More Screen Frustrations...

So here is my rant/question: on my second replacement, I finally received a LPL screen for a Vostro 1400 WXGA resolution laptop. Closely looking at it in comparison to my SEC3157, its brighter, has way better viewing angles, and has better backlight distribution (the SEC has these 3 dark spots near the bottom right that I just can't stop focusing on). However it is once again grainy, not as much as the AUO before it, but moreso than the SEC that has pretty much no grain. The LG also has this somewhat loose screen hinge that drives me insane, yet it has a tightly-fitting battery.

I don't think it's going to get any better in my search for the "perfect" screen, as another replacement probably would just lead to the same conclusion. However, the LG success stories really seem limited to the 1500/1520 models, and the 1400/1420 is a crapshoot among all the main manufacturers.

Anyways, I don't know if I should go replacement again or just stick with one of these screens. I plan on keeping a Dell regardless, just because other options are somewhat limited, however I'm still disappointed in this first laptop purchase.

 

You can’t expect a perfect screen in a budget notebook.

 

Very true. I guess you choose to live with one fault or another. In my use of quotes around the world perfect, I meant that I wasn't looking for an exactly perfect screen, but one that had the combination of the LG's viewing angle, brightness, and backlight with the lack of grain on the SEC. I believe that to be a realistic expectaton.

 

You are not going to see build quality like Sony, but remember you do get great warranty support if things does go wrong.

People who are paying alot more for XPS systems learn to face it in time.

I keep come back to Dell because it's the only manufacturer who will replace the whole system if things go down hill. It's always smart to buy atleast 3 year warranty with Dell.

 

This whole grainy screen issue of current Inspiron / Vostro series is very unfortunate. It is disappointing to see how DELL has managed to screw up such a good notebook because of this.

I guess you picked a wrong time to purchase a DELL, because earlier budget Inspirons didn’t have such terrible screens.

 

sorry to hear about that. i share your troubles! i have a 1520. SEC3350 horribly grainy screen. replaced once, sent to depot once. still horrible screen. trying to return it. dell manager said they would call me today and guess what? just like all the other times a dell employee has said something would happen- it didn't.

why has dell put these ridiculous awful screens in their laptops? the previous models didn't have these problems. shame on you dell. shame on your retarded 'it's the manufacturing process' explanation as well. dell must be losing a lot of business because of this. i don't see why they don't just fix the problem, instead of continuing to send out these screens. maybe they save a lot of money on the LCDs because they are rejects? low quality?

 

Yeah, I love the magnesium alloy and even the keyboard isn't that bad, but the screen is really less than expected. Considering that might be one of the most important components of a laptop, it really renders a lot of everything else moot. It's a tough decision between the two, since is grainy and the one isn't (but is deficient in every other category). I don't think they would try another replacement.

 

I think I'm keeping the dimmer, not grainy SEC. It's bright enough where I can deal with it, and the dark spots are something I'll notice once in a while. The grainy LPL is something that just sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

honestly pick the one that looks best to you. dont worry what anyone else says.. you are the one who has to look at it not them. imo i would prob stay with the lg... but i cant stand a dim screen and i cant stand bad viewing angles. but the grain if its that apparent maybe would sway me to the sec.. i dont have anything against aec they do have some nice screens out there but they have been few and far between that i have seen. but i have seen some killer sec screens.. keep whichever one you think you will be able to live with since you will have it for a while

 

I have a feeling he will end up with worst screen than he is though, which I've seen happen all the time.

Some people do over react from other's complaining too much when they already have a decent screen.

 

He's got the loose screen hinge too though.

 

Okay, so one notebook, is perfect but it has a grainy screen, the other has a almost perfect screen but has other issues.

Why don't you swap the screens? LMFAO

Pop off the hinge cover, unhook the cables, close it, take out the four screws for the hinge, and that's it, it's off and ready to go onto the other one.

They are both the same models correct?

If you think you're comfortable, do it, I wouldn't give it a second thought myself.

 

I don't think that's a very fair statement... I have bought plenty of sub $500 notebooks with excellent screens.

I hear very often that "you get what you pay for" and "You can't have high quality for low prices" but you can... I have... many times. It's absolutely possible, not that much of a rarity, and not an acceptable way to rationalize the situation.

 

With that said, did you end up with a good screen on your Vostro?

 

I just received my replacement in the mail. My original model was an LGL0000 screen, which people on these boards seem to think is the solution. But this screen is dim, grainy and out of focus.

The replacement came and is an AUO4644.

Putting the two next to eachother is like night and day. The AUO is an order of magnitude brighter (both have their brightness set to max when plugged in), there is no grain that I notice, no dead pixels and the viewing angles are superior. On this LGL I am right now moving my head back and forth and watching the edges of the screen shift in and out of focus much more than they should on a good LCD.

All in all, the replacement is much more on par with my Toshiba Satellite's screen.

To those of you saying that you shouldn't expect a decent screen from a budget laptop, I believe that's a load of bull. I spent $450 on my Toshiba and the screen is gorgeous, without any dead pixels.

I don't know why I should lower my expectations for a Vostro that costs twice as much. LCD's aren't exactly all that expensive. You can get quite a large desktop LCD monitor these days for just $300-400 from Best Buy.

 

Didn't the XPS also have grainy screens?

Also as someone above said, if you like the base on one and screen on other, do a switch. Dell doesn't care which one you send back as long as one of the laptop gets back to them.
There is a Full how to on Dell's site on how to do it.

 

It's not quite as definitive as just one screen being better than the other. The LPL is grainy, so its blurred a bit and I see a lot of these sparkles acorss the screen. For some reason though, after using the LG for a while, I don't notice the grain unless I look for it. I only see the grain at first glance on a white screen. Therefore I can only conclude the grain isn't that bad. Its color reproduction doesn't match the SEC either. The SEC is not as bright, has worse viewing angles and it has some uneven backlighting. So in either case both screens have issues.

I'm just keeping the SEC screen because it doesn't have the grain problem, and its base is better. The webcam on the LG might also be defective as I can't get it to show a picture after reinstallation of Windows. I don't feel all that comfortable changing the screen actually, it's just a personal perference and thought that I should not need to take apart a brand-new laptop.

It could go either way, but if that's the case, I'm just sticking with the SEC.

 

My AUO4644 is fine.