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Fuzzy text on 1901 FP
Why is the text so fuzzy and unreadable on this new monitor? If this cannot be adjusted, I'll be sending it back. I am typing this on my old Dell 17" Trinitron. It is such a relief to not have to strain to read fuzzy text! The text is clear and crisp on this Trintron.
On my favorite website DSLreports where I spend 80% of my time, the text on the forums list for the date is very pale so it is barely readable on the new 1901. It has white shimmer behind the letters. Some letters are extremely fuzzy shaped like the letter W. The areas there where the text is larger such as the titles of the threads is clear. It is only the small text that is wobbly looking and pale with no proper contrast.
On my Trinitron, all text, including small text is crisp, sharp, clear and has proper contrast. This is especially true when running presentation mode.
I have both monitors on the same web site for comparison and both are using Mozilla 1.5 set at text zoom of 120% for the Trintron (as its resolution is set at 1024x768) and text zoom of 150% for the 1901 (as its resolution is set to 1280x1024.
Such things as the "display properties box is also awful on the 1901. The text is wobbly and faint. On my Trintron, the same box displays with dark black text that is clear and crisp.
Why would Dell sell such a monitor where it is impossible to read with it? That is what I do! I live in the technical support forums at DSLreports and so I need clear text...not a sharp pretty screensaver! I do think that photos display better on the 1910. I don't have a computer though to use as a tv or to watch DVD or to look at photos. I have a computer for internet forums mainly.
On my favorite website DSLreports where I spend 80% of my time, the text on the forums list for the date is very pale so it is barely readable on the new 1901. It has white shimmer behind the letters. Some letters are extremely fuzzy shaped like the letter W. The areas there where the text is larger such as the titles of the threads is clear. It is only the small text that is wobbly looking and pale with no proper contrast.
On my Trinitron, all text, including small text is crisp, sharp, clear and has proper contrast. This is especially true when running presentation mode.
I have both monitors on the same web site for comparison and both are using Mozilla 1.5 set at text zoom of 120% for the Trintron (as its resolution is set at 1024x768) and text zoom of 150% for the 1901 (as its resolution is set to 1280x1024.
Such things as the "display properties box is also awful on the 1901. The text is wobbly and faint. On my Trintron, the same box displays with dark black text that is clear and crisp.
Why would Dell sell such a monitor where it is impossible to read with it? That is what I do! I live in the technical support forums at DSLreports and so I need clear text...not a sharp pretty screensaver! I do think that photos display better on the 1910. I don't have a computer though to use as a tv or to watch DVD or to look at photos. I have a computer for internet forums mainly.
tomintx
1K Posts
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November 16th, 2003 02:00
Trust me, that is not the way it should look. Properly operating, the 1901, and in fact most newer LCD today, display almost as well as your Trinitron, so you have something wrong, possibly it is just a DOA monitor. However you don't say what you have done to try to correct the problem, so here are a couple of things you can try if you haven't already. If you have DVI use that connection to run the 1901. Just in case, also make sure you have only one or the other (Analog or DVI) connected to the monitor from the same PC, not both.
Perform a monitor reset from the on screen menu
Perform an auto adjust (hit the + button next to the power button).
If you have XP, enable clear type (use this wizard linked here to do this and to customize your settings)
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/cleartypeactivate.htm
If none of the above helps, go to your display properties, advanced, settings, and set your color to default setting. Try above again.
Although it sounds like a settings issue, it may also be a driver problem with your video card and you could consider reinstalling or upgrading your driver. For further troubleshooting assistance go the Users Guide for the monitor. Use the Reference tab above to access them.
If you have already done all these things and still no help, contact Dell Support.
Mele20
140 Posts
0
November 16th, 2003 03:00
I called tech support again because after I switched from analog to DVI, against the instructions of the first Dell tech, I noticed flickering and wobbling when using auto scroll which I use all the time and can''t do without. This tech told me I needed new drivers for the video card and that would solve the problem. Well, I went to NVidia's site and got the update. Still have the problem. I now think this is an XP problem because when I hooked up the Trinitron to the XP box, it does the same thing. I never, ever saw any flicker or wobble on W98SE when using auto scroll. If I scroll VERY slowly....too slowly...then the problem goes away. I could scroll at medium or fast in W98SE and never had the problem.
As for the clear type enabling, thank you for reminding me about this. I had read about it on the forums at DSLreports but didn't have XP then and forgot about it. I will try that and will try your other suggestions. Something that just boggles my mind is that Dell sent no manual for the monitor! I don't want an online manual. If Dell can't be bothered to give me a real manual for this top of the line monitor then I don't want the monitor. I have complained loudly about the lack of any sort of manual that is written to sales, customer service, and tech support. When I switched from analog to DVI and I got this weird looking screen, I had no idea what to do because I had no manual and since I could not get out of that weird screen I could not go look at any on line manual! I had to call tech support and waited for over two hours. This was after waiting for 30 minutes only to get disconnected and then I got disconnected again after about 10 minutes. It was only on the third try after an extremely long wait that I got a tech. I would never have bought this monitor if I knew Dell cared so little about it's customers that it would not send a written manual for the monitor.
I had to stumble about trying to figure out how to use the three buttons. Just terrible on Dell's part. I am very angry at Dell. I had speakers that didn't work and multiple CPU failure on a brand new expensive 8300. That is in addition to the first monitor being DOA.
Mele20
140 Posts
0
November 16th, 2003 04:00
One thing clear type did fix was it made IE usable as now even at medium text size, it is readable but not like on the Trinitron.. I thought it ironic that I could not install clear type using Firebird which is the browser I use most of the time.
I tried all the other suggestions also. I still see white behind letters such as what is on the buttons below "submit post", etc.. Is that called ghosts? I still don't understand why anyone would buy an LCD monitor if they are all like this one! There is just no comparison in the quality of this monitor and that of my OLD Trinitron!
Why do I get logged out here whilecomposing a reply?
John Redcorn
410 Posts
0
November 16th, 2003 06:00
I guess you didn't believe Tom when he told you it is not supposed to look like that. Trust me we wouldn't be raving about our 1900s and 1901s if they all had text problems. Mine is so crisp and clear that I don't bother turning on my CRT even though it is hooked up as a second monitor. It just pales in comparison to the LCD.
Tom pretty much touched all the bases as far as troubleshooting, I just wanted to let you know your 1901 is not supposed to look like it does. I don't care if the next 5 LCDs they send you have text problems, it is not the way a properly working one looks.
Here is a screenshot of mine. The artifacts around the letters are due to the jpg compression, the monitor does not display those. Also the funky colors overlayed are something caught by the camera, not visible to the naked eye.
tomintx
1K Posts
0
November 17th, 2003 11:00