For those that own(ed) both the R1 & R2 is there a difference in picture quality in the lcd display?

I ask because I find the display on the R2 very lackluster and reviews are mentioning it in a way that wasn't mentioned on the R1.

If the R1 has a better display I may return this R2 and exchange it for an R1 or return it all together and wait for a revision with a better display.

I assume they're the same, but I thought I'd double check.

Any input is appreciated.

Cheers

 

I have both and am convinced the LCDs are identical.

 

I don't recall reading anywhere that they changed the panels. Just the AUO panel in both I think.

 

They didn't change the panels. There were two different panels reported for the R1, but so far I've only seen the AUO105C reported by users here for the R2.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m11x/464852-m11x-screenid.html

 

I haven't noticed anything different. I'm convinced they are exactly the same.

 

I believe they are.

However, the display is so disappointing, I'm considering returning it.

I already have a 17" gaming netbook that's powerful enough to hook up to a secondary display. I really wanted this for gaming on the go on it's own screen, and the screen is just horrible.

I'm really considering exchanging it for an R1 as they're still available here in the United States.
For the same price as an IPad, the screen is tolerable. But then there's a possibility that future game support might be compromised if they don't continue driver support as everyone suspects.

Or maybe I'll return it and just wait for a revision that has a better display. If that'll even happen.

If anyone has any thoughts?

 

I like the screen on my R1, and I usually game on a 23" Samsung LED monitor as well as my M17 has a 1920X1200 display. But I guess it really just winds down to personal preference

 

I hear a lot of bad things about the display, but what is it that is actually bad about it? Is it the glossy screen or something else?

 

It's rated to have a measly 500:1 contrast ratio when Anandtech has actually measured it to be actually half that, so that there is really no decent blacks to contrast other colors, but rather almost a dark grey. Also giving it in my opinion not really any good viewing angle in the dark.

It's not even half of what it's contrast ratio is rated to be and that ratio is the standard minimum.

I paid $1500 after taxes, for that much the display shouldn't be so cheap and low quality.

This is to be clear, my only real issue with the unit.

 

I fully expected to hate the screen based on the feedback here but it is just not that big of a deal to me. The games look fine and I am inside most of the time. I guess if you did alot of photoshop or used it outside much then it might be an issue but that's not my case.

 

My entire experience with the unit has been indoors in optimal lighting conditions.

The screen cannot produce any blacks. Not even "LCD" blacks which LCD's generally have a problem with. No true blacks means no true contrast which means not good picture quality. If you're going to run it to a secondary monitor most of the time, then fine.

But if that's the case then I'd recommend the Asus G73JH. It's big, but it's almost the same price as what I paid for the Alienware, maybe $200 more. But you get triple the features and triple the performance. I really love mine, and the screen it comes with is gorgeous.

If I had an R1 that I only paid $1000 for, then it might be tolerable. But when you're getting within range of high end gaming laptops, the screen should be at least decent.

This screen is serviceable at best.

 

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. Blacks look great on my MX11 LCD and I prefer glossy over matte. Games look great too. I did use calibration software and that helped quite a bit.

 

THX553 is 100% correct. Black levels and contrast are very weak on this panel. You can also throw in it's narrow color gamut too. Reviews and my own calibration results bear this out. It's not something that's going to vary much, if at all, from unit to unit either.

 

I agree the contrast is not the best. I am just saying that it's just not that big of a deal to me. It definitely could be better but I only paid 800.00 for an I7, 4 GB and a 250 HD with bluetooth. So I cannot complaint too much.

 

Agreed. It's adequate for gaming provided you control, or better yet turn off room lighting. THX553 did say it was serviceable.