Just got my 1520, initial impressions.

I just finished unpacking it and loading it up. Took a few minutes for the initial setup and connecting to my wireless network was a snap. I ordered it on 8/5 and DHL delivered it.

I got the 1520 (jet black) with glossy LCD (max resolution), 2 gigs of RAM, 8600M GT and 6 cell battery. This is my first laptop, primarily for gaming.

This is the first webpage I came to after turning this puppy on.

Addressing the numerous complaints I saw here:

1. I'm glad I went for the maximum resolution. Anything lower and everything on the screen would be too big (big personal preference here). I see no graininess whatsoever on this screen. Right now I'm in my living room, where it's sunny. I don't have any problem seeing the screen. My home system has the Dell 24" widescreen monitor, so I'm not new to LCD screens.

2. I have no battery movement at all. I picked up the laptop and moved it from side to side. I tried moving the battery back and forth also, but it's in there securely.

3. I haven't tried a black background yet other than when the system is booting up but I don't see much bleeding at all. Maybe a tiny bit from the bottom of the screen, but once the system is off of a black background, I don't even notice it. I'll update once I find out the LCD manufacturer.

Anyone have questions?

EDIT 1: Using a very light colored background, I do see graininess on my screen. It really doesn't bother me.

 

congratulation .... benchmarks please

 

awesome. it seems like all the new 1520s are much better than the first batch. no sound issues and no silk screen effect.

 

Hopefully that'a what caused all the delays. If so, it would have been nice for Dell to notify people that quality assurance work was being done.

I'm going to get 3DMark and run it. I'll report back after it's done.

 

Well that gives me a bit of hope on the horizon. I ordered 8/8, maybe mine will show up Friday this week.. I won't hold my breath though, mine was a Midnight Blue screen.

 

Congrats on getting it.

I ordered my 1520 w/near identical specs (128MB NVIDIA not 258MB) on 8/07. Hopefully my estimated ship date of 8/24 will prove to be incorrect!

 

Well that sucks. I ordered on 8/5 as well and it's not even in Testing yet

 

New batch fixed the problems!? AHHH! I got mine at the end of July, and it doesn't have silkscreen (I got the anti-glare), but I do here a very quiet CPU whine from the headphone port. I use a USB headset that is basically its own soundcard so it doesn't affect me, but I feel kinda bad that they didn't even recall the problematic ones.

 

To the original OP, would you mind pulling up a purely white background on your new 1520 and comparing it with your 24" Dell LCD? I have a feeling once you do that you will find what people refer to as "graininess" or "sparkles" which will make your whites look very gray. Almost all reports of the WSXGA+ and WSXGA screen have this issue.

 

Congrats on your delivery! I ordered on 8/2 , same specs. What's up with that?

 

Same here, I ordered mine on the 4th..

 

I'm looking at a very light colored background now and I do see a layer of what I would consider graininess; however, it's not really bad and doesn't bother me at all.

 

weapon X, do you hear any noise from headphone jack, the little buzzing noise

 

congrats on receiving your laptop... i'm pretty sure mine's gonna be a waiting game since it's the 1720...

 

Do you think that they would replace one with with the silk screens now? And if so, how would you go about doing it? I have my 1520 and I love it but why be stuck with a crappy screen when you don't have to have it?

 

While doing updates and installing software, I had my logitech headset plugged in and I didn't hear anything. In fact, I have them on right now. I've read about the noise people are hearing. Is it supposed to be present all the time? Or only when doing specific things?

 

the graininess appears only when using a white background, only when you start viewing it at different angles while sitting and tilting your head.. as such, its not an issue when playing games or watching movies...not sure if thats the case with other people... but this what i found on my screen..

 

hi guys
The grainy screen has got me worried a little I must say. Some of your posts have worried me even more whilst others have settled me down, like a roller coaster ride through an endless grainyness. How could you not worry about a grainy screen when the system costs so much?, wouldn't you want more bang for your buck? I know I do.

my Dell 1520 is on the way as I type, its in shipping and EDT is the 3/9/07 and I only ordered it on the 17/8/07. this has me a little worried as A) I live in australia and that seems awfully fast for ANYTHING to get to Australia let alone a dell with a supposedly 2 month long waiting period or B) they might be sending me one thats been originally sent back to the dealer so it was already available :B, I know its only an assumption but I think I'm right.

is grainy screen as grainy AS or "ok?", otherwise I'm turning gay and buying some AS'U'S grunt I'm sure I'll get more bang for my buck with the AS'U'S V1S-A1 and more regularly .

any comments?, thanks for all you guys being so honest about the grainy screen some people once in ownership of something will gaurd it and stick up for it no matter how bad it is, kind of like a dog with a T bone steak thats gone off.


Thanks again busy_lad

 

I think its ridiculous for you to make any assumptions without even having your system in hand. It is one thing to see an actual problem and want it resolved and another thing to have preconceived notions based on the posts/problems of others.

You asked.

K

 

Very true, but it is a fool who does not heed the warnings of others and who does not learn from their mistakes only to also end up shooting them self in the foot. I'm not assuming anything, the idea of having a grainy screen didn't just pop into my head hey. Many people have stated this problem and thats why I'm a little worried about it.

if I can avoid the problem in the first place or at least be aware of any problems and I'm fully informed then I can't miss anything.

 

Seems to me the best option is to simple reserve forming any opinions until the machine is in your hands (as I'm doing). The people here represent a super small portion of Dell customers so unless we see this in the NY Times or something it isn't super wide spread. Since every notebook maker has been having LCD shortages I'm sure these problems don't just affect Dell.

Sadly, people are affected by what others experiences are. There are probably many people on here who've read so much about the grainy screen issue they subconciously expected one and they're seeing a grainy screen no matter what anyone says to them.

I'll have to see what the screen on my i1520 looks like... I hope it ships soon while i'm still very unsure what a "grainy" screen actually is

What my theory is is that the LCD makers themselves have relaxed quality standards. I'm not sure what the cause for the shortage in the LCD arena is, but for them they are under extreme pressure to deliver more panels now, not tomorrow, so they are pushing off anything that won't be considered broken. That is why it is a hit and miss on the grainy screen issue and isn't exclusive to any specific LCD maker.

 

Hello,
I am right now typing on my dell inspiron 1520 and its not to bad I guess but i do have a couple of qualms with this thing, 1) with ANY head set I plug into this thing I get jack noises through the ear plugs and literally its like a high pitched whinning noise thats dips in volume every 5 seconds. Its quite annoying but I've figured out if you use a USB supported Headset the problem is non existent. also compared to LCD and old school screens I'm afraid the Dell doesn't rate to highly the whites are gray and theres certainly a little "grainyness" on the sceen with a white background compared with others, mind you without the ability to make a comparison ie first time users or upgraders through Laptop death you couldn't notice to easily.

I'm going to write a review and sooner than later make a decision as to weather or not I'm going to keep it, its good for the price but the defects are quite annoying, you want a laptop that works for you not one you have to work for to make any good (after paying 2,380 AU to).

ASUS A1S is starting to look sexy