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

[timtom33]

The above looks fine to me. I can't see anything to worry about. Maybe you need to stop fixating on it so much with that test. You could get the screen replaced and take the glass off and give it a clean after the repair. Doesn't look too hard from youtube vids i have seen.

My problem is i tried to do that, forget the test and enjoy the machine, I was willing to accept a bit of mild yellow on my two iMacs. I was ready for it. But both had red tint on the left hand side/center of the screen, making bright spots and warm patches visible. Something i couldn't live with as it was right in the middle or down the whole left hand side. A bit of yellow right down in a corner or at the bottom wouldn't bother me once i had gotten over it and forgotten about it.

See this photo for what i am talking about, i often browse the web with two pages side by side, and with my problem it was very noticeable that there was a bright patch of warming right in the center. I for one couldn't tolerate that on a £250 screen, let alone a machine costing £2,000+. Sorry not going to fly Apple.

After two machines, both with the red tint problem, i have now given up... sending back for a refund as we speak.



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[jgo78]

The above looks fine to me. I can't see anything to worry about. Maybe you need to stop fixating on it so much with that test. You could get the screen replaced and take the glass off and give it a clean after the repair. Doesn't look too hard from youtube vids i have seen.

My problem is i tried to do that, forget the test and enjoy the machine, I was willing to accept a bit of mild yellow on my two iMacs. I was ready for it. But both had red tint on the left hand side/center of the screen, making bright spots and warm patches visible. Something i couldn't live with as it was right in the middle or down the whole left hand side. A bit of yellow right down in a corner or at the bottom wouldn't bother me once i had gotten over it and forgotten about it.

See this photo for what i am talking about, i often browse the web with two pages side by side, and with my problem it was very noticeable that there was a bright patch of warming right in the center. I for one couldn't tolerate that on a £250 screen, let alone a machine costing £2,000+. Sorry not going to fly Apple.

After two machines, both with the red tint problem, i have now given up... sending back for a refund as we speak.

[url=http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8665/imag0603y.jpg]Image[/URL]

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yes, this is not acceptable. It's like you got a spot light in the middle of your screen, unacceptable.

 

[timtom33]

yes, this is not acceptable. It's like you got a spot light in the middle of your screen, unacceptable.

Its just strange, i can't see it so much when things are white, but when there is grey on the pages i can notice it. My girlfriend is saying there is nothing there, and to be honest it took me 3 days to notice it, but once you see it you can't un-see it. It bugs the hell out of me as its right in the middle and make two of the same pages look slightly different tones. The picture seems to really make it visible for some reason though. When you drag a page across the screen you can see a slight color shift when it gets to that spot.

 

[wacomme]

Perhaps I'm being too picky. While I see yellow at the bottom of my screen, perhaps it's acceptable for an Apple monitor.

I'm now wondering if I should continue to pursue a replacement screen, or just cancel the order and live with my current screen.

 

[jgo78]

Perhaps I'm being too picky. While I see yellow at the bottom of my screen, perhaps it's acceptable for an Apple monitor.

I'm now wondering if I should continue to pursue a replacement screen, or just cancel the order and live with my current screen.

you have some yellowing at the bottom and red at the top. If you don't notice it while doing everyday things then you may want to keep it. If it bothers you, you could spin the wheel and hope it lands on a good one. The odds are against you however. I've been through three and many have gone through the same or more only to get one worse or the same. Some are very lucky and land a good one.

 

[wacomme]

you have some yellowing at the bottom and red at the top. If you don't notice it while doing everyday things then you may want to keep it. If it bothers you, you could spin the wheel and hope it lands on a good one. The odds are against you however. I've been through three and many have gone through the same or more only to get one worse or the same. Some are very lucky and land a good one.

Ack! This is so frustrating. I'm not anal by nature, but I am a photographer leaving the business. And as a photographer, the yellow (and red spot) bothers me. I keep telling myself that I'm not doing critical color work any longer, that the screen isn't my $2200 NEC Pro monitor. Yet, I somehow want better. On the other hand, it seems that the chances for getting a better screen are slim. How long do I want to play this screen game? Ack!

 

[wacomme]

Has anyone had a positive experience with a screen replacement - not a new computer, but a screen replacement done at an Apple store?

 

[Stoltenberg1]

Has anyone had a positive experience with a screen replacement - not a new computer, but a screen replacement done at an Apple store?

That's what I'm wondering (I "was" considering it). I called them about my recently purchased 27'' i7, and even though it's still within the return period, they wanted to perform a "warranty" repair on the screen. I said I'd think about it (even though I'm just going to return it and try and get another)...it is quite stupid really, performing an LCD replacement right when you get a computer-and that's is your "one time only" replacement that your allotted.

 

[timtom33]

I think a warranty repair on a brand new item is a bad idea. Its then going to be like you paid full price what is essentially a refurb. If you go down that road tell Apple you want a 10-20% refund back on your credit card.

I think the point about "if you can't notice it in everyday tasks then keep it" is a good one. My problem was i could notice it just browsing the web with pages side by side. I am also pretty sure it's getting worse, as the screen has been used for a week now and as the screen heats up after 10 mins it becomes really noticeable. I think for the first few days it was less obvious.

I have been looking into the Dell U2711 (meant to be a great screen, if not the best currently, which is also so ugly i can't quite believe it) and apparently that also suffers from Red/Yellow tint, so this is more a problem with the 27" form factor than being an 'only Apple' issue. I think that's why this problem has been around since 2009 and isn't going away.

Dell are replacing all screens without question for customers with red/yellow tint.

I think HP though are telling customer's its within tolerance and to live with it.

It seems as LCD prices have gone down, so have manufacturing standards, which is a shame, as the screen is fundamentally something critical that you stare at for hours on end unfortunately. Maybe a scratch on your car bonnet can be ignored and 'lived with' more easily as you can choose to not stand there staring at it everyday for hours.

I am thinking of trying to buy again in a few weeks time, once the trauma has faded a bit and i can spare the time again to wait in for deliveries. But to be honest i don't hold much hope. The PC alternatives as well unfortunately all look pretty rubbish, the usual black plastic government department office style bore fest... I can't see one 27" screen design i like outside of Apple.

 

[thebends6]

I bought my 2011 27" on Monday and definitely notice the yellow tinge on the bottom 3rd of my screen and to a certain extent on the right hand side. I was wondering if you guys think that it's severe enough to warrant a replacement as I sometimes know how Apple store employees are regarding this issue (i.e. "I can't see what you're talking about, the issue is only cosmetic, etc.") It does bother me, but like people have said before, I can't tell whether or not it's that bad or if it's all in my head.

 

[Horlics]

I can't tell whether or not it's that bad or if it's all in my head.

View attachment 288693

That's far far worse than bad.

 

[Stoltenberg1]

That's far far worse than bad.

Agreed!

 

[bpeeps]

I bought my 2011 27" on Monday and definitely notice the yellow tinge on the bottom 3rd of my screen and to a certain extent on the right hand side. I was wondering if you guys think that it's severe enough to warrant a replacement as I sometimes know how Apple store employees are regarding this issue (i.e. "I can't see what you're talking about, the issue is only cosmetic, etc.") It does bother me, but like people have said before, I can't tell whether or not it's that bad or if it's all in my head.

View attachment 288693

Holy smokes! Apple should be paying you to look at that messed up LCD. That's the worse I've ever seen. Take it back, take it back!

 

[h00ligan]

One thing that hits me is that in EVERY DAMN PICTURE beyond the yellow is that band across the bottom. Ugly

 

[mankymanning]

Is there any feel for how many iMacs this affects? I mean is there a silent majority who don't have the issue? Don't care? Wouldn't have noticed unless they did the test?

 

[timtom33]

Is there any feel for how many iMacs this affects? I mean is there a silent majority who don't have the issue? Don't care? Wouldn't have noticed unless they did the test?

I've had two, both were affected. My issues, such as shadow bar at the bottom and red tint on left and then center of the screen didn't need a special test to become annoying. Simple web browsing showed up the flaws in colour uniformity. I would love not to care about these things, but i don't suffer from 'more money than sense' syndrome.

Just go ahead and buy one and see if its acceptable to you. At least you can get your money back.

I just want to find a screen that when i have two web pages open side by side they look the same colour! Also a hard drive that doesn't grumble would be good (as first 2011 iMac was silent).

 

[jgo78]

Is there any feel for how many iMacs this affects? I mean is there a silent majority who don't have the issue? Don't care? Wouldn't have noticed unless they did the test?

id say All of them have varying levels of screen issues. Some worse than others. I've had 3 of them, 2 of which had pretty severe yellow tinting problems. I'd say 75% have these screen issues while 25% may be near perfect. Not very good odds.

 

[Eduardo1971]

Is there any feel for how many iMacs this affects? I mean is there a silent majority who don't have the issue? Don't care? Wouldn't have noticed unless they did the test?

I'm one of those in the silent majority. I received my iMac last week and I haven't had any problems with it-no yellowing of the screen. I pretty pleased with my purchase.

 

[wacomme]

I'm one of those in the silent majority. I received my iMac last week and I haven't had any problems with it-no yellowing of the screen. I pretty pleased with my purchase.

That's good to hear.

I'm wondering if the success rate for computer or screen replacements is actually better than reported on this forum. With success, people tend to not report back, but with failure the forum discussion continues.

However, despite ordering a replacement screen early this week at the local Apple store I don't think I'm going to through with the screen replacement - I'll just keep my current screen. There simply are too many unknowns. I don't want something worse that I already have, and I don't want to spend a lot of time and effort fighting for a better screen. It's too bad I have to make this compromise.

 

[Eduardo1971]

That's good to hear.

I'm wondering if the success rate for computer or screen replacements is actually better than reported on this forum. With success, people tend to not report back, but with failure the forum discussion continues.

However, despite ordering a replacement screen early this week at the local Apple store I don't think I'm going to through with the screen replacement - I'll just keep my current screen...QUOTE]

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Forums by their nature, tend to have a pretty myopic point of view and MR is not exempt. Situations/events that are huge in a forum could be statistically insignificant when compared to the larger 'real world' setting.

I'm sure if this problem was as rampant as reported here that Apple and/or the media at large would be addressing it.

But I do empathize with all those forum members with problems because I could have easily been them.

 

[thebends6]

What is the likelihood that the whole batch at a particular apple store is going to have this problem? Is it even worth going to a different location?

 

[iMikeT]

I just finished testing my screen. It's acceptable.

My thoughts...

The out-of-the-box factory settings is that the screen is a very warm. Mine gets a little warm towards the bottom however, it is acceptable. The only thing that I have noticed is that the screen does suffer from that black strip towards the bottom. But I have only noticed it by actually looking for it.

One thing for sure is that my eyes really need to get used to having all this screen real-estate and the screen's overall brightness, this is a lot brighter from my old Mac.

 

[timtom33]

iMikeT "The out-of-the-box factory settings is that the screen is a very warm"

I wouldn't be surprised if this was Apple's "fix" for the problem. Basically trying to hide it/make any yellow less obvious. Once you put the white point to something more realistic lots of issues become noticeable. Best to test this before you 14 days are up!

 

[iMikeT]

I wouldn't be surprised if this was Apple's "fix" for the problem. Basically trying to hide it/make any yellow less obvious. Once you put the white point to something more realistic lots of issues become noticeable. Best to test this before you 14 days are up!

I tested it out with different white points and no crazy yellowing going on with my display.

 

[guidoverduci]

I tried the test because the right side of my 21.5 seems yellow to me... what do you think?