27" Core i7 iMacs Arriving DOA or With Cracked Screens?

[kolax]

First: What is DOA???

Dead On Arrival.

 

[SwitchingtoMAC]

i can vouch for this we had ordered 2 of those for customers in our shop and when we got them we took them out of the box to copy data to they both had cracked glass panels

 

[ibwb]

Most likely Steve got tired of seeing all the junk in the "waiting to ship forum" and decreed that all shipments to MacRumors readers should go out without QC.

That would explain how we saw machines with a ship date of "November" -- any Apple-watcher knows that means Nov 31st or so -- go out before Nov 15.

 

[NevadaJack]

Neva, I just keep the old imac until the new one arrives... I'm not sure if it's different in USA but in Europe that's entirely possible. I made my appointment with fedex for pickup after the scheduled delivery date on the new imac, which is being processed now.

When the HD fails there is no sense in keeping the unit on my desk. To do that here you have the new unit charged to your CC and then when you get the new one and ship the old one, they apply the credit. Once my old unit was scanned as being with FedEx, they ordered the new one which was the day after I had the problem.

 

[yourashero]

As far as what everyone thinks about the mass failures of these iMacs, you can always figure that if someone has a bad experience, they will tell 10 people. If they have a good one, they might tell 3.

Adding to the problem is the fact that apple products are generally more expensive so the consumer feels it will be flawless. So when it does fail, they tend to be a bit more fired up about it.

 

[BornAgainMac]

My first reaction was Ballmer got in the warehouse with a crowbar or sledgehammer.

 

[Small White Car]

Clearly a shipping problem. Whether that means bad packaging or rough treatment, who knows?

But I'm certain they don't get out of the factory with broken screens. This isn't like a faulty video card or something like that.

 

[99John]

will i7s be available at apple stores?

I'm curious if anyone knows whether the game plan is for Apple to ever have i7s stocked in its stores? Seems to me that if Apple stores got the devices first, they could do a quality check before selling them to customers. That would minimize the chances of customers getting DOAs or cracked screens. Also, all things considered, there aren't that many hardware configurations available to choose from - seems to me Apple should stock at least four: i5 + 1TB, i5 + 2TB, i7 + 1TB, i7 + 2TB.

 

[SeattleMoose]

It Just Works????

"Quality Control went down the toilet, once they started making some real money"

Agree. It is almost inevitable when a company experiences a big "growth spurt" that the tried and true "core team" (engineers, QA, etc.) get spread out to cover the burgeoning product lines and tons of new people get hired who are either young and inexperienced or experienced (at MS?).

Geez, the whole reason to go to the Mac has traditionally been "it just works"....APPLE WAKE UP, YOUR REPUTATION IS GETTING A BIT TARNISHED!!!

 

[theheadguy]

Clearly a shipping problem. Whether that means bad packaging or rough treatment, who knows?

Considering you pack something before shipment means this may clearly be an Apple problem.

 

[Hrududu]

If Apple would quit pandering to the Hippies and Al Gore, then maybe their computers would actually be shipped in a box that protected its contents.

Exactly. Remember the boxes Macs used to come in? Granted, the machines are smaller now than before, but the packaging is about 1/4 as thick as it used to be. Apple is so concerned about about going green they've quit making a box that has enough padding and structure to protect the product inside.

 

[Small White Car]

Considering you pack something before shipment means this may clearly be an Apple problem.

What are you trying to say?

I'm sorry, but I really don't understand your post. I said it might be Apple's problem. You agreed and then roll-eyed me? What does that mean?

 

[ma2ha3]

go to a computer store that sell apple computer.
buy it there, test it there check no stuck pixels, and bring it back safety in own car.
i know there is always production issue at the start of production cycle.

 

[Eidorian]

Exactly. Remember the boxes Macs used to come in? Granted, the machines are smaller now than before, but the packaging is about 1/4 as thick as it used to be. Apple is so concerned about about going green they've quit making a box that has enough padding and structure to protect the product inside.

The foam protecting the iMac G4 was insane compared to what you see in the newer Intel models.

Apple is going to need to get some tougher packaging for these larger displays. I'm sure the shipper takes extra care of it too.

 

[KaiderCoder]

Are there any cases where the i5 is DOA or the display was damaged?
My i5 delivers tomorrow, hope everything is okay!

 

[motulist]

Quality Control went down the toilet, once they started making some real money

Nah, it's always been this way. Longtime Mac heads (and tech-heads of any kind) know that you don't ever buy a newly released product unless you're willing to take the risk of being an early adopter. New Apple products (just like all new products from all companies) will initially encounter manufacturing defects of one kind or another that will be rectified with silent revisions after the first couple month's batches have hit store shelves. Right off the top of my head I can tell you that a few years back Powerbooks had a screen problem where LOTS of them had major white spots. And there have been many more in the past. These things happen to all manufacturers' new products from all companies, including Apple.

 

[Schizoid]

If I paid 2000 bucks for a computer, I'd want Al Gore to drive the damn thing over to my house, with the box wrapped in goose feathers and my driveway temporarily covered in bubble-wrap at Apple's expense.

...oh and I'd want it to work, at least for a week before I got bored and wanted a 38 inch screen

 

[BJB Productions]

I've been kinda surprised by all this stuff happening..My Late 2008 MBP came with a huge gash in the bottom...And later, I had mine replaced because it died...

When we got our new iMac, it also had this problem.

 

[SwiftLives]

And let's not forget the two display issues that are being reported: flickering and discoloration.

Apple will fix this. Although I will admit that Apple's quality control has slipped, I seriously doubt it's a sign of it going down the crapper. Granted, it will probably take a few months for them to get the bugs worked out.

...something that should have happened before it shipped.

Now let's hope my replacement machine is perfect. (Mine had the discoloration).

 

[ElusiveMind]

Mine Has Been Received - All is Well

I ordered one of these the day it was announced and even received mine 3 days ahead of it's scheduled FedEX delivery date (I had to rush home after I learned it was on the truck for delivery).

I've had no problems and it is absolutely one of the dreamiest mac's I have ever owned. I could not be happier with my purchase.

This isn't to say some aren't having problems, but my experience has been one of absolute delight.

 

[ma2ha3]

Apple needs to bring back production to the US and drop this Chinese manufacturing nonsense. It might mean higher prices, but the quality control was much better when Macs were made in California.

if i look at amercian car for example, i think bringing production to US will do quality control no good. probably will be worse. if you want quality at higher price, move to japan, i guarantee it will be better. the only time amercian making quality product in the world, was just after ww2, when german and japanese industries were bomb by who? The Amercian.

 

[iWoz]

Im not suprised, and I can understand the frustration.. You spend so much money anticipating an awesome product after the long wait and bam.. DOA

I ordered a 27' iMac c2d which had a display issue, and when I returned it and picked up the i5 as they had just got them in store, I was worried about unpacking it and seeing any scratches or defects.....

Luckily it's fine

I love

 

[Schizoid]

if i look at amercian car for example, i think bringing production to US will do quality control no good. probably will be worse. if you want quality at higher price, move to japan, i guarantee it will be better. the only time amercian making quality product in the world, was just after ww2, when german and japanese industries were bomb by who? The Amercian.

this post needs some quality control.

 

[alent1234]

If Apple would quit pandering to the Hippies and Al Gore, then maybe their computers would actually be shipped in a box that protected its contents.

UPS and FedEx have strict standards for shipping containers in order to insure against damage. I doubt Apple would take the risk.

this is probably the normal manufacturing defects. there was a survey from CR or someone else that came out in the last month and Apple was third for DOA and having to be fixed statistics. i think something like 17% of their computers needed to be fixed, but i don't remember if those are pre-unibody MBP stats

 

[patseguin]

My i7 iMac has the flickering/blacking out display issue. There is a huge discussion about it on the Apple Discussion Forums. Looks like I might return it if Apple doesn't acknowledge something soon.