1280x800 Dell screen really that bad?

I am going to buy a Vostro 1500, with the non-True Life 1280x800 screen.
After searching a bit on the internet, I heard that Dell's lower-resolution screens tend to be grainy.

Now comes the question whose answers will decide whether I buy this computer or not: is the grain really that bad? I don't mind if the picture is not perfect, as long as I can view pictures and videos with okay quality.

Can anyone answer this question, or link to some picture that shows how bad the grain is.

Thanks in advance!

 

The Grain is really subjective it seems, I had grain on my Inspiron 1520 which i sent out yesterday to get a screen replacement it all depends on what screen u get. Mine came with the infamous SEC 3350 Samsung screen and it wasnt really as bad as some people's but it was irritating enough to get it replaced.

AJ

 

i agree....after all dell doesnt manufacture the screens.....they are ordered from some other company.....so the real quality of ur screen depends on the OEM supplier rather than dell.......in my inspiron 1420 i got a true life screen.....i donno the manufacturer........
how do u find the manufacturer of the screen......i tried everest but it didnt provide me.........???

 

I understand.
And does Dell replace screens that are too grainy free-of-charge?

 

If you whine enough.

 

Yes.

Although you can get them to replace the whole system if it's within 21 days of purchase (since you can return it for a refund), which I highly recommend you do if it has a grainy screen since a dell engineer wrecked my system (scratches on the surface from a screwdriver) when they replaced a grainy screen before and their engineers have a bad reputation.

 

So there are some screens at 1280x800 resolution that are not that grainy, and if I'm lucky the first time or try hard enough, I might get one of those?

Also, if I get one of the more grainy screens, how bad is it really? Pictures would be nice, if someone has that.

 

Unfortunately, graininess is impossible to show in photos, it simply doesn't show up.

How bad is it? Well, that depends on the exact screen you get. On the first 1520 I had (returned because of CPU whine) I got a samsung lcd with some graininess but I would have been happy to keep it because it wasn't too bad. But then I got 2 AUO panels in a row and they were just awful, 3 times worse than the samsung, so I immediately requested a refund and learnt my lesson

 

The samsung screens were the grainy ones and I thought I read on the board that dell is no longer using Samsung

 

That only concerns the m1530 and in particular the highest available resolution screen AFAIK.

 

This is exactly why I dont let the Dell technicians (usually contractors) touch my own laptop. At work its a different story, but with my M1730 - I wont let em near it.

My account manager knows this, so just sends me out the part and I fit it myself. They forgot to put the Physx processor in my system, so they just sent me one and I put it in myself.

Under normal situations they say this viods the warrenty. But as long as you're careful and dont damage anything when installing the part, how are they to know you've opened the system? My account manager always gets any warrenty issues through for me anyway, since he knows I open my system up etc, so Im not too bothered.

 

Thanks for your help guys (and gals).
I think I will buy the matte screen and hope for the best. If I don't like it I will return it.

But, from what I've gathered, it is at least possible of getting a matte screen with okay grain for Dell Vostro, as it all boils down to manufacturer?
Please confirm this, because if that is the case I think taking a chance will be worth it.

 

Apparently I heard that Dell has discontinued the samsung screen in all resolutions . The LG screen seemed to get good raps

 

That's not for the Vostro 1500 though, not according to a previous poster.

Which are the good and bad brands when it comes to Vostro screens?

 

It seems to me as if Dell uses LG models on their WXSGA+ screens. When I ordered my Vostro 1500 with WXSGA+ a couple of weeks ago, it came with a LG screen. The screen looked amazing but had a stuck pixel. Dell sent me a replacement system, which I just received yesterday, and it came with the LG screen again. This time it's flawless and I am a happy Vostro 1500 owner!

 

Isn't the reflections from the TrueLife monitors awful though?

 

It depends on your needs really, and that's what it comes down to beyond what some people will tell you. I won't use it outside in the sun as much, and I do graphic design. I love the deeper colors with TrueLife. I also will do a bit of gaming.

If you are going to use it outside or in a lot of lighted situations, then yes, maybe TrueLife isn't for you. But if you are inside, you can position yourself to not have lights reflecting off the screen.

Bottom line, what will you use the notebook for, and under what types of lighting conditions? TrueLife screens will definitely reflect, but as I'm typing this, I am having no problems. I am inside my house, and the lighting is in front of me. It's your call.

 

I will not use it outside much, but I would like it to be at least a little visible when exposed with overcast/sun. Simply put, I want to be able to write an occasional e-mail in a car, even if it means reflections.

Though, I WILL be using the laptop mainly as a stationary computer, but I will move it around in various rooms and apartments. I have windows in all of these rooms, and some with direct sunlight. I expect the screen not to reflect too much even if in a room with white walls and sunshine coming in through the window.

I have nothing against turning away the computer from light sources, but I don't want to see myself in the screen each time I sit in a light room.

There are a lot of TrueLife pictures that look terrible on the internet, but these seem to be extremities. If someone could give me some pics of their TrueLife-monitor in various lighting conditions, I would be very thankful. Plus, people with the same questions as I would benefit from it.

 

I wouldn't worry about the grain if you're getting a matte screen.

Grain is the side-effect of the coating and even then, I have not seen many XGA screens with grain problem.

just get it, enjoy it.

 

That's what I'm thinking. It can't be that bad, and it serves it's purpose of being able to use the computer in all kinds of environment.

But I still want to know for sure, and further comments are therefore appreciated.

 

If I get my system back from the depot, and the tech who worked on it managed to scratch the laptop can i compain and just get a whole new lappy?. by the time i get the system back it will most likely be passed the 21 day return period.

Thanks

 

Why get a whole new laptop? You mentioned earlier that you only wanted the screen replaced.

I don't think you can return it, unless you have proof that the tech scratched it. I always take photos when I pack/unpack products, so that I have evidence if any techs mess up.

 

I know i posted earlier that i was sending the lappy in to get a new LCD... im just worried that the Dell techs will scratch my laptop... i'll update when i get my laptop back.. =)

Thanks

 

If you want to be sure, take photos when unboxing, and you will not have to worry about evidence if they screw up.

 

I have made three pictures of my desktop with increasing degrees of gaussian noise added through photoshop. This is to replicate a grained look. What I want to know is which of these that looks the most like the grain you can get on screens.

1: http://bayimg.com/gAJAkaAbb
2: http://bayimg.com/gajaLAabB
3: http://bayimg.com/GaJAmaaBb

In my opinion, 1 and 2 is okay. 3 is a bit much.
Which of these resembles a grainy display the most?

Thanks in advance

EDIT: If you're wondering, bayimg is like a swedish imageshack, so nothing to be alarmed of if you don't recognize the adress.

 

I've got a Vostro 1500 with a matte 1280x800 screen.

The panel is the LPL0201 from LG and the brightness and colors are very good.

I can see no grain, but the viewing angles are pretty limited... but i guess that's what you get with 1280x800.

Apart from the viewing angles it's a good display, can't tell you anything about the matte 1280x800 AUO or Samsung screens though... they are probably not as good with colors and brightness.

 

IMO none of them do. The grainy Dell screens have a grayish look or a sparkly look. Your pictures all look bright and have clear colors - not grayish.

 

I see, but is the graininess in itself comparable with any of these pictures?

That info really helps.
Let's hope I get an LG screen then, if not I will complain until I get one.
The people at marketing says that they don't think the computers come with AUO screens anymore anyway.

 

None of those look anything like graininess really.

Grain is most noticeable on white backgrounds and makes the white look grey/sparkly/grainy/very unclear.

It's like seeing everything through a layer of unclearness, if that makes sense.

 

I won't be sending my Vostro back if it arrives today with a grainy screen.

Ignorance is bliss.

 

I see. Doesn't sound so bad considering the only white stuff I can think of is the web browser background.
So with other darker colors the grain is not very annoying?

 

On black backgrounds I never used to notice it, it's mainly anything white that will show it very clearly, however, once you know what it looks like you can see it on any colour, except black in my experience.

 

Ok, but that's mostly from your experience with the three AUO screens that you've had right? The Samsung wasn't that bad I gather?

 

Yeah, the AUO's were just awful.

I've yet to see a modern laptop screen without grain (mind you i've only seen dells, four 1520 screens, one 22inch external dell monitor had a tiny bit of grain and an m1330 that was pretty bad).

As for the Samsung, I could have lived with it, it's just knowing that you could have had a screen without grain (LG) that sucks

 

LMAO!!!

 

And why is that?

 

Can anyone direct me to the thread that tells you how to figure out what screen you have?

Either that or can someone tell me here?