Inspiron 1520 Pictures and Comments

Ordered: 8/06/07
Shipped: 8/24/07
Delivered: 8/27/07

Inspiron 1520 Jet Black
WSXGA+ 1680x1050 Glossy
Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0ghz
2GB ram
8600M GT 256MB
160GB 7200RPM
Bluetooth
Webcam

Paid: $1337



















Grainy? Check.
CPU Whine? Check.
Headphone Jack Noise? Check
Satisfied? Not quite.

I do a lot of photo viewing and photo editing and the grain simply doesn't work for me, when pictures are viewed fullscreen, the grain seems like photo grain/noise (digital photo term ) and that is simply unacceptable. My brother's Vostro 1500 (pictured) screen is grainless (also WSXGA+) and it's miles ahead of this one. An interesting fact, the Vostro's screen seems glossier.

Question: If I need my screen replaced, will I have to send it in or will a rep come and do it? I have the most basic warranty you can get. Success rate of new screens? If that doesn't workout, I will return this soon, but I can't at the moment due to college starting Sept. 1st.

If you had to choose between the Vostro or the Inspiron, go Vostro. Dell's included software is also a pain in the ass to remove.

Feel free to comment, answer my questions, or ask some of your own.

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UPDATE: The G key is squeaky, the memory card reader does not support XD, and a replacement has been requested!
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UPDATE 2: Memory card reader does read XD, my bad, it was hidden Left click key is also sort of loose/makes noise. Replacement finally shows up on my dell account, after a week or so now.
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UPDATE 3: Got my replacement, less grainy, headphone jack ALOT worse, hard-drive not only whines but chirps. G key is fine, but media keys aren't as comfortable to press. Core 2 Duo and Vista sticker switched around! New pics:

New less grainy on left:


Fingerprint magnet:


Two Inspirons, yep, but two DEFECTIVE Inspirons:

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UPDATE 4: Replacement #2 requested.
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UPDATE 5: Replacement #2 received. Results:

- NON-GRAINY!
- Keyboard's keys feels much more loose and the keys aren't "smooth" like my replacement #1.
- CPU still whiny.
- DVD drive RAWRS! Seriously, it sounds like a helicopter spinning, when a disc spins, the whole thing vibrates.
- Headphone jack still bad.
- Media Keys feel better.

Overall replacement #2 was better simply because the screen is SO MUCH BETTER! Pics provided below. The keyboard is for some reason less comfortable though. Also, during like an hour into using it, my WMI stopped working and I couldn't see my RAM/Processor info so I reformated the system. Pain it the ass, but in the end, everything was fine...at least for now. I'll use this for a week and see if I still want to return or not.

REPLACEMENT #1 VS REPLACEMENT #2:

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First grainy: SEC3350
Second grainy: SEC3350
Bros non grainy vostro: LPLF300
Third non grainy: LPLF300

 

I see someone knows how to take non-blurry photos.

Since you do a lot of photo viewing/editing, I'd imagine the 'sparkles' may become quite a nuisance. If you have the basic return-to-depot service, you may have to send it in, if you have the NBD in-home service, a technician will come and replace the display.

 

Now I'm just drooling...

I want mine... NOW!

 

its a huge toss up with the screens now.. 2 people could both get the same lg or sec or auo etc... one will be flawless one will suck bad, there is no way of knowing.. mine better not look like that or they will be hearing me scream AGAIN.. no offense of course but man that is crazy grainy.... what screen is it do you know how to tell??

imo i would request a replacement.. not a "fix" this way you can use that one till the new one is ready and they will then ship to you where you need the new one to go..

the "gloss" is part of the screen that means he prob has a different bran or make of screen the gloss is not the same on every lcd..

sorry to say when you say choose vostro i had a total of 3 bad screens i finally cancelled and was given a good enough comp by escalations i decided to give it one more try after this im def done so i hope once again mine does not look like that

 

Hey that looks exactly like my lame AUO display! It's REALLY bad at the bottom half and bad light leakage at the bottom

 

You have 21 days from the date of invoice, which is usually the day the system shipped, to ask for and receive a refund/return the syste. Even a day after that, and you may not be successful or may inquire fees. So if you are going to have it fixed, do it right away and tell them if it is not fixed to your satisfaction, you reserve your right to return the system.

k

 

what's the other laptop in the picture!!

 

he said it was a vostro 1500 if im correct

 

can you tell me on the outside of the lids are they identical color and texture wise ?? the black i mean?? thanks

 

I'm pretty sure they are identical on the outside, probably the inside even.

I can't exactly get it fixed right now as college is starting...ugh, what a dilemma.

 

do you have the in home service if so they will send someone out and they can replace the lcd while you watch them.. even if you dont---explain the situation to dell .. they were willing to send someone to replace mine and i dont have the in home service..

 

How'd that work out for you? Grain gone?

I'm actually more worried about the repair man scratching up my system...I have a serious case of OCD.

 

i actually sent both back and cancelled to order a inspiron 1520 with the wsxga+ my former units were all vostro 1500's one with a cpt display and then we had 2 auo displays.. none were any good.. the cpt was by far better than the auo but had tremendous light leakage around it, from what i read they are pretty careful and if they scratch something or mess something up show them before they leave than call dell and they will replace that part.. i know people who have had to do this one had them slip and scratch the lid.. dell sent him a whole new lid then the tech came out and replaced the lid for him and everything was perfect.. he ended up with a lg display and tells me he loves it..

and i can guarantee you there is NO ONE on this planet more ocd with stuff like this than me.. my electronics and the paint on my cars are my weak spots. i will have my entire hood re-sprayed for one small nick and trust me i mean small.. and i actually will only use one shop due to the fact they always come the closest to the factory orange peel in the clear coat.. i hate it when a shop wet sands one panel they just sprayed so its like glass to get out all the dust and dirt or whatever then the rest of the car is all peeled.. i just cant stand it.. i nicked my tailgate and its getting re-done next week..

i am even worse with my laptops/electronics.. so trust me ... its a sickness lol and i know it i would wear silk gloves while handling my laptop all the time if i could..


one good thing about me being like this is i am the same way with my customers cars.. thats the reason i have all the expensive cars coming to me for work.. i get them all from lambo and ferrari to porsche and merc.. i own a car audio shop and we take the same care of those cars as i do of mine.. most of the time they leave cleaner than they came in lol

 

I'll take your word for it, I sent them an email:

"I'm sure this you have heard this problem in the past. My Inspiron 1520 that just arrived today has a incredible grainy screen, to the point where a photo editor like me would have a real problem doing my job.

I need my screen replaced but sending it in isn't an option for me as college is starting soon (September) and I will not get it back in time, this is also because my order took so long to ship.

What can be done?"

Lets see what turns up.

 

if they contact you.. tell them exactly what you want they are pretty easy to work with.. if you dont hear back tomm CALL THEM.. its so much easier to deal with a live person imo over the phone.. seriously

 

omg it actually looks good lol and you have both a vostro and a inspiron ^^ lucky

 

Rather interesting thing I found...my G key is squeaky...

Hell, I can probably play a song with the G key alone.

 

You don't have to be there yourself when they fix the laptop do you? Could my mom supervise? Like...the tech don' care does he? I just put in a request to replace my grainy SEC. I hope it fixes the issue, urgh. They'll be here tomorrow.

 

you should send that in right away, you need a replacement simple as !!, it's just bad luck if you recieve a bad screen , i hope mine doesn't look like that , or they'll here me AGAIN

oh BTW nice pics

 

Replacement has been requested

 

I feel lucky owning a non grainy screen.

However, the high pitch sound card interference noise is really irritating. Thank god for rmclock!

 

I just felt the need to add that the CPU high pitch whine is REALLY ANNOYING, and when you sleep overnight with your lappy running...>_<

 

I have no cpu high pitch except I got AUO LCD...sent it in tuesday and I might get it back today!

 

if you receive the laptop and decide to return it within the first couple of weeks, is there any charge (restocking fee, etc)??

 

Nope, there is a 21 day no questions asked full refund.

 

So my replacement is in effect already but it doesn't show up on my dell account, is that normal?

 

You might as well get it replaced, but if you are doing a lot of photo editing, a laptop LCD really isn't the ideal situation, unless you need to do the editing on the road, the colour reproduction of the screens are not good. If you are serious, it would be well worth your while to have a CRT to hook up to the laptop for photo editing.

I can't stand doing graphics work on my laptop because of the colour issue even though I have calilbrated the colour it looks horrible beside my CRT, which I unfortunately can't take with me to school

 

sometimes takes a couple days for it to show up.. it depends who did the replacement.. if a csr did it it will show up very fast, if tech support did it it can take 24-48 hours thats what they told me

 

It's been 48 hours o.0

 

It finally showed up, shows my order date as today...and the price went up like $110, meh.

 

from the first picture, what are the 3 "locks" where the lock with the 9 inside of it is lit up?

nvm its numlock

 

Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock.

 

I don't have my laptop yet, however are you inserting it correctly? Check out this link http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=160247&highlight=xd+reader Seems it would be the same picture card reader as the Vostro 1400.

 

It actually does read XD, I forgot to edit that part out, thanks for pointing it out.

 

Now I'm extremely pissed.

I got my replacement, FINALLY and:

- The hard drive is MORE noisy, chirpy, and whiny.
- The screen is less grainy, but still grainy never the less. They promised me I wouldn't have this problem.
- The core2duo and vista sticker is switched around T_T
- The BIOS is newer.
- The headphone jack whines LOUDER!

I replaced the new harddrive (seagate) with the old one (hitachi) because I didn't feel like reinstalling everything, now, hopefully, I can get a refund + compensation so i can buy a 1330 or something. Also, for some reason, the new hard drive doesn't work on the old shell...

Dammit dell!

Can i get a full refund somehow now?

 

you do not keep compensations.. if you return the system whatever they gave you (except items like bags etc..) get deducted from the amount you get credited back just fyi.. no freebies there

and if you are within 21 days from the date of invoice NOT FROM THE DATE YOU RECIEVED IT you can still get a refund.. if you are out of this and call and bi%tch enough you most likely still can but it will be harder to get done

 

Added new pictures.

Thanks for the helpful posts.

 

Does anyone which SigmaTel sound card the Inspiron 1520 comes with?

 

TAYLORJNG - what?

So I'm highly considering getting another replacement now because of some light bleed I just realize is there.

 

I ordered the system with Integrated audio, and it's a SigmaTel sound card. I want to know if anyone knows the specific model number to it.

 

you should be able to check in the device manager area..

 

New replacement requested, added screentype. This is Dell's last chance before I give up completely, complain and return.

 

good luck... i miss mine, but couldnt stand the screen

 

good luck!

 

Thanks, I got the replacement through even though its after 21 days (because customer service is ******ed).

I got redirected twice, on the third time, I literally just refuse to answer his/her questions, went straight to the point, DEMANDED it, and got it. This was of course through online chat though, so heh.

Also, by complaining, I was able to get a new replacement instead of a refurb, they also said that if my THIRD 1520 still exhibit problems, they might be able to make an exception and let me get a refund, even though its way past 21 days.

 

yes if you are past the 21 days you will be able to get a refund only if there are problems. which if you are not happy then there are problems...hint hint..

 

I got my replacement the other day, here's the verdict, will post pictures tomorrow:

- Screen NON-GRAINY...WOOOOOT!
- Headphone jack still noisy.
- Keyboard feels more loose.
- Media keys are BETTER
- DVD Drive is LOUD! It sounds like a helicopter when spinning and the whole entire thing actually vibrates. Think I should swap out the dvd drives? Is it easy to do? Do I need to install new softwares? Etc.

 

Its definitely not that easy as with modular bays like my old Latitude d610, but it should work...check out the service manuals on dell's website.

 

oh my gosh, what percent of the 1520s are defective? i plan on getting one of these soon, and oh my gosh, i think im going to have to change my mind!

is there a way to specifically ask for an LG screen, non loose keyboard, etc.. when ordering? lol

 

My opinion and pictures of replacement #2 is up and tacked on to the end of the post.

- How easy is it to swap the DVD drives??