if you run the LCD at anything other than its native resolution than its going to look bad

when i first got my laptop the images looked wrong and it was b/c apparently dell ships most of the higher end (wuxga) lcds w/ dpi @ 120 rather than 96) so i changed it to 96 and everything looked right.

though it took me 7 months to adapt to where i can look @ 1920x1200 w/out glasses @ 1 1/2 ft.

other than that - i would suggest either (if you just got it) trading the LCD out for a lower native resolution one) or using an external monitor / lcd.

Hello  FreonC ....

The story so far.....

Currently my issue is with a manager who sits above a Technical Support Manager. You won't believe how long it has taken to have my problem escalated to this level. It appears like a war of attrition. The first layer of tech support... don't really seem to understand the problem, and make all kinds of suggestions which are quite pointless, one even suggested that I unistall the graphics/screen driver !  The service manager was a little better but still made suggestions that were not helpful, he also suggested changing the dpi setting to 120, which is not practicle. Also, I think I'm correct in saying the XP should be set at 96dpi, as it has always been. So the 120dpi setting would suggest the screen resolution is an issue as Dell are moving aways from the standard Windows configuration of 96DPI.  

The technical support manager has now escalated the problem, as all we did was go around and around in circles. The lady that is now dealing with my request finally accepted the fact that the D800 was not suitable for me. But she then started to tell say that I couldn't downgrade and there was no Latitude I could use with a lower screen res, not true, I double checked this information on the Dell web site, the D600 would be fine. This is very very very frustrating having layers and layers of misinformation. Who knows what is going to happen now, I have been promised a return phone call within the next day or so ..... 

I really feel for anyone who has little technical knowledge they would be completly bamboozled by the "helpdesk". All the staff in India though are increadibly polite which is nice, but this doesn't really help my situation.

Saying, that the higher resolution is something for the future.... is a nebulous statement, no one knows when this will be. I couldn't say to a client of mine "ohhh ummm  the graphics look poor because of the high resolution of my screen, I'll be able to correct this when the web catches up with high res displays...." I can't sit and wait....I need a laptop that is backward compatible with my old Latitude C600, which I am still using and has been a real joy for the past 3 1/2 years.

Best regards,

Phil

 

ive always run a higher res than was the standard for web
even back in 96 when most ppl were running 640x480 or 800x600 i was already running 1152x864 on a 15" monitor; after a while it went blind and went back to 1024x768

standard web is 800x600 or at most 1024x768 on my 1920x1200 i could do 2 webpages side by side, but those of those which which are variable width rather than fixed wiidth i find that i normally can scan most webpages in 1 scroll rather than 3-5 as on most normal users resolutions.

as for tech support, since 1999 i have pretty much playcated them (though not even attempting to do anything that they suggest) until they get to the end of their "manual" of standard reading and have yet to "fix the problem" and move me to the next level of tech support. though i have always found to be easier and less time consuming to give the required results via email and can get results w/in 3-5 days for any techninical issues. (and i dont have to miss-hear anyone over the phone b/c the signal is so weak over the ocean or VoIP for the foreign call center.

Hi Freon C....

Thanks for writing again, i now have a complete understand of my issue, thanks for confirming my thoughts, your info gives me the comfort factor of having my thoughts confirmed. The Voip is mad, I couple of years I ago I worked for Cisco, they did a lot of piloting with Voip, same delay and quality problems.

Since my last post I've contacted a mag here in the UK "PCPRO" . The journalist I spoke with at PCPro has contacts within Dell, I am now expecting a call from Dell UK. I kicked this off yesterday... I'll keep u posted with developments.... PCPro will probably run an article on this too.

A little more information.....

I found this article on the Microsoft website:
> It is interesting to note the D800 is shipped with a DPI setting of 120
> and not the Microsoft defacto standard of 96DPI. This link http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;EN-US;Q820286  implies that there is an issue with laptops that have a high res screen. Note, the comment  under the Workaround heading "Scaling is not a perfect solution"
>
> A couple of days ago, as an exercise, I phoned the Dell sales line here in the UK,
> acting as a new customer. My request was a laptop suitable for web
> development, the suggestion from Dell was the D800 or D600. I was
> steered in the direction of the D800, no surprise as it's a better spec
> machine and the salesman is just doing his job. I then started
> discussing the issue of the high res screen not being suitable for web
> development work, the salesman said it was news to him. My comments were
> that he shouldn't really be trying to sell me a laptop with a high res
> screen for any kind of web development, I then asked for him to
> escalate the problem and ask his manager to contact me. So far silence.

> Another comment I made to Dell sales is that it would be
> better cost wise (ie "the cost of non conformance") for Dell sales to
> first ask any potential new customer what type of work it is that they
> propose to use the laptop for. This would save calls to the Dell
> helpdesk, Dell "Technical" support,  paperwork, time, effort, and free up
> time for Dell staff. Its the old chesnut of getting it right first time....

 

Thanks again for your help with this.

I will keep you updated.

Phil