Another DV2000T, SEC/QDS saga

I had a QDS and exchanged it due to an unrealted problem. I could smack myself for having done so! Had I known then what I do now about the SEC screen, I'd have done a repair. Because as someone who has now spent a couple of weeks with each screen, I can tell you the quality difference is night and day. Narrow viewing angle (the worst part), poor color saturation, too dim to be seen in bright light.

Stand-alone LCD monitors are often defined by the panel's mfr -- my Viewsonic VX2025 has an AU Optronics panel; it would not be a VX2025 with a Samsung panel! This isn't like HP using a different drive maker with a millisecond slower access speed; it's a radical alteration of the computer's basic functionality. And if a non-SEC panel goes bad, would they expect the owner to accept a replacement SEC panel as functionally equivalent?? I would hope not.

HP offered me another DV2000T. It should be here Monday. They could not guarantee which screen I would get. If it's another SEC it goes back, again, this time for a refund, and with lesson learned.

 

Hey keltor, I hear you man. I'm in the same situation like you. I'm in the process of replacing my laptop for the 3rd time. I don't see anything out there I'd like to have other than the DV2000T. I believe this is a great laptop for a great price, if it had the right screen.
I hate having to return the laptop first to get a replacement since I need it for school, so what I do is I buy another one and once I receive the new one I return the old one.
I'm being very patient and hopefully that'll pay off once I get the new replacement.

 

HP sales did promise a QDS screen on the first CTO order! I verified this before ordering with two separate sales supervisors, and was told I would definitely receive the QDS screen, that I "...did not have to worry about it at all." One supervisor said he had noted it on the order personally. This was HP India, judging by the accent.

My next communication was with HP USA. They told me there was no way to make such a request, no way to send a note to the factory. I would get whatever screen was being used that day. I could return it if it was unsatisfactory, but might get the SEC screen again.

This utter BS from HP India has had no effect on HP customer service's response. They act as though they could care less.

 

just want to know, did you took the free upgrade for the brightview one? or you just stick with the original one? i took the free upgrade and i got SEC. Darn it. Does anyone know what should i do to ask them to change my screen? (return it or what?) But then again, since i purchased it using a 15% off coupon, i have to pay more if i purchase another one (the coupon expired already).

Is there any way to ask them for exchange? (if you do know, could you please tell me the phone number + extension and who should i talk to)

I suspect by selecting the FREE upgrade to Brightview, you will get the SEC one. But I cannot say for sure unless I purchase a new one and not choosing the free upgrade.


-FREE Upgrade to 14.1" WXGA BrightView Widescreen!!
BrightView improves color contrast in your images and video

-14.1" WXGA Widescreen (1280x800)

 

Well all I know is I have no issues with returning a PC if their policy is nice about it. Maybe they'll get the hint and offer the better screens, but my guess is only a couple % of people even notice, let alone bother with it.

 

I went for the "free brightview". I received the LG screen though. I guess it does depend on which screen the factory uses that day.

 

i am in the same boat as you, but only with a dell e1405 instead (didnt like all the shiney stuff going on with the dv2000, originally wanted a dv1000t... ANYWAY). so yeah, i'm in the process of possibly getting a 3rd e1405 (had one replacement after the original, now considering giving it one more run with the current 30% off coupon from dell). already had two SEC (samsung) panels, and even had an in home tech come out to replace the panel... and of course he showed up with another samsung D:

just to let you know tho, when i was shopping for another potential notebook (after receiving my first dell with the samsung panel), and considering the dv2000t/v3000t again, i went in a store and got to see a non-samsung panel (i believe it was LPL (lg) or AUO) in a dv2000 next to a samsung panel in the larger screen model... WOW was it a difference - the non-samsung panel didnt have any of the issues i have experienced with my dells. the sad thing for me tho (good for you) is that hp seems to be using a number of different panels from different manufacturers, whereas dell is moving towards ONLY using samsung (before it was lg + samsung).

these laptops are great for the price, just sad that they make us play the panel lottery :/

 

I got my new DV2000T last week and I'm happy to say that my patience paid off. I received a QDS screen and I'm very happy with it. What a difference.
Hopefully this is it for me and I won't need to exchange the laptop again. So far everything looks good.

 

I got a SEC, and it is good to me. I don't have any problems and it is better than Sony XBRITE

 

I have a LG Phillips screen. Is it good? As i havent got the chance to compare to others yet.

 

Yes, LG screens are very nice. MUCH MUCH better than SEC screens.

 

Umm.. how do you tell which one you have?

I haven't got mine yet.. so if it's something obvious, like something on the screen, don't laugh.

 

i just placed an order for a cto dv2000t, which screen mfg's should i be avoiding? From what i understand.. Everything is good except for SEC? Which screen is the best? QDS?

 

SEC = Dim crap. Should be pulled from the market.

QDS and AUO are now the same companies, and in my view they're basically the same. I've got an AUO screen in my dv2035us, and it's MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better than the SEC screen I had in my dv1000t. Very clear and bright.

 

thanks, hopefully i dont get the SEC screen, if i do i will try to exchange it. How do you like the AUO screen, is it hard seeing things ont he screen during the day? Is the screen bright enough?

 

I've had QDS, SEC and LPL. I would have been happy with QDS or LPL -- each had its strengths. I kept the LPL for the smooth, remarkably "crystalline sparkle"-free display. Better in this regard even than my desktop's beautiful P-MVA panel (an AUO btw). This may explain why LPL does pure white breathtakingly well... I mentioned earlier the white horse Shadowfax in Lord or the Rings TT, but a white flower or shirt or dress should do. This is certainly not meant to knock the QDS in the least. It's the tradeoff I preferred; your taste may differ.

None of the screens will be easy use in bright light, though not impossibly so.

I highly recommend the Nvidia video for the additional color control flexibilty and Purevideo.

 

i guess i couldnt be asking for so much, alot of laptops have a hard time displaying stuff under bright lighting situations. The dv2000t seems like a good buy though, cannot wait until i receive mine. Hopefull i wont have to return the darn thing.

 

Well, I rarely use my dv2035us outside, but, I have a few times, and I can still see the screen. Not as well as indoors, but it was still visible.

And yeah, it's bright enough. Not as bright as my LCD desktop monitor, but it's bright enough for a notebook screen.

Here's the difference between SEC and AUO screens:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b53/Seattle360/SEC-AUO.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b53/Seattle360/SEC-AUO1.jpg

SEC on the left, AUO on the right.

Not the best example, but it shows the suck-tastic qualities of the SEC screen pretty well.

 

I love my SEC that came with DV9000t, I have SEC 3947.

 

it would be ncie and super helpful if people could post pics of their monitors, and specify the mfg.

 

Mine are posted two posts above.

However, getting a 'comparison' may be hard, because some people may not have another notebook screen to compare it to.

An SEC screen may look good in a picture by itself, but next to a better screen, it may not.

Hopefully others with two different screen types will post more pics like mine.

 

your pictures really helped though, i will be ordering my dv2000t soon.. I saw one at bestbuys today.. it had an LG phillips screen, boy was it nice!

 

Good luck on the screen!

While I've never seen an LG Phillips screen or QDS, I've heard lots of good things about them. AUO I've seen and own, and it rocks. QDS and AUO are basically pretty much the same, or should be, since QDS is owned by AUO.

SEC is by far the worst attempt at a screen, ever. HP should really stop using them.

 

my SEC screen ;

 

Man, that looks great!

I can't believe it's SEC. My dv1000's SEC screen looks like complete crap next to that...

 

it is SEC, that came with dv9000t, I believe, you guys suffering from SEC screens only in dv1000&2000 models.

What was your exact model ? SEC 4242 ?

I have SEC 3947.

addition to that, this is Ultra BrightView.

 

thanks for the reply/pics, your SEC screen looks great. But then that is for the 9000 model.