Vostro + Dell's 17" 1440x900 panel..any good?

I'm lovin' the look of the new Vostro range and the price in the UK seems pretty reasonable (although I'm sure I can haggle it lower )

The 1700 is the one I'm looking at to replace a 15" HP nc6320 which has proven to be a bit of a lemon (IMO).

Screens are important to me, I don't like glossy but I'm not keen on low grade matte either. In the UK I'm seeing only two screen options, and only one matte, the 1440x900. I guess this is the standard 17" panel..so can anyone tell me whether it's decent or not? Viewing angles, light leakage, uniformity etc.

My current HP screen isn't great, it suffers from side light leakage, touch of blotchyness and some other issues. So I wouldn't want to take a backwards step.

Thanks..

 

1440x900 is terrible for multitasking on a panel of that size. It's more of a budget panel.

I would pay for the 1680x1050 or 1920x1200 upgrade if you can swing it.

 

If you ring them up, do they have extra options not shown online? Because as I mentioned there's only 1440x900 and the WUXGA with TruLife listed..a matte 1680x1050 would be ideal.

 

its worth a try. i know that they dont list vista preminum as an option, but they have it as a option if you call

 

Well I'd be hankering over getting XP instead..so I hope so!

As for the multitasking point made previously..TBH I'm not overly bothered. I'm happy to flip from one thing to another. As I do audio editing, a large wide workscreen is useful.

I just want to avoid, as best as possible, an inferior screen with chronic light leakage etc.

 

Lets say you want the size that it is when you have 1440x900, does it still look better if you have a 1920x1200 screen?

 

I'm not quite sure I understand the question...

 

would say that 1920*1200 would be great for movies and pics.. otherwise for text will be an eyeful

 

I mean if you set the display propertis to 1440x900 (if you want that size on the folders, text, taskbar e.tc.) can you then see a different if you have a 1440x900 or a 1920x1200 screen?

 

Are you sure about that? My desktop has a 17" lcd and I run windows in 1280x1024 which would be the same size basicially (taller and narrower but basically the same screen real estate and size of everything) as the 1440x900.

I'm still on the fence with what to buy, but I'm leaning more towards the 1440x900 for comfort. I understand a finer resolution will be sharper, but since I will be gaming, I really want to have as low of resolution as possible with still having very good picture quality in windows.