Apple Claims Display Issues on 27-Inch iMac Have Been Addressed

[seedster2]

ITS CALLED A FLUKE, this time it's not even Apple's fault, they don't manufacture these screens.

That's one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard about this issue.

Apple may not manufacturer their parts, but they choose them just like any other manufacturer. So it IS their fault. If it were a PC it would be coined with phrases like crap or junk.

A little consistency here people. Apple is responsible for the screens.

That said I am confident that their service department will take care of their customers. I dont think they build great machines anymore, but their service remains some of the best.

 

[darkplanets]

And so, as it was predicted, the trolls, fanboys, avid apple haters, and pissed off consumers begin flaming each other as prophesied in the 23rd chapter of mac rumors...

Seriously though, it seems every time you read one of these threads its just pro and anti apple lobbyists, with some self proclaimed genius and his anti apple converts fighting against mac zealots. I understand the tension here, but come on guys, its just a product. To actually expect any companies products to be perfect is absolutely absurd given todays manufacturing techniques. You know it is. Nothing will ever be perfect, especially when you have a 10% tolerance of defective products coming off of your line. Countless companies have been subject to product issues, not just apple. Did you continue to buy from them? For the most part, I'd say yes. People didn't just stop buying PS3 and xbox 360's, toyotas, or countless other higher technology products. Hell, look at toy recalls.

With that said though, I think there is certain evidence of a slipping QA at Apple. Is it exactly verifiable or just bad luck?; well, I'll let you decide. Regardless, this chance of defective product is small given the overall user base (in most cases) and falls under the allowed tolerance. The only reason one hears about it is that the more active and outspoken users who have issues are on this site or the mac support forums, and make sure to let everyone hear steaming spoonful. Am I saying that Apple's slipping QA is acceptable? No, not really. All I'm trying to bring in from the cold is a little thought of moderation and understanding. Is it awesome that they're having so many issues? No, not at all. Is it normal? Yes. Will you continue to buy Apple products? Yes. Will you have issues with your other products if you buy elsewhere? Yes, that's just a fact of life.

All I can really point to is the fact that they are at least addressing the issue, and are aware of it. That's better than most, and if a rebate, fix, and attempts at fixing the problem don't float your boat and you're still pissed off, go ahead, buy elsewhere, but remember that you're going to have the same problems, especially since Apple components aren't exclusive and are used in other devices, and of course Murphy's Law

 

[dirx]

With that said though, I think there is certain evidence of a slipping QA at Apple. Is it exactly verifiable or just bad luck?; well, I'll let you decide. Regardless, this chance of defective product is small given the overall user base (in most cases) and falls under the allowed tolerance.

Which QA? I dont think they have one.
I had 4 iMacs so far and all of them had massive yellow tinting. I havent seen one good iMac yet and if I ask people in the forums who claim to have a flawless iMac refuse to take pictures of their display. I guess they dont want to hear the truth. The current line of iMac Displays is a constructional failure. Most of the people dont see the yellow tinge, thats why you think the percentage of failure is low, but it isnt.

Btw, Apple is addressing the problem, which doesnt mean that they have a fix yet. They are just investigating.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Toyota vs. Apple

Nice to know they are fixing the problem, but still I like to see apple not go down the road of Toyota with quality over growth.

I can guarantee that's what Apple is doing. There have been too many reports of bad screens (you can name the problems) and even bad logic boards.

I bought my 27" iMac i7 <1-month ago and the logic board has already died. That's crazy and a sign of piss poor quality control and components. In 25-years of computer ownership, this is my first Apple AND my first bad component within 3-years of ownership.

Now I'm waiting for the local Apple store to get off their hands and fix it (5-days so far) while I sit dead in the water.

 

[MorphingDragon]

I can guarantee that's what Apple is doing. There have been too many reports of bad screens (you can name the problems) and even bad logic boards.

I bought my 27" iMac i7 <1-month ago and the logic board has already died. That's crazy and a sign of piss poor quality control and components. In 25-years of computer ownership, this is my first Apple AND my first bad component within 3-years of ownership.

Now I'm waiting for the local Apple store to get off their hands and fix it (5-days so far) while I sit dead in the water.

The strangest thing is is that the 21" iMacs seem to be fine.

 

[penini]

Core i5/i7 iMacs @ Apple Stores, Why Not?

I've owned Apple products since Macintosh Plus days. I'm presently typing on one of my expensive Macs, a $3K+ PowerBook G4. The 'day after' the new Core i5/i7 iMacs were released I was quite ready to purchase one. Then the nasty 'screen defect' rumors started to spread on the net! And, along with the fact that I did NOT find a Core i5/i7 iMac at their stores, like many other buyers, I've put my purchase of Apple computers on hold. Truth is, I find it highly questionable that Apple's flagship model(s) Core i5/i7 iMacs haven not been on display at the Apple stores since their release. I don't buy into the story I was given by two Apple store employees – that since they were special order items – not to expect to see them in their stores anytime soon.

 

[DesignerOnMac]

You expect NEW machines to be broken? Multiple times?? You don't see the irony in Apple completely sealing the iMac hard drives when you admit they WILL break? This is part of the problem.

This seriously sounds like a paid poster/damage control kind of thing. They do exist after all.

When I worked retail selling computers, (PCs and Macs), the store got back so many PC's that the companies refused to refund the store AND DID NOT WANT them shipped back! The store was stuck with NEW unusable PCs. I had very few Macs returned during these same periods. Most of the returned Macs was due to not knowing how to use them, (I had to ask each customer why they were returning their computer). Computers are machines, and they might have tested okay on the assembly line perhaps but who knows? At least Apple has ben more than willing to take multiple iMacs back and also give people reimbursements for shipping or gift cards. Yes, it's a pain, but they aren't sticking it to anyone and if you have Apple Care they will come to your home or business.

No one here knows how many iMacs have been returned compared to how many have been sold or made. We only see posts about how many one person returned and how pissed off they are.

 

[Darkroom]

I can guarantee that's what Apple is doing. There have been too many reports of bad screens (you can name the problems) and even bad logic boards.

I bought my 27" iMac i7 <1-month ago and the logic board has already died. That's crazy and a sign of piss poor quality control and components. In 25-years of computer ownership, this is my first Apple AND my first bad component within 3-years of ownership.

Now I'm waiting for the local Apple store to get off their hands and fix it (5-days so far) while I sit dead in the water.

in the spring of 2008 i bought my 24" 2.8GHz C2D iMac. within the first 2 weeks i exchanged it at the Apple Store twice because the screen was of surprisingly poor quality. i'm not talking just a bit of yellow tint (which was also present), but one side of the screen was nearly twice as bright, plus there was very strong mura effects that were especially noticeable when watching widescreen movies.

once i bought apple care (about a month after purchase) i ordered an onsite screen replacement as this 3rd computer still had a bad screen. the technician was very nice. i got to know him well since he's come to my place a total of three times for subsequent screen replacements. same part, same issue. i think if you get to know an official apple technician so well that you address him by his first name, there might be a problem with the product.

keep in mind that onsite technicians will not replace the screen if the problem is subtle. if you have a slight yellow tint they will state it's within spec and will not replace the screen. that said, my new technician friend had no hesitation replacing my screen 3 times (so far).

however, the last screen replacement (my current screen) is very good. it's shockingly good, like the old white 24" iMac screens use to be before the aluminum models were released. no mura, and perfectly even with no gradient/banding of any kind.

finally. during my last call to apple care to schedule my 3rd replacement, the manager made it very clear to me that if anything else breaks on my iMac one more time they would swap it out for a new model. unfortunately, if it ever comes to that it isn't much of a solution as it seems the newer models also suffer from the same poor quality screens

 

[Maui]

it's not even Apple's fault, they don't manufacture these screens.

..SNIP...

Yea, so do dozens of other companies.

I'm not tracking here. Dozens of other companies sell monitors, so Apple isn't responsible for defective monitors it sells?

 

[mplaisance]

That's one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard about this issue.

Apple may not manufacturer their parts, but they choose them just like any other manufacturer. So it IS their fault. If it were a PC it would be coined with phrases like crap or junk.

A little consistency here people. Apple is responsible for the screens.

That said I am confident that their service department will take care of their customers. I dont think they build great machines anymore, but their service remains some of the best.

I agree with you that there service is one of the best around and I hope continues. But you saying that "Apple does not build great machines anymore" makes little sense. You said so yourself that Apple does not manufacture the parts themselves, and this is true. But Apple does usually and most often use the best manufactures and parts for there machines. So if there are any issues (and there have been ex. GPU problems in recent past), it is the poor quality of THOSE companies making the parts that Apple USES. Apple as a buyer of these parts has very little power to control how these manufactures use there own "quality control". Apple just puts "good faith" in these companies to "stand behind" there own products. Apple has and is still showing how there would like to control more of the "parts" that they put in there machines, like the new A4 silicone that was recently put in the iPad. But to the credit of Apples contracted manufactures, technology is growing at such a rapid rate and competition is most definitely driving this, that I imagine it is very hard for these companies to keep there "latest" in the lab too long, because if you wait too long someone will surly beat you!!

Also to add to this is it's said that Apple even makes "special" requests to there contracted manufactures for a more "custom" fit to there products. Apple tries VERY hard to push manufactures to build the best part for there line of products. They "demand" it!

 

[mplaisance]

Go look up Trojan Horse in a computer dictionary, then go look up Virus. They are DIFFERENT.

The iWork '09 malware was a trojan horse.

Macs are not immune to malware, and there have indeed been some attacks in the wild. iWork '09 being the most well known, however as has been stated there are no known viruses for the Mac.

So TRUE!! I wish I would have seen his comment earlier! Would have been my exact reply. Thanks!!

 

[macshill3]

Apple fanboys, full of hypocrisy

Must be all the under-aged workers at Apple's foreign plants slacking off, like 15-year-olds do.

Apple admits child labour used at its assembly plants
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...child-labour-used-at-its-assembly-plants.html

 

[MorphingDragon]

Must be all the under-aged workers at Apple's foreign plants slacking off, like 15-year-olds do.

Apple admits child labour used at its assembly plants
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...child-labour-used-at-its-assembly-plants.html

I find China Labour an iffy subject. On one hand they're getting treated better than if they were working on a Rice or Cotton farm. On the other hand, they live under constant dictatorship and deprived of human rights.

 

[skate71290]

Now, now...let's not start saying things we will all regret later...

Windows 7 runs faster on my iMac (20" Aluminium @ 2.66GHZ) and MBA (1st Gen) then Snow Leopard probably ever will.... i was watching a movie with VLC (because Quicktime X is ****) and i went to turn Airport off... VLC froze along with iPhoto and iTunes... VLC jumps whenever i load a page in Safari... notably Facebook... then again... can we put this down to Adobe... where is Apple's version of Flash?

 

[Cizzion]

you do realize what you just wrote is steaming with hypocrisy, right?

Oh the irony haha. I can smell someones backside burning.

 

[G-Force]

in the spring of 2008 i bought my 24" 2.8GHz C2D iMac. within the first 2 weeks i exchanged it at the Apple Store twice because the screen was of surprisingly poor quality. i'm not talking just a bit of yellow tint (which was also present), but one side of the screen was nearly twice as bright, plus there was very strong mura effects that were especially noticeable when watching widescreen movies.

The same happened to me on my 2.8 GHz/8800GS iMac. Exchanged it 3 times, all the same issue. Screen issues on iMacs is not something new, it has been this way since the very first Aluminum iMac from 2007. The gradient issue also has never been fixed as far as I know, I doubt the yellow tinge will ever be completely fixed.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I find China Labour an iffy subject. On one hand they're getting treated better than if they were working on a Rice or Cotton farm. On the other hand, they live under constant dictatorship and deprived of human rights.

Money talks.

 

[subroutines]

I ordered my imac yesterday. Does that mean I am still open to the yellow screen problem or has it been rectified for any new orders?

 

[NT1440]

I'm not tracking here. Dozens of other companies sell monitors, so Apple isn't responsible for defective monitors it sells?

These companies selling monitors with defective panels aren't responsible for the defective panels, but they sure as hell have to deal with the repercussions of them.

 

[pgee70]

no horror stories here.

i bought one of the first 27" i7 iMacs available, in late nov. 2009.
it has been on since then, and i have had no issues with it. none whatsoever. like the ad says. it just works.

after i pre-ordered on line, and while i was waiting for it to arrive i read horror-posts and i got really worried. but i have had no trouble at all.
so i just want to give another perspective.

it does get really hot when encoding movies, but it doesn't seem to bother it - even when running encoding jobs that take 5+ days during summer. the fan turns on loudly, and the back and top gets really hot. after the jobs are done, for regular use, it is almost silent. -- but not as quiet as the 24" imac i use at work.

oh, and btw it is a very nice computer to use.

 

[eelpout]

I ordered my imac yesterday. Does that mean I am still open to the yellow screen problem or has it been rectified for any new orders?

There have been a few people on here with the latest shipped models, week 8's, who said yellow is still present.

 

[TennisandMusic]

When I worked retail selling computers, (PCs and Macs), the store got back so many PC's that the companies refused to refund the store AND DID NOT WANT them shipped back! The store was stuck with NEW unusable PCs. I had very few Macs returned during these same periods. Most of the returned Macs was due to not knowing how to use them, (I had to ask each customer why they were returning their computer). Computers are machines, and they might have tested okay on the assembly line perhaps but who knows? At least Apple has ben more than willing to take multiple iMacs back and also give people reimbursements for shipping or gift cards. Yes, it's a pain, but they aren't sticking it to anyone and if you have Apple Care they will come to your home or business.

No one here knows how many iMacs have been returned compared to how many have been sold or made. We only see posts about how many one person returned and how pissed off they are.

Your anecdote didn't answer my questions whatsoever. Which I guess means in a way it did. There is no excuse for what Apple is selling to customers these days.

 

[TennisandMusic]

These companies selling monitors with defective panels aren't responsible for the defective panels, but they sure as hell have to deal with the repercussions of them.

We don't know if it's the panel or something else per se. The Dell u2711's use the exact same LG panel, and user reports from that one so far are fantastic, and from people WAY more critical than the typical Apple buyer. These people actually demand quality for their money, as opposed to defending the companies that try to push garbage on them. Just go read around at the reviews on the u2711.

 

[robby818]

We don't know if it's the panel or something else per se. The Dell u2711's use the exact same LG panel, and user reports from that one so far are fantastic, and from people WAY more critical than the typical Apple buyer. These people actually demand quality for their money, as opposed to defending the companies that try to push garbage on them. Just go read around at the reviews on the u2711.

It's got ot be an issue with the LED backlighting and not the panel. I am not too surprised considering that LED in computer monitors is very new.

I think it is a real phonomena but I personally cannot really see the problem in the iMacs at the retail stores. maybe the flourescent lighting in the stores reduces the yellow cast on defective monitors.

 

[Spiral21x]

slimey

Not happy that they are pretending this is only an issue on the bigger screen. They cant admit that their entire iMac line is/was defective. I have a 21.5" that is one month old. It has the yellowing issue at the bottom. I was considering just living with it because my employer paid for it and I can live with it (and my 2nd monitor is much better anyway) but then it developed something else. One day when I booted up, a couple of bright red lines appeared right down the side of the screen, and have not gone away now 2 weeks later. Getting ready to call support soon. Such a hassle with a company workstation though. "Yes boss remember that iMac that I convinced you to buy me? Well I have to send it back, and I can't do any work either because I have the only mac and all the other machines are pc and i dont have the software from the pcs..."