[Slartibartfast1]

I just got a new Samsung HLM617W today. The picture on regular cable looks fantastic, better than I would have expected. However, there is a dead pixel about 4" from the top of the screen, dead center. It is bright white and *very* visible when there is something dark on the screen.


Is this something I am going to have to live with, or should I talk to the retailer? (I bought it locally).


Alex

 

[chriscal]

If I where in your position I would bring it back in for a replacement. The fact that it has a dead pixel will only prove to annoy you and probably detract from your enjoyment of the set. Just my .02. I would be interested in your thoughts regarding the set other than the dead pixel. An earlier poster mentioned something about a grainy screen surface. Are you finding the same issue? Also what distance are you watching from? Thanks..

 

[Slartibartfast1]

Just called the retailer and he said he would swap it out since the pixel was so prominent (dead center and bright white).


Hooray for good customer service and buying locally!

 

[Slartibartfast1]

I haven't noticed any granularity on the screen. I think the picture looks beautiful, even on regular digitial cable. We sit about 12-13 feet away from the TV.

 

[ConceptVBS]

You mean dead micro mirror.

 

[Slartibartfast1]

I don't know. Pixel stands for "picture element" I think the term applies whether the element is a mirror, a phosphor element, a piece of cardboard, or whatever.


Anyhow, here is a picture of where the dead pixel is. (It is a pretty compressed jpg, so don't use it as a judge of picture quality)

http://home.austin.rr.com/kilpatrick/deadpixel.JPG


Alex

 

[douglas mcc]

Quote:

Originally posted by Slartibartfast1 I don't know. Pixel stands for "picture element" I think the term applies whether the element is a mirror, a phosphor element, a piece of cardboard, or whatever. Anyhow, here is a picture of where the dead pixel is. (It is a pretty compressed jpg, so don't use it as a judge of picture quality) http://home.austin.rr.com/kilpatrick/deadpixel.JPG Alex

MY GOD.....that dead "pixel" is so bad....hell, even Darth Tyranus noticed it. If the picture quality is going to affect the actors concentration to that extent, then return it immediately. Seriously, when you spend 5 grand (Im guessing its in that range), then by all means, don't stop complaining until you get a set you are happy with. The manager in your area was cool about it. I have seen others who were not (one person even told me his local manager said a dead "white" pixel in the middle of a 16 inch Laptop wasnt distracting.... yeah, that ass had not just spent 2200 dollars on it). If you let something like this go, you will spend the next few years of your life pissed every time a movie has a dark screen. Always contemplating why you blew 5 grand on a "defective" product. That's just my opinion though. Ignore everyone else til YOU are happy... your money, your happiness.

 

[Slartibartfast1]

 It is kind of a funny picture. He seems to be pointing right at it. If I had tried to get that kind of precise photo, it would have taken me hours.


I could tolerate a bad pixel in a corner, or even a bad gray or black pixel (is that possible?) But somehow a white pixel is the worst.


Alex

 

[ConceptVBS]



 

[douglas mcc]

It goes to show you.... that TV is not defective. Thats The Man at work. He can't stand an all dark scene. It drives him crazier than Allen Iverson datin' a white girl in Alabama. He has secretly alter all high definition TVs in the world (cause only a bunch of whities would blow 5 grand on a TV) to eliminate all black screens from the face of cinema. Whenever the secret chip inside your Samsung or GWII senses a dark interior or night sceen, it alters the picture with a pleasing white pixel so you whities don't get that feeling you get when you make a wrong turn off the freeway and end up in the ghetto!!! The chip (codenamed Backstreet Pixa"cal" Eliminator) is shipping all new HDTV tech. Its a conspiracy I say..... a conspiracy. Don't you people realize George Washington Carver created the first DLP projector with nothing but a peanut...... A PEANUT I say.....



I meant no offense. Just watched Undercover Brother tonight and was attempting my David Chapelle impersonation.

 

[turls]

Well, since Samsung/TI currently (as far as I know they still do) have a "zero defect" policy on the DLP, he didn't need to qualify his decision to swap it out. Whether you buy locally or not this is still a covered-under-warranty defect.

Quote:

Originally posted by Slartibartfast1 Just called the retailer and he said he would swap it out since the pixel was so prominent (dead center and bright white).

 

[Slartibartfast1]

There is a flyer that came with the TV that say that stuck pixels are part of the manufacturing process and "do not affect the performance of the TV" (direct quote)

 

[Slartibartfast1]

Grrr.. They just delivered the replacement, and it wouldn't even turn on. It just sat there and rebooted every 30 seconds.


This is not inspiring me with a lot of confidence in Samsung.

 

[douglas mcc]

Slar... couldnt they have taken the bulb unit out of the old unit and tried it in the replacement? If it was just a dead bulb that would have saved a lot of problems and headaches.


P.S. Don't lets something like this make you doubt Samsung quality (at least without more research). Defects happen to all companies. And unfortunately they happen in "batches" of produced units. The store you bought it from could have gotten a faulty set of 2 or even more, but that could have been the only faulty units out of 1000's produced at that facility. But I can understand how it would look bad on your end. "The Emperor is not as understanding about delays as I am" MWA HAA HAA (sorry, couldnt resist with that picture still attached )

 

[Slartibartfast1]

Sure, I guess some people could have done that. But these were just hired muscle delivery guys. All they knew was that the TV was supposed to turn on within 30 seconds.


I understand the theory of manufacturing defects. But, as you mention it is hard when you are on the receiving end after plunking dowin $5K. Maybe I am secretly afraid of this:


Vendor: We will be shipping a replacement 50" DLP for your 61" DLP

Me: But that wasn't our original agreement

Vendor: I am altering the deal. Pray that I don't alter it further

Me: But...


Ok, different movie, same series.