Any pics / Youtube videos of base Alienware 13??

I want to see how the 1366x768 screen looks. I've heard it's bad, but like how bad... I thought the M11x screen was decent. I've searched and searched and I haven't seen any reviews with the base panel. Everyone got 1080p or higher. (So that's probably a sign on the quality of the panel, right? ;-)

Reasoning is when eBay has an eBay bucks discount you can grab a refurb base model for about $700. To get a 1080p model, it is usually a couple hundred more.

I just want to know if the TN panel would be okay for some basic use. At home I might have it plugged into a 1080p monitor anyway.

Thanks!

 

1366x768 panels have a repuation for just being downright bad in all regards. I'm not surprised people are avoiding it and I would too.

 

I have an AW13 with the 768 panel. Anything specific you'd like me to answer?

I also have an m11x r3 and while they're the same resolution, I don't get as immediately frustrated with it on the 13" for some reason. (I can't rationally explain it, but perhaps it's because i'm only doing light web surfing on the 13 vs real work (excel) on the 11).
It is a matte finish, it's absolutely a TN (not IPS), and you get what you pay for (base model) but I think it's a...decent(for lack of a better word).... entry level screen.

Personally though, I would save money for the 1080p. Unless you won't be keeping this thing long, there's no way 768 will be "acceptable" in 3 years and the only real reason I'm upgrading from the M11x r3 is because I'm infuriated with the mass amounts of scrolling required. In almost every other respect besides raw performance, i like my 11 better, no contest.

I had my Red m11xr3 side by side with the 13 in Frys and 3 people came up and asked where I got the 11 clutched in my hand, completely ignoring the 13 on the fancy pedestal. That's bad.

In regards to the 13, I also echo the sentiments of pretty much everyone else here, that Alienware has lost its "magic". You don't get the awesome paint schemes (soft-touch red just is soo much better, even the soft-touch black seems more classy even though the edges are starting to peel on my m17x), you don't get the name plate (yes, useless, probably horrible for logistics, but it was something for bragging rights and totally awesome), and while you can get LED color on the back panel now (vs the white-only alien head of the 11, losing the front grills and little touches like the alien eyes for the HDD monitor are...disappointing to say the least.

I also really don't like the clickpad, I'll happily sacrifice touchpad area for actual mouse buttons. To be honest, I'm 70/30 going to just return this thing and the biggest complaint I have is the stupid crappy clickpad that can't figure out clicks for anything, and instead warps the mouse to some unknown part of the screen when a 2nd finger gets close, usually dragging something with it...Flipping horrible for a gaming laptop when I'm trying to play a game and all of a sudden I'm pointing at the ground shooting my feet. ARGH. (Big irrational rage quit topic for me, this stupid, useless, crappy clickpad idiotic nonsense.)

As a general rule in life for me, buying the base model anything is usually something i try to avoid. All it is, is something that the company can put together for the lowest possible cost, and it pretty much always shows.
My recommendation is keep the 11 around a little longer, save a little more for the 1080p screen and I think you'll like it better.

But anyway, yes, the 13" 768 matte screen doesn't seem as inherently annoying as the 11" glossy for some reason. Most likely that's because for the few days I've been using it I haven't installed excel/work stuff yet, but I'm sure it would be just as bad, it just has to be. Even if you're going to have it hooked to an external monitor most of the time, I'd still think the ~$150 bump is worth it.

If you need any pics just let me know. I'll probably be returning this soon for the upgraded screen now that the 960m is out myself.
Cheers,

 

Thank you very much for your time in writing that great post!

Unfortunately I already pulled the trigger because eBay had an eBay bucks sale. I think I got a decent deal though; 8gb/1tb for about $650 after the discount.

We'll see what I think of it!

 

Many pictures of the different angles and a side by side with another display would be cool

 

I've always recommended to upgrade the screen on our laptops, it contributes a lot to a great gaming experience.

 

I have access to a 960m powered 1440p AW13 as well as a 860m powered 786 AW13 and thought you might be interested to see the differences in the screens, at least as best as my camera phone will allow.

Can you tell which screen is which?







In case anyone is interested, here's the details.
Both screen are max brightness on battery power only.
For color reference:
This is the picture, as shown in IE full screen more: http://www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/thailand_beach_sunset-wide.jpg
The "alienware" name on the screen in Green (7th position from black clockwise on the color wheel) is on the 1440p screen
The "alienware" name on the screen in Purple/Blue (1st position from black counter-clockwise on the color wheel) is for the 768p screen.

Yes, my camera phone isn't great, but it's all I've got. If anyone has any specific requests just let me know.
Size restraints means I can't upload all the photos, but I think you'll get the gist.

If anyone as any specific requests while I have access to both just let me know and I'll try to accommodate.


Cheers

 

For mobile users, like me, 1440p has a higher color contrast than 768p, which helps with gaming in bringing out colors to what the player can see vibrantly.
Your photos do no justice in depicting the blurriness 768p has, compared to 1440p. 768p has a smaller DPI value than 1440p, significantly. It is like comparing the blurriness on both the Android 2.3.3 4-inch Gingerbread phone and an Android 5.1 KitKat 5.5-inch phone.

 

Yup, I messed up. The TN screen is pretty bad. Any place that will replace it?

 

You would need to check if it's possible, then check your cable and upgrade it if needed (most likely) then get the right panel.

Most places wont touch it.