Grainy screen poll for 1520

I have an Inspiron 6000 too, but mine is WUXGA and definitely no graininess. What I understand is that Dell uses different suppliers for the parts. For the 6000, it was officially 16.7m colors panels but they probably stuck in what was available. I also heard that for the m1210, whether you chose webcam or not affected what panel you end up getting too (the one with webcam had a better screen).

So in the past where the specs stated 16.7m colors, if you get a grainy screen you were unlucky. Now, it is officially 262k colors - if you don't get a grainy screen, it is because you are tolerant

I think maybe Dell got encouraged by the recent Apple lawsuit which led to the revelation that Apple has apparently always been using 6bit panels all along... so perhaps with good dithering/calibration, 6bit panels are just going to be just fine. Eventually I think more laptop manufacturers will move to these cheaper screens since customers mostly don't fuss over the color depth - the price point is what attracts the customers.

 

haha LOL I just posted that I have a WUXGA (1920x1200) 15.4" Inspiron 6000! If you think WSXGA+ is too small, what do I have! Anyway, you can always increase the text size by adjusting the DPI. The higher res is great for graphics work, photos, multitasking with multiple docs and such. It is ultimately a personal preference. Anyway, this is off topic here...

 

yes, 1520 (1680x1050 high resolution + true life) screen is very grainy. It is not acceptable for reading or doing document work on any white or light color backgrounds. My brother returns his laptop today due to this. My family always use Dell laptops but this time I am very disappointed. My old inspiron 5100 (2002 model 1450x1050) and my dad's 6400 dell laptop (1680X1050) screens are bright and clear.
Question for 1420/1400 owners: Is your screen (1400X900) look fine or grainy? I already ordered 1400 couple days ago. Should i cancel and look for another brand.

 

doesn't the vostro come with 30-day money back guarantee with no restocking fees (US only)? if it does, you can wait for it to arrive and see if you like it...

 

That's your personal pref... not dells fault.

I have a 14'' 1050x1400 and i love it... so your prefs might not be someones elses.

The real issue with the thread is if it's a good screen or not.

 

I thought this thread was about the graininess issue? What I'm saying is that this is terrible. IF you're going to sell a 15.4" 1680 x 1050 screen it better be top quality or don't sell it all. You cannot have any compromises with a WSXGA+ on 15.4".

I am making a bit of my anger come out which might make it seem like personal preference but when you're operating at 1680 x 1050, the graininess really makes a big impact especially when you're trying to read text on a white screen - it needs to be crystal clear.

 

Dang. I have been reading this thread, and now I am beginning to understand why I am getting such a good laptop for so cheap...
I only hope that somehow I get lucky and get an 8 bit panel. I dont know how, but Im 15, so I have a right to hope.

 

Any news on the 1720's 1900x1200 panel?

 

Ah ok you didn't make that clear before... yeah i agree that if the screen is bad then it really doesn't matter what the native res is...

Does dell have only supplier of these WSXGA+ screens ?




=--=

 

The 1720's WUXGA screen is also listed as 262k colors. But the viewing angles are better than the rest. I consider this screen top of the line in the new models, so it better be good... Let us know when you get yours!

 

These multiple choice polls really don't give us anything, as the results show. I think a bunch of voters probably picked both yes and no, just because they could...

 

I got the "grainy screen" in my wsxga 1520. I came from an HP that had a clear screen, but honestly, I do not mind the screen at all, even after having two laptops without grainy ones in the past. For some people it will give them headaches, and for others it makes the screen easier to read at such a high resolution, and I think I am a member of the latter group. It's easier to read the screen with the "graininess." So I'm sticking with it.

 

we really need members with both 6 bit panel and 8 bit panel to post dome high resolution pictures so we can see how bad the dells really look.

 

The only problem is that they cant be screenshots, because it is a LCD issue, not computer issue, and pictures of a laptop screen dont really turn out too well.

 

I want some heads to roll at dell for OK'ing these crappy 262k screens .....

 

well, you haven't actually seen one yet have you? perhaps now that you have heard all the horror stories and lowered your expectations, when you finally see one you may find that it is not that bad afterall

 

I sure hope so.... )

 

Damn it!! I was about to buy to the bloody 1520 after being seeing so many reccomendations for it in the "which notebook shall I buy" forum. And now this. Guess its back to my first choice, the acer 5920.

Btw, Is the 1440x900 any grainy?

 

Actually, now that I think about it, all the new panels are like this, right? Well, my friends got the cheapest 15.4" laptop (not sure the model number, but it's got a X2 instead of C2D and only a gig of RAM) and I didn't think it looked bad at all.

But now that I think about, it may be the older model because he just has the generic silver lid, it doesn't look like the lid on the new models so it may have been a 1501. He got it very recently though.

 

I took pics of the computers side by side and the grainy/shimmery effect just doesn't show up. I think it's because of the glossy screens. The only thing that showed up was the color difference between the two panels, but I suppose that could be due to the fact that one has a ATI card and one has a Invidia. I still think the 1505 looks richer in color. I wonder if I could swap out the panels...

 

I've also wondered like many here whether I could "get used to" the graininess issue or "live with it." I'm coming from an Acer Travelmate built in 2002, so I might be fine. But you know, I'm not sure I want to take that risk considering how much the Dells are in Canada.

It's a shame that all these little issues (screen, sound output, cpu whine) have added up and really killed the purchase for me, but ah well.

 

pardes3-
can you do me a favor and look up the screen for the latitude 830? I tried, but couldn't find the color specs. thank you.
PHK

 

I already tried looking that one up but for some reason dell does not mention the color depth of that screen. It might be worth checking the D630 as they use the same screen.

-Samy

 

Unfortunately dell does not have the color depth info for the D^30 screen as well....

 

my 1520 is waiting for me at home ... being as this is my first laptop I dont think i will have any problem with the screen, atleast i hope not (plus mine is matte -- not sure if that fact will help/hurt the graininess)

 

Hi all,

I'm about to buy an inspiron 1520 with a WXGA+ (1440x900) screen and intend to do some image processing on it. So, is it too much to ask if someone with the WXGA+ resolution could test the patterns mentioned on this thread to have a clearer idea? What about the whites? Is it that crappy grey someone mentioned? Is the phenomenon degrading as resolutions go down (how's WXGA doing)?

Moreover, are there actually any good laptops within a reasonable price tag that have an 8 bit panel (and not a dithered 6 bit)?

Thanx anyway!

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=131044&page=8

Seems the Asus g1s also have the same problem. Supposedly, it's fixable by some kind of BIOS update or something (I'm just taking it from the thread).

I've decided to wait til my 1520 arrives to pass judgment; I'll be sure to let you guys know when that happens.

 

Alright....I definately have a 8 bit lcd on my 1520 despite the really grainy screen. It is a Seiko Epson SEC3350 as identified by everest ultimate edition which have heard are really bad lcd's.

 

here is the link to find out if you have 8 bit or 6 bit

http://www.visi.com/~leppik/images/bit_test24.png

if you dont' see any contouring of the color bands then you have 8 bit...if you see contours(blocks) then it is 6 bit.

 

storm, why are you sure that you have a 8bit lcd panel? is it because of the gradient image (in which case why do you claim graininess)? otherwise, is it because you have the technical specs for the mentioned "Seiko Epson SEC3350" - if so, could you share the url for the specs? Could what has been identified be the "lcd controller" instead of the "lcd panel"? I am a little confused by your assertion that you have a 8bit panel and yet observe graininess, and also since Dell's official specs indicated 6bit panels...

 

Followed the test using the link I provided. It is a smooth transition of colors for me, indicating an 8 bit panel. I do not believe this has anything to do with the grainy issue.

 

It doesn't surprise me at all that some people might have an 8-bit panel. Dell usually rotates panels from different manufacturers. I assume that the specs they provide are just the lowest common denominator. So if they use a mix of 6-bit and some 8-bit panels, they just say 6-bit and that way no one sues them.

I still doubt that the graininess people are complaining about is related to the number of colors, except that both issues are evidence of cheapness.

 

Mine has it quite badly, looks like there is dirt smeared over the panel with whites. Is this a fault? Can I ring dell and ask for it to be fixed?

 

Thats exactly how mine was at 1680 x 1050. As if there is an oily film on it and it wont go away.

My brother recently bought a 1505 and although it was at 1280 x 800 the screen is so beautiful. I returned my 1520 today and I'm opting for the Vostro 1500 with the Ultrasharp display at 1400 x 1050 (it's available if you call).

I really loved the inspiron, to the point that I almost was willing to put up with the graininess but with this kind of money, it won't make me happy in the long term.

 

I really don't think it's going to be any different on the Vostro -- unless you just happen to luck out. But I don't think it's any different from getting another Inspiron.

 

jb, did you incur any restocking fees when you return?

maybe... just maybe... if you keep returning the bad screens, Dell will get the idea (and stop using the bad panels)...

 

My brother already reported the problem to them. They tried to troubleshoot this and that but it didn't solve the graininess. So he returned his laptop. This is his first time buying a Dell. I am also disappointed by this. I currently own two dell laptops (since 2002) they are still running good. I think Dell make good laptop but this time I really dont know why the screen is so bad compared to my other two. BTW I was the one telling him to buy a Dell!

 

Wait that's a 14' 4:3 aspect ?

 

They wanted to charge me 15% if it was a straight return. I was going to pull out the mis-advertised 22.4 bandwidth issue and poor quality of screen if it came down to it but because I ordered a new system from them they "waived" the re-stocking fee.

To be honest Dell handled the whole issue extremely well, I was impressed.

 

I am running my IBM T60 with an external IBM 20" screen. I looked at this picture on both screens and the gradient is perfect. Does it look completely chopped up on a "bad" screen? I have ordered a Vostro 1400 with the 1440x900 res.

 

I really don't believe in that test. It is very hard to tell the difference. I ordered Vostro 1400 too. If the screen turns out to be bad I will definitely return it. What are other good 14.1'' laptops beside Dell and HP? Any recommendations?

 

I don't think that's a very good picture to use. There's no difference in this pic when I look at it.

I think some of the earlier pictures are better. I looked at the LCD at work, and I didn't know what I was looking for, but I checked when I got back on my Inspiron 9100 at home and there were definite gradients. As in you could see quite clearly multiple lines where there were no lines before.

I don't see much of an issue with it for normal use, but if you were a graphic designer or do a lot of photoshop it would probably be a bad idea. I don't have any dirt smears though, like Matt and a couple of others mentioned, it's not just the fact that it's a 6-bit panel, it's that its a crappy 6 (or in some cases 8) bit panel.

 

My 1440x900 LCD on 1520 is fairly grainy as well. Its not a horrible LCD (it has decent viewing angles), but it could be better. About 8bit vs 6bit thing, another reason that many LCD panels use 6bit color is that 6bit panels can have much better response times than 8bit panel. I believe my old Vaio FS had 8 bit panel, and while it was beautiful, its response time was rather slow. On 1520, its very fast. With good dithering, dificiency of 6bit panels can be covered up, but still, its no truecolor. Actually, I give prop to Dell for coming out clear about this, though - instead of these sneaky "16million colors" many companies do.

 

I dont know when they stick an ULTRASHARP label on a panel with an upcharge, i assume i'm getting the best panel possible...

 

For what it's worth, IMO the 'graininess' being reported isn't rooted in the display's resolution or color pallete, but rather the coating applied to it. Many people think only the anti-glare LCD's have the extra coating- a known factor causing image distortion, contrast and brightness issues (although not remarkably bad by any means). The glossy True Life screens are coated too, however, and it may be the eveness (or sloppiness) in how that coating was applied by some of Dell's manufacturers that's causing the perceived graininess being reported.

 

it is definately teh coating, mine was applied pretty sloppy as I can see small swirly lines that I can not rub out

 

I don't know what that means lol

 

I hate to say it, but the 1520 WXGA (glossy) display suffers from the following:

1. My Dell 2007WFP's graininess.
2. My NEC 20WMGX2's glossiness.
3. My cellphone's lousy viewing angles.

Is it usable? Pretty much. Is it a pleasure? Not really. Could I live with it? Probably. Will I live with it? I dunno. I've also got the "noisy headphone problem", which reminds me of Soundblaster problems circa 1991.

If this were a desktop, it would go back with no further consideration, but then again, I assemble desktop systems myself so wouldn't have bought a manufactured desktop anyway. The thing is, when I look in other forums, I read about CPU whine, hot operation, etc, which I haven't experienced with my Dell. As someone new to notebooks, I'm beginning to think they all suck in various ways, much like the situation with desktops years ago. I did go to CompUSA yesterday to check out their display models, and out of HP, Toshiba, and Sony, I found only one that had a significantly better display, and that was a Sony with the XBRITE HiColor display, an FZ180E model. Relatively flimsy keyboard, though, and a downgrade WRT video card and HD speed.

 

Does anyone has wuxga (1900x1200) display in his 1720 and also has graininess issue?

 

lol its true - its not very pleasurable, in fact its down right irritating! I tried to live with it before sending it back. And the film on the screen is like when your cell phone display gets dirty and you have to wipe it clean with your finger, except on the 1520 you can wipe all you want, but nothing happens.