New Laptop has wrong Screen!

Question

I just received my new Inspiron E1405, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB Hard Disk. The specs at the time of order said WXGA screen, which I believe is like a Glass/Mirror screen... really crisp. But even before switching on my laptop, I could say that this is NOT an XGA at all. The screen was dull and dark like the older TFT screen versions. Couldn't even see my reflection in it, which i can on my friend's XGA laptop.   Question: Can an XGA screen be dull and dark and NOT shiny glass-like? Am I wrong and is my order correct? Message Edited by flair77 on 06-19-200604:45 PM

ejn63 · Answer

The base XGA screen is not a TrueLife. That screen is optional. If you paid extra for it and didn't get it, call Dell for an exchange.

If you did not opt for the screen at purchase, you can return the system for replacement within 21 days of shipment, minus a 15% restock fee.

flair77 · Answer

'320-4696 14.1 Inch Wide-screen WXGA Display for Inspiron 640M/E1405'   This is what the order mentioned.   Also, the shiny glass-like screen... is that called a TrueLife? So is it or is it not included in my order?   I'm really confused here, I thought an XGA screen MEANT that crisp, mirror/glass-like screen and not the one thats dark and dull like the usual TFT laptops of 2000 - 2005.

ejn63 · Answer

Yes, the TrueLife is the shiny screen. It sounds more like they shipped you the base XGA screen; call your sales rep for information.

flair77 · Answer

If ONLY the TrueLife screen is shiny and glass-like.... then I guess Dell did indeed ship the right order. That's because I don't recall selecting an upgrade when the screen/monitor choices were displayed when I was customizing my Laptop online. Now when I go to dell.com, selecting a TrueLife is not included in the price of the XGA laptop and costs $40 more.

Also, I did indeed have a chat with a Dell rep for an hour... she said that Dell would ship me the 'correct order' and then I'd have to ship my current laptop back. I really doubt she was a technical person, who understood exactly what I was trying to explain about the screen.

In short, why go thru all the pains of ordering/shipping back again (although dell is ready to do so!) when what I got is what I ordered.

My misconception: ALL xga screens are glass-like, I was wrong I guess, and like you said ONLY TrueLife screens are the glass kinda screens.

Thanks very very much ejn63 for the help :)

Maverick3277 · Answer

I have an Inspiron 9300 I bought in January. I have true life screen. I pulled my actual order acknowledgment and this is how it read :   17 inch True Life Wide Screen UXGA

flair77 · Answer

Yup, so I guess dell was right and I just have the base XGA... as my order says nothing about Truelife but just says 14 inch XGA...

tigerwolf7 · Answer

Just want to point out that the 'glossy' look is generally regarded as inferior. It's flashier looking in show rooms, which is why it's been getting stuck on notebooks, but an equivalently specked regular screen is better. They just don't put on a antiglare coating on the 'glossy' screens. Also, 'TFT' refers to the type of LCD, it has nothing to do with the coating.

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New Laptop has wrong Screen!

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