Dell new 20" wide LCD 2005FPW. Has anyone seen this beast?

[Hikari]

Well my laptop has some minor backlight issues, as do both of my LCDs at work. My new (I replaced my 1st one) 2005fpw has some visible backlights, but it is the same as I see on most LCD displays.

Basically, I can only tell in a -dark- room with a perfectly black background on the display. If I have anything else on the screen (even if I have a video going so there are black bars on top and bottom) I can't see it.

Originally posted by: warchild123
Hey folks Marry Xmas

I need your thoughts on this. Am I being to picky about my monitor? I have no dead pixels, the only time I can see the blacklight problems is when I have a solid black desktop background and the lights are off in my room. The real problem I'm having is I have never seen another LCD monitor except in stores and this one. If this is normal I'm cool with, if it's not then I feel I should get what I payed for. For myself 600 bones is a lot of money.
So, I ask you folks the experts.
Do LCD's by default have some blacklight issues?
When in a dark room (black desktop background) should I see some blacklight from all 4 corners of the monitor?

 

[Sadhu]

Originally posted by: BullishDad

Originally posted by: Gizmotion
SERIOUS WORD OF WARNING! BUYER BEWARE - OF DELL!

DELL was once a company I trusted, back in the 30 day money back guarantee days. Now I feel taken, tricked and ripped off by them. I tired to return my 2005FPW for a refund thinking that the 21 day return policy started from the day you received your package. WRONG!!!! The 21 day period starts from the day they ship it. Doesn't matter how long it takes to get to you once it's marked "SHIPPED" on the invoice! (It took 7 days to get here leaving me only 14 days to make a decision, which of course I was unaware of.) I was basically told by customer service, in so many words, TOUGH LUCK - "You should have read our return policy. I can walk you through the links on our website to where you can find it." Talk about the "fine print."

Meanwhile I specifically called the Sales Department the day after I ordered the monitor online, to ask if I could return it in 21 days if I am not happy with it. "No problem, you can return it in 21 days." The guy never said 21 days "AFTER it has shipped." I feel I was misinformed and mislead by this sales person and the damn customer service person I spoke to today could care less. I'm two days over the 21 day limit and they won't make an exception. Now I have to keep the damn monitor or make an exchange (which I'm going to do because it has noticable backlight problems).

I also ordered a 2001FP which I love, is absolutely perfect and I don't want to return (it's within the 21 days since shipping) but I am not in a financial position to pay for both monitors. Perhaps once I get a decent exchanged 200FPW I can sell it on eBay. If I ever get a decent one.

Sorry about this long rant but I am so unbelievably furious at Dell. I will never buy from them again.

Sorry to hear about your experience. To have just 14 days is not a 21 day policy. Dell knows when you received the monitor. I suggest you ask for Dell's Resoultions Department. I find it hard to believe Dell really wants to lose a customer for life over a misleading policy. Try to be calm and nice as this was an innocent misinterpretation of how many days you had. Tell them you want to have confidence in Dell for your future purchases. Good luck.

I also agree with BullishDad here, Gizmotion. I wouldn't take no for an answer just yet, and continue in your effort to return it to Dell. In fact, I'd not only call, but I'd would call tto speak with supervisors in just about every department all the way up the chain (I probably wouldn't send a note to Michael Dell's mother). You weren't advised properly and you have a case that they should honor the return. They didn't explain this to me either. I would have expected that it was 21 days after the return. Otherwise it's a bogus return policy. Don't give up without a fight. I realize it's a hassle, but this is just not right, and I think you can win this one if you press them.

With regard to the widescreen madness that is rampent - I realize that a number of people on this forum are drawn to the "coolness" of the widescreen, and especially the fact that it's a "newer" model. Yes, it does turn some heads when people see it, and it definetly attracts comments from many people. But a number of us have been trying to get the point across that there is an awful lot to like (love) about the 2001FP when you put the two of these monitors side by side, and hope the point is all the more apparent by Gizmotion's comments.

To the person who wonders if he should return an otherwise perfect monitor because he has two pixels that are not functioning, I would say if you aren't aware of them, you need ask yourself why on earth you are even wondering if you should return it. KEEP IT. If your answer is that you are returning it "because they are there," I think you may have a more serious problem that a couple of problematic pixels.

 

[Hikari]

Well, I thought the widescreen was easier to look at. To each her or his own I guess. Also, I thought the colors had better saturation on the 2005, but for all I know the person using the 2001 hadn't calibrated it well or something. Definitely a good monitor though, I'm not putting the 2001 down at all.

As for the person getting the run around with support, talk to a manager or something. It doesn't work that way... What if something had happened and it took like 20 days to get a monitor (hey, weird stuff happens). Warranties are only valid from date of receipt.

 

[Sadhu]

Obviously ... I meant that I thought the policy was 21 days AFTER RECEIVING the monitor. I think most of would have thought that. In fact, I'd bet if you asked most salespeople at DELL they would say that (not a bad idea to ask a few of them and put it on tape). For one thing, I'll bet not one Dell sales rep reads the fine print either. They don't even read the specs on the monitor, so I hardly expect that they really know their own return policy.

 

[Sadhu]

Originally posted by: Hikari
Well, I thought the widescreen was easier to look at. To each her or his own I guess. Also, I thought the colors had better saturation on the 2005, but for all I know the person using the 2001 hadn't calibrated it well or something. Definitely a good monitor though, I'm not putting the 2001 down at all.

As for the person getting the run around with support, talk to a manager or something. It doesn't work that way... What if something had happened and it took like 20 days to get a monitor (hey, weird stuff happens). Warranties are only valid from date of receipt.

My experience was that the 2005 was not "easier" to look at. It was VERY bright, and very bright is not necessarily ... "easier to look at." Also, I spent some time trying to calibrate both monitors so that they looked fairly identical ... and that means that the white levels were also close (even though the 2001FP wasn't going to be as bright." I tried to get the reds and blues similar in intensity and hue for both monitors, and I found that ... at least on my two monitors ... the the saturation was greater on on the 2001 than on the 2005. I looked at a web site that I'm re-working where the bgcolor is #292929 (frizlengroup.com) and on the 2001FP it has the correct darkbrown saturation, but on the 2005FP the color is lightened up by all that brightness, and it looks a much lighter brown than I now the background color to be on all the other monitors I view it on. That's when I started to compare color saturation of the two, and as I continued comparing, I had to come to conclusion that that while arguably subtle for some, the color richness was not as "complete" as it was on the 2001FP.

As I tried to say in an earlier post, this may not be universally true, and it's entirely possible that Hikari's 2001FP and 2005FPw display the opposite characters as mine. My point is that we don't all see the same things. That should be obvious, at least by now!

 

[Hikari]

Yep! If it is at all possible, people should try to look at both before buying. However, both really are great displays and I don't think you'll go wrong with either.

 

[Gizmotion]

I RECANT MY COMMENTS ABOUT DELL! THERE ARE SOME TRULY GOOD SOULS IN THE CUSTOMER CARE DEPT!

Sadhu, simply put - you saved me. I tried again today and reached an angel of a customer support person at Dell who bent over backwards to accommodate me. I am now waiting for DHL to pick up the 2005FPW to return it to Dell so that I may get a full refund!!!!!! You were right about trying again and finding the right person who would be more sympathetic.

As a footnote, it is also important to once again remind myself that you get more bees with honey (or however the saying goes). I was calm, honest to a fault, gentle and extremely thorough about describing the entire series of events that lead to my problem.

I have to hurry to pack up the 2005FPW for DHL and then I will set up my 2001FP which I am so thoroughly happy with. Thanks again to all of you for your advice!

 

[Hikari]

Great that you got it worked out.

I did a return on my 2005fpw a week ago and got my replacement yesterday. New one doesn't have a backlight issue, and it doesn't have a single dead pixel (neither did the 1st). So, there is some hope if you got one you didn't like (not directed to Gizmotion, just commenting on returns).

Originally posted by: Gizmotion
I RECANT MY COMMENTS ABOUT DELL! THERE ARE SOME TRULY GOOD SOULS IN THE CUSTOMER CARE DEPT!

Sadhu, simply put - you saved me. I tried again today and reached an angel of a customer support person at Dell who bent over backwards to accommodate me. I am now waiting for DHL to pick up the 2005FPW to return it to Dell so that I may get a full refund!!!!!! You were right about trying again and finding the right person who would be more sympathetic.

As a footnote, it is also important to once again remind myself that you get more bees with honey (or however the saying goes). I was calm, honest to a fault, gentle and extremely thorough about describing the entire series of events that lead to my problem.

I have to hurry to pack up the 2005FPW for DHL and then I will set up my 2001FP which I am so thoroughly happy with. Thanks again to all of you for your advice!

 

[Sadhu]

As a footnote, it is also important to once again remind myself that you get more bees with honey (or however the saying goes). I was calm, honest to a fault, gentle and extremely thorough about describing the entire series of events that lead to my problem.


[/quote]

So glad you got it resolved.

I think you hit it on the head with "more bees with honey"! Hope others are listening and take your very wise advice.

- Sadhu

 

[Bigg]

I have been using my 2005FP for 3 days now and I aim very impressed with it's capabilities. Some highlights:

MY PROS:
- Excellent Build Quality (Lexus-like build quality to the housing) and all buttons feel high quality
- Even at this high resolution, text is crisp and clearly readable with no eye strain after hours of viewing
- Colors are vivid and intense.. not washed out
- No ghosting in movie playback or gaming
- The wider screen gives more usable space such as using two browser windows at once.
- Portrait mode is unbelievable.. perfect for viewing forums like this one
- Built in Picture-in-Picture actually works pretty well.
- No backlight issues ( at least using my eyes)
- No dead pixels (upon close visual inspection)
- Oh.. and I ordered it on Friday afternoon and it was at my house on Tuesday evening using FREE SHIPPING

MY CONS
- Screen is almost too bright (I use DVI). I had to tone it down and adjust the contrast in the ATI panel.
- DVD playback can look a tad bit grainy if your video player stretches whatsoever
- No upstream USB port (which you can't hook an MP3 player through the monitor USB hub) 2001FP has this.


A few notes. While this screen is almost obnoxiously bright, it does not hurt my eyes like a CRT does. The screen is very easy on my eyes. But it does take some time to adjust to the increased brightness if you are switching from large CRT such as I was (19'' Dell Trinitron).

I played a couple of hours of America's Army (AA) on this screen and I noticed no ghosting or smearing. AA accepted the resolution perfectly. The game looks sweet in widescreen. My PC has a 1.6GHz AMD and a 9800 PRO, and it ran great. I would imagine this screen is ideal for flight sims and car racing, where peripheral vision is more so much more crucial.

I just didn't feel shelling out $599 dollars for a "traditional" 20" LCD like the 2001FP was in my best interest. And I feel widescreen is the direction PC monitors are moving. Plus, the widescreen actually gives you space you can use. Last night I was sitting at my PC with my 2-year-old and he wanted to see Elmo at Sesame Street Online and I wanted to browse some forums. So I opened up two browser windows side-by-side. On the left, Elmo. On the right, Anandtech. Both browsers were pretty well-sized and they both fit perfectly on the screen. He was happy and so was I. I can picture myself having MS Word open on the left and ESPN Gamecast on the right when baseball season arrives. Or.. I'll use the PIP feature which is similar.

Oh, and the widescreen is actually very useful when viewing your playlist in Windows Media, because you can see all the track information from left to right. Very cool with no horizontal scrolling or squished columns. Additionally, the widescreen is highly useful when doing any sort of video editing where you are dealing with time frames. The frame can extend much longer to the right with so much more horizontal screen real estate, which equals less horizontal scrolling. The same benefit is seen in using Macromedia Flash MX.

I have not run any diagnostic utilities to examine the screen for dead or stuck pixels. Why? Because I painstakingly did a visual inspection and found 0 dead or stuck pixels . Hey, if I cannot see or notice these things when I am looking for them, then how would I notice them in average daily use? Who cares!

Lastly, here is my take on value. Yes the price is high for this monitor, relatively speaking to the cost of other large non-Dell LCDs. But compared to other widescreens, it's a bargain. Additionally, I used my 19" Dell Trinitron CRT since December 1999, or five years. I expect the usable life of this LCD to equal or exceed that (unless this is unreasonable?). So let's divide $600 by 5 years and that equals $120 a year. Let's think about this. How many of you can think about a monthly bill you pay for a service or item that far exceeds $120 per year that doesn't even come close to getting the amount of daily use that your home PC monitor does? For the amount of benefit and joy this screen this gives me, I say it's worth that amount of investment every year. Heck, I pay 4 times that amount a year for Verizon wireless service, or Home telephone, or cable TV, and I don't spend nearly as many hours using those services as I do in front of my PC monitor. This baby is a bargain in my book.

It gets an A in my review book.

 

[ponyo]

Bigg, great review! :beer::thumbsup:

Thanks for taking your time to share it with us. Cheers!

 

[Hikari]

Someone had asked about bars in dvd playback. I didn't notice that in wmp10 here, I tried last night. What DVD decoder are you using? This program can tell you: http://www.microsoft.com/windo...diacenter/decoder.mspx

I have the nvidia dvd decoder (different than nvdvd).

 

[ScottFern]

I am really considering sending this unit back...these 3 stuck pixels are too much to handle for spending $588

Well, when can i get another replacement, after they receive my original 1st monitor? Is that when i should call back for my third replacement?

 

[imported_hyde]

Originally posted by: Bigg
I have been using my 2005FP for 3 days now and I aim very impressed with it's capabilities. Some highlights:

MY CONS
- No upstream USB port (which you can't hook an MP3 player through the monitor USB hub) 2001FP has this.

It has 1 upstream usb port on mine. Unless I have the wrong definition of an upstream usb port... with the upstream to the comp i have my mouse on a monitor usb port for example...

I have not run any diagnostic utilities to examine the screen for dead or stuck pixels. Why? Because I painstakingly did a visual inspection and found 0 dead or stuck pixels . Hey, if I cannot see or notice these things when I am looking for them, then how would I notice them in average daily use? Who cares!

It gets an A in my review book.

I'm the same way. I haven't noticed any bad pixels. I think I do have somewhat of a backlight bleed issue but I have to make an effort to notice it. I agree that if I don't notice it unless i'm looking hard for it, then it's not a big deal. I understand this will bother alot of other people regardless though.

And I agree, the monitor gets an A from me as well.

-rob

 

[Bigg]

Originally posted by: hyde

It has 1 upstream usb port on mine. Unless I have the wrong definition of an upstream usb port... with the upstream to the comp i have my mouse on a monitor usb port for example...

I think "upstream" means from the PC to the device, and "downstream" is defined as from the device to the PC. Dell lists the 2500FWP as having 4 "Downstream" ports. The 2100FP is listed as having 4 "downstream" ports, and an additional USB port which is "upstream".

For example, last night I hooked my digital camera up through one of the ports on the side, which is fine since the pictures only need to transfer to from the camera downstream to my PC. Howevever, perhaps if I needed to transfer songs from my PC to my MP3 player, for example, I wouldn't be able to do that I assume? Same would go for connecting an external hard drive through one of these ports. You would not be able to read write data to the drive?

I always wondered why there was this limitation on the ports on these monitors. I thought USB was, as a standard, was capable of two way data transfer. Why would it only be one way?

 

[mikess2k]

Originally posted by: Bigg

Originally posted by: hyde

It has 1 upstream usb port on mine. Unless I have the wrong definition of an upstream usb port... with the upstream to the comp i have my mouse on a monitor usb port for example...

I think "upstream" means from the PC to the device, and "downstream" is defined as from the device to the PC. Dell lists the 2500FWP as having 4 "Downstream" ports. The 2100FP is listed as having 4 "downstream" ports, and an additional USB port which is "upstream".

For example, last night I hooked my digital camera up through one of the ports on the side, which is fine since the pictures only need to transfer to from the camera downstream to my PC. Howevever, perhaps if I needed to transfer songs from my PC to my MP3 player, for example, I wouldn't be able to do that I assume? Same would go for connecting an external hard drive through one of these ports. You would not be able to read write data to the drive?

I always wondered why there was this limitation on the ports on these monitors. I thought USB was, as a standard, was capable of two way data transfer. Why would it only be one way?

All USB is capable of two way data transfer. When they refer to upstream and downstream ports, it's how it's connected. 4 downstream ports means you can have 4 devices connected (or more with another hub) to the monitor. The 1 upstream port, which the 2001 clearly states and the 2005 doesn't state yet does have, is the connection to the computer (the different shaped plug with the other connections on the back of the monitor).

So there are 5 USB connections on both these monitors, they are the SAME, just the two on the sides are switched. The 4 similar ones are used to connect devices and the other one is to connect to the computer. Hope that clears it up!

 

[mikess2k]

P.S. Just got this monitor on Tuesday and totally LOVE it!!! With people complaining about size resolutions.. you quickly get used to it and most programs dont even bother me, just websites designed for 800x600 (it looks really weird). Other than that I love it!! Especially for $550. I was planning on getting a 2001 to dual screen it, but instead I moved my Samsung 170MP to my other computer along with its own monitor and I think I'm good with just that. Not yet sure..

There's 1 dead subpixel that I can't notice with normal use and very minor backlighting problem that I can live it. I was totally satisfied with it, until I moved 4 feet back to watch a movie and it was a bit easier to notice the backlighting problem. Now deciding if it's really that noticeable, I guess I'll see if any family and friends notice it when over for Christmas.

I TOTALLY LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!! and so does everyone else who's come to see it!! If you're doubting whether to get it or not, GET IT!!

mike

 

[Sadhu]

Originally posted by: mikess2k
P.S. Just got this monitor on Tuesday and totally LOVE it!!! With people complaining about size resolutions.. you quickly get used to it and most programs dont even bother me, just websites designed for 800x600 (it looks really weird). Other than that I love it!!

It would be nice not to have to design for 800x600. We don't do it because we want to! Tell all your friends to buy higher resolution monitors and we'll all be happy (especially the web designers).

Yes, it is a nice monitor. With the all the complaining, it's easy to get the wrong idea about it. I bought one and kept it. It's quite nice. While it's not perfect, it's very nice. I think if one is looking for perfect, one shouldn't get a monitor at all (well, maybe a photograph of one, but not an actual monitor). Monitors aren't pefect, and it's crazy to wrong to expect perfection, even for $2000.

It's nice to hear from a couple of happy recipients.

 

[Bigg]

Originally posted by: mikess2k

So there are 5 USB connections on both these monitors, they are the SAME, just the two on the sides are switched. The 4 similar ones are used to connect devices and the other one is to connect to the computer. Hope that clears it up!

Wow. Nice explanation. That cleared that up for me. Dell does not explain this well at all on their site. Thanks. My wife will be happy since I told here she would have to connect her MP3 to the back of the PC still.

 

[Jeffyboy]

1680 x 1050 is not 16:9.... it's 16:10 or 1.6:1

 

[Electric Mayhem]

I don't know if it was this thread or another, but somebody said that this is "virtually" the same as 16:9....I don't remember the details. I'll try to find it when I have time.

 

[imported_Fr0zen]

Yes I agree with the post someone made above the whtie just scream at you I will try having my brigthness at 0 on the actual monitor and then changing it a little on my video card. It still bothers my eyes could I just be tired from looking at it alot. I mean im going to admit it I spend a consderible amount of time after school looking at the 2005fpw. ?

Right now under ATi Control Panel

Gamma = 0.80
Brightness = -35
Contrast = 95

Monitor = 80% now changed to 0%

I will see now usally when I get here its dark and after a couple minutes 15-20 my eyes start to hurt and a squint a little.

Anyone else get this. ?

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Electric Mayhem
I don't know if it was this thread or another, but somebody said that this is "virtually" the same as 16:9....I don't remember the details. I'll try to find it when I have time.

Well do the math on it...

1050 x 1.6 = 1680. so it's 1.6:1 or 16:10. That is why people are getting the black bars when they view 16:9 movies, but this monitor is still considered widescreen.

I actually posted something about this in another thread about the 2005FPW

http://fineliving.com.com/4520-7874_1-5140690-2.html

Don't be thrown off by other wide-screen aspect ratios. When shopping for wide-screen displays--especially flat-panel LCDs--you may see aspect ratios such as 15:9 or 16:10. They are, for all intents and purposes, close enough to 16:9 to be considered synonymous. Unless you're extremely sensitive to geometry, it's doubtful you'll notice the slight stretching or squashing they introduce.

Another thing to remember: even with a true 16:9 screen, you might also get thin black bars on the top and bottom when playing widescreen DVD's. This is due to different formats used in filming.

This site explains this much better than I can...

http://www.technosound.co.uk/n...?pageid=hcg_widescreen

 

[paulhaskew]

(Joined the boards to post in this thread)

Some of you have been saying that this monitor is to bright. I for one agree... When I unboxed it, turned it on, whoamo! it was way to bright... So I turned the brightness down to zero, but to no avail...

My resolution for this was to go to Color Settings, turn each color down to 70, then turn brightness back up to 23...

My colors are still vivd/accurate and all I can say is WOW to this thing, it replaced a 20" Cornerstone CRT (Gateway used these for awhile)...

I have not run it through tests for back lighting issue, but have not seen any dead pixels after using it for about 8 hours total now...

I have tried both D-SUB and DVI-D connections and the DVI-D is far better. I turned cleartype on, and that helps a lot for me. I then used the cleartype tweaking tool provided by MS (I also use this on my ACER noteboox, 15.4" LCD) and wow, the improvments.

I have played NFSU2 with this at it streached the game perfectly, no ghosting what so ever. I am really happy I got this monitor, I also have much more real estate for when I am doing image editing and web design, I can actually look at code and a real time preview side by side now!

All in all, I am glad I got this monitor it has helped me out...

 

[imported_halcy]

For those of you who have received units without any stuck pixels... all I can say is congratulations you are lucky. I've had so many replacements now I've lost track, but I think im on #4... and man its a winner, 5 dead subpixels to begin with. And when I say to begin with, the one I had hung on to using in the meantime had 1 dead subpixel, then over two weeks it spontaneously grew 2 more, and developed a slight whining noise from the circuitry when it turns on. My reccomendation on these, stay away. I'm at a crossroads right now not sure if I continue to try and get one without problems, or just bag it and wait for Samsungs widescreen... they have far higher QC and they have a 0 pixel guarantee from the manufacturer.