specifically designed for certain type of screens  - LCD displays, so upgrading it is not possible, nor it is practical. Do your homework before you go shopping. You have to compare DSTN parameters versus TFT and decide for yourself if you can use the less expensive one. If your tasks doesn't involve fast and big videos, 3D games, extensive on-screen movements, probably you would be satisfied with DSTN. Buying a 3 or 4 years old laptop you might be pretty well exposed to this kind of display

Remember that you can't really repair LCD screens, and replacing it would not be a cost effective, as manufacturer's price for replacement could be as much as 50%, and even more of the overall laptop price. So look very closely, especially if you are buying an old laptop!

Following table will give you a general idea of what to expect from different types of screens, and what technology is used to achieve these results: