SZ Dead Pixel! Ahhh

Hello

I can't believe this. After semi restore, format, partition, install, tweaking my SZ360 I found something. I found 4 dead pixel on my screen.

I ran this program call

Dead Pixel Buddy

http://www.laptopshowcase.co.uk/downloads.php?id=1

I found 4 dead pixel on black. Not all 4 were white. I have 2 Red, 1 Blue, 1 White on a black screen.

Are dead pixel on black screen suppose to be that colour? I check on other colour like white and I only see 2 of them showing. Other colours only show 1, but on black its obviously there are 4 of them.

If you just purchase a new SZ or any Sony machine, I highly recommend running Dead Pixel Buddy.

My Samsung 225BW only has 1 and thats 22 Inch. I can't believe a 13.3 Inch has 4.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Why Sony?

 

I think you just got unlucky. I used it, and my FJ 14.1" had none, and my 19" Sony LCD had one.

 

Dead Pixel Buddy is also a good program to see the backlight bleeding I was referring in a old topic.

Change the colour to black and look at the side in a pitch black room!

 

My SZ360 has 4 dead pixels too. Terrible!

 

I've got two blue, two red.

Note that these (and those described above) are *stuck* pixels, not dead ones.. right?

 

Sony used to have a policy of more than three dead pixles in a square inch and the LCD could be replaced under the warranty. (Than means 4 stuck pixles or more) I am not sure if they have that policy anymore. The bottom line though is that stuck pixles are not uncommon and really do not adversely effect your system. Eventually as your LCD ages, stuck pixles are to be expected. Certainly they are not desired on a new system. Now, to mix this with another thread, if you had purchased additional laptop coverage from say...CompUSA or BestBuy, when you purchased your unit, you could get the LCD replaced at anytime down the road for dead pixles. Sorry about the pixles...just do not obsess over them, statistically you will have a new computer in less than 18 months. Maybe it will have one of those bendy screens or an instant on boot cycle, or solid state flash memory only...

 

From my knowledge, stuck pixel means its stuck in 1 color. Out of all the millions of colours, it stays in the same colour!

In the black image, the LCD was unable to produce the colour "Black", doesn't it make that pixel dead?

Very confuse...

 

It's my understanding that a dead pixel will always show up as black, as it's incapable of producing any light at all. Stuck pixels stay stuck producing a single color.

I had called Sony to ask about their dead pixel policy, and they said that LCDs are evaluated on a case-to-case basis. The fellow I spoke with mentioned that LCDs are more likely to be replaced if they have 'clusters' of dead or stuck pixels.

 

Did you buy it at a SonyStyle retail store? When I purchased my SZ160 I inquired what would happen if I found any dead or stuck pixels and I was told on two different occasions that it would be replaced with a new unit if any were found within the 2 week exchange policy. At the time the SonyStyle retail stores only did replacements, no refunds like the SonyStyle online store.

 

I got my SZ at a retail store and looking at the receipt it says I have 20 days exchange to refund.

I got it on Oct 27 so I still have like 2 more weeks.

I have 1 pixel that shows up as nothing in all 5 colours (Red, blue, green, white black). That one is dead for sure.

Is there anything I can fix a stuck pixel?

I spend all my money on this laptop and I really want a perfect one.

 

If you google this topic, you'll come up with a few fixes people have posted about stuck pixels ---- they all seem scary to try (and can, apparently, result in more stuck pixels), but some people have reported success in using them. One involves putting pressure on the pixel during boot up, and the other involves a program that quickly cycles colors in hopes of waking the stuck pixel up.

I wanted a perfect SZ too, so all the small-ish problems I have with mine are pretty irritating ---- you have my sympathy.

 

Ya I search on google and found some links to about stuck pixel.

The process seems really scary and I don't want to risk it.

I kinda regret running Dead Pixel Buddy. I was somewhat satisfied with my SZ but ... sigh ...

 

Get your money back or exchange for a new one. Get the perfect one, for the amount spent, you should not have any issues.
So far, my SZ260 has none of the symptoms of the common SZ problems. Knock on wood.

 

Yeah i started to DL the program and stopped. I am happy with my SZ and havent havent noticed any dead/stuck pixels during normal use so ide rather not know.

 

Very wise decision. Just don't let curiosity get the best of you.

 

After reading on Wikipedia, I am sure I have 1 dead pixel, 3 stuck pixel.

According to Wikipedia.org the follow method can fix stuck pixel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuck_pixel

Has anyone try this before?

 

it seem unlucky to get those dead pixel. I bought more than 400+ LCD & laptop for my companies throughout the past 6 years and the only 1 time I encountered 2 dead pixels was an ASUS laptop. Hoping that my new SZ360P/C won't encounter this problem also. Different manufactures have different policy about replacing the LCD of dead pixel. Some will do it if there are more than 5 dead pixels and some will replace it right away. The company I work for bought a lot of Dell so we have special account and they'll replace it for us no matter what. The best is to call Sony and talk to their tech people and sometime you might encounter some customer service person that they'll replace it 4 u. I know it take a long time to get through to them or just get a replacement from the retail store where u bought it. Let us all know if u decide 2 call Sony support with the result. Thks in advance.

 

From what Sony told me, all issues regarding stuck/dead pixels on the LCD are immediately thrown up to the tier 2 techs for evaluation ---- probably b/c it's a common complaint (given how common stuck/dead pixels are on LCD components).

I'd be happy if I *only* had pixel problems. I still have this annoying LCD buzz (when set to anything other than max power --- haven't found another SZ owner iwth this issue yet) and a slightly less-than-perfect keyboard. If I could get the LCD buzz fixed, I'd be absolutley happy with this machine --- with it, I dunno.... I'm hesitant to send it into sony for, oh, service number 3 since I've owned it.

 

I feel exactly the same.

 

I got my SZ360 on Monday and saw a bright white stuck pixel as soon as I turned it on in the center bottom of the screen. I turned it back off and promptly sent it back to Amazon and am awaiting another one...

 

About your SZ being perfect except for the pixels?

I didn't notice my stuck pixels until I tried play halflife 2 ---- hadn't noticed them at all until then.

 

Vaio FJ is a low-end one, but screen quality is much better than SZ: bright, true color and no dead pixel at all.

 

This reminds me of when I bought my Sony PSP and finding all those dead/lit pixels. I got over it, and I had cluster of cluster of pixels all over the screen.

Personally, I'm not sure how I'd feel about finding a dead pixel on a notebook I just bought (especially if it costs a bit).

I'm pretty sure I have a few on my 17" Sony XBRITE LCD Monitor that I'm using now for my VAIO Desktop, and it doesn't bother me a bit...hopefully the smaller 13.3 screen won't make it unbearably noticeable.

The method used to try and "unstick" stuck pixels is to rapidly flash a sequence of colors constantly for a definite amount of time. People have came away with mixed results when using it as far as I'm aware.

 

Let me guess ... one of the results were intense seizures .

 

Well I just return exchange my SZ360 today. Turns out Sony consider all those as stuck pixel.

Seems like the Sony sales refuse to exchange, he thinks it is a very minor problem. “Stuck pixel”.

The Sony sales said I was took "picky" about the stuck pixel and its hardly noticeable. The salesmen even said, "If next laptop has a stuck pixel, there is no way they are exchanging because that is just too picky"

Seriously, who says that to their customers? Calling them picky? That really really piss me off.

If you were “ME”, would you exchange for a new laptop consider it is still within the exchange time frame.

 

Well, salespersons who are rather dissatisfied with the state of their lives often make it their policy to take their frustration out on the customers.

A Sony laptop is a ridiculously expensive item. I'd say it is something worth being "picky" over.

Good luck! Don't give up!

 

Never give up!

 

So did they let you exchange it this one time? I would make them turn on the laptop before you take it out of the store next time.

When they said you are being too "picky", you should have asked for a manager. When you spend that much on a laptop the sales people should do anything to make you happy. Its not like anything is coming out of their pocket if you exchange it.

 

Exactly, thats how I feel too. They have nothing to lose and yet they have to piss their customers off.

If this one turns out to be "sh*t", I mind as well refund it and buy it off PortableOne or Dynamism.

At least I know for a fact P1 / Dynamism actually have good customer service.

Funny thing the salesmen said was "Oh don't trust the people online, they are stupid. And don't read what people post online, they are not true."

I trust the people online (NBR readers) more than I trust the Sony salesmen. LOL

 

This was at a Sony store?

 

This is tricky. I agree with you that when you buy something this expensive, you should be getting the product that you invested in at "new conditon." However, pixles are a funny thing. I do not know exactly how many you have on the SZ screen, but up to a certain number, I think that stuck pixles are considered acceptable by Sony and all notebook manufacturers. Pixles also will become stuck throughout the life of the unit. When you drop it or bang it or the luggage handler in the airport bumps it into someone elses in the x-ray machine. At some point if we demand 100% quality assurance that there will never be a dead pixle on a what is probably the best LCD screen manufactured today, Sony would just say that it is prohibitively expensive and make more durable less colorful screens. So we may end up getting exactly what we are asking for, perfect, heavy amber screens. I don't know. I have not run pixle buddy on my screen. I love it, I love the color and I travel with it ALL THE TIME. I am sure that it has lost a few in the process and I know that when it effects my work or my enjoyment of watching a movie on it I'll take it back, but not for 5 disparate pixles that I have to use a program to notice.

 

No way, get you money back and take your bussiness to one of the shops you mentioned.
Never let any retailer treat you that way, they kiss your ass when it comes to sales but dump on you for other issues.

 

I definitely agree that the salesperson's attitude, as reported by Ch28Kid, is pretty unacceptible.

Wikipedia has some info on dead/stuck pixels --- the same page links to a slightly older page on Tom's Hardware that investigated particular companies policies for exchanging LCD's based on the number of dead pixels.

It's interesting to note that people who have LCD televisions deal with the same issues regarding dead pixels --- and the consensus is that dead/stuck pixels are, in fact, common. Also interesting to note that if you have a single dead/stuck pixel on your Nintendo DS, they'll offer you an exchange, no questions asked.

 

I took this directly from Tomshardware and thats exactly what I want to say.

When customers buy products, they don't expect to know everything about the technology or excuse its failings. Nor should they have to distinguish a defective red pixel from a blue, or a lit from an unlit one. A defective pixel is a defective pixel, period. Especially since these monitors, even if they are cheaper than they were, are still very expensive. Refusing to reply or whining about technical difficulties will not do. Nobody would accept faulty components when buying an automobile or a motherboard, both very complex pieces of equipment, just because they were told, "Well you know, sir, you always get flaws with electronics."

Having to own 2 Sony laptop (R050 T150), 1 Fujitus and 1 17 and 22 Inch LCD, I have never seen so many stuck pixel in my life. And I like what tomshardware said:

Why should I settle for some crappy LCD screen when I could get a better one? One of the main reason I want to my forth laptop to be Sony is because LCD screen and Intel Core2.

I already experience some problems with keyboard keys, electrical current running on my left hand and other minor problems. Have 5 defective pixel is just not acceptable on a 1200 * 800 screen.

And Yes, all the things I said happy at a local Sony store.

And Yes, the Nintendo DS dead pixel is exchanging because my best friend exchange hers for a brand new one.

 

Take it back, keep returning them until you get a perfect one.It would be a cold day in hell before I kept a 2 or 3k computer with a defective screen.And one dead pixel is more than enough for me to return it.

 

Those salesperson r an as* indeed. Just return the product to them and buy it from some where else. Don't take shi* from no salespersons, u r paying 4 product. Remember "Customer r always right", customers r the 1 that actually paying for their salary. If I were u I would talk to the manager about it also. Enjoy your new laptop

 

Yes they are stuck, not dead pixels. Dead pixels are either black or white and cannot be revived but stuck ones have a chance to turn back to normal.

 

I <3 Nintendo!!!

 

My LCD have been replaced twice already (including once of whole-computer-replacement) due to display issue. It's not exactly dead "pixels" but dark spots sized around 3X3 pixles. Sony said this happens because of the heat from the light at the bottom of the screen.
Unfortunately, it just happened again to my new screen which I have been using for no more than 2 month. I am really starting to lose my believe of Sony Quality.

 

Don't know if I was brave or stupid ... but I ran Dead Pixel Buddy on my New SZ3 straight out from the box and FOUND!!!!


... No dead/stuck pixels ... *phew* what a relief.

 

Lucky you..

I still don't have my SZ yet... this exchange process is taking sooooooooooooooooooo long.

Why Sony Canada always so slow. They are already behind in technology (like new models)....

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

Well, we can comiserate together. Sony is holding my SZ too.

 

I could probably live with one dead pixel, not sure about four.

 

After 1 week of waiting, Sony finally call me this afternoon and said my SZ360 is here!

This time i was prepare with Flash Memory drive with "Dead Pixel Buddy". I went to the store and this time I was the nice sales lady who gave me discount + change date so I can get free Vista upgrade.

I was so scared to run "Dead Pixel Buddy" because I was afraid of getting Stuck/Dead Pixel.

I ran Pixel Buddy with my fingers cross, and "phew"

I have no dead pixel nor stuck pixel.

Now I am making a recovery discs for this new SZ and getting ready to do a semi format AGAIN.

I also check if this model had the tingle thingy and so far I can't feel anything. SO HAPPY!

I'M SO HAPPY!!

 

Hey Ch28Kid,

That is fantastic news!!!

Keep smiling

 

Have you received your replacement SZ360 yet? I'm curious to find out how you fared with the replacement unit.

 

Wow -- talk about things working out!

 

glad to hear sony came through

 

We couldn't tell!

 

Good to hear Ch28Kid!!! It really get's me mad at all these currupt people. I would honestly complain about that sales guy. Someone should record the whole conversation on tape for evidence. When you pay that much, you deserve what you paid for.