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    1680 x 1050 screens

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by paladin732, Aug 7, 2008.

  1. paladin732

    paladin732 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I checked on the Studio, Inspiron, and XPS 15 inch notebooks, none of them seem to have 1680 x 1050 screens anymore, its just 1280, 1440, 1440 LED, and 1920

    Do they?
     
  2. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Yeah, they pulled them off a few months ago. Samsung screens were horrible for the WSXGA+ with lots of graininess and many other problems. Its all part of a move to get people to have to choose between two extremes whether it be the higher 1920 resolution or the lower 1440 resolution. Get the 1440 LED by all means.

    Alienware laptops also do not have the WSXGA+ resolution anymore, so its not just the main Dell site.
     
  3. SkimGuy

    SkimGuy Notebook Enthusiast

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    Uh oh, I just ordered a screen with a 1680 x 1050 resolution >_>
     
  4. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    Aftermarket upgrade? Unless its an LG... your outta luck. Large majority of Samsungs are grainy, dimmer, and of lower quality. :/
     
  5. mgh_a1

    mgh_a1 Notebook Evangelist

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    After the screen nightmare I just went through, I would have to agree. Paying extra for these screens, only to have them suck, is an outrageous thing indeed. But forcing people to choose between low end or high end really sucks.

    Forte, do you know for a fact that they pulled those screens for their quality 'liability' - or are you just assuming that they are. Because as far as I can tell, they have been putting out grainy screens for years. Why stop now? If 20% of the computers made have grainy screens, probably only 20% of those users even bother to complain. For all we know.
     
  6. paladin732

    paladin732 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Does that mean they are going to start replacing 1680 screens that break with the 1920 screens, or are they still keeping stock for repair purposes
     
  7. webdtc

    webdtc Notebook Deity

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    I hope they get some good nice 1680 screens again. I think 1920 is too high and 1440 is too low. 1680 is just right for me.

    I was one of those that bought Dell with a horrible 1680 screen. It is pretty grainy. It looked almost like a touch screen but it wasn't. Plus the viewing angles were such that unless your head was in a certain spot some part of the screen became washed out or darker. If it was on a $500 laptop it would have been fine but most of us got it on the XPS M1530 which is supposed to be Dell's top of the line consumer laptop.

    My feeling is that enough people returned their machines to make Dell pull the screen out of configuration. I hope this is true as that would make me feel like all the complaining we did helped people not experience what we did.

    If you go to the official Dell forums one of the community managers talks about the screen and acknowledges that they are of poor quality. It sounds like the screens were pulled. If you send yours in for replacement they have the right screen on stock that is "certified to pass Dell quality standards". I don't know if that is good or bad since when we all complained about the screens one of the responses was that all screens passed Dells standards for quality.
     
  8. wywern209

    wywern209 NBR Dark Knight

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    yeah, until some good wsxga panels come out, dell ain't gonna be using that res.
     
  9. ElectricTool

    ElectricTool Notebook Evangelist

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    Weren't the LG WSXGA+ panels good though? Since only the Samsung panels were bad, they should've pulled those, leaving the LG WSXGA+ panel as an option during purchase.
     
  10. Fountainhead

    Fountainhead Notebook Deity

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    For what it's worth, I have the Samsung WSXGA+ screen on my M1530. It was shipped just before the option disappeared. I'd heard all about the lousy screens and was prepared to send it back even before it arrived. But mine's great. So I guess they weren't all bad.

    Too bad they no longer offer that resolution. I know it's largely a matter of preference, but I think WSXGA+ is just about the perfect resolution for a 15.4 inch notebook. I'm glad I got mine in under the wiire.
     
  11. Forte

    Forte NBR's Supreme Angel

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    If only Dell had a WSXGA+ LED.... THAT would be perfect!
     
  12. checho

    checho Notebook Consultant

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    The new Latitude e6500 and Precision m4400 are in the same situation... I want a 1680 x 1050 screen :(
     
  13. checho

    checho Notebook Consultant

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    I think the same.
     
  14. mgh_a1

    mgh_a1 Notebook Evangelist

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    Personally, I think the major thing that Dell needs to focus on is tightening their quality standards for all their screens. There is a fairly good variation between them all. If it were my company, I would be P'Oed about that.

    I would live with 'non-HD' screens if I knew that they would have excellent color, uniformity, and brightness. 170 degree viewing angles would be great too, since apparently the computer industry seems to take it for granted that you are 'frozen' in place when using your portable (ya right. Mine moves with me more than a baby).
     
  15. checho

    checho Notebook Consultant

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    Does anyone know if dell will offer 1680x1050 screens on 15,4" laptops, such as M4400 or E6500?
     
  16. Thaenatos

    Thaenatos Zero Cool

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    No, they only currently offer 1280x800, 1440x900 LED and 1920x1200.
     
  17. sko105

    sko105 Notebook Geek

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    Maybe my laptop will be a collector's item. I had the 1680x1050 Samsung and actually got it replaced with the LG 1680x1050.

    It really is a great screen.
     
  18. rmtschanz

    rmtschanz Notebook Consultant

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    Couldn;t agree more. Sony seems to be one of the few notebook manufacturers who have consistently good screens. You have to get the Xbrite-hicolor screen, but you'll know that you'll receive a quality screen with even brightness, good contrast, and wider viewing angles (although they are glossy screens).
     
  19. deathstick

    deathstick Notebook Evangelist

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    Its funny: Rather than improve quality standards or even dropping manufacturers with bad screens, Dell discontinues it instead.

    I am currently going through a laptop replacement and I'm pretty sure I am going to get the 1920x1200 despite requesting the 1440x900 LED screen be sent instead (on claims that the resolution is too high, which is true)
     
  20. mgh_a1

    mgh_a1 Notebook Evangelist

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    I am using a 144X900 on a 14.1 inch screen and I seriously have a hard time picturing myself going lower. Sure, it would look awesome to have a 1080P screen probably, but that is just not happening in the real world in my opinion. I am already in a phase where 12 pt type looks HUGE to me when I print. This laptop is distorting my perception of reality! : )

    Having consumers chase after higher and higher resolutions seems to be the gimmick of the moment. For the kinds of screens that I can afford, I just won't be one of the persons buying in to that!
     
  21. webdtc

    webdtc Notebook Deity

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    I know I posted this before, but 1680x1050 on a 15" screen is perfect for me. It's a shame they do not have it anymore and that instead of getting better quality 1680x1050 screens they got rid of it all together. It's like they are saying, "So, you don't like our 1680x1050 screens huh? Well then how about NO 1680x1050 screens for you!".

    1920x1200 sounds a little crazy to me, but I've read about people who like that high resolution on a 15". I was thinking of getting one, but I think I'll wait until they have 1680x1050 screens again.

    I like 1440x900 on a 14" and 1280x800 on anything smaller.
     
  22. eddyj

    eddyj Newbie

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    1920x1200 on a 15.4 isn't much more ppi than 1680x1050 would have been. It's not that small at all, unless you are used to one of those awful 17 inch 1024x768 business LCDs every company seems to use. Be forewarned, once you take the step though, there's no going back. Now 1440x900 on a 15.4", or my 20.1" at 1680x1050 look like huge clunky messes. I hope someday we can get WQXGA (2560×1600) in 20.1 inch monitors. It would be about the same ppi as WUXGA in a 15.4 and it would be glorious.

    Do people really have trouble seeing at this size? How far do people sit from their laptops? I don't have the greatest eyes in the world these days, but I didn't need to change the dpi, and in fact changed most of Vista's default font sizes from size 9 to 8 because I think it looks a little better. I can understand it would be difficult for people whose eye's are starting to go but don't yet have contacts, but for everyone else, really?
     
  23. postmortem

    postmortem Notebook Consultant

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    I have 1680x1050 E1505 15.4" and it is borderline readable, especially after few hours of use.

    Most of people prefer bigger screens. My girlfriend for example doesn't see difference between 1920x1200 and 1280x800 resolutions.
     
  24. dsknight

    dsknight Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have to put in my two cents, although it's might not affect anyone's decision:

    I ordered an m1530 with a 1680x1050 LCD screen. It's bright, clear, and colorful. I guess I'm lucky, or something, but I feel it's just the right resolution for 15.4" widescreens. For me, it provides the perfect compromise between readability and available workspace.
     
  25. mgh_a1

    mgh_a1 Notebook Evangelist

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    I sit 1 and half, MAYBE 2 feet away from my comp on average. I have to say that over time, I have gotten somewhat used to the resolution, and I am generally comfortable. Provided that the text is not some strange light, pastel like blue color. For some reason, that seems to be the case these days on a lot of web sites! Stick to black please.

    Seriously though, any discomfort I usually get comes from a lack of brightness or just the fact that it is generally more of a strain to read on a computer then from a book. I try to limit the time I spend reading screens. If the article is really long (more than an hour to get through), I would seriously rather print it out.

    I have to say that initially, this resolution (1440x900) seemed a bit extreme. Now I sometimes imagine going still higher. The *** appeal just trumps the practicality for me sometimes :D