e1405 viewable angle not right

Anybody else with an e1405 (core duo, not core 2) have this problem:

I can't seem to find a good angle to view the screen at. No matter what I do or how I tilt the flippin' thing, the screen isn't more than 75% viewable. My eyes can't resolve both the inner and outer portion of the screen. I'll be moving an icon in the middle of the desktop, for example, and when my eyes scan over toward the recycle bin, it's like the screen is at the wrong tilt/angle for proper viewing. But the middle of the screen is fine!

I'm at a loss as to how to explain this, but it's kind of like looking at an LCD from a sharp sideways angle. The center is clear but the outer 25% of the screen seems dark and approaching inverted brightness. The backlight is okay, the screen is still new, etc etc. I did a color test, and a fully red screen makes the problem very apparent. Is this a design flaw or the like?

I don't have the brightview or whatever option (so much light where I use it, it would have made it worse) dell sells. It's not a critical issue, but I'd like to know if I have something wrong with my 'book before the warranty runs down.

Other than that I love my e1405- never thought I'd have a 10-hour performer.

Any input would be welcome!

 

I don't know. My friend has a 640m (Canadian version of the e1405) and I don't see that problem when the screen is adjusted to around 120 degree angle. You either hate or love the truelife. If you want a matte screen, get a latitude.

My 640m is on its way (should be here next week). I'll check it out.

 

your best bet would be to find a computer with a similar screen and see if it has the same effect as yours, it sounds like really uneven backlighting to me. My e1505 (wsxga+ w/tlife) is completely uniform, you might have just gotten a bunk display, by the way, I dont believe the cpu has anything to do with the displays Dell ships, they pretty much just slap on wichever brand is readily available at build time

 

From my personal experience, I think 14" screens tend to have much worse viewing angles than 15.4" screens in general. My previous notebook (15.4") had much better contrast, uniform lighting, and wider viewing angles than my current notebook (14").

 

I mentioned the CPU as a way to datestamp my e1405, in case they switched screen brands and design etc between the first shipment and the recent core 2 release of the system.

About uneven backlighting- what are the characteristics of that? Is there an easy way to test for it and to rule out other screen defects? Now that it's been brought up I definitely see uneven lighting regions.

I have to say I'm disappointed so far with the screen quality of an otherwise wonderful Dell, I sincerely hope it's just my screen that's this way.

On a sidenote I've never had this particular problem with a notebook before and I am really at a loss as to how to explain it to Dell's BSD (Bangladeshi Service Department). Think I can get them to send a tech or let me bring it to a service center for an inspection? Any tactics?

 

are you within the 21 day return period?, if you are threaten to return it if they dont take action, if you looking head on at the screnn, the image sould be uniform across the board, try and talk to a dell rep and see what happens, I find the online chat is usally more productive than a phone call

 

Well, 15 minutes with Dell chat and they agreed to ship it back and swap the LCD for free. I'm impressed with the speed of the support process. Thanks for your help, everybody!