2007 24 inch iMac yellow tint

[Kinkade]

I decided to sell my iMac to Mac of All Trades through macmeanoffer.com

The iMac is 2007 2.8 core 2 extreme 24 inch model.

Today I received an email from them saying that they received it, but that it has a yellow tint:

"We tested the equipment you shipped - thank you. This is what our techs found:
The iMac tested with a yellowish tint on the display.
Please see attached photos for your review (one comparison, one of the machine itself)."

They then continued to offer me a price $120 less then the initial quote.

I never noticed a yellow tint on the display its whole life. It was always a bright and vibrant screen, and looked beautiful as I was erasing and restoring it. The screen still had better color them my new TV.

Is it possible that the screen is not defective? In the comparison photos the iMac the tested against looks like it has a blue tint and mine looks normal.

Does any one have experience with similar display issues or knowledge of the displays used at the time used in iMacs?

I asked them to confirm for me that the comparison iMac was the same model. I also asked them to check that the had the same version of OS X. Maybe a different screen manufacturer? Multiple screen suppliers?

Normally I wouldn't make this such an issue, but I have been having financial difficulties since my father passed, and $120 makes a very huge difference to me.

Thank you to anyone who can help out.

 

[DeltaMac]

That's a tough one. The only way you could have seen that is directly comparing to another, closer-to-normal screen.

Yes, your display is quite yellow, almost no visible grey.
There would be a range of acceptable tint, I suppose, and that picture shows yours as obviously outside of that range.
That's an unfortunate result of selling your iMac to a company that likely looks at dozens of different screens every day. The ones that are not acceptable will be obvious if you look at them all the time.

Unfortunately, that part of the boot process does not rely on the OS X version in use.

Look at it this way - the company would have to replace the LCD panel now. They can likely get replacement panels for much less than you would pay.
The $120 would be significantly less than you would have to pay to get a replacement LCD panel.

Or, you might have done a private sale/eBay/C.L., etc, where the buyer may not have a sensitivity to an off-color display.

 

[Kinkade]

The entire time I owned the computer the display looked great. I never noticed any yellow tint.

Games and videos always had great bright vibrant color. There never seemed to be a lack of grey.

I wish I would have sold it to someone else. I have sold my xbox, my iPhone, my Apple Watch, and other things via Craig's list. I should have done the same with my only computer.

I am almost in tears losing that money.

 

[bogg]

I shipped 3 24" 2007 iMacs back when I ordered mine at release, all showing this exact symptom, yellow tinting which was stronger on one side and a more blueish tinting on the other. I also have problems with dark corners on 2 of them.

This was a launch issue with these, so if you purchased it at or near launch you had a large risk getting one of the affected units.

Strange you haven't noticed it in these years but my girlfriend didn't understand why I shipped mine back three times either. So maybe not everyone sees it in real life, photos have a tendency to exaggerate the issue

 

[maflynn]

The entire time I owned the computer the display looked great. I never noticed any yellow tint.

My 24" ACD has a bit of a yellow tint. I noticed it fairly early on because it was hooked up to my MBP and so comparing the ACD against the MBP, it was noticeable. Yet, I got used to it and didn't want to mess with exchanging it, back in the day.

It kind of bites, that you'll get less money for it though

 

[Berlepsch]

That could be aging of the fluorescent bulbs that were used in the 2007 iMacs. Used fluorescent lamps tend to appear more yellow because the blue phosphor degrades stronger than the red and green ones.

My old 2007 iMac looks similar compared to a 5k iMac. In my opinion, for a 8+ year old computer screen, such a color shift should be considered usual wear and tear.

I would try and bargain with them if I were in your shoes, and accept not more than $50 price reduction for this.

 

[bogg]

That could be aging of the fluorescent bulbs that were used in the 2007 iMacs. Used fluorescent lamps tend to appear more yellow because the blue phosphor degrades stronger than the red and green ones.

My old 2007 iMac looks similar compared to a 5k iMac. In my opinion, for a 8+ year old computer screen, such a color shift should be considered usual wear and tear.

I would try and bargain with them if I were in your shoes, and accept not more than $50 price reduction for this.

As I said, this was an issue with this model, loads of people had a yellow tint on their displays when it was delivered, huge numbers of posts relating to yellow tinting or uneven colour flooded several different forums. More or less a "tintgate" as apple refused to see it as an issue. But for some reason units delivered after the first month or so was more or less flawless and the number of people who complained was significantly decreased. I personally as I said went through three different iMacs before finally getting a fourth which was almost perfect, and my girlfriend didn't see a problem with any of them.

So personally I think the thread starter never noticed, as the problem is exaggerated on photos and it wouldn't appear as drastic in real life.

 

[ryannel2003]

Up until my last Retina MacBook Pro and my current 27" iMac every one of my Intel-based Mac's always had a yellow tint to the screen. One of the first things I always did when setting the computers up is calibrate the screen (I prefer to have a grey/blue tint to my screen). I wonder if they switched the profile to Adobe RGB (the closest to what I calibrated mine at) would they notice a difference? I'd send them a message saying to do that and see what the results will be. My screens always looked 100% better afterwards.

 

[bogg]

Up until my last Retina MacBook Pro and my current 27" iMac every one of my Intel-based Mac's always had a yellow tint to the screen. One of the first things I always did when setting the computers up is calibrate the screen (I prefer to have a grey/blue tint to my screen). I wonder if they switched the profile to Adobe RGB (the closest to what I calibrated mine at) would they notice a difference? I'd send them a message saying to do that and see what the results will be. My screens always looked 100% better afterwards.

The issue i'm talking about is neither helped nor affected by different calibrations, and wouldn't help as the tint isn't uniform over the screen.
Also this issue is seen most on light images and not really apparent on darker images or the desktop, it is fully possible he never saw it even though it's been there all the time

 

[ryannel2003]

The issue i'm talking about is neither helped not affected by different calibrations, and wouldn't help as the tint isn't uniform over the screen.
Also this issue is seen most on light images and not really apparent on darker images or the desktop, it is fully possible you never saw it even though it's been there all the time

I just looked at the picture a bit closer and that's definitely not a calibration issue. I didn't notice it was cooler on the right side of the screen and yellow on the left. My bad.

That sucks.

 

[bogg]

I just looked at the picture a bit closer and that's definitely not a calibration issue. I didn't notice it was cooler on the right side of the screen and yellow on the left. My bad.

That sucks.

Sorry, I mistook you for OP. Edited my post to say "he" instead of "you"

 

[DeltaMac]

And - the screen pictures were taken at a time during boot before any calibration profile is loaded, and is dependent on the firmware boot rom, and the initial video signal - so would be hardware only.

 

[Kinkade]

Thank you everyone for your help. Lots of good info. (I took a very close look at my brothers newish 27 inch, non 5k to make sure his screen was flawless before his warantee runs out)

I emailed them back and I will try and see if I can negotiate the price a bit. They have not responded yet, but I did ask for some more pictures too.

 

[JamietheMac]

Thank you everyone for your help. Lots of good info. (I took a very close look at my brothers newish 27 inch, non 5k to make sure his screen was flawless before his warantee runs out)

I emailed them back and I will try and see if I can negotiate the price a bit. They have not responded yet, but I did ask for some more pictures too.

You should of shot a video of it running etc before you posted it away, i dont trust these type of companies how do you know they didnt damage it?

 

[JamietheMac]

Something similar happened to me last night I have a 2009 late iMac any since I moved apartments last August I haven't got round to unpacking it , I've been using my mbp so I figured last night after much nagging from Olive to fire it up . Turns out I had a thin line down one side very annoying as it wasn't there previously long story short. I upgraded to Capitan last night left it on over night and this morning the line was gone so just a thought but maybe once your screen has been running and warmed up the yellow disappears since you did say it wasn't like that when you had it. Might explain how once it has cooled down when it was shipped it occurred just a thought