Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Dead Pixels everywhere on Apple Displays

Passing the buck

I just received my new PB 17 from MacZone. While it is a really beautiful machine, it has a couple stuck pixels, one very noticeable. I called MacZone, but they are totally hands off once the product ships. I called Apple and went to their store several times yesterday to no avail. They say it still falls within "spec". Spec to them is anything less than a cluster of five or more anamolous pixels. One of their customer reps gave me the line that that is how they receive the screens from Samsung, as do other computer manufacturers. So much for Apple thinking differently! Someone in the store hinted that they might have replaced it had I got it from that store. So what is the lesson learned? Don't buy from a reseller because they don't back you anyways. But I'm sure this is what Apple would want us to do to drive up their store profits for the books.

So I am begrudgingly coping with it. I use a background that matches the value of the pixel glow. It is noticeable when a darker background appears. I will live with this, and next time, will buy at the store and inspect it before any money leaves my hands (in this case $4,000.00)!

I think we need a better technology to replace LCDs. Firms are supposedly working on a flat CRT type screen.

To me it's sad that Apple markets the laptop based on its main feature, the screen, which has noticeable problems with it.
 
Re: Passing the buck

Originally posted by nanosound
I just received my new PB 17 from MacZone. While it is a really beautiful machine, it has a couple stuck pixels, one very noticeable. I called MacZone, but they are totally hands off once the product ships. I called Apple and went to their store several times yesterday to no avail. They say it still falls within "spec". Spec to them is anything less than a cluster of five or more anamolous pixels. One of their customer reps gave me the line that that is how they receive the screens from Samsung, as do other computer manufacturers. So much for Apple thinking differently! Someone in the store hinted that they might have replaced it had I got it from that store. So what is the lesson learned? Don't buy from a reseller because they don't back you anyways. But I'm sure this is what Apple would want us to do to drive up their store profits for the books.

So I am begrudgingly coping with it. I use a background that matches the value of the pixel glow. It is noticeable when a darker background appears. I will live with this, and next time, will buy at the store and inspect it before any money leaves my hands (in this case $4,000.00)!

I think we need a better technology to replace LCDs. Firms are supposedly working on a flat CRT type screen.

To me it's sad that Apple markets the laptop based on its main feature, the screen, which has noticeable problems with it.
Click to expand...
most resellers probably would help you, maczone just sells it. they have no support what so ever and its all done through apple. call apple and if you speak in the right tone you may get what you want.

iJon
 
1 semi-stuck pixel on my Flat Panel iMac. Goes away with time, and then sometimes comes back.

1 straight line of stuck pixels at startup on my Powerbook G3/233 with 512k backside, but it is completely gone once the desktop loads.
 
I have two 22" Cinema Displays. The first one has a small scratch and one dead pixel in the corner. The second one shipped with about 50 bad pixels, after arguing with the service people at Apple, they sent me a new one. The replacement shipped with a few bad pixels and a long black mark inside the display (looked much like a pencil mark). Apple sent me a third display (after much arguing). The third screen has no bad pixels but slightly uneven brightness. Apple then called me to say that they had not received the returned displays and was going to charge me for them. Unfortunately, because the letter that comes with the return shipping stickers doesn't have any shipping info for the screens, I had no way to prove that they were indeed shipped! Stupid mistake on my part. Apple later discovered the displays. I came pretty close to "unswitching".

Nearly every TFT I've bought from Apple has had bad pixels. For the price they charge, this has been quite a drag.
 
iJon:

I soke to several people at Apple. Believe me, I was not at all irate--I don't believe that approach works. I spoke to many people. They could empathize with me, but they all said it is within spec. Yeah, it sucks. It's just annoying that for all the money we pay, being a long-time Apple customer, that we get stuck with faulty components. Like I say, next time I'll pick one off the floor. No mail order. No more MacZone either and I will make sure my friends don't use them either.

Sedulous:

Yeah, we do pay a premium for the Apple brand. Ashame about their TFTs. I hope they truly "innovate" and use a better technology in the future.
 
I am of the opinion that Apple should set the "spec" for returnable displays a bit lower. 10 or even 5 bad pixels on a screen is pretty bad. Apple should test the TFT before they ever build it into the display and try to sell it. What is so hard about that? I know it is expensive to ship defective units around and the cost of disatisfied customers is something to consider as well. I know I was angry with Apple... especially after they tried to charge me another $5000 for displays they claim were "lost".
 
Just my 2 cents

We bought 2 17'' powerbooks at work, reveived them this friday. There are no dead or stuck pixels on our machines at all.

Great stuff
 
Originally posted by Sedulous
I am of the opinion that Apple should set the "spec" for returnable displays a bit lower. 10 or even 5 bad pixels on a screen is pretty bad. Apple should test the TFT before they ever build it into the display and try to sell it. What is so hard about that? I know it is expensive to ship defective units around and the cost of disatisfied customers is something to consider as well. I know I was angry with Apple... especially after they tried to charge me another $5000 for displays they claim were "lost".
Click to expand...

Regardless of what people say, Apple doesn't have a specific stance on the amount of pixels, everything from 3 or more is fair game to query a replacement depending on the positioning of the dead or stuck pixels, I've had different responses from different people at Applecare both UK and Germany.... and what people here have said that Apple have told them in the U.S. is very different to my experiences.

Remember though that firstly Apple do not manufacture the screens. So they have no control over production quality. These faults still affect PC's as well, my Sony TFT has a dead pixel... and some of the people I know that have PC laptops have similar things happening as Apple.

Secondly, that dead pixels or stuck pixels can happening in transit, or even if you turn the machine off one night, the next morning you could have a dead or stuck pixel, it's just the way TFT's are.....

In the quest of attaining perfect TFT displays inthe numbers required, then the cost would simply rocket through the roof, making this technology so expensive and inaccessible to anyone but the wealthy! just like a few years ago!!

G
 
I've got two pixels on my 15" that are either dead or stuck. How can I tell if they are dead or stuck. I assume that I can try to massage them out if they are just stuck.

I'm also sure that someone has asked this before and someone is gonna get pissed at me for asking it again. Please don't hurt me.

Matt
 
Originally posted by mkubal
I've got two pixels on my 15" that are either dead or stuck. How can I tell if they are dead or stuck. I assume that I can try to massage them out if they are just stuck.

I'm also sure that someone has asked this before and someone is gonna get pissed at me for asking it again. Please don't hurt me.

Matt
Click to expand...

Stuck will glow very brightly in either Red, Green, Blue...

Dead will be a darkish grey.

Stuck ones occasionally you can massaged out with a firm pressure from a finger with a soft cloth, so that they start to work again!

Dead ones are doomed!!

Hope that helps! ;)
 
I've got 1 and a half dead pixels, 15" 1ghz powerbook, One comes and goes, and the other is stuck read, But its off to the right of the screen so it really doesn't annoy me. We've also got an older G3 powerbook here and it doesn't have a single dead pixel. I'm impressed considering how much that thing gets used.
 
I also have a 3 Year old powerbook G3 Pismo without a single dead pixel. It seems like there are more pixels dead on the new Apple stuff than 3 years ago.

With this, I can say that Apple is cutting corners at our expense. The very people that support Apple's 3% market share. That is not the way to treat the customers that support and keep Apple going.

If this is really a manufacture defect, they would not turn-back the dis-satified customers with brand new Powerbooks with dead pixels on the center of the screen whether is one pixel or 5 pixels.

If they really cared about their customers, make them aware by providing them a notice/warning and/or clearly state a policy for LCD with dead pixles on new machines purchased. If they have nothing to hide and this is industry's common standard at this time, then they would be clear about and not create unhappy supporters of Apple!

Lastly, Apple community is different than the windows users. It's a culture and community of people that share a special bond and loyalty. If Apple want to break that bond with the end users, you can say good bye to Apple. Without that, Apple does not and will not continue. It wiil be treated like any other computer manufacture.
 
I agree with you Philoman. Like I told Apple's Customer Relations, "If you or Steve got one of these machines, what would you do? Get it replaced in a second" The truth is, no one wants a machine like that. The fate of the draw.

I also have a G3 Pismo and no dead pixels. When I heard about dead pixels, I thought those came with use (or abuse) and simply burning out. So I am surprised about Apple's "in industry spec" argument for NEW products. Maybe the technology has taken a step backward? Let's see some real innovation in that dept.
 
Originally posted by nanosound
iJon:

I soke to several people at Apple. Believe me, I was not at all irate--I don't believe that approach works. I spoke to many people. They could empathize with me, but they all said it is within spec. Yeah, it sucks. It's just annoying that for all the money we pay, being a long-time Apple customer, that we get stuck with faulty components. Like I say, next time I'll pick one off the floor. No mail order. No more MacZone either and I will make sure my friends don't use them either.

Sedulous:

Yeah, we do pay a premium for the Apple brand. Ashame about their TFTs. I hope they truly "innovate" and use a better technology in the future.
Click to expand...
guess it doesnt work for everyone, i know some people who have pulled it off. i will agree with you on mail order though, they suck.

iJon
 
The genius who wrote up my case even made an effort of commenting on my "friendly demeanor". My next move is to talk to Steve at the local cafe.
 
My monitor on my 867 Powerbook has 2 green pixels. Can I massage these out? Im really afraid I'll mess up the screen if I push on it.
 
I've got a 12" iBook with no pixel problems. I also haven't had any battery problems since upgrading to 10.2.4. As with any product that is mass produced, there are going to be problems. However, chances are that a small minority of Apple users have problems. I have a friend who has a PB, a 17" cinema display, and a 15" iMac and has had no dead pixels on all three. As someone said, we're going to hear more from people that have problems above those who don't have any - and that makes perfect sense. If you have no problems you are content and don't feel the need to say much.
 
Originally posted by Clark C
My monitor on my 867 Powerbook has 2 green pixels. Can I massage these out? Im really afraid I'll mess up the screen if I push on it.
Click to expand...

You can try, I suggest using a soft cloth, lint-free or somehing similar, and apply firm but not stupidly hard of course to the position of the stuck pixels and massage!

If you are lucky they will become unstuck, you may notice a slight flicker on the pixel. And if you are successful it may occasionally re-occur. Just do the same again.

However this doesn't always work.

But I wish you luck!! :)
 
MacPhisto, this is not a small incidence!

If this was a small isolated incidence, Apple would not make this sort of policy otherwise. It's common enough to make "no return" policy to protect their losses for making a choice of low quality standard. So they can sell more to more pepople. This is a deliberate marketing strategy, MacPhisto.

It is a significant issue. i purchsed two 20 inch cinema displays and they both had missing pixels on the center of the screen. Also when i went to CompUSA, the display model also had missing pixels on their display. They opened a new box and the new one in out of the box had a missing pixels on the monitor.

I went to the Apple store and inquired and they said they could not guarantee my purchase if the disply had missing pixels.

If this was a isolated incidence, Apple would not make up the policy of no return or replacement on LCD with missing pixels. They will charge a 10% restocking fee on any returns, regardless.

If MacPhisto feels comfortable take a risk on a $2,000 - $3,000 dollar assest, on an equipment that you will use on a daily basis for 2+ years on your work, or dead pixles gazing for that matter, go right ahead. Who am I to argue.

Lastly, this thread has been read by many people and if people did not care about having dead pixels, this thread would be on the bottom of the list. No one wants to spend their hard earned money and have missing pixels for years to watch and remind them how Apple did not take are of their customers!
 
I dont think that Apple is any special on this. Every manufacturer has a special policy regarding replacing LCD screens with missing pixels, none will replace your screen if it has one or a few dead pixels. This pixel issue is actually a part of the technology of the production, which makes dead pixels common in production units regardless of what manufacturer it is.

So my point is that Apple is not unique in producing LCDs with dead pixels, ALL manufacturers do.
 
Originally posted by iGAV
Regardless of what people say, Apple doesn't have a specific stance on the amount of pixels, everything from 3 or more is fair game to query a replacement depending on the positioning of the dead or stuck pixels, I've had different responses from different people at Applecare both UK and Germany.... and what people here have said that Apple have told them in the U.S. is very different to my experiences.

Remember though that firstly Apple do not manufacture the screens. So they have no control over production quality. These faults still affect PC's as well, my Sony TFT has a dead pixel... and some of the people I know that have PC laptops have similar things happening as Apple.

Secondly, that dead pixels or stuck pixels can happening in transit, or even if you turn the machine off one night, the next morning you could have a dead or stuck pixel, it's just the way TFT's are.....

In the quest of attaining perfect TFT displays inthe numbers required, then the cost would simply rocket through the roof, making this technology so expensive and inaccessible to anyone but the wealthy! just like a few years ago!!
G
Click to expand...

iGav hit the nail on the head. Basically, what it boils down to is price. If Apple only purchased perfect displays, the price would be outrageous and everyone would complain.

This is a double edge sword for Apple. People complain for 1 burnt pixel, then if they only used perfect displays then everyone would complain about the cost.

If apple replaced every display with a burnt pixel, the prices of them would sky rocket.

I have a 17" 1ghz iMac, no burnt pixels. I have a 12" 700mhz (16vram) iBook with 1 burnt pixel. You just have to live with it. Would you rather pay $2700 for an imac with perfect display, or $1000 less with the chance of having a burnt pixel?

and for the guy who said "If you or Steve got one of these machines, what would you do? Get it replaced in a second". Steve would probably get a new machine only because he can. But rules are rules, and Apple doesnt bend them for their employees.
 
OK, WITH CONSIDERATION FOR EVERYONE: for the manufacturer and the consumer, Apple store should note on the box or mention to the customers buying LCD related displys that "there could be pixels missing" And stating exactly how many is acceptable and not acceptable. And not telling the consumer, after the purchase of the products. That tactic seems sly.

that is all. as long as consumers are aware, it's the consumers to decision to buy or not. However, that is not the case here. And that is the main issue.

Consumers should know what they are getting for their money.
 
Experience at Apple Store, Palo Alto

I bought a 20" the first day they hit the store. I asked about stuck pixels and the clerk assured me that they were "very rare".

Rare or not, I had one. I often use the display for viewing photographs, and even one stuck pixel made it unpleasant. It was a bright spot (looked like a star in the night sky).

I took the thing back to the Palo Alto store. The guy there explained that fewer than 5 pixels wasn't considered "defective". Because of my original conversation I managed, after several minutes of back & forth, to get them to exchange my display for one that had been returned (unopened) by another customer.

This one's perfect, and I love the display. However, if I hadn't gotten the exchange I would have been frustrated every time I pulled up a photo with darkness in that area. If this is a common problem, they should be more up front about it & preferably find some other technology or weed them out in QA or something.
 
Originally posted by dubweiser
iGav hit the nail on the head. Basically, what it boils down to is price. If Apple only purchased perfect displays, the price would be outrageous and everyone would complain.
Click to expand...

Ok, depending on the incidence why not have the box marked with the number of bad pixels. They must already QA these things & could easily identify which are which.

Let's say 20% have some. Then charging 10% less for machines with bad pixels means you can provide guaranteed no-bad for 2.5% more, and Apple comes out even. People can choose their price point based on their sensitivity to the issue.

Original Price: $1000 (for easy math)
No bad pixels: $1025
Bad pixels: $900
 
Yeah that would be nice. But what you forget is that this can happen after they are boxed up. I used to work at CompUSA. Those boxes arent treated like glass. They are tossed around, bumped, moved, jostled, etc. So a display might be perfect when leaving the factory, but once it reached a customer living room, it could have a dead pixel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back