just got back my Vostro from repair and....

ok. I sent in my Vostro 1500 in to get repaired. It had a backlight bleed, grainy screen, some keyboard parts won't work, and loose hinge. Well, I just got back the laptop today...and only a few problems was fixed.

I think I still have the same LCD even though they said it was "fixed". The backlight bleed is still a bit noticeable, it's just a little bit better from my last LCD display. According to Everest, the LCD I had before it went into repair was LPLCC00. It now says that (using Everest) the replaced LCD is still LPLCC00. Maybe they didn't even change it?

Also, whenever I change the contrast of my screen, there will be a really low humming noise. Unless it's put up on full contrast, the humming noise will continue. That noise is starting to make me concerned. I'll post up some video of the problem later.

I think I might call Dell again....

 

LPLCC00 is not a serial number or anything, so you have no way to know if its a new screen or not. It just means your laptop left with a LG screen and you got it back with a LG screen.

 

Unless you send it back and get the anti-glare there will always be "grain".

 

yep, I don't think I really care about the backlight bleed / grain anymore. What I'm more concerned is the noise when I turn down the contrast. Unless it's on the highest contrast, it'll emit a really low humming noise. Here's a video that I took of the problem. You can't really hear the whine unless you turn up the sound.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TpEtEAOXue0

 

You can request a system exchange through Dell customer service within 30 days and get an all new system sent out.

 

yep, that what I think I might do. Does anyone know what's wrong with the LCD? I'm pretty sure the noise isn't normal. It wasn't like that when I sent this laptop in.

 

I had a replacement Vostro sent to me. Good thing I checked it because they forgot to tell me the replacement has the crappy AUO monitor everyone here complains about.

More info here

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=159463

 

And what is funny about this whole thing is that you expected the replacement to be free of the headphone noise. Its a design and implementation issue causing the problem. I got a feeling you played a lot of hardball to get that replacement though

 

no they are now sending me a third one out.. sucks for dell they need to stop sending out these crap auo screens..

 

You are absolutely right, I did a worthless 3 day email chat where they kept saying I needed to send in my laptop to the depot. Then for some reason, they sent me a MOTHERBOARD TO REPLACE BY MYSELF. Even though I specifically told them not to.

Then I had a little chat where it took the rep 2 hours to figure out that he could send me a replacement laptop.

However try as I might, I could not get them to send me the X-Fi card instead.

 

i would call them it took me about an hour but they are now sending me a third one..

 

Lol the third one. I think that's what I'll probably have to do. But why can't they have the sense to send a $60 tiny card instead of replacing a $800+ laptop or $200+ motherboard?

 

wow...a third replacement laptop? I just had a chat with the Dell rep. He says that my replacement laptop should come within 3-4 days. So we can still have that replacement laptop replaced if there are even more problems?

 

would you guys suggest getting a warrenty? i don't plan on getting an extended warrenty or accident damage service. is this bad?

 

For me, I didn't purchase any additional warranty. I just have the regular 1 year warranty that came with the laptop. If there are any problems with the laptop, you can exchange your laptop for a new one. To me, I think the 1 year warranty is enough, I don't damage stuff that easy.

 

You damaging the computer and the computer failing due to a hardware fault are two different things. You can't control a failing hard drive, a failing DVD drive, a failing screen, battery and so on.
What you can control is that you don't spill anything on the laptop, don't drop it, run it over, play catch ball with it, for that the accidental warranty is offered.

I keep telling people if you are buying a Vostro, pay the $79 and double the warranty, not only you get 2 years but you also get Next day On-Site repairs. For under $80, I'm all game.

 

interestingly... my vostro has a solid yellow bar for the light guage (next to the sun)..while your is single blue bars. no noise though

 

Wow that would be really annoying really quick. Definitely try for a whole new system and good luck

Also a question does Dell Send the new system before u return the one u are using or do they leave u systemless?

 

wow that's weird mine has that too

 

yeah, I just called them, looks like I'm getting another Vostro in 3 days.

Dell sends you a new system, and then you ship the faulty laptop back to dell.

 

just pray for a different display... i recieved a email from a case manager and was told that dell will be using the auo monitors as pretty much the standard montior in the 1500's... at least thats what he said...

 

wow... The number of good LCD monitors should be more than the number of faulty LCD monitors. Well, not all LCD monitors are bad...hopefully. So Auo monitors are bad, and the samsung, LG monitors are better?

When will your replacement laptop come, zfactor? The dell chat rep. told me my replaced Vostro should come in 3 days.

 

WTF??? 3 DAYS??? they told me 7-10 days... if thats the case they may be sending you a refurbished one.. might want to check.. i have to wait for mine to actually be built..

i dont know but so far i have seen 2 auo displays on the 1500 and both of them had horrid colors. i even went as far as using a calibration setup to fully calibrate it today and it made little different.. according to color pro the screen was basically to far off to be "right" .... i could not even get it close to the 1-2 range everything was more near 8-15 which is insane... most graphics pros will not even use a screen over 2 they find that unusable..the white colors and surrounding like blue etc were the worst i can say the blacks were very good.. about the only one i could get into the 2-3 range..

one thing i can say is the auo had a much better viewing angle from above and below than the sec, lpl, cpt or shp i had here today side by side. the others washed out just barely as you were standing up while viewing while the auo i could still visibly see while almost standing up fully

 

During the Chat session I had with the dell rep, I made he confirm that I will be receiving a NEW Vostro 1500 within 3-5 days. He said that it was correct...hopefully he didn't lie. Looking at your specs of your customized Vostro 1500, I see that you also had extra features added (ex: bluetooth, webcam, more ram) I only got the "smart value package". They probably have more of these "pre customized laptops" ready to ship as opposed to the "customized" laptop you got.

Did they give you some sort of computer order number so you can follow up with the stages? (ex: build, ship...) For the laptop I'm getting, I assume they already sent it out.

 

"try as I might, I could not get them to send me the X-Fi card instead."

that is what I tried, but they said to send it in for a motherboard and my headphone noise will be fixed. I told them I would be happy with the X-card. So my 2nd Vostro is going in for a new motherboard.

 

Wow, your brave. After Dell promised that my replacement would be the same SEC panel as the first.. and it wasn't.. I gave up hope. Yes, you would think if a customer has a real issue with the AUO that Dell would use the LG or SEC just to keep from having to build new systems for a customer. In reality, Dell is just too big and their manufacturing processes just don't allow for individualized care. I decided to get out of the nightmare before I would be stuck with a crappy 1420 display for the next several years.

 

well i have it documented that they will send them out till i get one thats acceptable

 

Could the Dell rep that you talk to actually choose how the condition of the laptop will be? Even if the Dell rep promises that you will not get a AUO LCD panel, I don't think that the Dell rep even has the power to uphold the promise. The only way is to keep getting replacements until one of the replacements is good. It can't be that bad...most people have good and working Vostros.