TrueLife:worth it?

I just placed an order today for a Vostro 1500, and Im very happy with the deal I got.

Intel Core 2 Duo 5250 1.4GHZ, 2GB, 120 GB 5200RPM and 8400M GS 128MB
15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Display

A little while after I placed my order I realized that the option for TrueLife was at no extra charge, so now I'm wondering whether I should call up and cancel my order over a little screen enhancement that I'm not even sure that I want.

What I understand is the True Life helps give better contrast, and maybe a better picture. What I also understand is that the True Life screen can reflective in high light situations, and I've also heard that some screen models aren't quite as bright.

I see myself moving around a good bit with this laptop, in different situations, and that is why I bought the 9-Cell battery, so that I could have it on-the-go.

I may just end up being to lazy to change it, or send it back when I finally do get it, but If anyone could give me some info based on there experience that would be great.

 

Truelife give you a glossy screen so you have something close to a mirror reflection if you use your laptop under the sunlight. Colours do stand out more although this is a personal preference between different users on whether it's worthwhile.

 

True life is very worth, only if you don't have to fight to get a good screen. I fought tooth n nail for quite awhile swapping screens and replacement laptops. In the end, I have an SEC4457 on my Vostro 1400. Against my wishes, this is a refurbished screen as Dell states in their return policy, but is miles ahead of the AUO grainy screens. You will almost never get a perfect screen. From a left angle, this screen has two thick vertical gray bars in the middle 1/3 and last 1/3. There are no dead pixels though. It also doesn't go as bright as I would like.

Sure, the AUO panels I went through (2 of them with a 1520, 3 with the Vostro 1400) were brand new, but they were horribly grainy, casted a blue hue to the overall picture, had ripples at the top of the screen with a black wallpaper, and had backlight bleed at the bottom of the screen. Dell accidently shipped me a replacement SEC 1280x800, which looked fantastic also, but was not the original resolution I ordered.

Im sticking with the refurb SEC4457. I have to get over the "I purchased new, I deserve new" frame of mind. Ill also get over the idea that theres two gray bars running vertically on my screen (only when viewing from the left).

Any scenery wallpapers are gorgeous. Anything with color is seriously amazing. The images "pop" is the best way to describe it. Almost 3 dimensional. I spent hours going through widescreen wallpapers online. The battle I had to go through, the small flaws the screen has...I guess it was worth it for the picture this screen produces...

I hope I've helped

sOnIc

 

i got the matte... but now wish for the glossy.. :O

 

If you get a chance, hit up a best buy or a circuit city, see if theyll let you access the internet on a glossy screen laptop. Try an HP, they usually don't have grainy screens. The "pop" definitely isn't noticeable on the grainy screens. If they do let you use the internet, check out interfacelift's collection of widescreen wallpapers. I think you will see what I mean

sOnIc

 

I think I'm going to stick with the original screen I had and go from there. From some of the stories I read, If I get a good screen, I think I'll just stick with it rather then test my luck

Thank you

 

If you get a glossy screen you won't see it in direct sunlight because of the glare.

If you get a matte screen you won't see it in direct sunlight because of the washout.

So 'outside' comparisons between screen types are a moot point. Beyond that however, glossy screens are superior in all respects.

 

LOL!

How true!
But only in direct sunlight, I'd add.

The superiority of matte over glossy is with respect to reflections from a well lighted environment. This could be a office or a room with many lamps and or windows. An office or a room where the matte screen can be seen with resonable quality and a glossy one could be a mirror.

But intolerance w.r.t reflections is a subjective matter.
I hate them and for that reason I went for the matte screen. True, the glossy ones are way better to look at, when there is nothing reflecting on the line of... hindsight.