MacMerc: Apple's LCD Dead Pixel Policy Published

[patrick0brien]

-All

Published by MacMerc - the unreleased Official Apple Pixel Policy regarding funky pixels.

Good knowledge for the hip pocket when looking at a dead pixel.

Get it quick before Apple Legal catches on...

MacMerc: Apple's Pixel Policy

Note: I posted this not to stir a pot of "Apple's ripping us off" - All LCD's have dead or funky pixels - they just might not be wrong enough to make out. There is no such thing as a perfect LCD. It's just good knowledge to have if you have many funky pixels wether you will be wasting your time trying to get a new display.

[Kwyjibo]

hmm i feel luck my new powerbook doesn't have from what I can tell.

[Ambrose Chapel]

thanks patrickObrien. i have 1 stuck blue pixel in my tibook..it's annoying but i dont notice it too much.

my parents are in the market for an LCD and my dad is leaning towards the Apple 17"..i'll send this to him.

[robbieduncan]

I checked my Samsung flatpanel in the shop before buying it (Micro Anvica TCR London). They were willing to open it and let me not buy it if there were dead pixels, but would not get another one and open it.

So I have a really nice 19" panel with no dead pixels or bright ones.

[themadchemist]

Good find! Much appreciated. The tolerance level seems reasonable, at least when compared to other manufacturers. I am of the understanding that anywhere up to 10 dead pixels in a monitor of that size is customary.

Funny thing...I was in Tweeter looking at TVs. The guy was talking about the LCDs--and we're talking 40 to 50 inches here. I asked him what the deal pixel tolerance of Sony, I think. He said he's never seen a pixel being dead, or that the tolerance was maybe 1 or 2.

Either he had no idea what he was talking about or he was flat out lying. Maybe he just hadn't paid close enough attention.

Sorry for getting off tangent, but it just reminded me of that. Some stores try to give the impression that they are going to sell you "perfect" LCDs, so when we hear about the defects, we sometimes get anxious or feel betrayed, when it's all just part of the manufacturing process.

[Powerbook G5]

I've noticed one dead pixel pop up on my PowerBook after 4 years, but you cannot even notice it unless you have a bright white winow or something opened up over it. Besides that, you cannot notice any fault. I think that is pretty good and don't feel burnt at all. I understand their policy, it would cost them a small fortune and drive up prices if they replaced every display that had a dead pixel.

[Mudbug]

you know, out of a few million pixels, 5 isn't really bad... it would cost lotsa dough to replace every panel if it were less than these specs.

[Billicus]

Originally posted by Powerbook G5
I've noticed one dead pixel pop up on my PowerBook after 4 years, but you cannot even notice it unless you have a bright white winow or something opened up over it. Besides that, you cannot notice any fault. I think that is pretty good and don't feel burnt at all. I understand their policy, it would cost them a small fortune and drive up prices if they replaced every display that had a dead pixel.

I can see where you are coming from, but it would be annoying to have a combination of 8 Stuck or Dead Pixels and not have Apple want to do anything about it. I hope I don't getted burned when I buy a new PowerBook next week (assuming they come out next week of course - hint, hint Apple).

[AndrewMT]

Must be a slow rumor day.

[idea_hamster]

These numbers aren't too bad.

[Abe Simpson] I remember when TiBook screens had 1184x768 resolution ... back then if you had a dead pixel, you just rubbed some dirt on it ... kids today .... zzzzz [/Abe Simpson]

[F/reW/re]

Originally posted by robbieduncan
I checked my Samsung flatpanel in the shop before buying it (Micro Anvica TCR London). They were willing to open it and let me not buy it if there were dead pixels, but would not get another one and open it.

So I have a really nice 19" panel with no dead pixels or bright ones.

I don't know how laws are where you live, but where I live if you return your product within 14 days in the same condition as it was delivered you get ALL your money back! (not with software or music)

[andyduncan]

4 stuck-lit pixels is quite a lot. They are quite a bit more annoying than dead pixels.

IIRC Apple's policy used to be one lit, and 4 or 5 dead were grounds for replacement. At least thats what Apple Care used to tell my friends who tried to return displays (all for dead pixels).

I've only seen a single Apple display with a stuck-lit pixel. Don't know if it got replaced.

[zaphoyd]

Also note that pixels don't always stay dead or alive. When I got my DVI TiBook it had no dead pixels that I could tell. After about a month I noticed a bright green one. kind of annoying but not greatly. After a week or so it went away and It has been over a year now and i haven't seen it again.

[SubGothius]

BTW, Apple may have this policy regarding replacement of LCDs that go bad over time, but for brand-new gear, IIRC you have a brief no-questions-asked return window (~10 days or so, I think?). If this is indeed so, you still wouldn't hafta worry about a brand-new unit having a couple-few bad pixels; just return the unit right away and get another one.

Also, I seem to recall some mention of a technique where you can try gently massaging a dead/stuck pixel back to life, but I don't remember the details, how well it works, if it's even a good idea, etc.

[brhmac]

My G3 PowerBook ("Wallstreet") had a lone pixel that trumpeted its independence from the neighbors by shining red at all times. Go red!

It annoyed me at first, but I got used to it.

Since upgrading to Jaguar, the pixel has conformed. Can't say I miss it, but this posting has again led me to ask: What happened? Where did the defiant pixel go?

Anyone know?

[richard5mith]

From what i've read from various people who have had LCD's sent back to Apple, they're more accommodating of these rules depending on the placement of the pixels. If you have 5 dead pixels right in the center of the screen they're much more likely to replace it for you than 5 dead pixels in one corner.

My Powerbook screen is perfect, but my iMac screen has one permanently blue pixel down and to the right of center. I rarely notice it.

[Fender2112]

Originally posted by F/reW/re
I don't know how laws are where you live, but where I live if you return your product within 14 days in the same condition as it was delivered you get ALL your money back! (not with software or music)

Where do you live? In the US you get three business days. I'm not sure many folks know this. But I've come across it several times. There may be some restrictions or maybe it's just for things that are financed. Or maybe I'm clueless. If you are not sure, ask. The worst thing you will be told is that it's not true. In that case you didn't lose anything.

[sacrilicious]

Good to know this. My NEC 19" CRT had a serious clump just northwest of middle (pencil eraser sized, after it had been on for about twenty minutes) and Office Depot barely took it back.

[Stelliform]

Originally posted by zaphoyd
Also note that pixels don't always stay dead or alive. When I got my DVI TiBook it had no dead pixels that I could tell. After about a month I noticed a bright green one. kind of annoying but not greatly. After a week or so it went away and It has been over a year now and i haven't seen it again.

I have had several pixels like this one. In the 9 months that I have my laptop they have come and gone. I imagine that this policy is taking into account that after a few weeks some of the pixels might return to working order.

[patrick0brien]

Originally posted by brhmac
My G3 PowerBook ("Wallstreet") had a lone pixel that trumpeted its independence from the neighbors by shining red at all times. Go red!

It annoyed me at first, but I got used to it.

Since upgrading to Jaguar, the pixel has conformed. Can't say I miss it, but this posting has again led me to ask: What happened? Where did the defiant pixel go?

Anyone know?

-brhmac

I think it's the same thing that happens in some sporting events. The Red sat himself among supporters of the other side and began trumpeting his support for non-conformity. Then when the Big Cat came along, he was momentaritly distracted, and his neighbors summarily beat his a** into submission.

Gotta love Big Cats. Here's to the next <clink>

[F/reW/re]

Originally posted by Fender2112
Where do you live? In the US you get three business days. I'm not sure many folks know this. But I've come across it several times. There may be some restrictions or maybe it's just for things that are financed. Or maybe I'm clueless. If you are not sure, ask. The worst thing you will be told is that it's not true. In that case you didn't lose anything.

I live in Norway (Europe). 14 days after you bought it and you get your money back. If the product is bought on the internet you have to pay the return postingcosts yourself. When product is bought at a doorsale, homeparty or something like that, the seller pays postal-costs.

As long as the product you bought is in or almost the same condition as it was when delivered, you will get your money back.
If the seller didn't inform you about this when the product was bought, the 14 days can be expanded into 1 year.
This is how it works in Norway. Norway takes care of their buyers :P

[robrippin]

Originally posted by themadchemist
Good find! Much appreciated. The tolerance level seems reasonable, at least when compared to other manufacturers. I am of the understanding that anywhere up to 10 dead pixels in a monitor of that size is customary.

Funny thing...I was in Tweeter looking at TVs. The guy was talking about the LCDs--and we're talking 40 to 50 inches here. I asked him what the deal pixel tolerance of Sony, I think. He said he's never seen a pixel being dead, or that the tolerance was maybe 1 or 2.

Either he had no idea what he was talking about or he was flat out lying. Maybe he just hadn't paid close enough attention.

Sorry for getting off tangent, but it just reminded me of that. Some stores try to give the impression that they are going to sell you "perfect" LCDs, so when we hear about the defects, we sometimes get anxious or feel betrayed, when it's all just part of the manufacturing process.

YOU don't know what you are talking about... There is no such thing as a 40-50 inch LCD. The term you are looking for is PLASMA TV! PLASMA TV's don't get dead pixels because they use a gas instead of the LED type stuff in LCD...

[robrippin]

Originally posted by robbieduncan
I checked my Samsung flatpanel in the shop before buying it (Micro Anvica TCR London). They were willing to open it and let me not buy it if there were dead pixels, but would not get another one and open it.

So I have a really nice 19" panel with no dead pixels or bright ones.

You do realize that the point isn't when you buy it new, pixels are dead... The point is that after using it for a while, pixels will go out on you!

[brianbobcat]

Originally posted by richard5mith
From what i've read from various people who have had LCD's sent back to Apple, they're more accommodating of these rules depending on the placement of the pixels. If you have 5 dead pixels right in the center of the screen they're much more likely to replace it for you than 5 dead pixels in one corner.

My Powerbook screen is perfect, but my iMac screen has one permanently blue pixel down and to the right of center. I rarely notice it.

My grandma has the mid range flat screen imac with the same thing, 1 light blue pixel on the left and up from center. I've tried rubbing it, but i was afraid of messing up other pixels, so i didn't do it for that long. It's only noticable if there's a dark screen over it or if you really look for it, it's not that bad.

-Brian

[robrippin]

Originally posted by sacrilicious
Good to know this. My NEC 19" CRT had a serious clump just northwest of middle (pencil eraser sized, after it had been on for about twenty minutes) and Office Depot barely took it back.

Wait, wait, wait... Let me get this strait! Your 'CRT' (Cathode Ray Tube) had a group of dead PIXELS?!

Please learn the technical jargon so you know wtf you are talking about