My Inspiron 1520's screen is blanched. Is anyone else's?

I received the 1280x800 anti-glare screen with my laptop and have noticed that the top half of the screen is much more vivid and sharp than the bottom portion is. When I tilt the screen away from me the bottom half looks better, but then the top half turns black. When I have the screen facing me directly the very top of the screen is too black while the bottom half is too blanched. I can't believe that this is the way the lcd is supposed to look, but I might be wrong. Does any of this sound like something that any of you have dealt with? How hard would it be to get a replacement?

 

Thats called not getting the "wide viewing angle" - several other reviews pointed this out - the XGA and XGA+ are pretty bad when it comes to viewing angles. The SXGA+ is much much better in that area. (Something like 45 degrees compared to 15 degrees)

Of course, maybe you are seeing something more pronounced than just the standard viewing angle problem - its hard to tell from your description, which sounds normal for the XGA and XGA+

 

That is definitely a problem, and it IS NOT normal.

If its less than 21 days since you received it, then a DELL technician will come to your house and replace it.
Otherwise, they'll still fix it, but you have to send it in to be replaced on warranty (which won't take more than a week)

 

EDIT: sorry for the double post.

Viewing angles should only apply to side viewing of the screen.

When the screen is directly in front of you and is not tilted back (or forward) any appreciable amount, you should see the entire screen clearly. I think there is something else going on in this particular situation.

I would also like to say that the viewing angle on my WXGA screen is between 90 and 100 degrees, and this is the reason I am skeptical of that being the problem.

 

Are you sure? Some of the initial reviews complained about this, how watching DVDs from even a few feet away caused the tops or the bottom to be faded, because of the extremely limited viewing angle, and not being able to position the screen in a way so that the entire movie was clear...

Thats one of the reasons I went with WSXGA+, because it was supposedly infinitely better in this regard

And the viewing angle limitations in the Up-Down direction are -more severe- than the limitations from side to side (according to the specs on dell's website, which I'm trying to find)

 

Thats very good to hear!

The dell website (I thought) said the viewing angle was something like +- 15 degrees side to side, and 0-30 degrees up and down, with the worst limitation from being too "high" and looking down. For the XGA and XGA+

 

It's the viewing angle from top to bottom that is the problem. I can't seem to tilt the screen in any position and have everything look as vivid as other parts of the screen.

 

I cant find the current specs anymore on Dell's site. Maybe someone else with your same screen could share their experience with it...

Edit: Found it on the UK Website:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/l...en_inspn_nb?c=uk&l=en&s=bsd&~lt=popup&ref=CFG

(click "Compare Side-By-Side")

Horizontal Viewing Angle
(SXGA+)+60/-60
(XGA+)+40/-40
(XGA)+40/-40

Vertical Viewing Angle
(SXGA+)+40/-50
(XGA+)+30/-30
(XGA)+15/-30

The XGA has (in my opinion) crippled vertical viewing angle problems.

 

I can't even look directly at the screen and see a consistant level of detail.

 

Lol, I was about to refer you to a thread of another guy with your problem, and his name was "Stainer712"

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=151315

Im assuming you are the same guy?

 

I had the same problem with my Asus A8JS, it bugged me so much that I ended up returning it. Don't try to live with it, it'll just eat at you

 

Well, i used my grandparent's CC to order it, so i'd rather just get it fixed.

 

I have the same screen as you, and that's definitely not what should be happening. Call DELL, explain it to them, and get your screen replaced on warranty. It won't take that long.

EDIT: @mytylerj: just to make something clear. when I said 90-100 degrees, i didn't mean that I could be horizontal to my laptop and still see the screen clearly. I meant that I had 45-50 degrees on either side (added together to make 90-100 degrees). Sorry i didn't say that clearly, but I think that fits with what you posted.

Stainer's problem definitely doesn't apply to my WXGA. His vertical viewing angle should be much better than what he's describing.

 

You get used to it after awhile. I've been using my E1505 for over a year, you learn you move your head around.

 

Great post!

 

Call Dell and have them replace it.

 

Both the horizontal and vertical viewing angles are bothering me. Ive got the anti-glare wxga 15.4" screen and it seems that I have to move my head to the left or right to have a clear view of the left and right side of the screen. I haven't had a laptop in 3 years other than an hp for business, but my 3 desktop lcd's dont have any horizontal viewing angle problems at all.

Is the limited viewing angle common to all dell's with wxga now, or does it depend on the screen manufacturer?

 

it's certainly not present in my WXGA. Read my posts above.

 

Well, I returned it. The dell cs rep offered me $150 to keep it, so if you want to get $150 off yours...hehe. Think I might go with a gateway, the screens looked about on par with hp and sony at bestbuy. Thanks for your help!