<http://news.com.com/Consumers+see+red+over+dead+pixels/2100-1041_3-5579493.html>

"Under Dell's policy, which considers a screen defective
only if it has six or more faulty pixels, Wehbring didn't
have a problem. To Wehbring's eyes, he did.
...
Wehbring said Dell customer service told him he could send
the screen in for repair, but he'd get a refurbished unit,
and those were allowed to have as many as seven bum pixels.
Instead, he took advantage of the company's 30-day return
policy and sent back his laptop, later using the refund to
gamble on another Dell. The screen on the new laptop was
fine, ...
...
Dell spokeswoman Mary Fad said the company developed its
dead-pixel policy to be brief and comprehensible to
customers. But Dell can be flexible in interpreting it,
she said, realizing that some dead pixels are more
aggravating than others. "It's something that's a little
subjective," she said. "We try to work with customers on
a case-by-case basis."
...
John Jacobs, an analyst at research firm DisplaySearch,
... "... You're better off selling another 10,000 laptops
and having 50 more returns than having to bump your prices
way up."
...
"Basically, Apple has a policy that if you make a stink,
they'll replace it," he said.
___________________

Implications:

* Unless you buy the demo unit off the shelf at a store,
there's some chance you'll get dead/hot/stuck/duff pixels.

* Make sure you know what your recourse is before buying.
Some resellers, like newegg, will absolutely stonewall
you unless the display has more than 8 defective pixels,
and 8 is generally above what most manufacturers consider
defective, so your chances of having an RMA case with
newegg are about zero.

* Even if the retailer won't help, the manufacturer might,
under a stealth "squeaky wheel warranty", as we see from
the article linked above.

* If the maker/reseller won't help on the pixel font, you
might have other grounds for return-roulette, and you
might end up with fewer (or none, or more, or just
different) defective pixels.

* Think twice about buying a "refurbished" LCD or laptop.
When makers & resellers get marginal units back, guess
where they end up. Employee sales are likely another
disposition channel.

* I'd even wonder about buying from the lowest-price seller
on pricewatch. Ditto for eBay. Where DO they get that stuff?

The industry seems to be moving toward zero defects. The
two monitors I've bought lately seem to be defect free.
But it can and does happen.

--
Regards, Bob Niland mailto:name (AT) ispname (DOT) tld
http://www.access-one.com/rjn email4rjn AT yahoo DOT com
NOT speaking for any employer, client or Internet Service Provider.

Bob Niland wrote:
insteresting post - cheers.

i'm seriously considering the HP L2335.. an awesome 23" widescreen LCD.
but i couldn't imagine paying USD1,500 for an LCD and having to put with
any defects. HP's policy is zero dead pixels which is cool, but it
allows 5 *sub-pixel defects*, ie. stuck pixels.... and those defects are
much more common. living in new zealand i don't think there's anywhere
in the entire country one is on display in a store... which i could buy
if it was defect free.... :/

Actually, I suspect it's pretty rare for an entire
RGB "super-pixel" to be defective, and the general
public doubtless consider a pixel with one duff color
to be "a defective pixel".

You might do some research on the L2335 (sku P9615A),
and it's consumer companion the f2304 (sku P9612A) on
web, and see if there are any complaints about it.

The only personally-owned f2304 I've seen, purchased
direct from hp, appeared to be entirely defect-free,
which is somewhat amazing for a panel with nearly
7 million sub-pixels. Whether or not that's representative
of all hp 23-in LCDs, I couldn't say.

Reportedly, the hp monitors use the LG-Philips LM230W02
panel, and you can also search for user reports on that.

--
Regards, Bob Niland mailto:name (AT) ispname (DOT) tld
http://www.access-one.com/rjn email4rjn AT yahoo DOT com
NOT speaking for any employer, client or Internet Service Provider.