SaferSeller and SaferSeller4U have been selling on eBay since January of 2000. They are certified eBay education specialist that offer training, and Trading Assistance to help others sell their items.

What's all the fuss over DEAD PIXELS?

Well, a standard 1280x1024 LCD Display has a total of 1,310,720 pixels. Each pixel has 3 pels (1 red pel, 1 blue pel, & 1 green pel). The total number of pels on a this LCD is 3,932,160 - that's almost 4 million!

Assume that the chance of a single pel failing is 1 chance out of 1,000,000. Given that there are 3,932,160 pels on the 1280x1024 LCD, the odds are, that there will be a few dead pels in the display.

While a manufacter could trash an LCD that has 1 or more dead pels, the cost of this would need to be added to the cost of the panels being sold to cover the loss. Thus, manufacturers of LCDs allow some dead pixels or pels in their products.

INDUSTRIAL SUMMARY:

Most manufacturers do not wish to talk about the number of allowed missing pixels nor publish them officially in product specifications. However, some of the replacement standards have been documented in different places.

Company            Dead Pixels Allowed
CTX                  10
HP                     15 pels on, 18 pels off
NEC                  Depends on the number / location
Dell                    9 to 15
Sceptre              9
ViewSonic         7, 4 if adjacent
Iiyama               13 pels or 3 consecutive spots
Mitsubishi          6 or 3 adjacent
Philips               10 or more
Samsung            4 bright, 7 dark, or 2 adjacent
Seceptre            18
IBM                  21 ** see note below now 8

CONCLUSION:

While manufacturers of LCD Displays would love to have zero dead pixels (or pels) in 100% of their products, the current state of the art in technology does not make this possible within a reasonable cost. Even the high end manufacturers consider 5 to 7 dead pixels (or pels) within the allowed specification. Bottom line - get an LCD monitor, get an LCD TV, they are great if you dead pixels in the range above phone the manufacturer and request an exchange. Don't call the store unless they boldly offer no question exchanges.

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Best Regards,

SaferSeller

Ready, Willing & Able
The SaferSeller Team
9860 Southern Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
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**The IBM pixel policy pertaining to LCD replacement has changed. The old policy required 21 or more defective pixels to replace the TFT LCD panel during warranty. This policy has been revised to read 8 or more defective pixels.