Latitude E6400 Owner's Lounge

This is definitely review material. I'm getting good pictures before returning the first E6400 in a few days.

I'm demanding that Dell send a new laptop and/or a new screen if hardware calibration does not improve the picture (pun intended). It is entirely possible that the SEC just needs to be calibrated, but I'm going to test that.

 

It's possible they get the keyboards from two sources.

You need to look at the CPU voltages (particularly the minimum voltage) and core idle temperatures (which are an indication of idle power leakage). Also maybe the new, dimmer, keyboard is also using less power. Are the HDDs the same in both? My previous experience is that power drain between Vista and XP is close when running on the same computer.

Some side-by-side comparisons would be very helpful.

I've seen this flicker on my LG screen at brightness 0 and 1. It doesn't always happen. Check that Dell ControlPoint hasn't put the driver down to 16 bit 40Hz.

Slightly OT, but yesterday I re-tried the software disc that my burner couldn't read a month ago and it read it no problem. Maybe it has loosened up. I need to retry my collection of different burning media.

Maybe they have a wrong part number in the configuration system.

John

 

Just spoke to Dell, they said there is no way to get the LG screen to replace my horrible Samsung. I guess I'll return it and try one more time hopefully I'll get lucky. Did anyone get the "regular" screen , how is it ??

 

thanks for your replies.
i attached some photos of the sensor and the bezel. If you confirm me that this is not normal i have to contact Dell once more.

one picture memory specifications

THANKS

 

That curve in the bezel is not right.

Here's a couple of photos of my E6400's ALS for comparison.

Have you tried gently squeezing the bezel around the ALS? The sensor might slot onto the hole properly.

See the attached for my memory as supplied by Dell.

John

 

thanks for your photos - i tried squeezing but that won't work because it looks like there is a part behind the sensor - maybe a part of the display?
so should i call dell? thanks

 

Yes. Otherwise they won't know there is a problem. If necessary you can refer to the photos you have placed here, but saying that the display bezel bulges around the ALS should be enough.

John

 

just wrote Dell an Email and explained them my problem(s).
i'll let you know how it worked out. but i'm really a little bit disappointed with the machine now. Second Problem in 2 weeks.

 

Have you tried adjusting it in DCP? Honestly, the highest setting for the keyboard annoys me a little. I like it very dim, just so the keys are visible in the dark.

Good to know. I ordered mine with XP and the good old slippers feel good. It's top notch to date with XP SP3.

Mmmm, I find the colors on mine to be quite good. All shades of blue in XP are rendered vividly enough to my tastes. Pics are not bad either. So I guess i have the LG screen. But like John, mine flickers a lot at level 0 brightness. usually, turning off the ALS and jumping to Lev 1 do the trick

Same exact thing has happend to me. I am waiting for my replacement, but something tells me they're missing up the Lat D part with the Lat E. I have to try this larger part on my GF's D.

But all in all, I don't have any gripes on this laptop. I find it really good. Very well assembled.

 

While I do prefer a dim keyboard, I would also prefer a keyboard that outputs more light if ever needed. I did confirm that the keyboard brightnesses were set to max under DCP.

The battery life is highly variable with respect to the current workload. I've seen my E6400 bounce around from 12 hours estimated at idle to like 6-8 hours when working. When your power consumption is in the sub 15W range any little change is a drastic one.

So I am not the only one. And yes, I made sure DCP didn't set the screen to 40Hz.

Yeah, well now I'm fed up with it. Reducing the unnecessary weight is worth more than the $15 I paid for that module.

Yes, I would have to agree that the positives FAR outweigh the negatives. But for this laptop to be worth it I think the positives need to be worth it to you.

Also, an update to my comment on the paint job of my E6400's. They do feel different, almost as if the new one had more time for the paint to dry before it was sent off to me. That is just a feeling, it isn't actually wet/dry paint I'm talking about.