Replaced e1405 screen today...

I had dell replace the screen on my e1405 and am sad to report that the new screen blows just as much as the previous. Looks like I'm going to end up returning the machine, I cant stand the truelife display. Thought I'd let the e1405 owners that are experiencing light leakage issues not to waste their time with an replacement. I was told by the rep that the machines use only one backlight as opposed to two to save battery life.

 

It really is a shame about the poor screens on the e1405's, because the notebook itself is quite a value.

 

It seems that alot of 14.1 wsxga screens have this issue. Apparently the manufacturers thought they could light the whole screen from the bottom instead of both the bottom and top as they do on the larger lcds. I'm really confused on what laptop to look at next D;

 

I can confirm this. After receiving my E1405 and getting annoyed at my light leakage, I took a trip to Circuit City and Best Buy to compare my screen with other 14.1" notebooks. To my surprise all had a fair amount of light leakage, much like the leakage of my E1405's true life wsxga+. I reasoned with myself that if I was to pick a laptop based on screen quality and resolution based on what I saw from competing companies, I would probably still choose my E1405. None offered the higher resolution and clarity that the Dell screen does.

All 14.1" notebooks that I looked at had the light leakage on the bottom of the screen. Most 15.4" notebooks did have significantly less leakage if not none. I attributed this to more even back lighting as the screen is bigger. I kept my E1405 and have been enjoying it having seen exactly the same problems with competing notebooks at this size.

 

Thanks for heads up changfest, I had a feeling all these 14.1 noteboolks were going to have the problem. Looks like I will be going back to the 15.4 wide screen, the 14.1 is useless for anything that requires accurate colors. It's just a shame that LCD tech has taken a step backwards to improve battery life.

 

Damm that sucks

 

Yeah, it seems that way. I'm not sure the tech has gone down, it's more like a sacrifice of features for another. One has to weigh if they want battery life vs. a reduction in screen quality with this size notebook. Personally I like the increase in battery life as I have a 19" flat panel to use at home when I have my E1405 plugged in. I also find it intersting that most vendors don't offer higher resolutions in the 14.1" format.

 

well, it looks like im going to go the lenovo route.

 

Hmm, is it me, or are alot of people expecting too much for a loaded e1405 for $670 on sale? I just purchased a e1505 a month ago for $670 shipped (highest resolution + truelife) with dell ridiculous sale, and an e1405 today $670 shipped with the truelife upgraded screen etc ..... it's $670 .... on sale... if you want perfection... pay more... VAIO/T series... name any brand more then $670 on sale. Sounds like you guys bought a Corolla expecting Lexus quality Interior and refinement. If you want a Lexus of laptops, buy a Lexus of laptops.

Maybe I shouldnt use "Lexus" since I drive a BMW, but Lexus interiors are dam near perfection.

 

What we are expecting is decent build quality. I wouldn't expect a Corolla to outperform, or provide as many features, as a Lexus. But I expect every car to be built correctly from the beginning.

$670 may not sound like a lot of money, but it is to some people. Some people are buying Dell because that is all they can really afford. Just because it is cheap doesn't mean it should be cheap.

And the Corolla was a poor choice, because even though it is cheap, it is put together as solidly as Toyota's upper end of cars, or even their luxury line (Infinity, I believe?).

If Dell can put together a solid notebook in the upper range of price, than the can do so in the lower range.

 

sad but true fact of life...TANSTAAFL...there ain't no such thing as a free lunch...you get what you pay for...my other laptop is an IBM T42 that I paid $1800+ for because at that time I needed something I could drag, drop, and bounce around in luggage compartments (not to mention be able to count on first class customer support)...I am more than happy to be sitting here typing on this nice e1705 that only cost me $1280 but I will never expect it to be as durable as the T42

 

I have to say, after seeing HP Compaq's 14.1" widescreen notebooks ($499-599 versions a few months back), some had the grainy glossy screen of the M140/630m and others had a nicer glossy screen like that of the 710M... so it's possible for Dell to use the better panel and keep the price basically the same.

Perfection so not what we want, we want Dell to use the better of the 2 panels out there, though as far as the TrueLife 1440x900 of the E1405/640m, it seems that all panels, whether Samsung, AUO, etc. all suffer from light leakage and sparkle (aka graininess, dirty whites, etc.).

 

What brand screen did you have and get replaced by?

 

Both were samsung parts.

 

Does anybody know if LG make screens for the 640M?