Vertical lines in LCD panels on Dell Laptops

Dell laptops may develop vertical lines in LCD panels

Jan. 22, 2007 update below

Dec. 3, 2006

An alarming number of Dell laptops sold in early 2005 have begun to develop vertical lines in the LCD panels. This is the purple line of death. Dell has not yet officially admitted to this problem (as far as I know), but it is widespread and affects several laptops (mine is a 9300). The symptoms show up at about 18 months then get progressively worse. For more info see this DevShed forum (the thread currently goes on for 6 pages). Also see dellverticalline.com to help increase (Dell's) awareness of the problem. You may also search http://forums.us.dell.com/ using keywords such as vertical line inspiron.

One hopes Dell will do the right thing and replace defective displays even when out of warranty (since the problem appears to be the result of defective materials, workmanship or design). A few people have found the right person at Dell or told the right story to get free out of warranty replacement, but so far Dell seems mostly not to care how many customer they will lose by not taking responsibility for selling defective screens (I was on the phone 5 hours being routed endlessly from one department to another or disconnected while waiting on transfer).

The displays Dell uses are manufactured by LG Phillips, a Korean company which is currently trying to create the largest lcd panels available. I wonder if Phillips will appreciate the bad vibes created by Dell refusing to take responsibility. I am attempting to get a response from Phillips about whether or not they have already (or are planning) to correct the defect, and if so how one can tell from the part number or batch number or whatever (I operate a repair shop and would hate to replace a customer's display with one that will likely fail).

The LG Phillips part number on the display in my Inspiron 9300 is LP171WX2 B4. These displays can be purchased on ebay for about $225 (though one schmuck is trying to sell a display that has already developed vertical lines for $79 - I guess he thinks its a good deal because it has so few lines...).

Online Dell service manuals have instructions for removing and disassembling laptop displays. It is a faily simple process to replace the lcd panel (many could do it themselves and any competent local computer shop should be able to do the job in well under an hour).

If Dell cared about their customers they would at least make replacement lcd panels available at cost (probably $100 or less) since so many are failing so soon after warranty. Instead Dell priced a replacement lcd panel for my Inspiron 9300 at $500 whether I do the work myself or send it in, about the cost of a comparable new laptop. Not a good way to treat long term customers...

Here is the text of a letter I'm sending to to Michael Dell.

Don Alexander

Jan. 22, 2007 resolution update

A few weeks after sending the above referenced letter, a Dell engineer called me from Round Rock and said if I would send him my laptop so he could investigate the problem then he would replace the Display if it was defective.

A few days after receiving my laptop he let me know that they wanted to send my entire laptop to another department for further testing, so Dell replaced my laptop

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