Is my fear of dead pixels dumbfounded?

[intrepkid21]

I am probably doing to buy a 12" powerbook this week or next..and this will be my first purchase of a product with an LCD screen..

Given my bad luck with tech products (something is never the way it should be)..I have a bad feeling I am going to get a bad pixel..

I guess I am going to have to get over this..

How many of the macrumors people got stuck with a dead pixel on their notebook?

[jsw]

My 1999 G3 PowerBook, my 2002 17" iMac, and my 2003 20" Apple Cinema Display have a combined current total of zero dead pixels.

[michaelrjohnson]

It's always nerve-racking. When I purchased my new 12" PowerBook from a physical Apple Store, I took it home, and I knew, once I cut that clear tape sealing the box, I was stuck with it. Because I wasn't going to pay $160 to return it (Restocking fee). So, I finally just opened it, and it was fine. In fact, that computer is perfect. I'm really happy with it!

[Ryan1524]

in total, we have bought 5 LCDs and none of them has ever gotten bad pixels. (my PB, the two LCDs for the desktops-NEC and Samsung, and my dad's laptop and his previous one) so i'd say it's a very small possibility. you might still get bad pixel, but very small chance. i just hope my luck holds in this LCD world. i'm a bit of a perfectionist, an having a bad pixel would drive me mad. :p

[MrSugar]

I have had a 17" and 2 17" LCD displays. None of them have had bad pixles. Also two of my friends just bought 12" powerbooks, neither of them have any bad pixles either.

[JzzTrump22]

The 12" PB is least likely to get dead pixels. I was a little concerned about this myself when i bought my 15". Don't worry about it. The guy i talked to at the store said the powerbook is the most popular computer they sell. And within the 6 months that he has been working there, there have only been 2 or 3 instances where a dead pixel has come up. It's not even like there were numerous dead pixels, there was about 1 or 2 from each of those 2 or 3 customers. Don't worry about it. Do yourself a favor and don't search like crazy for dead pixels, chances are if you have one and don't look for it, you will never know you have it.

[Awimoway]

Is my fear of dead pixels dumbfounded?

No, but your use of dumfounded (note correct spelling) is (or rather, isn't). It means "to strike dumb with astonishment." Does your fear of dead pixels astonish you? :p

Not trying to be a wiseass, but sometimes it's nice to know when you're misusing a word. I had to look it up myself before I posted.

That being said, you gotta take the plunge. Just make sure you buy at a place where they have a hassle-free return policy for something like that. I don't have a Powerbook, but my 20" Cinema Display has been dead-pixel-free for the 15 months I've owned it. Well, there was a two month spell last fall when one pixel in the bottom corner went white, but oddly enough it came back to life when I upgraded my OS from Jag to Panther. I still haven't figured that one out.

[jtgotsjets]

No, but your use of dumfounded (note correct spelling) is (or rather, isn't).

It's spelled dumbfounded.

Anyway, my iBook, while I haven't had it for a very long time (a couple months now) is free of dead pixels (obvious ones anyway. I haven't gone checking though).

Really, don't worry about it. A dead pixel is nothing to fret over. It's how the rest of them work together, eh?

[Sun Baked]

The more you fear and look for dead pixels, the greater your chance of getting stuck with the stuck-on pixels instead.

Seek them out and you will most likely find them.

[Awimoway]

It's spelled dumbfounded.

It's spelled both ways. The first dictionary I checked had only "dumfounded." The second dictionary (which I checked after your post) lists "dumbfounded" only as a secondary spelling.

[TreeHugger]

I have what seems a dead pixel or two right next too each other on my new 17" Powerbook.
Anything I can do about it?

[Awimoway]

The more you fear and look for dead pixels, the greater your chance of getting stuck with the stuck-on pixels instead.

Seek them out and you will most likely find them.

Good point. Where technology is concerned, lightning is attracted to fear. Don't fear the dead pixel.

[12ibookg4]

i've never had a dead pixel but if you feel like looking for them there are programs on macupdate that will flash different colors full screen and you look to see if any pixels arn't responding link to macupdate search for dead pixel (http://macupdate.com/search.php?keywords=dead+pixel&os=&button.x=15&button.y=12)

[Awimoway]

I have what seems a dead pixel or two right next too each other on my new 17" Powerbook.
Anything I can do about it?

You'll probably have to Google for it, but there is a technique that involves massaging your screen to get out dead pxels.

[TreeHugger]

as far as i know that only works on stuck pixels. my pixels in question dont show any color :(

[jsw]

It's spelled both ways. The first dictionary I checked had only "dumfounded." The second dictionary (which I checked after your post) lists "dumbfounded" only as a secondary spelling.

I think the word that's intended is actually "unfounded".

[jsw]

You'll probably have to Google for it, but there is a technique that involves massaging your screen to get out dead pxels.

I'd shy away from any technique that involves pressing on an LCD screen.

[JeDiBoYTJ]

my friends 23in Cinema Display has one dead pixel on it. you only notice it when the screen is black. he doesnt seem to mind.

[stevehaslip]

my 12" powerbook, my friend Luke's 12" powerbook, my teacher Phil's ibook 500, my other teacher Trisha's 15" powerbook, my friend Sacha's 17" powerbook, my friend Lucy's 17" imac and my friend Ed's 20 inch Cinema Display were all perfect and dead pixel free since they got them and still are to this day.

not to mention every other g4 imac, ibook, powerbook and cinema display that i have ever seen at a shop bar one!

one display out of alot! and let me tell you i have been to an awful lot of apple centres looking at display and macs!!!

your fears are usual but dont let them stop you getting that mac youv'e always wanted!

you'll be fine ;)

[krimson]

as far as i know that only works on stuck pixels. my pixels in question dont show any color :(

i dont think there's anything that can be done about a dead pixel.. massagin only works with stuck.. and doesn't always work.

My pismo still has a near perfect screen.. :) *knock on wood*

[Awimoway]

i dont think there's anything that can be done about a dead pixel.. massagin only works with stuck.. and doesn't always work.

I don't think I know how to tell the difference between a stuck and a dead pixel.

[slughead]

Does your fear of dead pixels astonish you? :p

If you're dumbfounded (struck dumb) you can't say anything until you're not dumbfounded anymore (otherwise you're not dumbfounded!).

Obviously he isn't dumbfounded because he's not dumb (meaning he can still speak). However, I guess this isn't really speaking, but I'm sure it still applies.

[krimson]

I don't think I know how to tell the difference between a stuck and a dead pixel.

dead ones are usually black, stuck ones are usually stuck on one color..
(Someone correct me if im wrong)
like my friend's 23" has 1 that's green, and one that's blue (i think). He had 2 green ones, but i helped him lightly rub it and that one went away.

[Awimoway]

dead ones are usually black, stuck ones are usually stuck on one color..
(Someone correct me if im wrong)
like my friend's 23" has 1 that's green, and one that's blue (i think). He had 2 green ones, but i helped him lightly rub it and that one went away.

Black = dead makes sense, but I've only ever seen stubborn pixels that were white (on displays including my Sony Clie). Never seen a black one.

[Cordless_Drill]

This is my fourth PowerBook. Not a single dead pixel ever.

I wouldn't sweat it.

[nuclearwinter]

I have a red and blue stuck pixel on my 1.25Ghz 15" PB. I also have 5 HUGE white spots. I know this isn't typical and its going back to Apple this week for a new screen, but BUYER BEWARE. However, you could get a screen that never has any problems... ever. I am a regular computing buying horror story so take this with a grain of salt. I wouldn't worry about it too much. I don't think it is that widespread of a problem. Good luck!

[intrepkid21]

Okay, I realize I should have used "unfounded" instead of "dumbfounded"..my sincerest apologies..sheesh :eek:

[BigEvan23]

My GF's 1.25 ALU pbook had 2 dead pixels, she actually rma'd it got a new one with only 1 dead pixel. My current powerbook had a defective drive and one dead pixel and I got a replacement. This one has 1 dead pixel, 1 green stuck pixel and 1 red stuck pixel. In fact, today at the apple store every 15 ALU there had at least one dead pixel. I think its fairly common, so much so that it requires an insane amount of dead pixels to actually consider it out of specification.

[BrianKonarsMac]

I'd shy away from any technique that involves pressing on an LCD screen.yep. press TOO hard, and you can actually push the liquid OUT OF THE MATRIX! nothing like permanently damaging your screen, as well as having a very nasty blank space (i wonder if it would be white...or clear?).

[BrianKonarsMac]

My GF's 1.25 ALU pbook had 2 dead pixels, she actually rma'd it got a new one with only 1 dead pixel. My current powerbook had a defective drive and one dead pixel and I got a replacement. This one has 1 dead pixel, 1 green stuck pixel and 1 red stuck pixel. In fact, today at the apple store every 15 ALU there had at least one dead pixel. I think its fairly common, so much so that it requires an insane amount of dead pixels to actually consider it out of specification. you must have the worst luck ever. i have never had a dead pixel in 20 years of computers, i actually had a stuck pixel, but like someone else noted, it actually disappeared with an OS upgrade, very bizarre. I have never seen a stuck pixe or a dead one at an apple store, are you sure it just wasn't a piece of dust? i find it hard to believe they'd use a defective display unit. to have dead pixels on every computer u buy is insane, maybe you have a dirty power supply or something?

[blackpeter]

My Pismo and 17" Powerbook both had 1 stuck green pixel. It happens. But what are you going to do? Never buy a LCD? Just take the plunge and hope for the best.

Another option is to purchase a "refreshed" product from the Apple Store. Many times they will let you inspect them, as they are already opened. That, and you'll save an average of 10%. Not too shabby.

[Counterfit]

I got my PB's display replaced by Apple about two weeks ago, for a very small almost-unnoticeable white spot (they also replaced the logic board, but that was unrelated). I watched 50 First Dates the first night I had it back, and about 2/3 through, I get a vertical line of yellow pixels approximately 2/3 of the width from the left (1/3 from the right). It disappeared about ten minutes later though, and hasn't returned.

[James L]

I have bought 4 macs over the years, one had a stuck pixel. My friend has had several, no stuck pixels. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[smharmon]

I have had 3 12" powerbooks come through my hands (2 1ghz, 1 867) and only the 867 had one dead pixel. I have also had two imac 17"s come through the house, and no dead ones there....