Unhappy with e1705 "True Life" need opinions

I have had my e1705 for about 10 days. Thanks BTW for all the info I have gathered from the forum here. But, I just can't get used to the resolution of the "True Life" 1920 x 1200 resolution. The font, icons, and web pages are just too small. FWIW, I have searched the issue and have changed the DPI and font settings. However, the web pages etc still only fill up 1/3 - 1/2 of the screen. It seems to be a waste of such a nice, large screen.

I have changed the resolution to 1440 x 900 and I prefer this resolution but, as noted many times, once out of the native resolution the display is subtly but significantly blurry.

I have no dead pixels. The light leakage is obvious and almost a show stopper. So, is the native resolution of the WXGA+ sharper than the 1440 x 900 on the WUXGA? I have contacted Dell and they have agreed to replace the unit based on the light leakage alone. Should I take this opportunity and down grade the LCD screen?

I do not have access to a Dell Outlet to examine the different screen side by side. Otherwise, I am quite satisfied with the e1705 and will do the reformat "exorcism" once I have this issue resolved.

Thanks for any input.

 

Native WXGA+ will be sharper than setting WXGA+ on a WUXGA screen.

Return it before your stuck w/ it.

 

I had the SAME issues. I returned the laptop on the second day. the 1920x1200 is rediculously small. True you can increase the text size and such, but websites that are designed for 800x600 resolution only take up 1/4 of the screen and makes surfing the net VERY annoying.

Return it and go without the Ultrasharp or get the 1505 at 1280x800 WSXGA with truelife.

The wxga e1705 is set for 1440x900

Good luck

 

I am definitely going to do an exchange for the WXGA+ but will admit I like the glossy, higher contrast screen. I have to wait until tomorrow secondary to the Memorial day holiday. But I wonder, since I purchased the system using the $750 + $100 coupons will they give me some money back or will I have to upgrade a different component to keep the system > $1999. Has anyone done an exchange after purchasing with the coupons?

I haven't noticed that many people here complain about light leakage on the WXGA+ monitor. Is this issue isolated to just the "True Life" LCD?

 

I did an "exchange"....You are not doing an exchange per se, rather returning one and buying a different one. You will need to use current coupons at the time of repurchase (good luck finding 750+100 right now). Also, unless you can get them to accept there is some kind of defect with your original system you may have to pay the restocking fee, YMMV but make sure you know one way or another before you get off the phone.

BTW I really like the WUXGA true life especially when I compare it to other laptops sitting around the house. I do a fair amount of photo post processing but not gaming so again YMMV. More screen space at higher resolution means more windows open. Pics and movies at max/correct settings are just awesome but that's just IMHO.

 

For gaming should I stay away from the Truelife?

 

Yeah I have the same question???? I wear glasses man and tiny print will suck, I'm thinking of going with the 17 inch Wide Screen XGA+. Do you think this will be a good idea??????

 

Im kind of in the same boat, im about to order an e1705, my biggest debate right now is the Truelife. My trusted computer pal tells me dont get it because if there is a 3d graphics intensive game, that if i try to run the native res. (truelife) that it may overtask the gpu, it was also his opinion that if i play games that are turned lower than the native, that the gpu will start to use more than a 'few' pixels to represent a single pixel in the native which apparently will make it blurry, especially when looking from left to right on the screen,

im not sure if this is correct or not, but its my opinion that i would want to get the highest res i can, i'm the kind of person who doesnt want to buy a laptop very frequently, i assume movies and photos will have superb quality with the truelife, but i do plan on doing a fair bit of gaming,
anyone have some first hand experience on the Truelife as far as gaming?

Thanks!

Hopefully ordering an E1705 friday! WEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

LOL...yeah man we are in the same sitation, a lot of the upgrades are not worth the money, 200 dollars to get a .17 faster cpu!!!!! Man that can be worth it! With the money Im spending on a notebook I could build a sick desktop! Just it wont be very portable Im thinking of just getting the XGA+, save myself the $150.

 

ok... some clarification...

truelife has NOTHING to do with resolution.

 

Ok sorry to misrepresent my question so hastily, i meant to ask about the performance of the lappy in a native 1920x1200(UXGA) while gaming. Will it look like crap if i play games that dont offer that kind of resolution? I would think not but i dont know. Anyone have some first hand experience?

 

Sorry I didn't mean the Truelife as in the screen res. I am planning on buying a e1705 for some moderate gaming, and I wasn't sure which resolution would be better UXGA or XGA, I wish the e1705 had more options than just the two.

 

The reason that I am exchanging is because the WUXGA True Life screen is FAULTY secondary to the light leakage. I actually like the TrueLife aspects - glossy screen and higher contrast. However, I have tried to get used to the higher native resolution and I just can't. I find myself squinting all the time or my face 3" from the screen. I adjusted the resolution down to 1440x900 and I perfer this setting. However, I plan on taking advantage of the FAULTY light leakage to "downgrade" to the 1440x900 native resolution.

The reason that I went for the WUXGA is to get the best components that I could that I can't upgrade myself. However, WUXGA is just not the best for me.
FYI, I do no gaming and this computer is a DTR and will also serve as my TV/TIVO/media center next year.

My quandry is: Do I live with the light leakage and adjust the resolution out of native to 1440x900. This way I keep the Truelife qualities and can reset the resolution higher if needed. Or do I go thru the hassle of the exchange to get native WXGA+ but lose the Truelife and risk getting a screen with dead pixels and even persistent light leakage.

That is what I am mulling over.

 

Get rid of it while you can. Why should you have to strain to read and browse the web!

 

SEE IM ABOUT TO order and I dont know if I want to go with this option, I dont know how small the text will be compared to the WXGA+ Screw it Im not going to waste my money on the screen no mater how good it is!

 

why does anyone else's opinion really matter? its all a matter of personal preference. go to best buy and check out some other laptop set to the same resolution just to see what it really looks like. my personal preference to have the sharpest, clearest display i can get. i can read the little print just fine from a normal distance, but that's just me.