Has the Rev. B MBA's line issue sorted out?

[jjahshik32]

I really want one but is it sorted out yet? Or do most still have the line issues?

[stoconnell]

I really want one but is it sorted out yet? Or do most still have the line issues?

Well, if my MacBook Air which I purchased within the last 4 weeks is any indication, then the answer is no. I have no way of quantifying the frequency of occurrence, so things like "most still have" is a bit loaded. The best way to look at it is you still have a "non-zero probability" of encountering the issue.

[McGilli]

I don't know if it is most.....

According to the informal poll done here at MacRumors Forums - less than 30 people were affected by this....

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=608263

Also - the official Apple support forums sure were NOT buzzing about this issue. There have been a few threads there but nothing major. The main thread there hasn't seen much activity in the last 4 months....

There was a 25 page thread about this here - but about 80% of the posts were from the same 5 or 6 vocal people.

It DOES still exist - but not in most of the MBA's out there....

So - BUYER BEWARE!

[jjahshik32]

This really sucks so far Apple's lineup in notebooks are plagued with problems.

1) 15", 17" Unibody MBP and 13" unibody macbooks has problems with blinking screens for some people and for almost all people the 1-3 notches of brightness shows a pulsating slight flickering backlighting.


Not to mention speakers buzzing/rattling noises on the right side on the mbps. Graphics distortion issues on the 17" and lines issues on the MBA.

I would think the 13" unibody macbooks would be the one to buy but their screens are horribly washed out.

I really want a notebook and want an apple brand for OSX but for now.. there is no options!!

I was thinking about a Rev. A MBA but cores shutting down, overheating, fans revving up freakishly loud... no thanks!~!

[tubbymac]

Welcome to my world - the world of picky people. In this particular world all of the Apple machines have their small little imperfections and it's about settling for the one that has the least amount of blemishes.

If you can get your hands on a line free MBA rev B, that's the machine with the least amount of imperfections. Some people have an easy time doing that, and I'm guessing they got lucky and got a good batch of machines in their area. Others, like myself, can't find any line free rev B machines in our area - yes, even to this day.

I'm guessing my area must have gotten a bad batch and hasn't been able to move them since.

[Scottsdale]

I don't think the lines are affecting many rev B MBAs. I have seen nine perfect rev B MBAs in the wild. My rev B MBA from January 2009 was perfect. Although mine has been stolen, I expect my next MBA to be perfect too.

I wouldn't let lines stop me from buying a rev B MBA. If you are so unfortunate as to get the lines, return it for a refund or exchange it for one without lines.

[jjahshik32]

I don't think the lines are affecting many rev B MBAs. I have seen nine perfect rev B MBAs in the wild. My rev B MBA from January 2009 was perfect. Although mine has been stolen, I expect my next MBA to be perfect too.

I wouldn't let lines stop me from buying a rev B MBA. If you are so unfortunate as to get the lines, return it for a refund or exchange it for one without lines.

Sorry to hear about your perfect MBA that was stolen!

Also I'm curious if your new one has lines or not. Can you keep us updated when you do receive one?

If I do decide to buy one, I think I'll order one from Apple.com just to make sure I get the latest versions instead of an older rev. b thats been sitting at the Apple store unmoved due to the economic situation.

[Carl Abudephane]

Well, nobody knows how prevalent the problem is so it's difficult to answer your question.
I saw my first Rev B without lines a couple of weeks ago, so now I at least know that there are Rev B's with perfect screens out there!

I would say therefore that you should make your purchase in confidence, believing that Apple have rectified whatever the problem is/was, and if you unfortunately get a unit with lines, well then simply exchange it for another, knowing that there are perfect screens out there.
And if the replacement has lines, well exchange it again, stating that the screen is not acceptable. Repeat until satisfied!

I think though that you are much more likely to get a lines-free Air at first attempt. Go for it expecting just that; if it isn't, shrug your shoulders, stay calm & be happy, knowing that you will get one!

Best of luck, be well.

[justit]

I don't know if it is most.....

According to the informal poll done here at MacRumors Forums - less than 30 people were affected by this....

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=608263

........ but about 80% of the posts were from the same 5 or 6 vocal people.



a) Not everyone with a problem comes to macforums

b) of those ppl, even fewer participate in polls

c) that thread is one of several indicating it's very widespread, and if you had a chance to read any one of them, the consensus was that there are varying degrees of the problem and most people would just "live with it".

d) the lines issue was big enough on the apple forums that even some news outlets were reporting the problem, including engadget

[jjahshik32]

Well, nobody knows how prevalent the problem is so it's difficult to answer your question.
I saw my first Rev B without lines a couple of weeks ago, so now I at least know that there are Rev B's with perfect screens out there!

I would say therefore that you should make your purchase in confidence, believing that Apple have rectified whatever the problem is/was, and if you unfortunately get a unit with lines, well then simply exchange it for another, knowing that there are perfect screens out there.
And if the replacement has lines, well exchange it again, stating that the screen is not acceptable. Repeat until satisfied!

I think though that you are much more likely to get a lines-free Air at first attempt. Go for it expecting just that; if it isn't, shrug your shoulders, stay calm & be happy, knowing that you will get one!

Best of luck, be well.

I know of the exchange deal. In 2007 with the preunibody mbp 15" I exchanged 14 times due to the yellowish tint at the bottom of the screen.

I have 2 local apple stores near me just 15 minutes away and I exchanged 8 times without restocking fee (yes 8 times) at both apple stores.

They sure mark you down as "crazy" or give you that crazy look though. I just feel so uncomfortable exchanging though after doing it so many times in the past! Oh well your right though you paid the $$ and should get what you want.

[tubbymac]

Wow 14 times. That's way more patience than I have. With most of the stuff I buy if it isn't to my satisfaction on the first try I don't even bother with the second.

[darrellishere]

Apple definitely had some major lines problem at the end of last year.

the bad ones were really awful!!

1st most of us got faint lines, easier to live with, not so easy to get replaced from apple store, or applecare! Or convincing, staff which i have not yet attempted!

2nd problem, within two weeks the internal latch which stops the screen folding back 180 degrees, popped. So now the screen has more play and pushes back to almost flat.

Which is handy? But I plan on selling this at some point so its not ideal!

[Veinticinco]

I recall there seemed to be an association with the screen model used, which itself varied according to what spec you bought. Most of the line-free citations were from the 1.86SSD with the 9C90 display. Also some with the earlier 9C8F variant that was used in the late rev.A's.

Personally, I've now had 3 rev.Bs, 2 x HDD, 1 x SSD, all three have been plagued with lines, and all three have been summarily sent back. Even the one with the faintest lines, I thought the screen was fairly poor quality anyway (significantly worse than my old G4 PB) which suggests to me there's definitely some substandard QC going on in the assembly line.

I've now given up and am going to hold out in hope for a June/WWDC release of the rev.C.

[LKJR]

For what its worth, my rev B has no lines and there were no lines on the floor models at the Apple store when I bought it about a month ago.

[Disavowed]

Was at the Apple Store yesterday and the MBA display I was looking at was pristine. My next purchase is gonna be a 1.86/SSD REv B. I have been dreaming about it!

[Scottsdale]

Was at the Apple Store yesterday and the MBA display I was looking at was pristine. My next purchase is gonna be a 1.86/SSD REv B. I have been dreaming about it!

But what about a rev C??? Really worried that a rev C could be around the corner. With the new SL9600, anything is possible. While I think late Summer seems possible, why wait to upgrade with the SL9600 available now?

[The Toddfather]

a) Not everyone with a problem comes to macforums

b) of those ppl, even fewer participate in polls

c) that thread is one of several indicating it's very widespread, and if you had a chance to read any one of them, the consensus was that there are varying degrees of the problem and most people would just "live with it".

d) the lines issue was big enough on the apple forums that even some news outlets were reporting the problem, including engadget

I would argue that the people with issues are far more vocal than people without issues. If one has a problem with a new product, one is more likely to search forums of said product to see if others have the same issue. Those with no issues are less likely to seek help.

It is far more likely that there are fewer line problems that have been reported here, and the numbers here are quite small.

[Veinticinco]

It is far more likely that there are fewer line problems that have been reported here, and the numbers here are quite small.
Actually, it is far more likely that the majority of MBA owners with screen lines are not aware they have them, either because they have less than optimal eyesight/attention to minute detail or don't have another point of reference to compare to (i.e. PB, MBP etc.).

Therefore no need to google the problem and end up here at MR because for all intents and purposes, the screen is, to them, 'perfect'.

Ignorance is bliss and I'd say those here complaining of lines, far from representing a tiny minority, are just the tip of the iceberg.

[dealfreak]

Its funny I use to care about the lines, but now after using my MBA vB I don't really notice and don't care.

i guess it depends on user.

I definitely like my MBA since this my first Mac.

[Veinticinco]

Its funny I use to care about the lines, but now after using my MBA vB I don't really notice and don't care.
And there we have another group, the "apathetics" (no offence, you get my point I'm sure ;))

I definitely like my MBA since this my first Mac.
And again here, the other group I alluded to before, those without a comparative point of reference.

Screen lines ARE a relatively significant issue with the rev.B model, Apple wouldn't accept so many returns if not, nor would the issue be so globally widespread even amongst the users on this forum. When I returned my first citing the issue, the Apple Store adviser on the phone accepted it without hesitation and said I wasn't the first, before offering me a slight discount/refund if I accepted the unit.....he even used the phrase "hush money" albeit in the sense of "I don't wish this to sound like hush money BUT.....". Make of that what you will.

[zedsdead]

I had 3 Rev A's and now a Rev B because of a verity of issues. I wasn't sure, but I am pretty confident that there are very faint gray horizontal lines across the screen, easier to see on plain white backdrops. I thought I was going crazy till I searched for this issue. They are really pale, but it is constantly bothering me. Think it's going back. Time to get a MacBook pro. Shame too, because I love the Air, but I don't think I can take all these problems I've had with the Air.

[Disavowed]

But what about a rev C??? Really worried that a rev C could be around the corner. With the new SL9600, anything is possible. While I think late Summer seems possible, why wait to upgrade with the SL9600 available now?

Scottsdale, this is exactly my dilemma. Grad school starts at the end of August and I am not sure what to do. Throw in the learning curve and I am really in a quandry here. I would be willing to PC it longer (long story, wife's computer) if I KNEW REv C would be available by or around early September.

[Shiner]

Scottsdale, this is exactly my dilemma. Grad school starts at the end of August and I am not sure what to do. Throw in the learning curve and I am really in a quandry here. I would be willing to PC it longer (long story, wife's computer) if I KNEW REv C would be available by or around early September.

Having gone through grad school with a mac laptop I had to return 7 times let me try some advice. I was dumb enough to buy apple's first aluminum macbook (before it was called pro). It was the worst product I have ever owned. Finally I received revB of that product and it was ok with its own problems. Apple would not exchange it anymore (fair enough). My wife bought the new macbook pro revC by that time and man it was nice. Me on the other hand was never really pleased with my computer. My advice is wait if it is going to be your only computer for grad school. And may god have mercy on your soul if you are going into graduate school with a macbook air if you plan on anything to do with science. Add the weight and get a macbook pro.

[Disavowed]

And may god have mercy on your soul if you are going into graduate school with a macbook air if you plan on anything to do with science. Add the weight and get a macbook pro.


Bioethics. Lots or residencies and travelling from one clinical setting to another. A big reason for MBA. email, Pages, Keynote, web, and some movie watching will be my processsing diet.

[The Toddfather]

Actually, it is far more likely that the majority of MBA owners with screen lines are not aware they have them, either because they have less than optimal eyesight/attention to minute detail or don't have another point of reference to compare to (i.e. PB, MBP etc.).

Therefore no need to google the problem and end up here at MR because for all intents and purposes, the screen is, to them, 'perfect'.

Ignorance is bliss and I'd say those here complaining of lines, far from representing a tiny minority, are just the tip of the iceberg.

It's very arrogant (and silly) to claim that there are lines on all MBA's, but people just can't see them. I've had two MBA's (revA and revB) and literally hundreds of people have looked at both and seen no lines. I could be just as silly and claim no MBA's have lines and people who have them are imagining them.

If your Air has lines, you should take it back, paying $2500 for less than a perfect computer is ignorant.

[justit]

Ignorance is bliss and I'd say those here complaining of lines, far from representing a tiny minority, are just the tip of the iceberg.

Well said.

[Barbie]

There's no sign of lines on my MacBook Air SSD version (built mid-March)

Barbie.

[nph]

What is your screen model?

[McGilli]

Actually, it is far more likely that the majority of MBA owners with screen lines are not aware they have them, either because they have less than optimal eyesight/attention to minute detail or don't have another point of reference to compare to (i.e. PB, MBP etc.).


Your whole argument is ridiculous when you start saying the people with perfect screens have flawed eyesight - but really - if it makes you sleep better at night thinking my perfect screen actually has lines - then go ahead - think my eyesight is flawed. Sleep better.

You make a mockery of the people who DID/DO have lines - and then have recently received/seen new MBA's with no lines.

[Barbie]

What is your screen model?

My model is '9C90'. There are no lines - it was manufactured in mid-March.

However, at the very top of the screen, the backlight seems to be brighter.

Barbie.

[ant043]

yeah there are lines on mine. any person i asked over 30 coudn't see them. This is going back to apple as soon as my 24 inch imac comes and i'm not taking no for an answer.

[VTPete]

Last weekend I visited the closest Apple retail store fully prepared to buy an Air. I had 'played' extensively with the Rev A and really loved the portability, the screen quality and the general 'polished river stone' touch and feel. I was going to buy the best 1.86ghz, SSD version and use it for travel and for software development (plugged into a large monitor at home.)

When I arrived at the store, I headed straight for the Airs and sat down. They only had two on display and it was immediately obvious that they had the dreaded lines in them. My heart sunk because I'm one of those guys who's eyes are drawn immediately to screen flaws... and this was a big one. The helpful salespeople saw them too and were very understanding and sympathetic at the situation. I stepped back to think.

When I stepped back, I noticed something else about the screens: The LED back-lighting was horribly uneven, with lots of bleed all over the screens. Both had identical problems. I'm still unsure as to whether the REV A versions I've used were better or not. Either way, this was unacceptable.

I gave up on the idea of using an Air for extensive travel.

Once I opened up to the idea that I wasn't going to be using this laptop for travel, it was like my eyes were suddenly opened to all the other possibilities. To make a very long story a bit shorter, I ended up walking out with a brand new 17" pro with matte screen!

Here's what has surprised me: Although I love the Air, I'm VERY happy with my purchase decision because strange as it may sound, I really wanted a huge, anti-glare screen. The 1920x1280 resolution is great.

I haven't given up on the idea of owning an Air, but I'll wait until these issues are sorted out.

[zedsdead]

I brought my second Rev B back to another Apple Store yesterday, and all of their Air's had the line issue.

The Genius looked up the issue, and Apple merely states that the screen behavior is normal. I am in the process of trying to get it exchanged toward a Macbook Pro as well, largely because the screen on the regular Macbook is not as good.

[Veinticinco]

Your whole argument is ridiculous when you start saying the people with perfect screens have flawed eyesight - but really - if it makes you sleep better at night thinking my perfect screen actually has lines - then go ahead - think my eyesight is flawed. Sleep better.

You make a mockery of the people who DID/DO have lines - and then have recently received/seen new MBA's with no lines.

No idea why you're being so passive-aggressive, but we're not talking big cm-wide streaky banners here. Even at their worst, they are very faint lines, and most people either don't notice them or can barely see them.

Ask any opthalmologist and they'll confirm that visual acuity is affected by many factors, even transient environmental ones like ambient lighting, but the most usual and normal inherent change is that it declines with age.

You say you have a perfect screen. Good for you. I don't doubt it. They DO exist, which is exactly the reason I will not accept a screen with lines, just on principle. But it is also true that many people, even when they're pointed out, just cannot see the issue clearly or at all. I've had 20-something ASGs stare blankly at my insistence, and only a few have conceded their existence, often with surprise as they hadn't noticed before. Strange considering the perfect clarity of MBP displays around them - which again was my other argument about people, sometimes new to Mac, or who do not own or have recent experience of another PB/MBP/ACD etc.

[nph]

I have 9C8F which is the screen that also used to be in Rev A and it is perfect.
However at 3 Best Buys, Micro Center, Frys and two Apple Stores I saw NO line free Rev B before I got mine from Amazon. They were all 9c9f and 9c90 with varying degrees of the lines showing.
I was actually going to settle for subtle lines and got very pleasantly surprised when I got the model 9C8F right after I read about someone else also getting this model.
It is a beautiful screen.

[Carl Abudephane]

There are three(how lucky am I!)Apple stores near me(two within a few miles and one roughly forty miles away); one I've not been to and of the others(both of which have one Air on display), one store has an Air free of the lines, the other has the lines.
And from the comments above it's obvious that the lines problem afflicting Rev B Airs hasn't gone away in the slightest. I think this is not only very puzzling but also very sad.
God only knows how many Airs have been returned because of this problem and it's been going on since the Rev B was released nearly six months ago!

Really, what is the difficulty here Apple?
They must be sick to high heaven of Airs being returned(at this rate they'll be in the refurb stores for a long time to come)and yet, even though they must, surely, know the cause of this issue(because there are lines-free units out there), it's still happening.
I just don't understand why they haven't dealt with it by this time. I would have thought that almost six months was enough time for them to get a handle on the root cause and deal with it. They can't have any better incentive than stopping so many(I know, we don't know how many, but's it's likely to be quite a few)being returned.

[Veinticinco]

It's very arrogant (and silly) to claim that there are lines on all MBA's, but people just can't see them. I've had two MBA's (revA and revB) and literally hundreds of people have looked at both and seen no lines. I could be just as silly and claim no MBA's have lines and people who have them are imagining them.

If your Air has lines, you should take it back, paying $2500 for less than a perfect computer is ignorant.
Suggest you read my post again, because I clearly say that "it is far more likely that the majority of MBA owners WITH screen lines are not aware they have them....". Very different to saying all MBAs have lines but people just can't see them. Maybe your eyesight isn't that good after all? :p

We all know the majority of MBA users do not frequent MR, so it's therefore safe to assume, the majority don't know/care about the lines issue IF they are unlucky enough to have one. However, the problem is common enough even within this infinitesimal sample community to suggest we're just the tip of the iceberg and that the problem extends widely.

I've said a million times I don't have any doubt perfect screens are out there, many here have them and/or have seen them. I'm also not saying those who have them are deluding themselves or a bunch of Mr Magoo types, blissfully ignorant. The very fact perfect screens are out there is exactly why I refuse to accept anything less.

In the interim waiting for the rev.C (hopefully in June), the only two questions I'd like answered, based on the feedback so far, are:

1. Whether anyone here has a 9C8F screen WITH lines? This older display model seems to be free of the problem, which is itself quite interesting and suggests an inherent QC problem.

2. Whether anyone in say the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia etc. has experience of line-free MBAs? I've yet to personally see one in the wild (and trust me, I've looked at lots). Seems this heat/humidity theory suggested by Scottsdale may have some credence - guy posted last night, had the same spec as one of mine, same screen model, bought from same source, but unlike me he lives in hot and humid HK, and guess what.....no lines!

[qubex]

I just received an Air (admittedly a refurb) from Apple. It has the lines, very conspicuous I might say.

[JonHimself]

I just received an Air (admittedly a refurb) from Apple. It has the lines, very conspicuous I might say.

Any plans to return it? If so, want to post what happens?

[Veinticinco]

I just received an Air (admittedly a refurb) from Apple. It has the lines, very conspicuous I might say.
Refurb should have nothing to do with it.

Specs, serial part, display model 9CXX, and your approx. location?

I'd guess 1.6 HDD, range W8850xxxx-W8905xxxx, 9C90/A, and somewhere outside of the tropics with a temp less than 20C/68F right now. Sorry can't be bothered looking up those co-ords ;)

Am I close?

[Veinticinco]

Any plans to return it? If so, want to post what happens?
No need. He'll either be offered a replacement or (the recommended option) his money back no questions asked.

That's what Apple do within 14 days regardless.

[Scottsdale]

I just received an Air (admittedly a refurb) from Apple. It has the lines, very conspicuous I might say.

I would have assumed that the reason Apple took so long to sell rev B MBAs refurbished was they were waiting on a line fix. Now have read three refurb rev B buyers have had the lines. Crazy! I guess Apple just doesn't care to fix the lines and assumes many are nearly blind and will not see the lines. We have to assume the vast majority of returned rev Bs have the lines. And if Apple is not fixing the lines before selling refurbished rev Bs, then we should all avoid refurbished rev B MBAs. Sad, very sad!

Apparently Apple just had a huge inventory of rev As it needed to dump before getting to rev B refurb sales. So what about all of those that returned rev Bs, Apple surely has a bunch of refurbished rev Bs it must sell. Does this prevent Apple from releasing the rev C anytime soon???

[Veinticinco]

I would have assumed that the reason Apple took so long to sell rev B MBAs refurbished was they were waiting on a line fix. Now have read three refurb rev B buyers have had the lines. Crazy! I guess Apple just doesn't care to fix the lines and assumes many are nearly blind and will not see the lines. We have to assume the vast majority of returned rev Bs have the lines. And if Apple is not fixing the lines before selling refurbished rev Bs, then we should all avoid refurbished rev B MBAs. Sad, very sad!

Apparently Apple just had a huge inventory of rev As it needed to dump before getting to rev B refurb sales. So what about all of those that returned rev Bs, Apple surely has a bunch of refurbished rev Bs it must sell. Does this prevent Apple from releasing the rev C anytime soon???
Doubt that re. the delay to 'fix', as I said the refurb rev.Bs have been available here in Europe since late Feb.

it's very obvious to me that, like with the 3 units I returned, they just give them a once over to check nothing is significantly wrong and the unit is "within spec" and just ship 'em out to the next poor unsuspecting customer who, they hope, will not notice the lines.

No way they'll implement a 'fix' at this stage with existing units, new or refurb. Even if it has been acknowledged internally (and you have to assume it has judging by the existing refurb MBA mountain) then any funds and resources tasked with fixing the issue will be held back for the rev.C and silently implemented.

[Veinticinco]

So what about all of those that returned rev Bs, Apple surely has a bunch of refurbished rev Bs it must sell. Does this prevent Apple from releasing the rev C anytime soon???
Really can't see that being the case. Surely in the case of the MBA, refurb inventory must not be allowed to significantly affect the launch of facelifted model (no development as such just spec upgrades). Surely??? I could see it might if we're talking a new form factor, or redesigned model, as the release of such would cause the stock of refurb units to plummet, seen as outdated, but we're not at that stage yet.

[Scottsdale]

Really can't see that being the case. Surely in the case of the MBA, refurb inventory must not be allowed to significantly affect the launch of facelifted model (no development as such just spec upgrades). Surely??? I could see it might if we're talking a new form factor, or redesigned model, as the release of such would cause the stock of refurb units to plummet, seen as outdated, but we're not at that stage yet.

I am surely praying the rev C MBA comes out soon and only features new components... and NOT a new form factor NOR a black bezel. The only differences I want to see with the computer off is the glass buttonless trackpad.

[antonioanmar]

I do not knwo which is the Apple's planning, but i do not want changes on the Air design. The only point to solve is the problem that some people explain about screen-lines.About this subject, i know that i have bought two refurb. rev.B and both of them are 100% lines-free.
I bought a refurb. rev.A on the beginning. Later, when i saw that really i want MBA as my first portable computer (my MB Alu is working like my desktop now) i gave it to my girlfriend and i bought one refurb. rev.B Now she also want a rev.B, and today i have received it.
I have compared them with my original rev.A and i can assure that there is no lines difference, and the three MBA which are now in front of my have exactly the same screen.
I do not know if it is because i am lucky or if Apple have solved the problem..but i feel very happy with MBA and i know that this is the BEST compater that i have never owned.

[NYU02]

what screen model do you have?

Thanks,
Wayne

[Veinticinco]

what screen model do you have?

Thanks,
Wayne
It's bound to be the 8F isn't it? The fact he says there's absolutely no difference between all 3 (rev Bs and a rev A) confirms it, as the 8F was used in the rev.A

[antonioanmar]

what screen model do you have?

Thanks,
Wayne

I am now on the work, and i don't have here on this moment my MBA, but as soon as i will return home i will check and confirm it.

It's bound to be the 8F isn't it? The fact he says there's absolutely no difference between all 3 (rev Bs and a rev A) confirms it, as the 8F was used in the rev.A

The point that i can confirm, because i have been checking with different pictures and web sites, is that these three screens look EXACTLY the same. I did it to be sure that i am not wrong and i do not see the lines because of one eye's mistake.