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27", 21.5" iMac Owners, test your screen for yellow tint issue here

Is your display having the problem described?

  • iMac 21.5" both grey bars look identical in color

    Votes: 102 8.9%

  • iMac 21.5" the bottom bar looks more yellow

    Votes: 199 17.4%

  • iMac 27" both grey bars look identical in color

    Votes: 311 27.2%

  • iMac 27" the bottom bar looks more yellow

    Votes: 533 46.6%
  • Total voters
    1,145
Update

Update:

I called Apple Tech Support on Sunday to report my "yellow". I was quickly escalated to a higher level engineer who seemed very interested to hear about my issue. He asked a lot of questions and considered having me send it in specifically so they could tear it appart. Appretnly they are still in the process of collecting samples. That kind of fell apart because mine was a refurb and there was no easy way to do an even exchange, but I do have an Apple store close by and was instructed to take it to them for repairs, which I did. I wa told that it should take around 5 days - we tested it on different monitors in the store, and they looked fine. Interesting, but I could have told them that myself :) So it's looking like a new panel. I worry about parts availability, but the Genius told me it wouldn't be a problem.

Bottom line: Apple knows about this and they are serious about figuring out exactly what the problems are. It sounds like they are trying to pinpoint bad production runs at the moment. Also, they seem to feel they can fix it. I could have sent it back and waited for another refurb but the Apple tech and I came to the same conclusion that if I get another box, it might be bad/worse. If I get it repaired, they will test it and in theory, I won't get it back until it's right. My iMac was perfect save for the scree, so it seemed like the best plan.

We shall see...

-Eric
 
I got the same response to my call today to Applecare. Escalated to the next level pretty quickly. They're asking me to take it to theApple store 60 miles away.

I'm having Amazon send me another one. Much easier than dealing with the Apple Store genius. Every time I've ever taken something in to the genius for repair or replacement, I tend to get my way, but it's often painful having to convince them I'm right.
 
I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth exchanging mine later this week. The last thing I want is a worse machine, and right now my only problems are the screen. It seems as if week 50's are still dogs though...why even bother if that is the case?
 
Well, I'm guessing it's hit or miss at this point. I'll get a replacement from Amazon and if this one is still messed up, I'll get a refund and wait a few months. I still have a perfectly good working 17" white imac. It's a bit slow, but works just fine for a few more months if need be.

I hope you're wrong about week 50. Then again, it can't be all of them or is it? :eek:
 
oh man I got a bad one

oh man I got a week 50. Got yellow tinge on bottom right and one dead pixle.
I order mine direct for apple online store. so what is the latest I can call to complain the yellow tinge so I can exchange my current i7 27" (I got them on Dec 8).
how easy is it to exchange? and if they make me bring it to new york city apple store, are they gonna make it hard for me to exchange it?
 
If it's a warranty issue, couldn't we just wait a few months and take them in to have them fixed over a week or so, instead of playing a guessing game? Would Apple do this?
 
TennisandMusic said:
If it's a warranty issue, couldn't we just wait a few months and take them in to have them fixed over a week or so, instead of playing a guessing game? Would Apple do this?
Click to expand...
One can exchange it with another within 30 days of purchase from the Apple Store online. It means that they just ship another new one to you after FedEx scans the shipping label (during pick-up). Apple e-mails you the labels, you print them, and pack the computer. When you read the e-mail Apple sends you, there is a link to FedEx where you can choose to have FedEx picking the package, or for you to drop the package at the FedEx location. After 30 days, then Apple can repair the computer for you under the warranty.
 
AlaskaMoose said:
One can exchange it with another within 30 days of purchase from the Apple Store online. It means that they just ship another new one to you after FedEx scans the shipping label (during pick-up). Apple e-mails you the labels, you print them, and pack the computer. When you read the e-mail Apple sends you, there is a link to FedEx where you can choose to have FedEx picking the package, or for you to drop the package at the FedEx location. After 30 days, then Apple can repair the computer for you under the warranty.
Click to expand...

I bought mine in the store...specifically to avoid a mailing mess. I am just wondering if this is a recognized issue that is "covered" under warranty, so perhaps if it's straightened out in 3 months, I can take mine into the store and say the panel is not uniform etc, and hopefully they swap it out with a good one. I think it might beat out trying to constantly swap for a good one. Just curious if this could happen.
 
nnokey said:
oh man I got a week 50. Got yellow tinge on bottom right and one dead pixle.
I order mine direct for apple online store. so what is the latest I can call to complain the yellow tinge so I can exchange my current i7 27" (I got them on Dec 8).
Click to expand...

I'm not quite sure but probably the latest should be 22nd, better call them to confirm.

nnokey said:
how easy is it to exchange? and if they make me bring it to new york city apple store, are they gonna make it hard for me to exchange it?
Click to expand...

Since you bought at online apple store, it should be hassle free and they'll offer you a pickup service. Anyway, it may be better not to mention you are not satisfied with the "DEAD PIXEL". :D
 
Did the test. My 27" iMac (week 45) also shows a warmer grey at the bottom. Also, the bottom corners are much brighter from the backlighting, with a dark screen.
 
Mine has an ever so slightly warmish tint at the bottom of the screen but I believe that's normal for LCDs. My TV has the same thing, although it might have been blueish. So long as it isn't a noticeable yellow stain ...
(Week 50)
 
My second one is in transit at the moment. Est. delivery: 16 December.
And the first one (week 47) travels back to Apple today with an RMA number attached.
It had yellow all over the place... lower half and upper right at the screen

Hopefully the second one is problem free...
Keeping my fingers crossed………

NOTE

I’m reading this thread and keep wondering why people don’t mention the production week. For all of you; please do….
 
uuaschbaer said:
Mine has an ever so slightly warmish tint at the bottom of the screen but I believe that's normal for LCDs. My TV has the same thing, although it might have been blueish. So long as it isn't a noticeable yellow stain ...
(Week 50)
Click to expand...

Is it half way down or just a inch?
 
AlaskaMoose said:
One can exchange it with another within 30 days of purchase from the Apple Store online. It means that they just ship another new one to you after FedEx scans the shipping label (during pick-up). Apple e-mails you the labels, you print them, and pack the computer. When you read the e-mail Apple sends you, there is a link to FedEx where you can choose to have FedEx picking the package, or for you to drop the package at the FedEx location. After 30 days, then Apple can repair the computer for you under the warranty.
Click to expand...

You can do a swap within 14 days (that's the Apple Store return period), not 30 days.
 
Thanks for ruining my 27" iMac! jk

But I didn't even notice it till I read this thread, now I can't help but see it. I would out the degree of yellowness of mine to low, soI might just stick with it, esp. since a trade out is no guarantee of a fix.

Serial: W8946 assuming the 46 part is the week.
 
not worth exchanging at this point...

you are most likely going to get another one with Yellow tinge...

I plan on holding on to mine until Apple comes out with a statement/fix...
 
Gizmodo just featured this color uniformity issue. Link

Last week, my head buzzing with new gadget endorphins, I wrote a fun post about my new iMac, teasing whether or not it arrived in one piece. But now, I've realized, there is something wrong. And I'm not alone.

(No, the punchline isn't, "I'm using a Mac instead of a PC! *rimshot*")

I, like many, many other iMac owners, am typing on a screen that has a cold color temperature up top and a warm temperature at the bottom. In other words, pure white goes from icy blue to jaundiced yellow. See what I mean:

appledisplay.jpg


Those are cropped photos from a screen test taken with the same white balance settings on my dSLR. In other words, the greys and whites should match. Clearly, they don't.

At first, I didn't notice. The gradient occurring over a 27-inch monitor is surprisingly subtle. But once you see the problem, you cannot unsee it.

What's upsetting isn't simply that I got a bum computer. It's that a LOT of iMac buyers are getting bum computers with, not one, but a myriad of potential flaws.

• Cracked screens
• Jaundiced screens
• Flickering screens
• DOA computers
• Strange, high-pitched frequencies (that one tipped to me by an Apple Store employee)

And this color temperature test is extremely simply to run. Any idiot can see the issue when using a calibrating image—I've personally proven that point. So there's no excuse as to why Apple isn't catching this defect, which doesn't seem to possibly arise through shipping, straight off the assembly line. My iMac should have never shipped to me in the first place.

I've asked Apple exactly what's going on with iMac production and why QA testing is missing issues like jaundiced screens. They haven't gotten back to me, but it appears Apple is cognizant of the issues, as they've delayed future 27-inch iMac shipments (even though 21-inch systems seem to be having issues, too).

Still, what about all those iMacs sitting under the Christmas tree since Black Friday, aging beyond their 30-day no questions asked exchange window?

Apple did not respond to that question, either. (OK OK, they didn't respond to any of my questions.)

However, on the phone with technical support arranging my exchange (which is promised to be "expedited," but will still take 2-3 weeks), I was surprised that Apple specifically asked whether I felt the jaundice issue was "functional" or "cosmetic." I considered that should the consensus goes to "cosmetic" and Apple labels it so, such a designation could vastly alter return rights. But an Apple Store guru informed me that it shouldn't make a difference. However, they did say:

"It sounds like they may be gathering data to come up with a repair extension plan for iMacs. Apple does that when certain units have larger than normal failure rates."

Not that we couldn't reach that revelation on our own.

[Thanks Vic for showing me the (yellow) light!]


Send an email to Mark Wilson, the author of this post, at mark@gizmodo.com.
Click to expand...
 
slicecom said:
I firmly believe everyone has it, some people are just more observant than others.
Click to expand...

I agree, and some have it worse than others.. My first 27" only had it on the bottom, my second 27" had it bottom and right side, my third 27" (week 50) is the worst, big yellow area going down the center of the screen.. can't avoid it.. I honestly would not have noticed it on the first one without this thread (and I could have lived it with it - I returned it for other reasons - loud HD)
 
Hi everyone, new to the boards and I purchased my 27inch i5 on Nov. 15th.

Yellow issue is at the bottom above the apple symbol, and one to the left and right all in a horse shoe shape. It then slowly fades into a blue hue. Otherwise it is problem free.


Very disappointing, but I plan on waiting for some word on replacements of the LCD panel, otherwise I am bound to get one that is possibly worse or might have other issues.
 
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