HP Z Book 15 w/ Dreamcolor - Matte Display Grain | General Questions

I recently purchased the HP Z Book 15 with the Dreamcolor display, and I immediately noticed a significant "grain", especially in the lighter / grey areas. It looks like someone sneezed on the screen. I did some research and some say this has to do with the matte display and the anti glare coating - but others noticed no issue...

I've never used a matte display before, so I am just wondering, is this typical, or not? Does anyone else own this computer, and do you have the same problem? I have 20 days left to decide whether or not to return this, so any contribution is greatly appreciated. Also, since I didn't see any owner threads with this model specifically, if anyone has any other questions about this laptop I'd be happy to answer. Thanks!

 

In short:

Typical for Dreamcolor: YES
Typical for matte screens: NO

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...ebook-8560w-dreamcolor-vs-non-dreamcolor.html

 

The Zbook 15 with the non-dreamcolor UWVA display also has this issue. Actually I would say it is even worse than the dreamcolor display, after seeing them both.

 

My eyes are calibrated differently. At work I play with all kinds of bad and even worse TN panels (everything from cheapest old acer you can find to some Lenovo w530's) and after those my old 8560w dreamcolor looks fine or better than just fine.

However I don't do anything color-related stuff with that laptop. When it was brought up I could see the pink hue at one corner but it's not noticeable at my everyday use. Graininess has never been issue for me, again I think I'm just used to it

 

That's good to know, because I was considering returning this for the Non-Dreamcolor panel. When I spoke to the HP rep, who has allegedly worked there for 3 years, she said she had never heard of this problem. Although I'm not sure I believe her because in Wii's thread above there were numerous people saying they called and complained about the grain issue, however that thread is 2 years old and I wasn't sure if this is was something HP had fixed, and maybe I just got a bad panel, or if this was still a known issue.

 

As far as I know all of the 15" dream color panels (and the same panel that used to be shipped in Dell's m4600/m4700) have this issue. However the 17" dream color panel does not, if the larger size and weight of the zbook 17 is not an issue for you.

Actually since you are the first person here who has the zbook with a dream color display can you confirm that optimus is disabled? The easiest way to tell is to check for the presence of the Intel graphics control panel.

 

I don't really have an issue with the weight or size, I actually prefer the larger screen. Have you seen the 17" panel in person? Why would the 15" have this issue, was it just a mistake with the coating?

I do not see anything related to Intel Graphics, here's a screens shot of different panels, feel free to ask for anything specific.

 

Can confirm, having used an 8560W, 8570W, 8760W and 8770W with DC2, the 17" does not suffer from the grainy issues. I assume the ZBook 17 will be the same, and probably uses the same panel as the former two (LP173WF3-SL-B.. I think). The 8740W DC2 was a little grainy though. This is more of an issue with LG who makes the panels rather than HP.

HP will point blank refuse to acknowledge the existence of this issue; I thought they'd go for the argument that this is typical for most matte panels and hence is a non-issue, which it isn't. Get a refund if it bothers you, it's not you being OCD, it really does hinder the clarity of the panel. A replacement from HP will not solve this.

 

Yes, and it's not grainy at all. But beware of the seemingly unavoidable (at least on the 8770w) blue hue on the right side. I am perfectly fine with it as I do not do color-sensitive work, but ymmv.

 

I would definitely get a Zbook 17 if the weight and size isn't an issue. It probably gets a little worse battery life as they both use the same 83WHr battery. The screen will not have any grain, as others have mentioned. I personally think its the exact same coating as the 15" DreamColor, just isn't noticeable due to the lower PPI.

The only problem with the Zbook 17 is none of the Smart Buy configurations have a DreamColor panel, so you are looking at a minimum of $3000 to get one, closer to $4000 for something reasonably configured...

I just picked up a docking station for my 8570w and I have to say it turns it into quite the decent workstation. No cables, no fuss. Just drop it in and its ready to go in seconds. This feature alone makes it better than 90% of the other laptops out there even if it didn't have a DreamColor display.

 

Hi Julie_E.
I'm going to buy a 15" zbook the next days. I would love to see a user review of this particular model. Especially build quality, noise emission, temperatures, look and feel etc. Everything that comes to your mind when you think of your new workstation. Pictures would be great as well! Can you do this?

 

I bought the Zbook 15 last week and so far it's OK although I'm still in love with my elitebook 8560p....

I'm no sure about a grainy colour issue (don't if mine is a dreamcolour version) but the colours do seem a bit too bright or light at times...something I need to look into a bit later.

I do like the backlit keyboard but personally for me the keys do not have "deep" enough "press" (or whatever term is used for that) i.e they are quiet shallow as you type - I prefer to have my keys go in deep as a good feedback.

 

Doh ! I just found out the 14" is the ultrabook....doh shot myself on the foot...I was looking for a workstation type of machine but on a ultrabook exterior (i.e thin and light)....should have got that. Does anyone have the 14" ? I'd like to compare it with my 15" and maybe exchange it for the Zbook ultrabook.

Any thoughts ?

 

I have the ZBook 14. You can see a somewhat boring unboxing video in my signature. Any questions, let me know.

 

Here's a review for the 14" model with pics and thoughts. Maybe this will help you.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-business-class-notebooks/739407-hp-zbook-14-review.html

 

ZBook 15 - General Question:

I read some where that if your Turn Off the Backlighted Keyboard that it Turns Back ON, upon either Waking from Sleep or upon Re-boot. A) Is this true ? B) Is there any option to permanently Turn OFF, the Backlighted Keyboard via a setting somewhere or maybe in the BIOS ?

 

There is not. I personally think its a bug in the firmware as the 8570w doesn't behave this way. HP might eventually release a fix for it (if enough people call in an report it!) but in the meantime you could also order the non-backlit keyboard as a spare part and install it yourself. You might even be able to convince HP to send you one if they admit that there is a bug in the firmware.

 

win32asmguy,

1. I guess it would be then a bug where in the BIOS ?

2. Do you have both models ? How would you compare the older 8570W with the newer ZBook 15 ?

 

A recent review of ZBook 17 with the DreamColor display indicated that the DreamColor display produces a High Frequency "Buzzing" like Noise.

A) Owners of the ZBook with 17 DreamColor display - Does anyone experience this ?

B) Owners of the ZBook with 15" DreamColor display, do you also get this High Frequency "Buzzing" like Noise ? ... Or, is it only with the 17" DreamColor display that this happens with ?

 

The main difference between the Zbook and the Elitebook is the case styling. The Zbook is slightly thinner, and is more round at the corners than the Elitebook. It is still a metal case, but it is a darker shade of grey than the Elitebook. The keyboard is a bit worse - not quite as much key travel as the Elitebook. The Zbook can get 7 hours or more battery life if you choose a configuration without the Dreamcolor panel. You still get the wide viewing angles, but just not as much gamut coverage as the Dreamcolor.

I do think the backlight issue is a bug. It seems like none of the earlier Elitebooks worked that way (or any of the consumer notebooks with keyboard backlights for that matter) so chances are they will fix it.

 

It appears that ZBook and Elitebook have flat top square-like chicklet keys where as the Dell and Thinkpad that I am use to have curved key tops. Don't you find that fingers can slip off to the wrong key with a flat-like chicklet approach of the hp keyboards vs the Dell type keyboard ?

 

Actually the Elitebook's keys are slightly concave on the top. It isn't that bad to type on. The Zbook was a little worse and I thought it was because of the reduced key travel. It could have just as easily been this.



You can tell from these crops that the Zbook keys are flat, while the 8570w keys (except the space bar) are concave.

 

I hate to bump my own post but notebookcheck has put up a review of the Zbook 15 as well. You can tell from their (much better!) photos that the keys are indeed flat.

You had also asked about a buzzing noise coming from model's with the Dreamcolor display, and I haven't heard anything like that from my 8570W or M6700 (both have the 10-bit IPS panels). I would think something like that is not normal and that it should be serviced if it is doing that.

 

The dream color/ premier color buzz is actually a common complain, at least for the dell 17 Inches. Mine buzz as well, it get better if you have ac plugged in iirc.

 

Thanks for info and review link for the ZBook 15. Hmmm, review indicates a loud fan noise at idle, something to consider as a con.

 

Got my 15" for about three weeks now and the noise level is really low, especially when you set the bios to "fan not always on when on ac". Noiseless when browsing or doing some light work. Under heavy load you will hear the fan for sure. Noise is not a problem on this model in my opinion.

In my case the display is the problem. I have the Dreamcolor option. It's not that it is grainy or something like that, it's sharp and contrasty. The colors are simply awesome!
On the first boot i immediately saw some halo effects on the upper screen. Later i checked the display with a white background and i saw a color shift from red to blue in the left corner. Really noticable for me and my color critical work. I called hp and today a hp repairman replaced the complete display unit. Now there are no halo effects anymore but the color gradient is now on the right side (again red-bluish) and the display itself seems to be a bit darker. Also the new display has dark corners nearly all around. Not very satisfying. On monday the display is going to be replaced again. Hope everything is fine then.

Besides the display issues this maschine is a wonderful one. It feels and looks great and the performance is impressive. (i7 4700, Quadro 2100M)
Highly recommended.

 

What about the issue that I read about where the backlit keyboard lights up after each re-boot or upon wakeup from sleep, even if you have previously turned it Off. .. Don't you find this annoying ?

BTW, do you get any high frequency buzzing noise from the DreamColot display ? Ad this was reoprted in the reiew (on notebookcheck.net) for the ZBook 17 with the 17" DreamColor display and I was wondering if you have this noise on the 15" DreamColor display ?

 

Hi, i have no buzzing noise coming from the display. At least the first display. Have to check that on the new one.

Did not notice this since i have it turned on all the time. Will try that out.

 

The replaced display is also absolutely quiet.

 

Today the display unit was replaced again. (from another repairman) The first repairman was very careful but the one today was more like a butcher. Pulling and bending the chassis just to find out that there is a screw on the back he has overseen. Terrible!
After replacing the display with a new one the blotchiness is still visible. As the first display, the new display has the color gradient on the lower left side. You can say that all three display are inhomogeneous in terms of color temperature and color reproduction. I don't know what's wrong and why THREE DISPLAYS have those issues. But i'm getting very angry. This is a nearly 3000 € Workstation and i can't work with it. The display itself alone costs around 900 € and is made for color critical work. The maschine has been disassembled completely two times now and i'm not sure if i can accept another attempt to replace the faulty display.

 

Will HP take it back and refund your money ? Does HP have an xx days of money-back return policy ?

 

As i first mentioned the issues with the display they gave me the opportunity to send it back for getting a new one or send it in for repair. Both solutions would have last for about two weeks which was no option for me since i'm actually working with the zbook. That's why i decided to buy a carepack for having a repairman doing the replacement on site. I'm not sure how many days you have to return the notebook and get full refund. I think 30. That is surely an option, but i was afraid having the same issues with the screen when getting a new one. So repairing on site and checking right after together with the repairman suited me the most. Btw the repairman said he has slightly dyschromatopsia but he was able to see the color shifting in the corners anyway.

I'm wondering if there are more users with dreamcolor panels who have unconsistent and blotchi screens?

 

The new (3rd) display seems to emit the high frequency buzzing noise. At least when i put my ear directly infront of the screen.

I made a picture of how my screen looks like when filled with a white background. Do you think this is in range of tolerance for a screen like that?

--->>> <<<---

 

Here is a photo of my 8570w Dreamcolor display on a white background. Definitely there, but I wouldn't call it unusable.

 

It's definitely usable! But i think for a workstation in this price range you can expect a flawless screen. The hp display utility shows that the display was manufactured in 2009. It's hard to believe that hp assembles a four years old display in a recently released product.

 

Maybe the inventory of hp "display" repair/replacement products were manufactured and stocked fours ago. Also, sometimes pc vendors refurbish parts and then use them as replacement parts (there is never an assurance that a repair part is "new").

.... I bet the original one that came with the Laptop was probably a more recent date.

Updated - I found this on a HP Carepack web page, regarding repair parts:
Replacement units are new or refurbished to like-new condition.

 

It is a known issue since it was released (2-3 generation ago). Some user (17") say they get one w/o tint. 15" it is definitely a wide spread problem.

 

Both of the replacement units look absolutely new, without any sigh of use and the dreamcolor sticker was missing. Anyway ... today there will be another replacement. Hopefully with a more homogenous outcome.

Unfortunately i didn't read anything about these issues before deciding to take the dreamcolor option.

 

Another issue is the temperature of the cpu. In contrast to the review at notebookcheck the temp of the I7 4700 fairly quickly climbs up to 98°C when running prime95 (In-place large FFTs). At least the second core. The fan kicks in at its fastest possible speed and noise level. The others are reaching ~ 82°C - 85°C. When rendering the cinebench benchmark the temps are reaching similar values. What about this issue? A reason for returning?

 

All of the Dreamcolor displays were manufactured in late 2009/early 2010. As other have mentioned a flawless version of this display really doesn't exist. You will have to either live with its flaws or return it, unfortunately.

 

It's a shame. Good to know for the progression of my escalated case.

Today the 4th display was replaced and tested and it was even worse. To me it's unbelievable that a manufacturer for professional workstations is not able do deliver the promised quality. An extract from the hp homepage sounds almost like a joke. "Take advantage of powerful processing and graphics, consistent color throughout your workflow, simple scalability, and the blazing-fast connectivity your team needs to perform and collaborate at the speed of creativity" "This DreamColor display is factory-calibrated for color accuracy."

I'm curious about what hp has to offer ...

 

The issue is, in fact, a simple matter of trade-off: RGB LED screens almost all and almost always have minor color (tinting) problems. It's true of RGB IPS (I have a 17" Dreamcolor) and non-IPS screens and true of high gamut (95%) screens as well (I own one of the latter type as well and I had a different one in the past).

Barring the external monitor solution, there is no way out of this predicament. The alternative involves going for a good lower-gamut TN or IPS screen, which may have a variety of other problems as well, including slight tinting in the corners and inconsistent Delta values (and may also be incompatible with some workstation models).

What the Dreamcolor / Premiercolor offers over virtually all other screens, including good TN screens and good IPS screens, is the combination of full aRGB coverage with its 10-bit color (far better than the best IPS/AHVA screens), great viewing angles (the better TNs will almost always have slight color problems even if viewed at ideal angles), and burned-in factory calibration. This is no small feat.

The issue is simply that you have to accept some imperfections, as there is no overall better solution in portables for people who do color-sensitive work (or merely enjoy a good screen).

Also, there have been worse problems which were never remedied, such as the orange 'reds' of the IPS in the Envy 15 and some Vaio models; or the very good but flickering TN LGs in the Dell M6600.