24" iMac unevenly lit on left side, why?

[Fluidmusic00]

I'm curious why the left side on most new AL iMacs are brighter than the right (some more than others), why isn't the right side brighter than the left? Or the center brighter than the sides? It seems to be the left in every case.

[rainydays]

Originally Posted by Fluidmusic00

I'm curious why the left side on most new AL iMacs are brighter than the right (some more than others), why isn't the right side brighter than the left? Or the center brighter than the sides? It seems to be the left in every case.

Yeah it is odd that the screen is unevenly lit in the exact same area on every unit.
Well the corners are usually darker on most panels, but this panel has something like a stripe at the left side.

I guess Apple and LG-Philips are the only ones with an answer to that. But so far I haven't been able to get any decent answer out of Apple.

[suneohair]

Poor manufacturing that just happens to be very consistent.

rainydays, typically this has nothing to do with the panel itself, but improper placement of the backlights.

[HLdan]

Yes, it's from poor placement of the florescent tubes. This is typical of LCD screens using this type of backlighting. I see it on Sony and HP LCD's all the time.

It's not odd that it's in the exact spot on every unit. I would be odd if the backlighting was different on every unit.

[rainydays]

Originally Posted by HLdan

It's not odd that it's in the exact spot on every unit. I would be odd if the backlighting was different on every unit.

So you mean that it's poorly placed by design and not a flaw in the manufacturing?

[HLdan]

Originally Posted by rainydays

So you mean that it's poorly placed by design and not a flaw in the manufacturing?

Yes. Next time you go to either Best Buy or Fry's or whichever electronics store that sells computers check out the larger LCD screens. Change the background to white and take a look and you will see uneven backlighting. The larger LCD's take the biggest hit on how the florescent tubes are placed behind the LCD.
I haven't had a computer to date with perfectly even backlighting.

[rainydays]

Originally Posted by HLdan

I haven't had a computer to date with perfectly even backlighting.

Me neither, but I've had a Samsung 21" that was pretty close to it. My MacBook display is also surprisingly uniform when it's been on for 20 minutes.

However, in my experience the uneven backlighting is in different places with each unit, especially on laptop displays. That's why i thought it was odd that the iMac display has it in the exact same place on every screen. But perhaps it's not then.

[HLdan]

Originally Posted by rainydays

Me neither, but I've had a Samsung 21" that was pretty close to it. My MacBook display is also surprisingly uniform when it's been on for 20 minutes.

However, in my experience the uneven backlighting is in different places with each unit, especially on laptop displays. That's why i thought it was odd that the iMac display has it in the exact same place on every screen. But perhaps it's not then.

Backlight placement is never exact for laptops. You can have a Macbook and a MBP and the both will have different backlight placement. The LED models are near perfect as I have seen them at the Apple store.
The same models should have the same placement for backlighting.
The iMac's would be out of spec if backlighting was different for each one sent out from the factory. Model for model should be the same.

[sbc1]

Originally Posted by HLdan

Yes. Next time you go to either Best Buy or Fry's or whichever electronics store that sells computers check out the larger LCD screens. Change the background to white and take a look and you will see uneven backlighting. The larger LCD's take the biggest hit on how the florescent tubes are placed behind the LCD.
I haven't had a computer to date with perfectly even backlighting.

I stopped by my local Best Buy store... heard they had started selling Apple iMacs. Sure enough on display were the new Alum 24" and 20" models. But right next to the new 24" was last years 24" White iMac.

After hearing about the backlighting issue with the new 24" I did a side by side comparison. I adjusted and matched their brightness, color profiles, etc. To my surprise the White iMac looked exactly the same as the new one. The left side was slightly brighter than the right side! Just like a couple of twins.

There are a lot of "consistant personality traites" of all types in LCD panels. They vary based on the brand, size, quality of panel, etc. But most users don't even notice the variances during normal use. I'm proof of that. Had a dead pixel on a 20" Apple Cinema Display I leased 3 years ago. It bugged me at first but after a week or so I forgot all about it. Used that display happily every day. If I wasn't forced to return it I'd still be using it now.

[rainydays]

Originally Posted by sbc1

The left side was slightly brighter than the right side! Just like a couple of twins.

Not so surprising since they both use the same display. Some people will insist that the white iMac has a better screen because it's matte. And that might be right if you prefer matte screens, but the panel quality is certainly the same.

Just curious, did you notice any yellow tint on those displays?

[sbc1]

Originally Posted by rainydays

Just curious, did you notice any yellow tint on those displays?

There was no yellow tint on either.

After reading posts here and on Apple's discussion boards the past couple of weeks, there appear to be plenty 24's with no yellow tint issue. Over all it's given me the impression that those screens are bad displays and should be replaced.

[Fluidmusic00]

Originally Posted by sbc1

There was no yellow tint on either.

After reading posts here and on Apple's discussion boards the past couple of weeks, there appear to be plenty 24's with no yellow tint issue. Over all it's given me the impression that those screens are bad displays and should be replaced.

My screen doesn't have a yellow tint. It's just bright white on the left 1/4 of the screen!