I've had my Inspiron 8500 for under 30 days now - and didn't know about the previous issues with the screen & keyboard that people had.  Thankfully, I've checked mine, and I have the "Sharp" screen per the configuration on Dell's website, and the keyboard doesn't exibit any of the symptoms other people reported.  I'd just like to say "Thanks!" to those that obviously complained a lot and forced Dell to fix an issue, even if they didn't "officially" recognize it as an issue.

I'm quite happy with my Inspiron; I only got the 1-year standard service with mail-in support, but I am thinking of upgrading the warranty if it's possible.  From what I've readon here, the complete care warranty can pay for itself should anything happen.  I'm very careful with my new notebook, but as we all know, they're called "accidents" for a reason. ;-)

Hans
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My Inspiron 8500 configuration:
P4 2.2Ghz
512mb RAM (factory installed, 2x256mb PC2100 DIMMs)
15.4" WUXGA (Sharp)
64mb nVidia GeForce4 Go
30GB HDD
Windows XP Pro SP1 (clean install)

To check and see what type of screen you have:

1. Go to the Dell Support page (http://support.dell.com)
2. Click on Warranty Information (left side of the screen)
3. Click on "System As Shipped New"

It will list each part for your laptop, and the part #.  I have the "Liquid Crystal Display, WUXGA, NO-SPWG, 15.4, SHARP (Part # U0674)".  I don't have the screen burn, but I am having a problem with the right 1/3 of the screen looking "dull".  Read about it here:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=154705

Hans
The Amazing Cams!
http://www.TheAmazingCams.com

I'm replacing my Sharp WUXGA screen myself (slight issue, you can read about it http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_general&message.id=154702&view=by_date_ascending&page=1), and Dell sent me the replacement screen to install myself.  I got a Samsung that's labeled:

3U450
Samsung
LTN54U1-L01 Rev. A0#
193799
REFURBISHED
Mar 23, 2004  GOOD

I haven't installed it yet, but I'm really worried about the burn-in issue happening.  I have the Sharp WUXGA screen now, and even with it's slight discoloration issue it's a great screen.  I'd hate to replace it and have issues start, and from some of the posts I've read here, it was a horror story getting a good replacement screen.  Anyone have any quick hints or tips they can give me?  I plan on doing the 8-10 hours stress test to see if it burns in before I send the old one back.

Hans
The Amazing Cams!
http://www.TheAmazingCams.com

Laptop screens should not burn in images.  I have never see one do it beyond a few seconds.

However you SHOULD set your computer to turn off the screen instead of activating a screen saver.  This will preserve the life of your backlight as well as allow for a cooler idle.

what screen you use ?

WXGA? WSXGA? WUXGA?

LCD's I believe are like impossible to get screen burn because of the way they work...

it sounds like the modulators that control the current flow which in turn control the properties of the crystals aren't working properly, leaving your LCD with a memory.

It shouldn't work that way- sounds like the fab plant produced a bad sheet. Of course, now you have to consider if it's worth replacing.

After talking to dell for an hour, and spending an hour at the dentist...it's was gone.  Now after slight use, it's coming back...Ideas anyone?

 

Tim

 

Wuxga Screen.  I am certainly not a novice.  I have never seen this happen like this before in a laptop.  Windows close, images stay. 

My UltraSharp on my I8200 has a screen burn around the entire edge of the screen from my maximized IE windows being open the majority of the time, as well. I just didn't really care that much and don't want to send it in to Dell Repair because two of my friends and my brother both sent in Dell laptops for repair (real reliable, eh?) and all three of them were sent back units with specs that didn't match their original or hard drives that failed soon after. One got back an XGA screen in his Inspiron when he originally had an UltraSharp like mine that got burnt out. So I'm not too keen on sending my laptop in to fix a few issues that I can live with.

Message Edited by MooseMaster on 04-18-2003 03:40 PM