Well, here's the update once the lines opened for the day. Short version: return iMac and full refund.
Long version: Called Apple Computer Sales Support (1-800-676-2775) first and spoke with an English-speaking rep. He was very helpful but couldn't do anything until the unit was certified as DOA. This is kinda strange since the documentation I have in front of me states: "If you feel your expectations have not been met, believe the product is defective, or DOA please call..." Why call them if they can't do anything? (Minor quibble.)
Anyway, transferred to tech support. Get another agent w/ a heavy accent, making communication a bit slow. After reading the notes and describing the problem again -- and updating him on the fact that the display will not come up at all now (true) -- he agrees that the Hardware Test Disc will tell / do nothing. After about 20 minutes and a checking with other techs he agrees that the unit is likely DOA. For a brief period he tries to sell me that since the display came up ONCE out of the box the unit was not, technically, "DOA." I got a little snippy at that point. We cleared the memory with the "3 ding" process.
Transferred to another tech (level 2?) who verified everything thus far and qualified the unit as DOA. Tech told me that I could not get a refund, only a replacement or a repair. At this point I just wanted the unit qualified as DOA; fight the other battle later.
Transferred
back to Apple Computer Sales Support and my fourth agent this call. By far the best thus far. The agent quickly wanted to know where to send my replacement and they would pick up the unit free-of-charge. I explained that I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get a refund. Without missing a skip she said she could easily do a refund if I liked. She briefly extolled the virtues of Apple and how this was an unfortunate -- and unlikely -- problem but they'd take care of me.
Why was the last person in the chain the best Apple representative that I spoke to? She was so nice I almost took the replacement!
In the end I opted for the refund. I chose this because I do believe this problem is a bit more widespread based on the research that I did. My next iMac might not have had the problem but it just as easily could have based on my research. Also with WWDC around the corner I hope this will give me some new leverage / buying power. The irony is had Apple taken care of this properly
yesterday when I called I wouldn't have had an entire evening to blow researching the problem; I probably would have taken the replacement, none the wiser.
Tonight, after it gets dark in my office, I'm going to try the "flashlight trick" to offload what data is on the iMac, pack it up, and ship it out from work first thing Monday morning. Considering I spent nearly $2K on this machine I can't wait to have the wife let me have it with both guns!
Thanks to all that helped. In the end Apple did the right thing and I didn't have to get all wound up so it's for the best. Guess I'll keep my eyes open for the new WWDC announcements. Anyone got a sweet deal on a G5?
