XPS M1530 config/concern/questions

I'm considering the xps m1530, yet am concerned that I will soon become blind if i attain the (1920x1200) resolution on a 15.4'' screen. Does anyone else have this resolution on the aforementioned screen, is it a problem in games and movies drastically decreasing detail and font web browsing size?

 

The best suggestion I can give you is to go look at some if you can. It's unlikely you'll see this resolution in a store, except maybe a 17". Your best shot is probably if you know someone with one.

If you're getting Vista it actually does do a pretty good job making things bigger using DPI. In XP it's a bit more spotty. Some fonts are hard coded and won't increase using DPI.

The higher the resolution the clearer things will be. That's if you can take the small fonts. When gaming a higher resolution screen has to pump more pixels which is harder on the card.

One option might be the Vostro 1510 which offers the WUXGA screen as well, but offers a 30 day return policy should you go blind. It's probably not a head turner like the 1530.

 

I have the WUXGA on my Latitude D830. In Vista, its not really a problem using it.

If you are going to use your laptop for extended periods of time at a desk, then I would highly suggest that you buy an external LCD. Laptops, WUXGA screens or not, are ergonomic nightmares, and you will suffer stress injuries if you try to use a laptop continuously.

I really like the fact that my LCD is the same resolution as my laptop screen, both WUXGA. So when I move apps between both screens when they're hooked up, there's no resizing or anything like that. Both screens just blend nicely together, which is quite unlike the situation when laptops didn't come with high resolution screens, but CRT's were.

 

Pauw do you have experience with any monitors? If so what size and resolution. I think Zaz had very good advice, go see for yourself. And as pitz said with out saying, might be pushing it. I had SXGA+ on a 15" that is the same as WSXGA+ on a 17" and it looked great. But upping the resolution and reducing screen size? Well that might be a bit much for many. I only mention the standard resolutions as a 15.4 WUXGA is the same as a 14 UXGA and I am not sure that was popular or even offered.

 

For all you carrot lovers out there, Dell did indeed offer a 14" UXGA screen on the Inspiron 4150 back in the PIII days. I would think a 14" UXGA screen would be slightly more readable since a 14" standard screen is slightly taller than a 15.4" wide screen. Of course I couldn't probably read either.

 

I'm considering the xps m1530, yet have heard it gives a low output of sound. Is it sufficient? are others superior? Your thoughts please.

 

How is the sound?

 

Stop cross posting...

NBR Staff note: Thread merged...

 

I've been considering one, but have heard that it has little volume output (I listen to alot of music), and I can't decide on the screen resolution?

 

Get a speaker

 

Laptop speakers aren't great all around. Your resolution depends on what you feel comfortable with or what you are going to use it for.

 

I thought about the High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD 1680x1050,1440x900 LED, and 1920x1200, I think think the former may make font too small?

 

The last would be for true HD viewing. Yes it would be small but it gives you more screen real estate. There have been some issues with the 1680x1050 screen so you may want to avoid it.

 

How old are you? Do you wear reading glasses? 1920x1200 is going to be small, I can't read my 1680x1050 without my reading glasses...

 

Ah this greatly helps, I've finally ruled out the 1900x1200, but wouldn't 1680x1050 look better for gaming/movies? is the LED screen overrated?

 

If you're lucky and you get the LG 1680x1050 it is a very nice screen. I took mine to a local store a little while ago to compare the LG with some LED screens and even though the LED are somewhat brighter than the LG IMHO the LG was a better choice.

As for movies, on a 15.4" screen you won't notice much of a difference. Gaming, you will most likely run your games at a lower resolution anyway.

 

Is the 1680x1050 LCD the same as LG 1680x1050? as is offered on the dell website?, srry I'm new to all of this

 

It's a roll of the dice really. You may get an LG, you may get a Samsung.

 

Dell uses more than one supplier for screen even for the same resolution

Check the Top 10 Questions about the M1530. The link is in my sig.

 

I see, thus the LED 1440x900 would be a safer bet, but in "downgrading the resolution" from the 1680x1050 resolution's 1,764,000 pixels to the 1440x900 resolution's 1,296,000 pixels (DIFFERENCE of 468,000 pixels!) wouldn't games and movies still have far less detail even on a 15.4'' screen, if i get a LED rather than a Samsung 1680x1050?

 

I'll be going to college and wondered if the xps m1530 would be best at gaming/movies/multimedia at High Resolution glossy widescreen 15.4 inch LCD 1680x1050 OR 1400x900 LED

 

Personally, I'd choose the 1400x900 LED. Two reasons:
I have a 15.4" laptop with a 1680x1050 display. Everything is too small. My girlfriend's 1440x900 display is perfect.


I have an LED display on my XPS M1330, and the picture is BEAUTIFUL. I seriously sit down at other LCDs after looking at that LED display and am just disappointed.

 

For all my collegues who already have an M1530, those who had high res displays without LED, have regretted not getting the LED once they laid eyes on another who had an LED.

movies/multimedia are awesome on the 1680x1050 for the amount of space you get so you can watch movies and do word processing or something at the same time, but 1400 with LED makes the screen brighter, more contrasty, and show much better color reproduction. the 1400x900LED wins hands down.

It's up to you, but I had actually placed an order for the WSXGA+ a few weeks ago and later cancelled for the LED display once I saw the differences. Take a look at the difference yourself:

 

I've almost made my mind up but I Cannot get over the fact that i'd lose 468,000 pixels of detail in movies/games downgrading to the 1400x900

 

lol. What I did, or actually, am doing is using my tablet 12.1 inch with LED display at 1280 res just so that I will feel happy when I see a higher res when I get my M1530. Though I'm growing accustomed to the 1280 res pretty well, maybe because it has LED.

I typically use my E1505 which is 1680x1050 which I am used to, and I know what its like. However, you will LOVE the LED screen over the higher resolution as many who have the WSXGA have said that they wish it could've been brighter. Not to mention, the LED makes the M1530 100 grams lighter and gives you 30% more battery life.

Not to mention, you won't be playing any games at 1680 at good gfx settings anyways.

 

You should go for the lower resolution as in the 1440x900. I have that and it is perfectly good. You probably wouldn't be able to play many games with a 1680x1050 on good settings because, as you said, there are a lot more pixels. Yes, the games would look better, thats why people like getting big screens big resolutions but you need to have a powerful graphics card as well. The 8600M GT is good but its not good enough to play modern games on 1680x1050 with decent settings.

 

Care to actually show any benchmark supporting this extraordinary claim? 30% sounds more like CRT versus LCD.

 

I got that info from multiple Dell CSRs who looked it up. It's no joke.

 

I don't know how new HL2 is compared to the games you want to play, but I got (lucky and got) the 1680 x 1050 WSXGA+ True Life LG LCD, and on that resolution with settings all the way up, it plays AMAZING, even online. I have the T7500 and 4 GIG (3.5 GIG) RAM if you needed some more info. 1680 x 1050 provides a LOT of nice real estate too... and the only reason i need glasses to read the screen is because of my astigmatism haha.

 

Keep in mind though, thats only for HL2, forget it about it if you wanna play Assasins Creed or Crisis with max settings. HL2 has been out for quite a while.

Look towards the future, like Red Alert 3 or Starcraft 2.

 

I have the 1440x900 (LG), and it is an awesome screen for me! Work's great on everything I am doing on my lappy

Also, my speakers are what I find average. Meaning, I haven't had to hook-up speakers to my lappy...and I listen to a lot of music

Hope that helps

 

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/04/11/dell.xps.m1530.led.screen/

"previous LED systems have typically gained between 20-30 minutes of extra run time"

Rhodan you are causing me to still consider the 1680x1050 as you said you tested out LG display and it was better, but how much better?

 

Just throw things on a balance.

+1440 LED
1. Longer battery life by 30%.
2. Lighter unit by 100 grams
3. Crisp, contrasty display with better color reproduction making all multimedia and games look better
4. It is only ONE step down from 1680.

+1680
1.More viewing room, though you can't play new games with high settings on 1680 anyways
-1 The screen color and contrast won't look as great as opposed to an LED display.

Benefits of the 1440 LED outweigh the the benefits of the 1680. There.

 

Yeah, I was just giving him a comparison, mediocre maybe, but HL2 is still a beautiful game. Also if he wants to watch movies, he has that many more pixels, but can go to a lower resolution for gaming if needed. And it provides a lot of real estate for other things.
Personal opinion

 

ROFL...

Those are the same CSRs who have told countless times that Dell makes it own LCD panels, that they don't ship LG panels anymore, that they don't ship Samsung anymore and whatever else they have said.

There's no way you're getting a 30% battery life increase from a LED screen. I believe it's more in the 5% range.

 

20-30 mins sounds about right. You need a change of beliefs their Rhodan over to fact. then again you do have a WSXGA+ yourself, so you need reasons to support your purchase. So obviously theres a bias. Then again after all my research I ended up going with the LED, so I have a bias too, but based on what I researched to come up with my conclusion... its a no brainer for me.

Anyhow,
the LED display will be around 20-25% brighter and better than LG display.

WSXGA+ with TrueLife (CCFL, 200 nits)
WXGA+ LED Display (LED, 300 nits)

The LG display is better than the samsung WSXGA+ for sure, but there is still room for brighter. samsung displays are or were more prone to lower brightness and graininess opposed to the LG. Even still, the LED will still look better.

In the end, its all up to you to decide.

 

Thanks for all the input, I guess the 1440x900 is better as I may not get the LG screen, and the extra brightness seems preferable over a few extra minuscule details on a 15.4'' screen

 

From another thread I just posted in... yes I know HL2 is old... but it's still beautiful... and you can have all that real estate for movies and stuff... and then just use a lower resolution for games if you really need to. "I don't know how new HL2 is compared to the games you want to play, but I got (lucky and got) the 1680 x 1050 WSXGA+ True Life LG LCD, and on that resolution with settings all the way up, it plays AMAZING, even online. I have the T7500 and 4 GIG (3.5 GIG) RAM if you needed some more info. 1680 x 1050 provides a LOT of nice real estate too... and the only reason i need glasses to read the screen is because of my astigmatism haha."
The 1680 x1050 LG is a gorgeous screen, and PLENTY bright for me. Many say that they can't even use the LED on it's highest setting cuz it blinds them...

 

Just keep in mind, despite LED displays beingout, the Trulife displays have not gone down also. Though if you actually have seen the difference between an 1440 LED display and a WSXGA display like I have... the decision really is a no brainer.

Of course despite saying that, I still think the ideal would be a WSXGA LED lit, which would have made by decision simple and clean... it hasn't happened and it probably never will until Montevina comes out. Then you have to factor in the more expensive pricing, possibly having to sacrifice some processor power, and other sacrifices here and there just to get what you want as opposed to being able to max out your options now at a awesome price.

 

But Maus that "Lucky" chance seems a rather lofty hope, and I am surmising that the 1400x900 LED= 1680x1050 LG in terms of those who enjoy them, I think i'll just be safe and opt for the LED

 

@ OP

You will likely get the WSXGA+ Samsung "grainy" screen. If you are a pixel nazi like me this will not do. However, I LOVE 1680x1050 on my M1530 it is the perfect resolution IMO.

But having said that... if I was to order today... I would be choosing between the WUXGA or WXGA+ LED... why... because of the grainy issue. Either of those screens are more likely to meet my standards.

Yes please do...

LOL - oh well than it MUST be true

 

That's totally fine, whatever makes you happy
I understand the whole "chances" thing though. When it comes to getting a good screen on an m1530, I'm 1 for 1, and that's lucky.

 

I am sure you won't regret your decision. Just to further support, in a thread that was made late April, which is another factor that helped me make my decision.

In terms of getting an LG display:
Approx 33 people got a LG WSXGA display as opposed to 66 that got a Samsung.

For those of you who still feel disbelief about the LED providing 30% more battery life, as the OP as proven himself as well as others who have mentioned it before in the forums, you get 20-30 mins more. Yeah, somehow the CSRs were right this time. lol.

 

20-30 minutes on what battery? if the battery normally last 6 hours then 20-30 minutes is like less than 10%.

Yes the LED is brighter but the WSXGA+ LG has more real estate. The specs Forte pulled are from the manual. Those are minimal specs. which is probably closer to what the Samsung is.

I don't want you to get a WSXGA+ because I have one, i'm not a fanboy. I want you to decide on what is best for you. To be honest you may not get a LG the first time you try, it took me 1 screen replacement, 1 laptop replacement and 1 new order before i got the LG. So securing one was quite the ordeal but it was worth it. As for some of the comment from Forte about everyone who has a WSXGA+ now wants a 1440x900 LED I think it's a litle over board.

 

I'd say that's a safe choice. Good luck.

 

I'm not saying everyone who has a WSXGA+ now wants a 1440x90 LED, though it has shown through these forums that no one has posted anything about shipping back their LED for a higher resolution non-led while there are people who ordered high resolutions who decided to cancel or ship back their order to get an LED and stuck with it. In addition, a polling of a thread I started in regards to LED 1440 vs 1680 vs WUXGA 1920, over 80% of the voters went for the LED. Point I'm trying to convey is LED has a higher retention rate.

On the other hand, if you got the M1530 with WSXGA+ and they later came out with a montevina refresh with 1680x1050 with LED, there might be some discomfort in knowing theres a WSXGA+ with LED out there as opposed to having a 1440 already with LED so that when the refreshes come out with 1440 with LED as an option, its not that big of a deal since you have the comfort of knowing you already have the next gen of display tech.

 

I LOVE my LG WSXGA+ but getting it was an exercise in pain. So if I was ordering another M1530 today... I'd save myself the hassle, that's all I'm saying. So in a way Forte has a good point.

 

You're taking a quote from a web site that has not even tested the battery life of a LED M1530 as proof of your claim. Can you actually come up with something objective on your own like finding an actual benchmark to prove your point on the battery life?

 

Please again provide actual data regarding your claim.

 

You see I don't mind the extra battery life too much, but Rhodan would you agree with me that the LED screen is worth getting today after reading about the countless hassles of others with their 1680x1050, or just get the 1900x1200?