Dead Pixels?

I'm going to be completely honest, I have never had a dead pixel on any LCD monitor, not even a stuck pixel.

When choosing "0 dead pixel insurance" on Sager customs, I understand that my order will be checked thoroughly for dead pixels before shipping. Doesn't this mean that those who save the $60 for something else are much more likely to end up with a rejected panel?

Furthermore, if I choose not to pay the $60, and I get a screen with a stuck (not dead) pixel, how likely is it that I'll be able to fix it by the normal methods?

I know that there are a lot of threads about dead pixel insurance, but I'm more concerned with the statistics of it than the legal functions.

 

I agree that the probability of getting a dead/stuck-pixel LCD is higher than in a situation where warranty selection would not be offered.

You could try the following approach described here:
Fix Stuck Pixel on LCD monitor - YouTube

I was able to defeat a blue stuck pixel with this software along with screen massaging albeit after a longer amount of time than in the video. The stuck pixel seems to be back lately, it could be flickering now.

If you are not money strapped and cannot live with such a pixel you could buy the warranty.

 

you can always just return the laptop if it has a dead pixel, although you have to pay for shipping.

 

Yeah, and then the shipping more than accounts for the $60, and doesn't guarantee a perfect screen the second time.

I feel like a gambler here.

 

yeah, but if the screen is fine, or you are able to fix it, like most people then you save 60 bucks.

 

Tbh my first p170em which I returned for other reasons, before I got another one from a different reseller with a 7970m had stuck pixels, which would go if u touch the screen where the stuck pixel was, and after a while one stuck pixel would never show up again but another would take its place... with my new model I decided it's worth the few quid on ensuring that something this expensive doesn't have defects, it'd drive me mad if I knew I had this top end machine with dead pixels on it.... worth every penny imo

 

The insurance is just that insurance. It is there to give you a piece of mind. I am on my third Sager / Clevo. I had never purchased the insurance until this one that is on order. Never had a problem, yet at this time I just would rather pay it and let them literally go over the screen with a magnifying glass and make sure that the screen is good to go. I just don't want to deal with paying for shipping if needs be. For laptops at this price I want it to work.

 

I have debated this for a while. In the end I decided that If I go through with the build I have put together I will be getting the no dead pixel insurance policy. The peace of mind is worth it to me. Will I end up with a dead pixel? Probably not. But in the unlikely event that I do I know I'll be beating up myself up for not getting the extra insurance. The shipping costs would probably end up being the same as the insurance anyways if I had to return it.

 

That right there is the great thing about it. I chatted with XoticPC about this and they do literally go over the monitor with a magnifying glass and look over the entire monitor. Does it mean you wont get one? Nope, but it should lower the chance. You are right about the shipping.

Piece of mind is the main reason for me as well.

 

Dead pixels are rare but they do happen. The best thing you can do is to get the 60 day 0 dead pixel guarantee. We'll do our best to make sure there are not any when it ships and if any develop within the first 60days we'll fix it.

 

If the shipping cost is the same as the dead pixel warranty, why buy it? If you get a dead pixel, the cost is the same. If you don't your still out the same amount. I would think about it if the shipping cost was significantly higher, but not if it is the same or lower. That is why Warren Buffet, he of the incredible stock portfolio, invests so heavily in Geico ins.

Insurance is good, in many cases. But at the same cost as shipping, no way. I have never seen a dead pixel on any of my machines since the 90's (although my wife says that is more a function of my lack of vision).

In short, if it is the same cost to insure as to ship it back, save the money. If it is fine, you save. If not, then you spend the $60. But don't spend it in advance. Money save is money earned. Bank on it.

 

@Abidderman

You are right in that way of thinking and it is why this is a piece of mind type thing for me.

Personally if I am going to spend this kind of money and have this kind of wait on a system, the LAST thing I want is to have to send it back and not have it for a week or more. By getting this extra, it is likely that there will not be a dead or stuck pixel.

It is a personal preference, but the way I always look at things is that I can always get more money, not so with time.

 

Yeah, I see it. I missed the part about them going over it before hand to make extra sure it didn't have a dead pixel. I get it now.

 

I talked to a few tech specialists about this same topic, before I ordered my Sager NP9170. What they told me is:
There are MILLIONS of pixels on your screen. Many people have dead pixels and NEVER even know it. You have to decide if throwing $60 into an already very expensive computer for piece of mind is worth it.

 

The reason to buy it is that you can't send stuff back for dead pixels, you need to have a certain amount of them before it's considered faulty, unless your retailer has a different policy, but it's standard within the eu that you'd need at least 3 dead pixels.

 

Sager notebooks have a 30 day no questions asked return policy. All you'll lose is the cost of return shipping, which shouldn't be more than $30.

 

Ahhh ok I'm in the UK and I don't think anyone has a policy like that, fair enough though! You probably won't develop dead pixels over time anyway, it's normally something from manufacturing faults.

 

I went through 3 bad panels in 1 year. First LCD had dead pixel, Replacement had a dead pixel (that's after Xotic's supposed rigorous testing), Third started to develop excessive light bleeding in the corner. Fourth is holding up now... That's within 1 year of owning laptop.

 

I have never ever had a dead pixel before and I finally get a perfect machine from Malibal with dead pixels.

 

^ My first 3 dead pixels were on my first original PSP which I promptly returned the next day.

 

Oooh! Good one. That's true. I owned three PSPs (original) all with at least 2 dead pixels. I completely forgot about those. Seems like ages ago. The same goes with all the PSPs my friends have. I think that was just Sony skimping on parts. I haven't seen a PSP without one and my friends and I had at least 1 each.

To update my dead pixel issue, luckily my P170EM was bought from Malibal. That means unconditional customer support. I didn't buy the additional zero dead pixel warranty, mind you.

I emailed them with two attached pics of the dead pixel cluster, they emailed me back as soon as their office opened. They'll be sending me a new screen with instructions on how to swap it out per my request. I can't live without my laptop at the moment. Otherwise sending it back for replacement and getting it back, both at their expense, would be no problem. I completely trust them seeing that my laptop got to me quickly and without any "mishandling" unlike *ahem*ALIENWARE*ahem*.

 

I have heard similar reasoning before and I personally don't understand it. This is a laptop screen that people will likely be staring at for a few hours a day. I highly doubt that to many people, especially people buying a custom laptop like this, a dead pixel would go unnoticed FOREVER. I have had them on devices myself. Now, to some people it may not matter having a dead pixel because it just doesn't bother them that much. That I can believe because not everyone is the same. I know that to me a dead pixel is like a bug bite...fine until I notice it and then it bugs me like crazy and I can't ignore it.

In the end I'd rather not spend the $60, but the alternative is more annoying. The fact that I can't just go into a retail store and exchange it is what does it, otherwise I wouldn't worry about it because I could get a new one fairly hassle free.

My very long winded 2 cents on that Maybe I'm just trying to convince myself the $60 is worth it