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

Horizontal Lines in New Powerbooks

Hope & wait...

This is my story :)

I went to the Genius bar at Apple Westfield, San Jose and showed my spanking new 15". I used the pb15_problems.png as a background picture as well as having a copy on my USB stick. First the Genius did a quick dead pixel check too see if the panel is okay: (yup! no dead pixels! :)

He then took my usb stick and displayed the piccy on his older 15" PB. No lines. He was definitely perplexed and said he never saw this. He went around the store trying the other 15"ers and said all the floor models showed this problem. (I also did the same thing before hand since i hand time to kill before my Genius appointment.)

He took my PB to the back room to show others (more Geniuses???) the problem. Came back and said they haven't seen this problem either.
So either: 1) Get a new PB from them (but he thought it would also exhibit the same problem) (2) Call up the AppleCare or (3) get a refund.

The machine ain't dead yet, so I decided to call AppleCare...

Spoke with a fellow named Jack. Really nice guy, easy to talk to.
He took down all my information about this problem, as he was keying my info in he said he got a call from a customer from Spain, who also has the same disiplay problem. Unfortunately, the customer bought the PB here (the US), and flew to Spain where he finally opened the box... :(

Jack also forwarded my casen to the higher up in the tech food chain to note that this issue is not just a few PBs, but more wide spread.

Since I bought the PB from Amazon, I asked him about a getting a full refund without getting hit buy the restocking fee: He said by the end of 30 day Amazon refund period, if there were no fixes offered by Apple, that I could get a *full* refund from Amazon without the restocking fee. He said to give Amazon my case number to confirm that it is faulty and/or to call AppleCare to help resolve any problems with Amazon.

Phew...Lesson learned: CALL APPLECARE!!! and at least have them note that your PB is exhibiting the problem as well as be another datum for Apple regarding this problem.

now we hurry and wait...

-ob
 
Ok, now this is just @#$@#$@#$ wierd...

Prepping my Powerbook for return tomorrow, I wiped the hard drive and put a fresh copy of OS 10.4.2 (off the shipping CD), then applied all available software updates. I then uploaded all the crankycat pics and other evidence.

Checking the crankycat pics, the kid and Apple background on the right have a completely different line effect now. The darker rows now appear every TWO pixels rather than between every pixel as they were previously. As my digicam sucks, I'll describe the new effect in ASCII....

================= (row of pixel with 'strong' darker borders)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (row of pixel with weak lighter borders)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (row of pixel with weak lighter borders)
================= (row of pixel with 'strong' darker borders)

No amount of pixel shifting makes these new lines go away. The left hand images still have the weak lighter borders, as they did before.

I also don't have the banding issues on photographs or the Apple backgrounds to the extent that I did have it.

So, doing a complete OS reinstall may be a last-ditch fix before packing it up for returning to Apple....
 
wildcard said:
Ok, now this is just @#$@#$@#$ wierd...

Prepping my Powerbook for return tomorrow, I wiped the hard drive and put a fresh copy of OS 10.4.2 (off the shipping CD), then applied all available software updates. I then uploaded all the crankycat pics and other evidence.

Checking the crankycat pics, the kid and Apple background on the right have a completely different line effect now. The darker rows now appear every TWO pixels rather than between every pixel as they were previously. As my digicam sucks, I'll describe the new effect in ASCII....

================= (row of pixel with 'strong' darker borders)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (row of pixel with weak lighter borders)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (row of pixel with weak lighter borders)
================= (row of pixel with 'strong' darker borders)

No amount of pixel shifting makes these new lines go away. The left hand images still have the weak lighter borders, as they did before.

I also don't have the banding issues on photographs or the Apple backgrounds to the extent that I did have it.

So, doing a complete OS reinstall may be a last-ditch fix before packing it up for returning to Apple....
Click to expand...

Funny,
I did a complete re-install of the OS the second day I got my computer and before I even hear about this issue, and I'm one who doesn't see this issue as so bad. In fact I posted before that I like the screen pretty much... At least I appear to see the defect much more mitigated than others.
 
In regard to the above posts, I always do a fresh OS installation upon receiving a new comp. That way I avoid several gigs (yes, literally) worth of language support that I won't use, not to mention trial programs etc.

Mine was ordered from Amazon Thursday and should be arriving mid next week... I'll report here as far as how my screen looks....

I'm not getting my hopes up tho...
 
foosh said:
Mine was ordered from Amazon Thursday and should be arriving mid next week... I'll report here as far as how my screen looks....

I'm not getting my hopes up tho...
Click to expand...

Heh, I know that feeling...I got mine last Thursday..... at least I got it with the 200$ coupon and no sales tax as well as free shiping :cool:
that ends up way better than the apple employee price! :D

my unit was built Oct 24th...serial: W8542

-ob
 
tribe3 said:
Funny,
I did a complete re-install of the OS the second day I got my computer and before I even hear about this issue, and I'm one who doesn't see this issue as so bad. In fact I posted before that I like the screen pretty much... At least I appear to see the defect much more mitigated than others.
Click to expand...

Out of curiousity, do you also have issues using the "Installed Packages".pkg for the bundled extras on the first install disc? I had an error reading the file.
 
Is it possible to get apple store credit when returning one of these pieces of ****? IM just too fed up... gonna wait for the rev A of the intels..
 
Wombert. That is a great compilation of the problem - thanks for taking the time to put it together. I hope it will be of much use.

I'm kind of sorry the real world ESPN example is not clearer (it certainly is clearer in real life!), but it is the best I could achieve on my digicamera.

Wombert said:
I created a small info website on this topic. I included some of the various photos people posted. Comments and feedback appreciated. Feel free to link to this website whenever you want to show the problem to someone who is not yet aware of it. If you posted one of the images I included in the site and want it removed, please let me know, I'll do so immediately.

http://15inpbscreen.appleplace.com/

P.S: feel free to correct any mistakes in grammar or language. English is not my mother tongue.
Click to expand...
 
wildcard said:
Out of curiousity, do you also have issues using the "Installed Packages".pkg for the bundled extras on the first install disc? I had an error reading the file.
Click to expand...

Yep...if you try to install the "bundled software only.pkg" it says "The package is damaged and cannot be read."
 
OK, so you seem to be the only person that I am aware of that has seen both good and bad 15" screens. Is this correct?

If so, I definitely think we should all be inline for a replacement.

Which store did you see the good one?

kingstontown said:
Saw a good one today!

I went to an Apple shop today and there was a PB HD 15". The display was perfect, no signs of stripes etc. So this is definitely a DEFECT, say this to Apple Care when you call them.

I'm glad I could send mine back w/o problems...
Click to expand...
 
Well, this is pretty strange - I was mostly convinced it was a manufacturing feature/defect. This observation would point to a firmware/software fix.

By the way, I didn't do a clean install...

One thing I wondered about your description: Does the pattern repeat every 3 rows now? (1+2), or is is 2+2 repeating (I presume the former).

Also, my perception of the screen is that it has rows of lighter lines running across it, rather than rows of darker lines running across it, because even though the lighter and the darker lines are exactly one pixel unit height, the lighter lines appear thinner to me by eye.

wildcard said:
Ok, now this is just @#$@#$@#$ wierd...

Prepping my Powerbook for return tomorrow, I wiped the hard drive and put a fresh copy of OS 10.4.2 (off the shipping CD), then applied all available software updates. I then uploaded all the crankycat pics and other evidence.

Checking the crankycat pics, the kid and Apple background on the right have a completely different line effect now. The darker rows now appear every TWO pixels rather than between every pixel as they were previously. As my digicam sucks, I'll describe the new effect in ASCII....

================= (row of pixel with 'strong' darker borders)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (row of pixel with weak lighter borders)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (row of pixel with weak lighter borders)
================= (row of pixel with 'strong' darker borders)

No amount of pixel shifting makes these new lines go away. The left hand images still have the weak lighter borders, as they did before.

I also don't have the banding issues on photographs or the Apple backgrounds to the extent that I did have it.

So, doing a complete OS reinstall may be a last-ditch fix before packing it up for returning to Apple....
Click to expand...
 
Refund it is...

Hi

Well I got my new 15" last Thursday afternoon and it had the screen pbm (sn: W8545) so I took it back to the shop this morning and I got a refund. I'm pretty pissed off at Apple for not acknowledging openly the pbm (the techs at the shop phoned Apple and although the Apple tech support acknowledged *some* people are finding the screen to be a problem they were cagey about it). Anyway this shop has been outstanding in how they handled the situation and I'll be going back as soon as the issue is fixed.
I was really disapointed to not have the powerbook anymore though :(
 
I have been battling with my POS screen for quite a few days, and during one serene moment this song came into my mind..

Let it Be

The Beatles (Lennon/McCartney)

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be. Yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be


Did Steve just hook his brain to a RDF amplifier? It sure as hell is very good! :D
 
tribe3 said:
That's the reason I'm keeping mine! I would have to readapt my life again without a PB
Click to expand...

I´am also keeping mine. My "lines" are so subtle they don´t bother me. A dead pixel would be a lot bigger deal for me.:D
 
Spectrum said:
Well, this is pretty strange - I was mostly convinced it was a manufacturing feature/defect. This observation would point to a firmware/software fix.

By the way, I didn't do a clean install...

One thing I wondered about your description: Does the pattern repeat every 3 rows now? (1+2), or is is 2+2 repeating (I presume the former).

Also, my perception of the screen is that it has rows of lighter lines running across it, rather than rows of darker lines running across it, because even though the lighter and the darker lines are exactly one pixel unit height, the lighter lines appear thinner to me by eye.
Click to expand...

===
xxxx
xxxx
===
xxxx
xxxx
===

repeating, only noticable on the crankycat file when said file is saved to disk and opened in Preview. The file viewed in Safari still has the original effect.

My "lines" issue is extremely subtle now after wiping the factory image and reinstalling; so much so that I'm debating on if returning it to Apple is really necessary. The only suggestion I have to affected folks is to try reimaging the hard drive-you really have nothing to lose by trying it.
 
wildcard said:
The only suggestion I have to affected folks is to try reimaging the hard drive-you really have nothing to lose by trying it.
Click to expand...

Nope. I did re-install from scratch to avoid MB of languages and printer drivers etc... The issue was still there...
 
I´am starting to think that this might be driver or firmware problem after all.:cool:
 
fps said:
Nope. I did re-install from scratch to avoid MB of languages and printer drivers etc... The issue was still there...
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you mean a clean install, not an archived install. I also reset my PRAM and NVRAM in open firmware before my re-install, to confirm there was no leftover bits from the factory image.

I've learned two things from looking at the screen this morning:

1)the lines on my screen are bordering the individual pixels. I have to get close enough to pick out individual pixels on white backgrounds to be able to notice the lines now.

2)being at that distance, with my eyes about 3"-4" from the screen, gives me a massive headache :D This is definitely outside my normal usage pattern. At that distance, I can pick out pixels on any of the LCD screens I own.
 
Well...my PB is from the same W8 range and is suffering from the same problem. I've had it since 3 weeks and this is a major bummer. Will try to get it back to Applestore asap, but I'm in need of this PB in the coming weeks when I'm abroad.

Damn you Apple! :mad:
 
I've seen plenty of people say they don't have the lines. Unfortunately, they'd either have to admit they have them after looking at several of the pics or using the test image, or they couldn't post a photo of the screen to "prove" it. I myself will remain highly sceptical until I either see a flawless unit in person or get my hands on a photo of the screen that leaves no doubt.
 
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