Apple Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Screen Ghosting on Retina MacBook Pros

[MacRumors]

Law360 reports (via 9to5Mac) that a Retina MacBook Pro owner has launched a would-be class action lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the widely reported ghosting issues are the result of defective LG screens and that Apple has been "tricking" customers into buying these by not distinguishing them from models sold with Samsung screens.

Ghost images of previous content have been widely demonstrated on some Retina MacBook Pros, as in the above video. A support thread on apple.com on the issue currently runs to over 7000 posts across almost 500 pages. Apple uses displays manufactured by both Samsung and LG in its Retina laptops, and it has been strongly indicated that the issue affects mostly machines with LG screens. Apple has so far made no statement on the issue beyond a support document in which it describes "image persistence" as a characteristic of IPS displays and gives some advice on minimizing the effects.

The lawsuit has been filed in a Federal court in California by Retina MacBook Pro owner Beau Hodges, who says that Apple should have disclosed the issue and allowed customers to choose between machines with LG and Samsung screens.

The electronics giant must know about the differences between the two versions because it spent a considerable amount of time testing the products during research and development and has been inundated with complaints from customers about the LG screen's problems, according to the suit.

"The performance disparity between the LG version and the Samsung version is particularly troubling given that Apple represents the MacBook Pro with retina display as a single, unitary product, described as the highest quality notebook display on the market," the complaint said. "None of Apple's advertisements or representations discloses that it produces the computers with display screens that exhibit different levels of performance and quality."

A class action lawsuit is one in which an individual or small number of people file a claim representing a larger group of individuals in similar circumstances.

Article Link: Apple Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Screen Ghosting on Retina MacBook Pros

[maflynn]

Can't say that I'm really surprised but I guess I'm one of the lucky ones with a Samsung screen and no problem

[nizzard]

Samsung 4 life

[Jsameds]

Sigh, another stupid lawsuit. Just take the thing back, I'm sure Apple will refund you.

Everyone wants a piece of the Apple pie these days.

[Asclepio]

apple needs samsung but i don't know if samsung needs apple anymore

[Squilly]

Read about this yesterday. Finally! A shame it doesn't have to do with the displays themselves. Just Apple not acknowledging it.

[Wormwolf]

This always sucked. It's like rolling a dice. I rememeber buying an iMac and praying that i get a better LCD panel, because there was one better PVA and another TN panel.

[scho52386]

Let me guess...this is somehow not Apple's fault... right? It has to be someone else's fault!

[iPusch]

I have a LG panel in my 15" rMBP & I am running 100% flawless... How come?

[Josh125]

Originally Posted by Jsameds

Sigh, another stupid lawsuit. Just take the thing back, I'm sure Apple will refund you.

Everyone wants a piece of the Apple pie these days.

How so, they are selling faulty equipment. Not sure why so many people give Apple a pass on these type of things.

[arctic]

I do hope this action will help Apple refrain from utilizing poor quality panels from LG for the succeeding generation of Macs.

[inlinevolvo]

Originally Posted by Jsameds

Sigh, another stupid lawsuit. Just take the thing back, I'm sure Apple will refund you.

Everyone wants a piece of the Apple pie these days.

You must not have read the entire article. Apple does not acknowledge this as a problem. And will gladly show you the door out.

[XtraSmiley]

I'm sure Apple will just end up refunding him his cost. Waste of time lawsuits are a staple of the American way of law!

[Kilamite]

A lawsuit I finally agree with!

I don't have a rMBP, but if I were to buy one and end up with an LG display, I'd exchange it. But then I might end up with another LG display. It's clearly a defect, and isn't acceptable on a machine where the selling point is the display.

Unfortunately Apple supply chain demand means Apple has to use the crappy LG display.

[Andy-V]

Knowing the flaws of the LG screens, Apple should stop using them.

[boch82]

Originally Posted by iPusch

I have a LG panel in my 15" rMBP & I am running 100% flawless... How come?

Its only when you are on 100% brightness and on a static screen for a while...it goes away pretty quickly when you go to another website/app.

[Shasterball]

Originally Posted by inlinevolvo

You must not have read the entire article. Apple does not acknowledge this as a problem. And will gladly show you the door out.

Not true. Apple stores will replace your ghosted screen for free.

[inlinevolvo]

Originally Posted by iPusch

I have a LG panel in my 15" rMBP & I am running 100% flawless... How come?

Doesn't affect them all. But predominantly the LG display. I was having screen flicker issues with mine. Got a Samsung replacement. No issues in over 3 months.

[XtraSmiley]

Originally Posted by inlinevolvo

You must not have read the entire article. Apple does not acknowledge this as a problem. And will gladly show you the door out.

Nope, you have I think 2 weeks to return anything for any reason right?

[needfx]

I expected such an action sooner

[XtraSmiley]

Originally Posted by boch82

Its only when you are on 100% brightness and on a static screen for a while...it goes away pretty quickly when you go to another website/app.

Is that true? Why is there such a long thread about it? Are that many people doing that? Good it sounds like the whole, hold the iPhone a certain way you have problems thing...

[szw-mapple fan]

Sue? really? Just go to Apple and get a refund. Is it always like this in America?

[mrmarts]

How do I know what screen my 2012 retina MacBook is using.

[ArmCortexA8]

Legally, Apple should indicate externally what brand panel is used so customer's are informed. Its morally wrong to hide this information on the basis they are all identical - picture says a thousand words. Apple should only use Samsung for displays as they are better and don't have the yellow tinge that all LG panels seem to have. Im surprised Apple still buy from LG, considering this issue, and the same issue on the iMac's. Only Samsung should be used, and anyone that has an LG display should get it swapped for a Samsung model instantly - no questions asked.

[gnasher729]

Wouldn't be surprised if Samsung is behind this. Would be a business strategy that is quite typical for them. Tax evasion, bribery and price fixing - why not a proxy lawsuit to smear two competitors in one go.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...a-8510588.html

Nice article describing what happens to you if you speak up against Samsung in South Korea.