Just received my new XPS 17 Laptop....screen questions

[Trader05]

Couple weeks ago I found a deal with coupons and pulled the trigger to upgrade my old HP Core 2 Laptop.

Config: i7 2.0 Quad Sandy Bridge
6gb of ram, 500gb (i switched out with an SSD)
Bluray, Nvidia 550GT 1GB
1920x1080 screen
6230 Intel Wifi with BT

Right when i got it, I immediately did a clean install with the SSD Drive, and I must say its ridiculously fast! One major complaint I have is the screen. Now I haven't purchased a new laptop in years, but this screen is not as clear as compared to my old HP 15.6 1680x1050 screen. I would say its comparable to the Latitude D620 series screens that a lot of people complained about before. The viewing angles are horrible and has that hazey grainyness to it. Im just not sure if the screens look like this now, and/or possibly my old screen was an IPS panel?

The main question is, does HP and other manufacturers use these types of 1080p panels in their laptops or does it just vary? I just dont want to return this laptop, wait another couple weeks to receive another one from another manufacturer and run into the same problem.

Any advice/comments/opinions, highly appreciated!

 

[Lanyap]

The screen resolution should be sharp with that config. I almost pulled the trigger on a XPS 17 last week but backed out. It's been my experience that the newer laptop LED screen viewing angles don't look as good as some of the older panels. What video drivers did you use when you did the fresh install? Dell or nVidia?

 

[Trader05]

Latest dell drivers for the Intel HD (couldn't find any on intel's site) and latest Nvidia drivers from Nvidia's site. Im highly debating on returning...im back on my old laptop. I wish i had a high quality digital camera to show the differences. Its definitly night and day.

 

[Athadeus]

I'm sure they don't all use the same panels. My Asus G73Jh has the HannStar HSD173PUW1 glossy panel and it looks super sharp, clear, and the viewing angels are pretty good.

From Notebookcheck.net

Dell relies on a 17.3 inch HD+ WLED TrueLife screen from LG-Phillips (LP173WD1).

Definitely not the same panel, and the reviews for that one don't sound good from the few sites I checked. Sorry about that, good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Trader05]

I just checked my service tag..its a Chi Mei panel.

 

[Lanyap]

You might want to try installing Dell's nvidia driver.

 

[Trader05]

Both drivers, same issue. Its the actual screen. Tried using my phone for pictures = fail.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Unfortunately most laptps ship with low quality LCD's these days. If you want a better screen the 1080P B+GR LED display available in the XPS 15 is actually one of the better ones you can get at the moment.

 

[Matrices]

Not sure what kind of defective screen you ended up with, but the XPS 17 screen is bright and clear. No problem with viewing angles, either. This is the 3D screen, if that matters. Maybe the non-3D screen isn't as good? Maybe it's matte and that muddies things?

And the XPS 15 screen is not "one of the better ones", it's among the best, period.

I own an HP ZR30w and the XPS 15 screen looks just as vibrant and bright.

Everyone should basically go to Best Buy and look at the Best Buy model of the Asus G73. Now that's a pretty poor screen right there, so basically, aim for the opposite of that.

 

[Trader05]

Thanks Matrices, i'll check out that screen at bestbuy. Dont get me wrong the screen is super bright, but I think they are definitely cheaping out on the screens. Im really picky when it comes to screens, and I tried to deal with it, and after looking at it for a day, its definitely a downgrade from my old laptop. What it mainly kills it is the classic Google screen, when you see all the white its very fuzzy, instead of pure white. It reminds me of the cheaper Acer 1080p monitors.

 

[Athadeus]

Yeah, I've seen the 1600x900 screens on the Best Buy Asus ones and they are definitely not as nice. If yours looks like or worse than those, you can get big improvements with others, though you already know that.

 

[wwswimming]

well, i'm sorry to hear the screen isn't what you wanted.

if i get the XPS-15 i'll try to check it out at a local store, and probably use it with an external monitor.

 

[Trader05]

Yes it sucks. I was just on the phone with Dell for the return, took about an hour and I got the return without the restocking fee. Possibly the last Dell laptop i'll purchase.