HP w2408 lcd with stuck red pixel

[invader]

I just purchased a 24" LCD display (HP w2408) from Best Buy and it has a
stuck red pixel in the middle of the screen. Googling around on the net it
sounds like this is an acceptable defect and I should just live with it
rather than return the monitor and end up getting one with even more stuck
pixels.

Is this really true?

I find it hard to believe that the manufacturers are producing defective
products we consumers just have to live with the defects (its obviously a
matter of poor quality control and the manufacturers wanting to sell LCD
panels that should have been dumped in the rubbish bin).

Anyhow, might take the thing back to Best Buy this weekend and see what
happens, unless people tell me that I'm lucky to get a display with only 1
stuck pixel and returning it will likely yield a worse display.

 

[Michael Cecil]

I just purchased a 24" LCD display (HP w2408) from Best Buy and it has a
stuck red pixel in the middle of the screen. Googling around on the net it
sounds like this is an acceptable defect and I should just live with it
rather than return the monitor and end up getting one with even more stuck
pixels.

Is this really true?

I find it hard to believe that the manufacturers are producing defective
products we consumers just have to live with the defects (its obviously a
matter of poor quality control and the manufacturers wanting to sell LCD
panels that should have been dumped in the rubbish bin).

Anyhow, might take the thing back to Best Buy this weekend and see what
happens, unless people tell me that I'm lucky to get a display with only 1
stuck pixel and returning it will likely yield a worse display.

Most makers have a written policy specifying how many and where stuck
pixels must be in order to qualify for a return. You really should have
taken it out of the box and tried it out in the store before buying it. I
haven't shopped at BB in about 20 years so I don't know what their
policies are but you might just keep mum about the pixel and make up some
other excuse if they don't have a "no questions asked" return policy.

 

[Timothy Drouillard]

Each manufacturer has their own policy for bad pixels.

No doubt just one stuck pixel will not technically qualify for a free
replacement. The local vendor/store may or may not replace it on their own
to keep the customer happy, but don't hold your breath.

Usually the rules are something along the line of...(grossly simplified)

1. Up to five to ten bad pixels scattered across the surface of the screen
are acceptable.

2. 3 to 5 bad pixels all within an inch of each other is unacceptable

You'll need to check the specific policy on your particular product.


Yes, it's fairly unusual to see bad pixels these days, but nonetheless, just
one or two is usually acceptable and will not qualify for a replacement.

 

[BigJim]

you have 14 days to return any item no questions asked there may be a
restocking fee cause it is opened.
Which is F....... dumb how do you know you like something unless you open
it.

 

[invader]

you have 14 days to return any item no questions asked there may be a

restocking fee cause it is opened.
Which is F....... dumb how do you know you like something unless you open
it.

I looked up the BB policy and it seems that I can return/exchange the bad
monitor for any reason for 14-days without a restocking fee. So I'll give it
a shot this week and see how it goes. Hopefully I won't get another bum
monitor.

Below is an excerpt from the policy:

14-day return period
We accept returns or exchanges 14 days from the original purchase on
computers, monitors, notebook computers, projectors, camcorders, digital
cameras, radar detectors and video games purchased as used.

Restocking fee
A restocking fee of 15% will be charged on opened notebook computers,
projectors, camcorders, digital cameras, radar detectors, GPS/navigation and
in-car video systems unless defective or prohibited by law. A restocking fee
of 25% will be charged on Special Order Products, including appliances unless
defective or prohibited by law.

 

[John Adams]

Yes, it's fairly unusual to see bad pixels these days, but nonetheless,
just one or two is usually acceptable and will not qualify for a
replacement.

Samsung has zero dead pixel policy. I just bought a Samsung 226bw and it
has no dead pixels. I think if he complains nicely to BB they will
exchange it no matter what the manufacturer's policy is. You have the
right to return any hardware for any reason within 7 - 14 days anyway,
some stores it's 30 days.

 

[John Adams]

I looked up the BB policy and it seems that I can return/exchange the bad
monitor for any reason for 14-days without a restocking fee. So I'll give it
a shot this week and see how it goes. Hopefully I won't get another bum
monitor.

You could exchange it for a Samsung as Samsung has zero dead pixel
policy. Also, Samsung warranty is three years and HP is only one year.

 

[dontdont]

I just purchased a 24" LCD display (HP w2408) from Best Buy and it has a
stuck red pixel in the middle of the screen. Googling around on the net it
sounds like this is an acceptable defect and I should just live with it
rather than return the monitor and end up getting one with even more stuck
pixels.

Since the ones that are stuck on are far more annoying than the ones
that are stuck off, I've wanted to find some company somewhere with
a great little product that lets you put a tiny little mostly opaque
dot
of ink on the front of the monitor to tone down those annoying
screamers,
and not have it be something that will dissolve into the plastic or
ruin
the surface or make the problem even worse than it is now.

This seems like a problem that someone should be able to see as an
opportunity.

Now to try to contribute a little something to possibly help with your
problem, if you google for
exercise stuck pixel software
or
repair stuck pixels
you will find a variety of software packages that claim just banging
the colors back and forth can supposedly fix stuck pixels, but there
are others there that say this has never worked. Also in there are a
few reports of success with "massaging" your pixels. I'd be really
cautious and gentle if you are going to start fondling your pixels,
whether you are going to try returning it or not.

Either way, it seems amazing to me that anyone can manufacture
a product, every one of which has millions of microscopic pixels
that switch on and off hundreds of times a second and will do that
(mostly) without fail for years on end.

 

[invader]

As a follow-up, I returned the monitor to Best Buy and exchanged for a better
one with no defective pixels. No hassles, no problems. Really glad I did it
rather than putting up with the problem (of course, now I gotta keep my
fingers crossed that no bad pixels show up!)

 

[invader]

you will find a variety of software packages that claim just banging

the colors back and forth can supposedly fix stuck pixels, but there

I tried these various solutions to no avail. Personally I think they are
mostly urband legends and wishful thinking. My googling research showed some
PSP screens or whatnot were cured with this technique, but I found little
evidence of people reporting success on anything else.

Either way, it seems amazing to me that anyone can manufacture
a product, every one of which has millions of microscopic pixels
that switch on and off hundreds of times a second and will do that
(mostly) without fail for years on end.

Yes, but the same can be said of the modern CPU or the modern hard drive.
When I got started with computers 20 years ago, nobody would have dreamed we
could be packing the transistor-density or bit-density into these devices.

I remember upgrading my COCO to 64 KB of ram that I had to manually bank
switch in 16 K chunks to make use of.

I remember when the 9600 baud modem was considered the ultimate bandwidth
barrior that would be technologically impossible to breach on a POTS line.

You have to wonder what things will be like in another 20 years.

 

[invader]

You could exchange it for a Samsung as Samsung has zero dead pixel

policy. Also, Samsung warranty is three years and HP is only one year.

Are you sure of this? I found lots of references to "samsung announces zero
dead pixel policy" circa 2005, but as far as I can tell from looking at other
sources (including FAQ on samsung website) this policy was abandoned and they
adhere to much the same standard as everyone else. In fact it seems worse
than many of the other manufacturers:

-- from samsung FAQ --

What Is The Pixel Defect Policy On LCD Monitors?

Since a 15 inch LCD display contains 2,359,296 pixels, a19 inch LCD display
contains 3,932,160 pixels, and a 24 inch LCD display contains 6,912,000
pixels, having a few "bad" pixels is not considered a defect. It is rare for
a monitor to ship with or develop bad pixels. If or when a bad pixel occurs,
it is not an indication that more will occur. It is usually a solitary
incident.

A pixel may be Stuck On or Stuck Off. (Bright or Dim) as shown in the
examples below:

The minimum number of defective pixels we allow before we will replace an in
warranty monitor is as follows:

For a 15" Monitor - 7 or more bad pixels
For 17" and 19" Monitors -10 or more bad pixels
For 21" - 24" Monitors - 17 or more bad pixels.

For questions or the replacement procedure, please contact our Customer Care
Center at 1-800-SAMSUNG (1-800-726-7864).

 

[Franc Zabkar]

I just purchased a 24" LCD display (HP w2408) from Best Buy and it has a
stuck red pixel in the middle of the screen. Googling around on the net it
sounds like this is an acceptable defect and I should just live with it
rather than return the monitor and end up getting one with even more stuck
pixels.

Is this really true?

I find it hard to believe that the manufacturers are producing defective
products we consumers just have to live with the defects (its obviously a
matter of poor quality control and the manufacturers wanting to sell LCD
panels that should have been dumped in the rubbish bin).

Anyhow, might take the thing back to Best Buy this weekend and see what
happens, unless people tell me that I'm lucky to get a display with only 1
stuck pixel and returning it will likely yield a worse display.

HP and Compaq LCD Flat Panel Displays (Monitors) - HP Pixel Policy:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...95&lc=en&cc=de&dlc=en&product=3440923&lang=en

I'd check your warranty card. If it states that "this product is
guaranteed to be free from defects ...", then, in the absence of any
specific disclaimer elsewhere on that card, I don't see how any dead
(ie defective) pixel policy can override this.

- Franc Zabkar