15inch PowerBook Display Issues?

[MacRumors]

After complaints about white spots (http://www.zdnet.com.au/newstech/ebusiness/story/0,2000048590,20280444,00.htm) appearing on the most recent 15" PowerBook G4s, Apple issued a statement on the issue:.

"The new 15-inch PowerBook has been a big hit with customers since its introduction last month. However, some customers are reporting the appearance of faint white spots on their displays after using the system for a short period of time, and Apple is investigating these reports right now. Any customers experiencing this problem should contact AppleCare."


The appearance of the spots appears to be variable, and may develop over time. According to one user, the spots may be due to "spacers" built into the LCD screen.

[withnail]

Hadn't heard about these...what is "faint"? I mean, in comparison to the spots over the sleep LED on some Titaniums...

[theipodgod16]

not that i have one, but are they going to fix it under warrenty, or is it just going to be your typical "Rev A" problem. (like my Rev A ibook having cracks around the LCD)???

[ITR 81]

I hope this means they will fix all first production runs with the white spotted screens.

I believe the screen just needs to have more support so it's rigid enough to resist dents and the dreaded white spots.

But it's good to see an offical statement from Apple. I don't have one of the new 15 inchers so I guess I'm lucky.

[coumerelli]

sounds about right to me....I've got one with about four or five of those spots...here's what I've been thinking...with the Al casing, it can get impressed so that it presses onto the LCD from behind. Don't like it, but thrilled to hear apple is checking into it. :D

[edit for dumb spelling errors :rolleyes: ]

[ITR 81]

I would say since they are all under a yr old Apple should cover them under warranty.

[brettsea]

My 15" PB has then and they are getting bigger. My Australian reseller says that Apple will replace the screen for me as soon as they have fixed the problem and have stocks of the replacement screens.

[gwuMACaddict]

sounds like it's time for a G5 revision
;)

[supercres]

Well, I've got the spots. Not as bad as some people, but I still plan on sending it back when i can afford not to have a computer for a few weeks. Probably next summer.

No problem, though, since I'm on Applecare protection plan.

[Powerbook G5]

I don't have the spots but it isn't comforting to hear that they could develop over time.

[Foxer]

Yep. I'm in the market for one of these, but even the display model at the local apple store had them. I'll hold out a little while. I'll be ordering off the website anyway, where there is a three week wait.

Why didn't this problem crop up with the 17 or 12 inchers?

[nacl99]

Originally posted by supercres
Well, I've got the spots. Not as bad as some people, but I still plan on sending it back when i can afford not to have a computer for a few weeks. Probably next summer.

No problem, though, since I'm on Applecare protection plan.

If you have an apple store near you, they will send it in overnight, then fix it and send it back, I was told the process would only take 3-4 days tops.

As of now Apple Store guys have no official thing to tell us, but to file a report, and then maybe send it in and have them decide. I'd rather wait for something more definitive.

[neutrino23]

Mine developed this after five weeks. It is not usually noticeable. It does affect a few things.

I called Apple and they agreed to fix it immediately. No questions asked. I'll get it repaired in a few weeks after I finish travelling.

Even if you don't plan to fix this till later it might be a good idea to call AppleCare now and get a case number so there will be no confusion later.

[beefstu01]

Originally posted by nacl99
If you have an apple store near you, they will send it in overnight, then fix it and send it back, I was told the process would only take 3-4 days tops.

As of now Apple Store guys have no official thing to tell us, but to file a report, and then maybe send it in and have them decide. I'd rather wait for something more definitive.

Apple has had my laptop for over two weeks waiting for the LCD to come in.

[Porshuh944turbo]

Got mine replaced.. took about 5 days - a week cause they were out of stock on screens for a couple days.. but it was overnighted both ways...

now my new screen was perfect.. no spots.. no stuck pixels (my original one had 1), but now I am seeing spots in it again.... :(

definately something that has developed over a couple weeks.. i'll call apple again about it this week to get it documented, but probably won't send it in until they come up with a real solution.

[EZRyde]

So does this mean the 10-15 day ship time on 15" PB is because of this reason?

[tizza]

Well I haven't seen the spots yet on my new 15" but I'm getting a bit nervous now about what I may see in time :( I've been lucky so far ... no dead or stuck pixels at all.

[timbloom]

As an owner of an affected 15", and I have been following this issue left and right, I would suggest anyone that wants to have this fixed, wait a couple weeks, and you will have a better chance of a timely repair.

I have had my machine in for almost a week now and it is still "waiting for repair" and people at Apple saying that the part is already there. But some people are also being told 2 weeks for the repair, while they're telling me a couple more days and I should have it back (confusing me). If the technician I had talked to didn't assure me that they had a real fix for it last monday, I would not have sent it in, but (to me) it seems as though they may still be waiting for revised parts to be delivered, or to catch up with demand.

My point being: If you notice these spots, and you can not be without your machine for more than the 3-5 business days that it usually takes them, (normally I am very pleased with a timely return), I would recommend you wait for a couple or more weeks until they have received an adequate supply of new parts, and wait out the initial rush for these parts. Your machine will get back to you in the timely manner Apple usually does, and most likely the techs will have done enough of them to do them in their sleep, so less worries about a second repair.

[timbloom]

Originally posted by EZRyde
So does this mean the 10-15 day ship time on 15" PB is because of this reason?

I am almost 100% positive that the machines are being held up for this reason.

[BaDBoY]

actually... i had the problem on my 17" PB (the older one). Well i really didnt mind it at first. well.. heres the story...

i was using my comptuer one night.. and the spots were already there.. they did annoy me a bit but i tried not to.. but anyway i was using my PB like usual then the sound just went kerplunk. no more sound came out.. tried everything, did system restore, and all these other methods...then i used apple hardware test to check the hardware and there was a defect on the logic board! it gave me an error.. so i called apple up and they did ask me if there was anything else wrong with teh comptue r.. and rep mentioned the LCD, so i knew i had a chance to get it fixed. i sent it in on a thursday, got my PB back on tuesday. i was happy.. its flawless now.

i think they will fix it as long as its under teh waranty, but i hate teh fact that i have to go to the hassle of getting it fixed for a defective LCD screen

[actionslacks]

15 PB 1.25

Spots started 3 weeks after i recived it. I called Apple and they said that they can fix it, but I would advise all to wait a month or so until they have a premanent solution.

There are many people who have sent there PBs in and gotten one with spots in return.

[itsbetteronamac]

Hey is it just me or has there been more problems in the last few monthes with apple products than everbefore. Seriously, I love apple to death, but there starting to sound like M$. Well I hope all fixes the displays and does a little better with quality control. But, to all you out there don't get me wrong. It's ok that apple's having a bad streak, but i hope apple dosn't continue down this path.

[sethypoo]

It's times like these I'm glad I have my 12" PowerBook G4.....:)

But for those of you who have the 15" PowerBook G4's, wait a little while, live with the white spots, and send your machine in when Apple has this figured out.

[sethypoo]

Originally posted by itsbetteronamac
Hey is it just me or has there been more problems in the last few monthes with apple products than everbefore. Seriously, I love apple to death, but there starting to sound like M$. Well I hope all fixes the displays and does a little better with quality control. But, to all you out there don't get me wrong. It's ok that apple's having a bad streak, but i hope apple dosn't continue down this path.

Exactly. I suppose releasing so many different products and updates as fast as Apple has would cause this. Give them time to catch up with themselves, they've been at it hard!

[zync]

This is not just a 15" problem nor a powerbook problem or even an apple problem. I had spots like this on an old dell, just as I do on this 15" I'm typing from. I think on the 15" it's caused by the way you pick up your powerbook (my spots are where my fingers are when I pick it up) or by, as some have already noted, spacers between the LCD and the back of the lid. I've opened up many laptops and the spacers that some companies put back there could cause this problem. I've never opened a new powerbook but this may definitely be something apple does. It all depends on the thickness of the LCD and lid. Apple LCDs actually seem to thin to warrant spacers AFAICT though. Hopefully this problem will be resolved and we can all get replacements. I only hope this doesn't affect prices for new powerbook buyers in the future because plenty of people are having these problems and these LCDs can no longer be sold or used in anything not labeled refurb.

[LinkJaffa]

I don't recall when I ordered my powerbook, that I would also be receiving white spots on them. I don't care that other LCD displays from different manufacturers have had problems. I just want my Display replaced with something that works and that is all I care about.

[zync]

Originally posted by LinkJaffa
I don't recall when I ordered my powerbook, that I would also be receiving white spots on them. I don't care that other LCD displays from different manufacturers have had problems. I just want my Display replaced with something that works and that is all I care about.

Hello, I'm on your side here. I'm just explaining the problem. Maybe you should try to understand my posts before you reply to them because you took it in an entirely different way than I intended. But if you'd rather live in ignorance (read ignorance and not stupidity) and not know about manufacturers and problems not specifically apple keep it to yourself and just pass my post on by. Thank you.

[LinkJaffa]

Hey Sorry I didn't want to make fun of your post or anything, I was just excited to check macrumors tonight and find out that others were having the same problem as me. I was going to live with the spots, but now that i can get it replaced makes me happy. Sorry didn't mean anything by my post. This is the 2nd powerbook I have ever bought and the 3nd time I have had problems with displays.

[zync]

Originally posted by LinkJaffa
Hey Sorry I didn't want to make fun of your post or anything, I was just excited to check macrumors tonight and find out that others were having the same problem as me. I was going to live with the spots, but now that i can get it replaced makes me happy. Sorry didn't mean anything by my post. This is the 2nd powerbook I have ever bought and the 3nd time I have had problems with displays.

I apologize if I was rash in my reply. You are a decent person. Few would have replied with such courteousy, though I did mean no ill sentiment. I too am glad they've publicly addressed this issue and hope we'll all have reparations for our current "spotty" LCDs. :)

[LOZ23]

So glad to hear i'm not just extremely unlucky. My first powerbook had four of these spots. I got it DOA'd (you can refuse your computer as dead on arrival if it ships with this fault and they not repair but replace the entire unit: you have to request this, it will not be offered to you when you contact apple care).
I received my new powerbook threee weeks later with a lovely white spot on the left of the screen. I am now waiting for this to be collected and a new one to be sent which probally meens another three weeks. Nice one apple!

- To check your screen turn the background in system preferences to a solid colour (light grey seems to work best) and like magic they appear.

[MattG]

See, this is why I'm so worried that I'm going to get my computer back from AppleCare for the SECOND time this week, only to have the white spots come back again.

No one seems to know what's causing the problem, or at least they're not telling us! They replaced my screen once, and as far as I know, that's all they're doing this time as well. The technicians I've talked to on the phone try to convince me that it's simply a bad batch of screens, but everything I read online (including that post on Apple's forums from the supposed "Apple Technicial) say that it's the spacers causing the problems. If it's the spacers causing this problem, why are they only merely replacing the screen? I'd rather be told, "hold off on sending it in while we work up a fix for this problem," rather than having my PB suffer the wear and tear of shipping it all the way to Texas and back, TWICE, only to have the problem reoccur again.

All I can say is that if I get my computer back this week and the same problem occurs, heads are gonna roll. And no, I'm not going to baby this computer or treat it any differently than I would any other computer. If this computer can't withstand going back and forth to work with me everyday without getting white spots all over it, then it's not worthy of $2600 and I WILL get a refund for it.

[rlarose]

Originally posted by sethypoo
It's times like these I'm glad I have my 12" PowerBook G4.....:)

But for those of you who have the 15" PowerBook G4's, wait a little while, live with the white spots, and send your machine in when Apple has this figured out.

I plan to do that. I have one spot in the lower right corner of my new powerbook. I have been living with it for over a month now and am actually used to it. I'll hang low until Apple decides what they want to do about it.

[bradz_id]

Please all sign this...

http://www.petitiononline.com/applelcd

[jsd]

I can't believe some people hadn't heard of this yet. There's a lot of angry customers. I'm one of them. This is my second display (and the repair went horribly awry--when I got it back the screen wouldn't light up, so it got fixed for a second time). It has white spots worse than the first (I could only see those on solid white. These shine through everything.)

The very nice, but helpless AppleCare people I talk to say there is no permanent solution documented yet. So I'm holding out on a repair.

I've heard of 17's getting the spots, but it seems to be a very isolated problem.

iBooks get them too, but much smaller and less noticeable, at least from the one I saw. That looked like it might have been damaged somehow. I guess I can't say much from one computer.

I almost feel like trading for a 17", but I think that might be too big for me, and I don't know if they'll let me. But I don't want to send the dang computer in every 2 weeks so they can replace the screen over and over and over.

[eric67]

Hello guys,

sorry for those affected by this screen problem.
I just wanted to mention to all of you, that if you were reading hardmac.com more often, you could have noticed that this problem of white spots was reported several weeks ago, and that (at least in Europe) there is a replacement program.
The center for that program is located in Holland, but as hardmac.com reported recently, it seems that there is a shortage of the screen supply, and hardmac.com was advising to delay sending back the PB15" since due to that shortage it might stay on a shelf in Holland for few days to few weeks.
It is not clear if it is a production batch of this screen which was wrong, or directly the manufacturing process. but at least it seems that the new screen installed are working fine , now (so screens installed since around 2-3 weeks)

[Icekey]

Here is a photo of mine

http://icekey.customer.netspace.net.au/photo/whitespot.jpg

[aras]

Thought that this was some kinda of quirk, didn't bother me until everyone seems to have them.

Guess I'll wait at least a month until apple resolves this issue.

[dezeinstein]

I've got the spots on my 15", but my display is also darker on the right side than the left - almost like a gradient change from left to right. Anyone else have this problem?

[bretm]

Originally posted by Foxer
Yep. I'm in the market for one of these, but even the display model at the local apple store had them. I'll hold out a little while. I'll be ordering off the website anyway, where there is a three week wait.

Why didn't this problem crop up with the 17 or 12 inchers?

Just curious, why are you ordering from the apple website? Unless you're getting a discount only apple can offer you like educational, etc.

I mean, ordering from any third party like macmall, macconnection, clubmac, etc. will usually double or triple your ram, give you free software and usually a printer or something for free too. They don't charge sales tax either which here is an instant 7% off.

[Raveny]

Hello everyone,
I just called AppleCare Germany. They told me that the production in Taiwan has been stoppen for investigating the "white spots" issue. The production should start again at the beginning of next week.

Greetings from Germany

[coumerelli]

Originally posted by dezeinstein
I've got the spots on my 15", but my display is also darker on the right side than the left - almost like a gradient change from left to right. Anyone else have this problem?

Totally! I thought it was just the light that I'm in. The bottom right especially is more noticable. shesh :rolleyes:

[Foxer]

[Edit: Forgot to quote. See next post. Too early on a Monday to think straight.]

[Foxer]

Originally posted by bretm
Just curious, why are you ordering from the apple website? Unless you're getting a discount only apple can offer you like educational, etc.

I mean, ordering from any third party like macmall, macconnection, clubmac, etc. will usually double or triple your ram, give you free software and usually a printer or something for free too. They don't charge sales tax either which here is an instant 7% off.

Two reasons: Edu discount and two Apple Store only "coupons."

Total savings: Almost $500 dollars.

[jayjeeper]

I have a 15" tibook 550 from 2 years ago that has the same white spots on the monitor. The biggest spot is about a 1/2 an inch tall by 3 inches wide about a third of the way up in the center of the screen. It doesn't seem to correspond with certain keys, dents in the lid, or where i regularly pick it up.

I've used and abused my laptop quite a bit and just attributed the marks or blemishes on the screen to the harsh usage.

I'm suprised this wasn't reported earlier.

[illumin8]

Originally posted by zync
I think on the 15" it's caused by the way you pick up your powerbook (my spots are where my fingers are when I pick it up) or by, as some have already noted, spacers between the LCD and the back of the lid.
I think you may be onto something there. When you pick up your PowerBook, do you carry it by holding it around the hinge area, or around the clasp area?

I ask this question because I have a 15" AlBook as well and although it doesn't have this problem (yet), I'd like to avoid having to return it if possible.

I try to carry mine by the area around the hinge, rather than the clasp area, simply because the way the clasp on this thing is loose and has so much space it doesn't seem safe to carry it that way.

[illumin8]

Originally posted by Icekey
Here is a photo of mine
Wow, that is not pretty... I'm hoping mine stays OK.

[Liquidity X]

Ok I have a buddy @ Apple in Apple repair and he said that the spots r due to to much preasure being put on the back of the display from the lid (I think) and with a simple reenforcement it could be fixed, as of now apple is looking at other displays by a different manufactture which can bear a heavyer weight load until they can update the case to easy the stress on the LCD, but it should all be worked out for the next batch due in (more stock not updates).

[ImAlwaysRight]

Originally posted by Liquidity X
but it should all be worked out for the next batch due in (more stock not updates). Dude, I hope so. I have a 15" 1.25 PB on order for a week due to ship on or before 11/18, so I sure hope this is fixed in my book.

[Phil Of Mac]

Well, I've got white spots. I'm gonna send it in semester break, I'll have 3 weeks to wait.

[SampsonSimpson]

Originally posted by dezeinstein
I've got the spots on my 15", but my display is also darker on the right side than the left - almost like a gradient change from left to right. Anyone else have this problem?

I've noticed this problem when I turn down the contrast for a substantial period of time, and turn it back up again. Like you, the lower right hand corner always seems to be darker. Before I noticed the white spots on my screen, I called AppleCare with this "dark screen" problem. They said that it was still within spec, just that this part of the screen wasn't warming up fast enough.

Now, I've started to develop the same white spot problems as everyone else is reporting (It may have been there before, I may just have tried to ignore it) It's not as bad as the poster of the picture above, but it's annoying nevertheless. It cuts across straight through the middle of the screen, almost all the way across. I'm debating whether to send it back right now because:
1. There doesn't seem to be a sure fix for it, even people who've had their LCDs replaced still report the same problem,
2. The turnaround time most people report seem to be around 2-3 weeks, and I can't afford to go without it for that long. Is there any other way to get this problem taken care of without waiting so long?

This is the first Mac I've purchased, and to see it develop problems so soon doesn't bode well for the company. Is this the kind of quality control I should expect from Apple?

[zync]

Originally posted by Icekey
Here is a photo of mine

Mine's pretty much an exact copy of yours....maybe I was wrong with the hand theory, though it does fit to my hand....I do think the hand may couple a problem with spacers though...Ironically I've been thinking about taking pics of mine...

[zync]

Originally posted by dezeinstein
I've got the spots on my 15", but my display is also darker on the right side than the left - almost like a gradient change from left to right. Anyone else have this problem?

I thought it was just me....mine seems to have a band of darkness on that side....that's usually caused by the type of backlighting they use but I thought they stopped using side lighting long ago....at least one side anyway...which is the only way that can be caused...

[zync]

Originally posted by illumin8
I think you may be onto something there. When you pick up your PowerBook, do you carry it by holding it around the hinge area, or around the clasp area?

I ask this question because I have a 15" AlBook as well and although it doesn't have this problem (yet), I'd like to avoid having to return it if possible.

I try to carry mine by the area around the hinge, rather than the clasp area, simply because the way the clasp on this thing is loose and has so much space it doesn't seem safe to carry it that way.

I usually pick it up near the clasp and then hold it by the back....yeah I'm not used to that much space between the screen and base of a laptop either...I really thought it odd when I first got mine....It seems to be off on each side but not because of the hinge, the lid seems to be slightly bowed....I'm not sure though...I'd try to pick it up by the hinge area but it's usually too difficult to get to in the places I put my laptop down, when I can though I do...

[ant_s]

Hi All,

Having been convinced about 2 years ago that a Mac is for me - I have finally saved up enough to get a 15" PowerBook. Okay, the fact that they took their time in introducing the Aluminium version is part of why I've waited so long.

Anyway, I've had the unit on order just under a week and the estimated shipping is 1-2 weeks (still says 2-3 on the website, so they must be short on supplies, or, more likely, revising all the current ones). I sure hope mine doesn't have the display issue.

As I've had problems on another laptop on the battery side of things, I ordered a 2nd battery - that was before I heard of the problems with short battery life in the new 15" AlBooks.


I guess like many things, Apple are experiencing a few teething problems on a new product, so let's just hope it's all sorted out soon.

[MattG]

You shouldn't HAVE TO baby these things!

This really makes me mad, that I paid $2600 for this thing, only to find out that it is exceedingly fragile and that I need to handle it differently from any other laptop.

Sorry, but it's frustrating that the Dell laptops they use at the school I work at cost a fraction of the price, get thrown around by their users, and yet have none of the problems that the supposedly "better made" Apple products have! Something is very wrong with that!

[Phil Of Mac]

Don't freak out and get pissed off. It's a Rev. A problem in the first manufacturing run and they've stopped manufacturing to fix it. Wait until you can and send it in for repair.

[MattG]

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
Don't freak out and get pissed off. It's a Rev. A problem in the first manufacturing run and they've stopped manufacturing to fix it. Wait until you can and send it in for repair. I have sent it in, in fact, it was sent in for the second time last week, since the problem reoccured when I got it back after the first repair. So yes, after spending $2600, 2 repairs later, plus the fact that Apple has had the machine longer than I've had it, I think I have every right to "freak out and get pissed off."

[Westside guy]

Originally posted by Icekey
Here is a photo of mine

Wow, mine's not nearly that bad. With my normal background (wallpaper from endeffect) I usually don't even notice the two white areas on mine. It's only if the screen is all monocolor, such as with one of the screensavers that Panther broke. :-) But the spots are getting worse - if a mostly-white Web page is overlapping one of the spots then I can see them now.

Since I did buy Applecare, I'm holding off until I hear people are getting replacements that truly are fixed.

As a new switcher from the Linux/Windows realm, I've got to say that while this is rather annoying I am otherwise really enjoying my 15" Powerbook. OS X is amazing - it's what Red Hat's desktop wants to be when it grows up!

[MattG]

I just got off the phone with AppleCare...I was on hold for 1/2 hour waiting for someone. The person I talked to said that a LOT of people are calling due to this issue now.

Anyway, she couldn't really give me much detail because from her end, she doesn't see a list of parts that are going into my computer, however she tried to assure me that they have a fix for the problem and that they are using "new parts" this time around, whatever that means.

[jsd]

This is the first time I've had a problem with an Apple product, but it sure was a heck of a problem. Plus, like Matt, there are a lot of switchers with the new 15" PowerBooks. It's not a good introduction at all. That picture shows way worse white spots than I've got. Although mine get worse all the time, so I suppose it could get there.

I didn't like the service I got from the Apple Store Costa Mesa either. When my computer came back unusable, they wouldn't replace it. I thought that was nasty of them. And of course they played dumb about the white spots (it's not a documented problem, so we don't have to help you.) I'm not buying from them again.

Hey, at least I saved $600 with education pricing and rebates!

[Westside guy]

Originally posted by MattG
Sorry, but it's frustrating that the Dell laptops they use at the school I work at cost a fraction of the price, get thrown around by their users, and yet have none of the problems that the supposedly "better made" Apple products have! Something is very wrong with that!

I'm not trying to argue because I agree that it's frustrating. But I do want to make a couple points. This isn't to say your feelings aren't valid; it's more to show it's not as black and white as all that.

With my prior (Dell Inspiron 3800) laptop I had several issues that required service; including a keyboard where keys would just randomly stop working for weeks at a time (matter of fact I just got a letter about a class action settlement that sounds like it covers this exact issue). This re-occured after both repairs, and I'd lived with it after that because I wasn't under warranty anymore and Dell's formerly good support seems to now operate under the principle of "if we make it hard enough, maybe they'll quit bugging us" (it certainly worked that way for me).

Also, when I still hadn't decided to become a switcher I was pricing equivalent Dells and Toshibas with the Powerbooks - at that time the difference was only going to be about $200. Part of that may be because Apple gives an honest-to-goodness educational discount, whereas Dell's discount is more of the phantom variety.

[brhmac]

Has Apple said when it's safe to buy a G4 PowerBook? I really want to buy a new one but have waited until I could get one with Panther installed.

[nuclearwinter]

i am a very recent convert to apple, in fact, i was a tried and true wintel lover. i hated macs. I got bored with wintels and decided to try something new... like an apple. i bought a 15" powerbook the day they came out. I love it, however, i quickly began to notice things wrong with it. all of the problems i have with my powerbook are located on the screen. i have two stuck pixels in the middle of the screen (one red, one blue), approximately nine white spots (who knows how many i'll have by the time i send it back to apple for repairs) and the right side of the screen is much darker than the left side. I gotta say it... Apple makes a great computer but I'm not convinced that they offer the highend product i thought they did.

[lord_flash]

Seriously, I've got a question for you guys. There are people here who seem willing to defend absolutely everything Apple do. So, I buy my new computer for the best part of $3000 dollars (Apple also charge significantly more in Europe, and trust me it's not just the import duties they're factoring in) for my new 15" 1.25.

I get it, and I'm happy - it comes in a lovely box with a carry handle that can actually take the weight, and all sorts of 'Designed by Apple...' stuff on the packaging to reassure me. I'm even pleased to find stuff I wouldn't have expected, like a composite/s-video adaptor. Nice.

It's first time on wizzard sets up most of the things it says it will correctly, detects and uses my WiFi and everything. Splendid.

BUT that's still not all I expect from my computer. GET THIS EVERYONE - A WINDOWS COMPUTER DOES ALL THIS TOO (though it probably says 'designed by Sony/Dell etc on box). My 15" - even more so than my smaller, lighter wintel machine - sets fire to my legs. And then the screen starts to develop blotches. This, kids, is BAD DESIGN.

Yet I come on here and there are plenty of people saying "oh it's just teething trouble...". What? Seriously - all that money, and then I'm likely to have to spend weeks without the machine while it's fixed - if, that is my blotches are deemed bad enough. This is shoddy stuff - why defend it? IF IT'S TEETHING TROUBLE IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE DESIGN/PROTOTYPE PROCESS.

Is there anyone here who spent their (not their dad's) money on one of these computers and genuinely thinks that everything is OK here? Because if that's what I've bought into - insane loyalty - then I'm very annoyed indeed.

(ed for typos, plus to put more angry shouting in!)

[Powerbook G5]

I don't know anyone who is defending Apple and saying it's "okay" to have these problems, just calm down. Trust me, we are all as upset as you are that we spent $2000+ on these and end up with problems. I don't have any of them, but from what I hear, I could develop the white spot issue at any time, which I am not happy about.

[wdlove]

My wife purchased a 15" PowerBook at the Panther release party. So far no problem with the display. Her problem is that the AirPort Card isn't recognizing our wireless system. She plans on visiting the Apple Store. I have faith in Apple that they will correct these problems.

[dietsoda]

Well, here goes my story....

Ordered mine (CTO, 1 512mb chip, faster 5400rpm 80gb HDD) on the 21st of Spetember via a UK reseller...
Invoiced on the 22nd October when the CTO powerbook fianlly arrived.

(BTW, cost over £2,100, which is approx. $3,533 or €3,072)

Happy as larry for 1 1/2 weeks, then... white blotches started to appear on the screen. Rang my reseller, they advised me to call Apple immediately as I had one more day of my 14 days left. apparently after that time it has to go through tech support rather than being declared DOA.

They came to get the PowerBook on Friday (31st October). They rang me today (4th November) to get me to fax my invoice. I did so, and asked them roughly how long it would take to replace the screen. They told me that the screen wouldn't be replaced, instead I would get a new PowerBook from Apple. when I asked again, "How long?", they told me to ring Apple in 10 buisness days (2 weeks!) and they'd tell me how much longer I'll have to wait to recieve it.

So it looks like I'm going to have waited 2 months to get a fully functional PB!!! But what's worse is that if it's an entirely new one, it'll probably only go and develop the same problem. If it does then I'm really gonna hit the roof. I can't express how inconvenient it is.

I've also been waiting since the 21st of october to receive my Up To Date Panther, and an 802.11b Airport card from the Apple Store, despite the order telling me it would ship on or before the 24th October!

Really unhappy that they couldn't give me either better news, or at least a more precise date. at the moment I've no idea how long I'll be waiting.

It's really beginnig to feel like if you live outside the US, then don't buy Apple, they either don't care about non US customers, or don't have the resources to serve them.

I think if they really want to get rid of some of the bad feeling this is creating, they should send our PBs back with an extra 512mb in them.

Shame on you Apple, shame.

[rjstanford]

Originally posted by lord_flash
BUT that's still not all I expect from my computer. GET THIS EVERYONE - A WINDOWS COMPUTER DOES ALL THIS TOO (though it probably says 'designed by Sony/Dell etc on box).Ah. You must be new here. Comparing Apples to Wintel machines isn't considered kosher :-) Just for fun, try talking about the relative performance of a 1.7ghz PM compared to a 1ghz G4 and see what happens.

Seriously though, I'm sorry to hear about your problems, and much more disappointed in the way that Apple is (not) handling them. I'd be more impressed with a release that says, "Look, we know we're having problems, this is what we're doing, we promise fixes for everybody." Admit it, and move on, and few will hold it against them.

-Richard

[floatingspirit]

I'm going to price some Windoze machines now. I hate to say it, but all this has me thinking of switiching back! It's been my dream to own a 15in PB. First I waited and waited to save the money. Then I waited and waited and waited for the powerbook line upgrade. Then, I waited for Panther. Now I'm waiting for this issue and the file vault matter to die down! aaaaahhhhh!!! I need a computer and the 12 and 17 are out of the question due to size and cost respectively. I've got a hardy ibook that I've fallen off mountain bikes with and never had a problem, but I need to upgrade SOON!

I just had to vent because the frustration of waiting, and now potentially worrying, is starting to get to me. Sorry:confused:

[lord_flash]

Originally posted by rjstanford
Ah. You must be new here. Comparing Apples to Wintel machines isn't considered kosher :-) Just for fun, try talking about the relative performance of a 1.7ghz PM compared to a 1ghz G4 and see what happens.

Yeah - I spent a long time openly agonising about whether to make the switch at all. I know what happens if I make the suggestion that Wintel has it's advantages.

You're right though, if Apple would admit that something was wrong here that'd make me a lot happier about it. Better still e-mail me to ask if there is anything they can do (after all, I've registered, they know what I've got).

If they adopted an open approach, they could arrange quick repairs at minimum inconvienience to machine owners, rather than leaving me with nothing (well, actually an aging Vaio notebook that's starting to look better all the time).

[Icekey]

Originally posted by dietsoda

Happy as larry for 1 1/2 weeks, then... white blotches started to appear on the screen. Rang my reseller, they advised me to call Apple immediately as I had one more day of my 14 days left. apparently after that time it has to go through tech support rather than being declared DOA.

They came to get the PowerBook on Friday (31st October). They rang me today (4th November) to get me to fax my invoice. I did so, and asked them roughly how long it would take to replace the screen. They told me that the screen wouldn't be replaced, instead I would get a new PowerBook from Apple. when I asked again, "How long?", they told me to ring Apple in 10 buisness days (2 weeks!) and they'd tell me how much longer I'll have to wait to recieve it.

So it looks like I'm going to have waited 2 months to get a fully functional PB!!! But what's worse is that if it's an entirely new one, it'll probably only go and develop the same problem. If it does then I'm really gonna hit the roof. I can't express how inconvenient it is.

Really unhappy that they couldn't give me either better news, or at least a more precise date. at the moment I've no idea how long I'll be waiting.

It's really beginnig to feel like if you live outside the US, then don't buy Apple, they either don't care about non US customers, or don't have the resources to serve them.



Really this is kind of weird. Well, I'm here in Australia, and what has happened with my powerbook was that it was declared DOA. But since there doesn't seem to be a clear fix for this, I'm allowed to keep my powerbook until a fix is found, in which they will give me a brand new one as a replacement. If it was declared DOA, why couldn't you ask them that you want to keep the powerbook until they get the replacement? How about requesting a refund and getting say a iBook instead? I know your frustration, but I can clearly see many options instead of the wait.

[dennis88]

Can someone with the whitespots post a picture of it, but with the brightness of the screen set to max?

Thanks.

[dietsoda]

Originally posted by Icekey
If it was declared DOA, why couldn't you ask them that you want to keep the powerbook until they get the replacement? How about requesting a refund and getting say a iBook instead? I know your frustration, but I can clearly see many options instead of the wait.

Because the guy at apple said it would be repaired. I belived him. Then, when I rang Amsys (Apple's UK ApppleCare partner) they said it would not be repaired, and would be replaced.

but I can clearly see many options instead of the wait :confused:

really? like buying an iBook? I can't see how that is an option. maybe for you, but not for me. And as I say, I was led to believe it would be repaired, and only told the truth AND the time frame once they already had it. I had no OPTIONS it was either keep it or give it to us today! In fact the day i rang they ewanted to come and pick it up that afternoon! At least I got them to give me a day so i could back up my HDD onto my desktop at home.

I appreciate your attempt at helping, but I'm getting fed up with posts that amount to some one saying: "stop moaning, you've only got yourself to blame". I'm totally calm about it. I understand that technical problems like this can and do happen all the time to even the most diligent of companies. What I'm angry about is that two months on from ordering a PB that claimed to be "Now Shipping", I'll have had under a week with it, and when the replacement arrives, it will quite possibly develop the same problem.

then only weeks after i finally get it they'll update the range again. And I'll have had a top of the line PB for only a few weeks, despite having paid for it for like 3 months.

[Icekey]

Originally posted by dennis88
Can someone with the whitespots post a picture of it, but with the brightness of the screen set to max?

Thanks.

http://icekey.customer.netspace.net.au/photo/whitespot1.jpg

[Icekey]

Originally posted by dietsoda

I appreciate your attempt at helping, but I'm getting fed up with posts that amount to some one saying: "stop moaning, you've only got yourself to blame". I'm totally calm about it. I understand that technical problems like this can and do happen all the time to even the most diligent of companies. What I'm angry about is that two months on from ordering a PB that claimed to be "Now Shipping", I'll have had under a week with it, and when the replacement arrives, it will quite possibly develop the same problem.

then only weeks after i finally get it they'll update the range again. And I'll have had a top of the line PB for only a few weeks, despite having paid for it for like 3 months.

It's been a major issue with Apple lately. They can't give an ETA that they can stick to. I totally understand your situation and nothing is on your fault. I'm just saying that there could be ways to improve your situation. I don't know how it works over there in Europe, but can't you call them and tell them that you want your machine back until they can get you a replacement. Cause it's really ridiculous that until they give you a replacement it's your laptop, not Apple's. The rumors that I heard are that they are holding back all shipment till mid-december for the 15". I'm sure you can't wait till then, so I would start ringing up some people to find out what your options are. The only way I was able to tolerate this DOA was keeping my powerbook till I get my replacement. I waited 4 weeks for my powerbook to come and within 3 days I had my white spots develop. I knew there wasn't a solution at the time so I just told the technician that I knew the situation and that I wanted this machine to be recommended as DOA, but won't accept a replacement until a permanent fix has been clearly found and announced by Apple. About a week later I got a response from the techinician that it was totally acceptable. Thus, I still have my 15". How about trying to get a refund? At least you'll know that you have nothing to worry about in terms of value change and upgrades what not.

[dietsoda]

Originally posted by Icekey
I knew there wasn't a solution at the time so I just told the technician that I knew the situation and that I wanted this machine to be recommended as DOA, but won't accept a replacement until a permanent fix has been clearly found and announced by Apple.

I wish I'd been as forthright, too english i suppose. ;)

I'm really irritated about Amsys really. The Apple guy told me it would be repaired, the Amsys people wouldn't confirm the DOA until they had examined the machine, which meant they had to collect it. then once they had, 3 days later, they told me it would be replaced and was being sent back to Apple! So I'm left with no recourse. I don''t want my money back, just a Alu 15" 1.25 PB without white spots!

[Icekey]

Nah seriously, get yourself a refund and order another one. In theory, a DOA is supposed to get pushed up to the very front of the queue, but from the sounds of it it's not. If your DOA replacement gets all screwy and stuff, you might get shafted with this Abyss company or whatever. DOA can only be applied within 10 days, but if it's in transit or sitting at the store during that time, it doesn't give you enough time to find out about it. Plus, you should have been the one who gave the final decision to hand it back to Apple or not. Once it's declared DOA, the users are given an option. In your case you weren't. Try dealing with Apple directly or force that company that you're dealing with to work for you.

[dietsoda]

Well I've just sent an email to amsys and apple explaining exactly what's happened, and asking them to either give me a date, or give me my powerbook back until they have a new one.

I'm not hopeful, but there you go.

If I don't get a repsonse by lunchtime tommorrow, I'll ring Apple and see what they say. I must admit though, I'm very disapointed with AppleCare service. I've never needed any kind of support before, just goes to show, you can only judge a company once you've had a problem and seen how they respond. They're risking invalidating years of good will with this. Not to mention the umpteen friends, colleagues and family that have bought Apple because of my foolish evangelism.

[aarond12]

It's pretty obvious to me that the white spots are from spacers behind the LCD panel. If you (gently) flex the display, the white spots get more intense.

When I come back from Singapore and Japan, I will be having my AlBook 15" repaired.

(Yes, I am going to the Apple store in Japan on December 1st!)

[birdherder]

I called Monday night. Empty shipping box was waiting for me on Tuesday when I got home from work. Dropped it off at Airborne that night. Airborne dropped the repaired Powerbook off this morning was without it for only about 36 hours. The woman at AppleCare said it might take 3 or 4 days since they've ramped up their mail-in service facilities. Mine was repaired in Houston.

New display doesn't have the blotches or dead pixels. Although I'm not going to jack with it, initial poking on the back of the display does not show ripples in the areas where they did the before. Perhaps they've changed the supports between the diplay and the case.

I'm so happy to have my Powerbook back!!

[jsd]

My AlBook has added a large dark area on the right side of the screen and mysterious green flashes while in sleep mode to its list of woes.

I'm glad to hear that they were able to make such a prompt repair. I'll send mine in as soon as I can. Or as soon as it finally gives up and the screen disappears in a shower of sparks.

Of course, my very terribly bad screen doesn't do anything weird when I poke on the back of it or flex it. Beyond its typical state, that is.

[lord_flash]

Right, my machine took longer than two weeks to show the blotches, so it isn't going to be a DOA.

What do I do now? Is there a fix? Or should I wait a bit before trying to get in touch with Apple?

[Icekey]

Apple already has a fix for this problem so it's safe to go ahead and contact Apple Care. Since you're under your 1 year warranty, the least they'll do is replace the screen for you.

My DOA Alubook is going to get replaced early next week. Called up the guy at Apple Centre and he said Apple's found a fix. They've already got the new replacement screens here in Australia. The guy is just trying to confirm that the replacement powerbook will have the newer screens or not. It looks all good to me

[zync]

Originally posted by Icekey
Apple already has a fix for this problem so it's safe to go ahead and contact Apple Care. Since you're under your 1 year warranty, the least they'll do is replace the screen for you.

My DOA Alubook is going to get replaced early next week. Called up the guy at Apple Centre and he said Apple's found a fix. They've already got the new replacement screens here in Australia. The guy is just trying to confirm that the replacement powerbook will have the newer screens or not. It looks all good to me

Where'd you get THAT information? If it was from an Apple Tech I wouldn't take too much stock in it because they seem to tell everyone what they want to hear like their the freaking Oracle. They made an announcement regarding the issue and until they make another regarding a solution, I highly doubt they have one.

[Eric Szilagy]

Apple will repair this under warranty and replace the screen (my experience - Original spots appeared after 1 week.). Screens are in limited supply so it may take 10+ business days. So far (after 2 weeks) no problems with the new screen. No dead pixels either.

[dietsoda]

UPDATE:

Well it's now been 1 week exactly since they picked up my spotty PowerBook. I just rang Apple as advised and spoke to a nice woman who, although very friendly, wasn't massively helpful.

She checked for me, and all she could determine was that the "order" was present, and looked like it may complete it's time at the factory today. however, it then goes to Apple HQ (whatever that means, maybe for quality checking?), before it is shipped to me.

So she said the best thing I could do is that if I haven't recieved anything by the end of next week then ring again. (which is actually what amsys told me originally, wait 2 weeks then if no PB ring again)

So at this point I'm hopeful I'll get it sometime next week, but still have no real way of knowing either way.

My laptop bag arrived today (Crumpler Base Toucher), makes me sad to look at it sitting there with nothing to put in it. :(

[Icekey]

Originally posted by zync
Where'd you get THAT information? If it was from an Apple Tech I wouldn't take too much stock in it because they seem to tell everyone what they want to hear like their the freaking Oracle. They made an announcement regarding the issue and until they make another regarding a solution, I highly doubt they have one.

Apple Centre technician. He doesn't work for Apple. He won't tell me that the problem is fixed unless it was. My machine is already a DOA and I'm keepng it until they find a solution. Don't be too much of a pessimist mate. Don't know how Apple works over there, but every lcd that they replace which is faulty is costing them money. There is no sending in the machine crap either. They'll tell you if the replacement lcd is in, and you take it in, and hopefully they'll give it back to you the next day. I see no reason why I would doubt him telling me that there is a fix unless you can come up with one. Cheers

[zync]

Originally posted by Icekey
Apple Centre technician. He doesn't work for Apple. He won't tell me that the problem is fixed unless it was. My machine is already a DOA and I'm keepng it until they find a solution. Don't be too much of a pessimist mate. Don't know how Apple works over there, but every lcd that they replace which is faulty is costing them money. There is no sending in the machine crap either. They'll tell you if the replacement lcd is in, and you take it in, and hopefully they'll give it back to you the next day. I see no reason why I would doubt him telling me that there is a fix unless you can come up with one. Cheers

I'm not a pessimist, I'm a cynic :D anyway....I only have one reason...Apple released a statement regarding the problem, most assuredly they'd also release a statement regarding a known fix because it'd be good PR....I also posted about the cost of these replacements screens elsewhere :) it's amazing how much this could affect the costs of new apple products...considering displays can cost half as much as the computer itself, and they can't reuse them in new products even if they could fix them...

[filmpro]

Search "powerbook 15" or "powerbook 17" and you will see an obvious band of robbers lined up to steal you blind. Ridiculously low prices from people with no or little feedback, all demanding that you pay with Western Union or Paypal. My advice: no matter where they are, offer to meet them in person with cash. Not one of the illigitimate ones will respond positively to this. It's the perfect test. Buyer beware never has meant as much as when you shop for a powerbook on ebay. Why they feel mac people are perfect suckers, I have no idea. Maybe we are?

[jbomber]

Originally posted by filmpro
Search "powerbook 15" or "powerbook 17" and you will see an obvious band of robbers lined up to steal you blind. Ridiculously low prices from people with no or little feedback, all demanding that you pay with Western Union or Paypal. My advice: no matter where they are, offer to meet them in person with cash. Not one of the illigitimate ones will respond positively to this. It's the perfect test. Buyer beware never has meant as much as when you shop for a powerbook on ebay. Why they feel mac people are perfect suckers, I have no idea. Maybe we are?

Yeah, ebay is rife with fraud, so if it seems to good to be true, let it slide. you are NOT going to get a working powerbook under any circumstances for half of the list price. it just does not happen. worst of all is ebay is either unwilling or unable to police any of this so buyer beware.

Anyway, back to the laptop screen issue: Anyone else send their laptop back to apple and get back a nice new working one with no screen flaws? I've got the airborne express box sitting here and i wanna know whether or not to send my machine back. it would really burn me to have to wait 3 weeks to get it back and find out it was still jacked up.

[Toeknee]

Yeah i sent my PB early in October like the 17th i think, and i didnt get it back until Nov. 3, probably b/c they had to get a new batch of screens. My screen is perfect and flawless.... and i hope it will stay that way. Wish it hadnt taken so long but it was worth it. My advise is to wait until they get caught up a bit and they will replace the screens faster. (Typically takes like a week)

[YakkerGuy]

By now Apple is probably fixing all the Rev. A models but they're probably swamped.

I placed my order after they stopped 15" production, however, so I will have to wait the full three weeks until delivery while Apple builds the brand new Rev. B models :/

This, still after I changed my order from a 5400 RPM drive to a 4200 RPM.

Patience, patience...

-Craig

[lord_flash]

Originally posted by YakkerGuy
By now Apple is probably fixing all the Rev. A models but they're probably swamped.

With reliable sources of information like this, it's amazing not everyone gets their news from rumour sites...

[tliptak]

I was really thinking about ordering one today till. Till I heard this, do you think its safe to order one now and get one without spots?

[YakkerGuy]

Somehow I thought opening a line of discussion regarding the matter might help find a real answer. I guess I was wrong. Thank you, Odin, for so bluntly pointing out my foolish way.

[Powerbook G5]

Mine doesn't have spots and I ordered mine hours after it became available on the Apple online store.

[YakkerGuy]

tliptak,

There is no sure safety with 15" Powerbooks right now. It's all speculation as to what's going on with the delays.

I have mine on order and I have hope that I'll receive a pristine machine. I hope I am not proven wrong.

[quixotic]

Okay so if the spacers are causing my white spots, then what is causing the dark area on the bottom center of my screen? I thought I was hallucinating at first, but it's there.

Also I think I remember seeing that the issue with non-latching lids was somehow related to bad screens. Don't see how this is so, but my screen will not latch down without a pretty solid wack, in sharp contrast with the models I've seen at the Apple store.

[tliptak]

Originally posted by YakkerGuy
tliptak,

There is no sure safety with 15" Powerbooks right now. It's all speculation as to what's going on with the delays.

I have mine on order and I have hope that I'll receive a pristine machine. I hope I am not proven wrong.


Good luck with your machine... I guess I will order mine too!

[zync]

Originally posted by YakkerGuy
tliptak,

There is no sure safety with 15" Powerbooks right now. It's all speculation as to what's going on with the delays.

I have mine on order and I have hope that I'll receive a pristine machine. I hope I am not proven wrong.

My was pristine lol....look Yakker, they know there's a problem so obviously they're going to fix it...when is the question....

Originally posted by quixotic
Okay so if the spacers are causing my white spots, then what is causing the dark area on the bottom center of my screen? I thought I was hallucinating at first, but it's there.

Also I think I remember seeing that the issue with non-latching lids was somehow related to bad screens. Don't see how this is so, but my screen will not latch down without a pretty solid wack, in sharp contrast with the models I've seen at the Apple store.

Many of ours on this thread seem slightly black there....also there's no correlation between the latch issue and the spots as I've had no problems with my latch since day one yet after week one I noticed the spots....

[alia]

Mine has tiny white spots on it, though the screen is nice and bright, with no dark areas.

I've seen the spots expanding ever so slowly, so I should probably call them and have it checked out. Since I live near a apple store, should I just take it to the genius bar, or should I call? Also, are they replacing the machines, or just repairing. I'd prefer to have it repaired, as I have spent weeks putting my data on it. I don't want some tech to scratch it though. I'll be incensed if it comes back with scratches or problems it didn't have before.

Are they being repaired, or replaced? Mine was purchased the Night of Panther, so I've had it like 3 weeks.

Alia

[Powerbook G5]

It sounds like they are repairing them, and I would be worried about scratches too. I had my PowerBook G3 repaired once and it got so scratched up and the mouse button was crooked and loose so I had to call and complain until they just gave me a new one because it looked like they let a pack of cats attack it when it was repaired.

[sethypoo]

Weird, about a month ago, my screen on my 12" PowerBook started doing weird things.....I was running Jaguar, and was running on battery power when my screen started flickering. I could see the pinstriping along the menu bar at the top of my screen start to get all zig zagged. It hasn't happened since, so I guess all is well. Does anyone know what this was or if it's related? I was thinking it was a pixel error.:confused:

[tizza]

Hmmmm well I've had my 15" Alu PB for a few weeks now and I still haven't seen the dreaded white spots yet - I wonder if there were just batches that are bad or whether this problem randomly appears across the entire range?

[Powerbook G5]

I have had mine for nearly two months now without any spots, either. People say they got them from carrying them around and putting pressure on the lid. I've taken mine to a few classes, the library, and outside and still haven't noticed any issues. Every once in a while I throw on an all white background and play with the brightness settings just to check up on it, but I just can't see any spots so I seem to be doing fine with mine.

[curious-au]

They've already got the new replacement screens here in Australia.

My Alubook was supposed to ship ( I'm in Sydney ) on the 4th, I ordered it on the 20th of last month. I can't even get an updated shipping date out of them. :(

It's a real bummer, I needed it for some work in the last week. I'd rather have a late PB than a spotty PB though, I guess.

-- curious.au

P.S. Apple customer service were really nice, and seem like genuinely friendly folks - wouldn't confirm or deny that it was delayed because of the screen spotting issue though. :P

[MattG]

I believe they have a solution for it now. I had to send mine out twice to get it fixed properly. The first time, the spots came back within a day or two. I've had it back for two weeks now since the second repair, and no white spots have appeared. In addition, the screen assembly seems to be much more rigid. I've been using it every day, carrying it around with me in my laptop bag to and from work, and it's been perfect.

[pyknosis]

I also believe they have solved the screen problem. I ordered a 15" AlBook on 10/22 which was supposed to ship by 11/03. I wasn't surprised when I received a message that day saying my machine was delayed and that is would ship by 12/08. A little disappointing, but as many have said, I'd rather wait for a good machine rather than deal with a bad one just to get it sooner. Anyways, I received a message today that my machine shipped! Yeah! I checked FedEx, it actually did leave Taiwan today. I doubt they'd be shipping machines which did not resolve the screen issue, so they must have fixed it!

[ANOK]

after months of debate i decided to go ahead and get a 15" PB. my buddy at a local reseller ordered it for me.

that was a month ago.

i am still waiting.
i don't mind waiting as long as i know it will be RIGHT, but the apple guy on the phone got really snippy about this issue. this issue that a friend in NYC had warned me of. this issue that the apple store guy dind't know anything about (sure). this issue that seems to be something apple would like to pretend isn't happening.

i've been an apple girl since the IIe.
i hate that this is making me doubt.

at least I havn't spent the cash yet, since a reseller won't charge you till it's in yer hot little paws. still, i want my PB.

[Powerbook G5]

Trust me, the new 15" PowerBook won't disappoint, it's been the best computer I've ever used.

[the_dalex]

I manage an educational reseller, and there was definitely a sudden supply issue. 15" Powerbooks were shipping within a couple days for about a month, and suddenly everything was pushed back three weeks. I was waiting on a replacement order for a customer that the Applecare person had told us would be shipping within three days, but took almost a month. When he called the person back asking why it was taking so long, she denied saying it, even though she had talked to us seperately and we heard the exact same thing.

They wanted to address this as quietly as possible. They had to take care of everyone quickly, probably to avoid having to publicly recall them all. Their "air of secrecy" really gets in my way when I have an irate customer wanting to know why Apple gave them misinformation.

[zync]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
Trust me, the new 15" PowerBook won't disappoint, it's been the best computer I've ever used.

I definitely, whole-heartedly, abso-freakin'-lutely agree 100% without a doubt!

[MasterMac]

Originally posted by zync
I definitely, whole-heartedly, abso-freakin'-lutely agree 100% without a doubt! Same here :D

Amazingly I got one of the few 15-inchers without the display problems (I got it the day after they were announced)... and it's been a dream ever since I got it :)

[zync]

Originally posted by MasterMac
Same here :D

Amazingly I got one of the few 15-inchers without the display problems (I got it the day after they were announced)... and it's been a dream ever since I got it :)

I even have the problems and I still stand by my opinion! Besides, they'll fix it anyway so there's really no problem other than having to part with it for a few days :D

[cbz38a]

I have not made the switch to MAC products yet. After reading 5 pages full of Display horror stories, I am not sure if I am ready to take the plunge yet. Well, at least not with a Laptop. And I was this close too! I have to hand it to all of you guys for your devotion to MAC. There must be something there...

[MasterMac]

Not everybody was having display issues with their powerbooks (me being one of them). AFAIK, Apple has fixed the problem so if you decide to buy now then it should be fine.

[zync]

Originally posted by MasterMac
Not everybody was having display issues with their powerbooks (me being one of them). AFAIK, Apple has fixed the problem so if you decide to buy now then it should be fine.

Yep, that's what it seems like....just gotta find time to get mine fixed :D

[zync]

Originally posted by cbz38a
I have not made the switch to MAC products yet. After reading 5 pages full of Display horror stories, I am not sure if I am ready to take the plunge yet. Well, at least not with a Laptop. And I was this close too! I have to hand it to all of you guys for your devotion to MAC. There must be something there...

You should switch...I'm one of the most extreme cases of a switcher....For some reason I hated macs, so much so in fact that I stood outside when my friends (who still aren't apple users) would go into the Apple store...it was something of a protest I guess...I started to become more open minded about it and loved the iPod....I bought it for a class in which I had to use macs and that's when I started looking at them and their advantages....it's not for everyone I guess...though I would think it hard to find someone who wouldn't like a mac after they've used one...

[cbz38a]

Excuse my ignorance but what makes the Apple OS so much better than M$? Wouldn't a program like Photoshop Elements work the same on either machine?

[zync]

Originally posted by cbz38a
Excuse my ignorance but what makes the Apple OS so much better than M$? Wouldn't a program like Photoshop Elements work the same on either machine?

Interfaces are somewhat different...you don't have the grey background (in Photoshop, I don't have elements to compare to)...which allows you to access the desktop quicker which is nice because I've started to use my desktop a whole lot more when I'm working on projects and other things...also exposé rules...hell even the key commands to make letters with accents is so much easier...if you haven't tried a mac, try one....be open-minded and play with it for a good while....I found that when I used windows I was always so obsessive compulsive about running everything maximized...on my mac I have windows all over the place but exposé keeps them in line...at first the non-true-maximize-button left me dissatisfied but now it's really nice to not be so anal about my work environment...I don't really know what else to tell you other than test it and see for yourself.....also programs run differently for each platform regardless of whether or not they're the same program...many mac programs are optimized further because the variation in hardware is far smaller...plus altivec lends quite a hand to many applications...

[deep square leg]

Originally posted by zync
For some reason I hated macs
I can tell you the reason I hated macs - every OS up to and including 9. When Jobs returned to Apple I hoped and hoped that the OS would be influenced by NeXT, and eventually it was. Now I love macs, and tomorrow I'm going to go and place an order on a 15" PB :)

I don't mind if it gets leprosy as long as they replace it.

[Powerbook G5]

OS 9 wasn't that bad, and it was definitely better than the Windows ME that was on the Gateway at home, so when given the choice, I gladly used OS 9.

[rdrr]

I have the white spot issue right now and have been waiting for the offical word from Apple that they have fixed the issue before I send in my powerbook. Does anyone know of or have a link that will answer this?

thx...

first time apple user, and loving it despite the white spots... :)

[GrizzlyHippo]

I received my PB 1.25 in the second week of October here in the UK and it was perfect.

Then about a week ago I started to notice that the screen brightness was uneven, with the right lower corner ever so slightly darker than the left. At first this just made me think there was something wrong with my right eye, but now it is spreading to the whole right side of the screen and is getting obviously darker.

(after a net search, Mac Bidouille have an article on the brightness problem here - http://www.hardmac.com/niouzcontenu...2003-11-15#1050 )

I have notified Applecare who are happy to repair/replace the screen but I will wait another couple of weeks so that the problem is REALLY noticable before sending it in.

Also, an added problem is that my reseller installed the Hitachi 7200rpm drive inside the PB (which, by the way, makes a huge performance difference over the 4200) and Applecare are refusing to accept the machine unless it is returned to factory condition incase they replace the whole thing. While I understand the policy, anyone else who has taken the PB 15 apart will understand how depressed my reseller is at having to do it twice more.

The moral of the story - never buy a first generation Apple product. I should have learnt that with my PM7500, then the very first iBooks and again I should have learnt it with the first G4 towers. Oh well, maybe I'll learn for next time!!

Grizzly

[diehldun]

i am ready to purchase a new 17" PowerBook. however, will the screen on the 17-inch models be affected?? i have heard issues on both the 12" and the 15", so i am concerned.

[YakkerGuy]

So far, the Powerbook 17's price has left it immune to defects (j/k)

Seriously, I can't say for certain but I haven't heard of any major issues with the 17" model-- at least concerning the screen.

[Ikash]

white sponts on display i had those i sent my powerbook back it took them 10 days due to the shortage in screens but they repaired them

[YakkerGuy]

So right now it _sounds_ as if people who purchased Rev. A 15" Powerbooks are getting their machines repaired (screen fix and latch fix). Is this correct?

If so, then the reamining holdup to shipping must be in overseas producction.

Would this be a logical deduction based on people's accounts of their Powerbooks coming back to them fixed?

[YakkerGuy]

I guess I was right, although belatedly. My 15" PB shipped from Taiwan today! :)

-Yakker

[deep square leg]

Today I went in an ordered a 15" Superdrive PB (edu discount).

I was going to change the RAM config, but decided that it'd be cheaper just to get it with two 256mb sodimms, sell them, and then buy a couple of 512s somewhere else.
And it's good that it's not a custom build for if I have to take it back for screen issues I can just get it replaced for another standard model.

So, even though I have using an iMac in my honours office all year, this will be the first mac I own, so I am one of these 'switchers'. Makes me sound gay :P

[sjc1204]

My 15" PB finally shipped yesterday about 30 days after I ordered. Does anyone know if I will just have to send it back to get the display and latch replaced numerous times?

[YakkerGuy]

I don't think so. I would be very surprised if Apple hasn't sorted out these issues by now, with the production delays on Revision B models.

I am expecting a solid, reliable 15" Powerbook come Tuesday morning.

-Yakker

[lawmac]

Howdy,

I signed on to this forum to pose a questions for other powerbook users. I have an 03 PB G-4 15" screen, new this summer, home use, airport/dsl internet connection.

Occasionally, not every time I use it, it will cut out when I leave it for a few minutes; cannot get screen back, have to remove battery and restart. This happens with a full charge or not on battery.

Anyone else have this problem? Is it covered by warranty? If anyone else has this problem or a sollution, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks!

[YakkerGuy]

That sounds scary, lawmac. Perhaps it is an isolated issue? I've never heard of that before, but I'll test mine when I get it charged.

Anyone...?

[daveL]

Originally posted by lawmac
Howdy,

I signed on to this forum to pose a questions for other powerbook users. I have an 03 PB G-4 15" screen, new this summer, home use, airport/dsl internet connection.

Occasionally, not every time I use it, it will cut out when I leave it for a few minutes; cannot get screen back, have to remove battery and restart. This happens with a full charge or not on battery.

Anyone else have this problem? Is it covered by warranty? If anyone else has this problem or a sollution, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks!
I have the same machine; I've never experienced your problem. Your warranty is for 1 year. I'd take it the nearest Apple Store, if you have one around.

[curious-au]

Mine arrived today - it's great! :-)

[nesbitt_a]

Hi -- I've been waiting on my replacement 15'' powerbook for over three weeks now, and have had a real rough ride with apple.

The laptop has finally shipped -- and is currently stuck in 'logistical problems' in holland, where they are apparently experiencing a three day delay on delivery.

It should hopefully be with me here in UK Monday or Tuesday, and, all being well - without any problems as the machine was re-ordered after the pause in manufacturing to correct hardware issues.


Fingers crossed, Andrew.

[lord_flash]

As a European, and, worse still English, Apple user I'm really wondering whether it's worth having my screen blotches dealt with at all.

As Apple choose to do everything in the UK through an Irish office, I presume this will only add length to the horror storys coming from this part of the world.

Personally I can't really afford to be without my computer for a month. Or more.

I shouldn't have to make that decision.

Mind you Apple never should have released a product with such an obvious flaw...