Mine was a W8544, and I'm returning it today. I just sold my other desktop, so I'm now down to my linux box, can't wait for Apple to repair and return, so just going to get a full refund and buy my gaming PC, then wait for a few months before buying the laptop.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Horizontal Lines in New Powerbooks
- Thread starter VisualForces
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
So I posted this in another thread, but just realized I should post this again.
I went to the Jax store today. 10 days after my last visit.
The floor units were flawless. The displays were gorgeous. The difference? Some software updates I think (I didn't grab the s/n's last time).
So, I can now say that I've seen them with a perfect screen, such a beast exists, and they are awesome.
I went to the Jax store today. 10 days after my last visit.
The floor units were flawless. The displays were gorgeous. The difference? Some software updates I think (I didn't grab the s/n's last time).
So, I can now say that I've seen them with a perfect screen, such a beast exists, and they are awesome.
So we have confirmed that there are Units out there that are perfectly fine?
Maybe it's a pretty bad batch, I know I'm still waiting on my model, and the model that a friend got from the same place was fine from what he told me.
I'll be sure to post on when I get mine, if I ever get it.
Maybe it's a pretty bad batch, I know I'm still waiting on my model, and the model that a friend got from the same place was fine from what he told me.
I'll be sure to post on when I get mine, if I ever get it.
Returned mine today, at the Houston Galleria store. Applecare had me run through some diagnostic tests before I took it in, but nothing worked.
My battery was dead and the latch wouldn't work all the time either, so this PB was definitely not worth keeping.
After a bit of a hassle at the Apple Store, they agreed to give me my refund. I offered to show the guys behind the closed door the problem up close, because they said they couldn't see it, but the guy dealing with me said no.
I also noticed the floor PB I was reviewing (which had the line issue, btw) was very quickly returned to normal from the pages I had open (all the forum and appleplace sites open in windows on the powerbook, lol).
They sure closed those windows in a hurry.
So, first trek back to the supposed good side got me two weeks of fun with an OS that works, but a screen that sucks, and now it's back to my old a$$ Dell Inspiron 8000 for the time being, since I just sold my Vaio desktop as well.
At lease I get to order my new gaming rig tonight. Don't know what I'm going to do on the Apple side of things - very depressing.
My battery was dead and the latch wouldn't work all the time either, so this PB was definitely not worth keeping.
After a bit of a hassle at the Apple Store, they agreed to give me my refund. I offered to show the guys behind the closed door the problem up close, because they said they couldn't see it, but the guy dealing with me said no.
I also noticed the floor PB I was reviewing (which had the line issue, btw) was very quickly returned to normal from the pages I had open (all the forum and appleplace sites open in windows on the powerbook, lol).
They sure closed those windows in a hurry.
So, first trek back to the supposed good side got me two weeks of fun with an OS that works, but a screen that sucks, and now it's back to my old a$$ Dell Inspiron 8000 for the time being, since I just sold my Vaio desktop as well.
At lease I get to order my new gaming rig tonight. Don't know what I'm going to do on the Apple side of things - very depressing.
I sent my PB to service yesterday and the guy I talked to said that this was now a known problem, end ensured me that it was hardware related and said that they will fix it. I hope he is right, I can't survive on my old Windows computer.
Nereus said:
When you say service, do you mean Apple service? Someone at Apple actually said that?
MacFan26 said:
No it's not exactly Apple. It's a company called Macademic providing Apple service. I don't know if they do the service on place or if they send my PB to Apple.
k
so hold on are we finally seeing pb's without the issue at all ?
did you test the crankcat image on the pbs in question ?
i went to the apple store again and the problem is still there in the regent street store even though they wont admit it !!!
so hold on are we finally seeing pb's without the issue at all ?
did you test the crankcat image on the pbs in question ?
i went to the apple store again and the problem is still there in the regent street store even though they wont admit it !!!
Has eveybody with the 'problem' reset nvram and pmu.
I barely see the lines on my powerbook and they don't bother me.
However should apple decide to replace all the powerbooks with the lines, I would replace mine. Just for resell value in the future.
I barely see the lines on my powerbook and they don't bother me.
However should apple decide to replace all the powerbooks with the lines, I would replace mine. Just for resell value in the future.
MacRumorUser said:Has eveybody with the 'problem' reset nvram and pmu.
I barely see the lines on my powerbook and they don't bother me.
However should apple decide to replace all the powerbooks with the lines, I would replace mine. Just for resell value in the future.
I tried to reset nvram and pmu, but there was no difference for me.
another switcher with the "line" problem... took mine yesterday back to the apple store and they saw the problem. They did a repair of the display, the other one... also "lines"!!
All other PB's 15" in the shop are also with lines... so it must be within the specs of the machine???
I could ask for another screen but I think it's obvious it won't help atm... I'm considering to go further with some writing to the apple people.
I'm in love with my new PB and I want a proper display in it, basta !!
Europe Belgium W8543
All other PB's 15" in the shop are also with lines... so it must be within the specs of the machine???
I could ask for another screen but I think it's obvious it won't help atm... I'm considering to go further with some writing to the apple people.
I'm in love with my new PB and I want a proper display in it, basta !!
Europe Belgium W8543
Just bought my first MAC
I've posted in this thread and forum a few times with concerns about purchasing a new 15" PB. I had to have something portable so I went ahead and took the plunge. My first impression is it's wonderful. The lines are there but only visible with my nose right to the screen and EVEN THEN only on certain backgrounds. For instance on the Blue Nile ad on this page, but again, only when very close and the effect is still very very subtle. From normal viewing distance it looks flawless.
The only concern left is that i haven't installed any of my design software yet. So maybe the lines will present a problem when doing minute editing in Photoshop or working in Flash but I don't think so. I am very happy with this computer.
My serial is W8 and week 42.
I've posted in this thread and forum a few times with concerns about purchasing a new 15" PB. I had to have something portable so I went ahead and took the plunge. My first impression is it's wonderful. The lines are there but only visible with my nose right to the screen and EVEN THEN only on certain backgrounds. For instance on the Blue Nile ad on this page, but again, only when very close and the effect is still very very subtle. From normal viewing distance it looks flawless.
The only concern left is that i haven't installed any of my design software yet. So maybe the lines will present a problem when doing minute editing in Photoshop or working in Flash but I don't think so. I am very happy with this computer.
My serial is W8 and week 42.
zooey74 said:
Same here, I can only see them if I look really hard at the screen at a very close range.
I have installed Photoshop, Illustrator and Painter IX (the tools I use everyday) and the 'line issue' doesn't effect me in any shape or form.
Yes I would like an absolutley perfect screen after spending 2100 Euro on a laptop, but I can't really say i'm that dissapointed.
MacRumorUser said:
See, this statement baffles me. Yes the book is a great machine, but with one huge major flaw, the screen is crap. If you know your screen has an issue, how can you keep it and justify it's insane price tag?
I, too, felt that I "could live with it" when I had my two powerbooks and I wouldn't have returned the last one if it hadn't been for the battery dying within a few hours of use and the fact that it was the second machine in a row with relatively serious problems. However, I wasn't 100% satisfied with 'living with it". I went ahead and purchased an older generation 1.67ghz with the moderately lower resolution and although I can't fit as much on the screen, what I do fit is 100% perfect. When I think back at the other screen, I realise that I would never have been satisfied with it and it would have continued to annoy me that I paid so much and Apple got away with using a subpar LCD. Besides the lines, though, I did love the screen's brightness and crispness.
motherduce said:
Motherduce, I understand and respect you opinion/feeling about the screen, but I don't share the statement that the screen is "crap". If the screen would be crap I'm sure I wouldn't like it.
Most of the guys that are satisfied with their screens have also other screens/displays to compare with and they -like me- just don't think that the lines are bothersome. Why would anyone defend a screen that's totally crap?
I agree that the screen is not 'crap', but I don't think it's of comparable quality level as other Apple displays, or as good as the previous generation powerbook G4. It may not be considered poor quality as such, but the way the LCD is manufactured is not optimal for the kind of use the machine is intended for and Apple should have known that.
I'm convinced that a lot of people have returned their computers because of this, many of whom never visited this board. It IS an issue though and I'm sure most people would agree that these displays would be better without the lines than with them. Given that none of the other displays, including the 17" high resolution has this issue, I don't see any reasons why anybody should accept this as 'ok'.
I'm convinced that a lot of people have returned their computers because of this, many of whom never visited this board. It IS an issue though and I'm sure most people would agree that these displays would be better without the lines than with them. Given that none of the other displays, including the 17" high resolution has this issue, I don't see any reasons why anybody should accept this as 'ok'.
tribe3 said:
Exactly. The screen is far from CRAP. Has anyone ever use the 12" ibook or pb outside? The screens on the 12" are poor, with what seems to be a lower refresh rate and a very dull tone / image reproduction and it has a DIRE viewing angle.
But is everyone bitching about it? No... The quality of the 15" screen is FAR FAR better than the 12".
I also don't expect a laptop screen to be the same as a desktop ACD. Though it's certainly better than a number of cheaper LCD desktop models I've used.
-----
To reset NVRAM on boot hold apple command + alt + p + r and press power. Keep holding them till the machine reboots.
MacRumorUser said:Has eveybody with the 'problem' reset nvram and pmu.
I barely see the lines on my powerbook and they don't bother me.
However should apple decide to replace all the powerbooks with the lines, I would replace mine. Just for resell value in the future.
And lose millions as a result? Definitely not gonna happen. They would gladly lose a few sales here and there than to do just that.