Horizontal Lines in New Powerbooks

[maddonkey]

I dont mind

I got mine yesterday - a W85459, it doesn't really annoy me that much at all, i only see the lines when ive got my nose pressed against the screen, doesnt bother me when editing graphics or viewing photos from a normal distance away from the screen.

Ben

 

[ybakos]

That's the newest serial number yet.... this is getting disappointing.

I'm creating a database-backed form for the community to fill out to see if we can get to the bottom of the question: does this affect all Powerbooks or not?

Will post again when its ready.

Cheers

 

[maddonkey]

Yes, it was a straight off the shelf model, i think this is a design feature, not a particularly clever one though. im perfectly happy with it, a graphics update would be good too aswell.

A website with a database would be a good idea.
Ben

 

[tribe3]

My opinion is that Apple is not going to address the lines issue drastically (recall or similar) since I believe there are not enough people concerned about the issue.

Yes, it is been talked about in the discussion forums, but most people don’t hang around the forums, and the normal guy (me included) don’t even notice the lines if they are not directed to them. Or if they notice them they don’t consider them bothersome.

Last night I was at the Applestore where they exchanged my PB for a new one because of a very annoying noise that had started to come out from a fan. While waiting in line for the next genius I started talking with two guys that were bringing their new PB’s for service - One guy had a blacked-out screen and the other guy had some sort of software trouble - . I asked them what they thought about the “lines” issue and they didn’t know what I was talking about… They both said they were so very happy with their PB’s (when the PB’s worked that was)

I even directed the genius to the ESPN logo and he was like ohhh… thanks for the heads-up. He sounded sincere to me… The Apple Care guys (telephone ones) seem to be more aware of it.

This is only my opinion anyway, but I’m afraid of not being so off.

 

[Wombert]

That's the newest serial number yet.... this is getting disappointing.

I'm creating a database-backed form for the community to fill out to see if we can get to the bottom of the question: does this affect all Powerbooks or not?

Will post again when its ready.

Cheers

Don't. You're wasting your time. All Powerbooks are affected, we know that. It's obvious. All the idiots wo are walking in and saying "I don't have the lines mmmkay you retards?" without _ever_ backing it up will still click "my screen is flawless" in your poll script. And you can, by the way, just start a poll topic in this forum, but as I said, the results will not be representative.

 

[PeteyP]

He's convinced it's a software issue and is pretty sure it will be fixed in the 10.4.4 update.

If this is the case, why not try to install a different OS, like linux etc. My powerbook just got picked up today, but if the new one still has the lines I want to try an Ubuntu install to figure out if it really is a software issue.

Very curious if anyone else has tried this already?

 

[Wombert]

If this is the case, why not try to install a different OS, like linux etc. My powerbook just got picked up today, but if the new one still has the lines I want to try an Ubuntu install to figure out if it really is a software issue.

Very curious if anyone else has tried this already?

I don't get why 97% of Apple users always suggest to reinstall the OS, no matter what problem is described.

 

[ahunter3]

I would like to hear from a new 17" PowerBook owner

Many people keep saying "all the new PowerBooks are afflicted" but the overwhelming portion of the participants in this thread and others elsewehre are on 15" PBs.

How are the 17s? Got horizontal lines? No lines?

 

[tristan]

17s don't have lines AFAIK. Just go to an Apple Store and look at the PB15 on display. They're pretty obvious.

 

[netb0y]

Many people keep saying "all the new PowerBooks are afflicted" but the overwhelming portion of the participants in this thread and others elsewehre are on 15" PBs.

How are the 17s? Got horizontal lines? No lines?

Only the 15" Powerbooks have the "lines" problem.

 

[iumeda]

powerbook returned from applecare "within spec"

I guess that's all I really have to add. This is very disappointing.

SN: W85446*****

 

[wildcard]

If this is the case, why not try to install a different OS, like linux etc. My powerbook just got picked up today, but if the new one still has the lines I want to try an Ubuntu install to figure out if it really is a software issue.

Very curious if anyone else has tried this already?

I think I answered this on SOME forum...just might not have been this one

The lines are present on running the Apple Hardware test (outside of OS X) and also show on the installer/setup screens of Ubuntu 5.04 and 5.10 for PowerPC, both LiveCD and InstallCD.

Definitely hardware, in my opinion....

 

[DIXIE]

Apple admission?

Just picked this off Apple Discussions on a "lines" thread:

Scotious

Posts: 17
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Registered: Dec 17, 2003
Re: Honest opinion on the "line" problem
Posted: Nov 30, 2005 9:26 AM * in response to: Cara
*
*Reply

Well, I finally called Apple Care. The rep acknowledged that this is a real, known, hardware issue. They refer to an "internal" report, but only if you mention the problem and are specific (i.e. some rows darker, etc.) No questions asked they set up a return/repair. Question is:

1. Can they fix this?
2. Is it worth it?

G5, Dual 2.0, 1.5G * Mac OS X (10.4.3)
________________________________________________________________

Apple knows, we (world) knows ...... why the deafening silence Steve Jobs?

*

 

[sk3pt1c]

sorry dude, i didn't notice
wow,they obviously keep their site up to date(not!)
has apple made any official statement concerning this problem?
i mean if these lines appear on all powerbooks then they should do something official about it,right?

 

[generik]

sorry dude, i didn't notice
wow,they obviously keep their site up to date(not!)
has apple made any official statement concerning this problem?
i mean if these lines appear on all powerbooks then they should do something official about it,right?

And spend hundreds repairing each and every one of them?

You must be kidding right?

They'd best keep quiet about it and just issue refunds to people who are starting to cost them in the way of phone support costs, minus a restocking fee of course.

 

[nQuery]

replacement still the same

Well, I received my replacement today ... W8548 ... same problems with the display. This puppy is going back for a refund tomorrow and I am waiting (fingers crossed) for an Intel 15" at MWSF.

 

[Spectrum]

Pixel lines are only part of the problem

Not been here for a while, but I see things are progressing ever further downhill...

Anyway - just been laying up some diagrams - exported from Powerpoint in RGB - and I made the figure using predominantly pure RGB colours. Look pretty good.

Open in Photoshop - still OK.

Convert to CMYK(needed for publication) - crap. The pure yellow from the RGB tones down slightly in CMYK, but the real problem is the interference lines that appear. These are static, and about 4-5pixels apart, so I think they coincide with every other bright row of the LCD pixels.

This is my first real-world demonstration to myself of how the lines affect image presentation. (Yes I see the pixel lines in photos and stuff - but I'm getting used to them, and I tend to look at photos from a distance. This is altogether different).

My image should contain solid colours of yellow (with some shadowing), but now it looks like I have wide textured bars across the yellow shapes. Pretty disappointing really.

Set your ColorSync profile to: sRGB IEC61966-2.1, and open the attached file. If you are on one of the afflicted powerbooks, you'll see wide horizontal shading that doesn't move at all as you drag the window around the screen.

The problem is much worse on the left of the screen than the right, too.

Just checked it on my iMac G4. No problems at all.

 

[.:*Robot Boy*:.]

I've been using my 15" BTO PowerBook (120GB HD/2GB RAM) for a few hours now. I noticed the lines as soon as I started it up - the default desktop pattern looked... 'fuzzy'. The longer I use it, the more frustrating it becomes. Everything looks kind of hazy - as opposed to sharp and clear - and smooth curves appear slightly jagged.

Oh well, looks like I'll have to send this back and upgrade to the 17" - it's all part of Apple's evil, moronic plan to phase out the 15" model, I swear

On the plus side, the higher resolution of these new screens is very nice

 

[sk3pt1c]

i really didnt expect this behaviour from a company like apple
i mean the world knows it for its stable non crashing no-problems
devices,or maybe used to...
lately it's all gone bad,started with the ipods and now this...
doesn't look good
i just think that it's impossible for a colossal company like apple to not be able to produce a working powerbook with no problems
maybe it IS part of some evil strategy...

anyway,because i am what my nickname says,i got a housemate to drive me 3 hours away to manchester to the apple store to see with my own eyes.
will take pics and let you all know

 

[Gokhan]

k

well i recived my refurb pb today 100gb superdrive 1gb ram very very happy no display issues as well only tiger to deal with hahahahahah yessss

 

[iumeda]

Better Business Bureau anyone?

It has been suggested to me that in all my further conversations with Apple regarding this issue I should CC: the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) and make it known that I am doing so. It seems like a good issue to bring up with a third party such as the BBB. Perhaps it will add the needed flame under Apple's lazy arse to actually do something.

[edit] ... well, I went ahead and filed with the BBB. Here is the link to review or add to my complaint: http://67.153.191.194/complaint/view/242698/c/s6lmvb#

 

[Sic]

Oh well, looks like I'll have to send this back and upgrade to the 17" - it's all part of Apple's evil, moronic plan to phase out the 15" model, I swear

i considered doing this, but i just dont have the money for the 17"

 

[londonweb]

Don't. You're wasting your time. All Powerbooks are affected, we know that. It's obvious. All the idiots wo are walking in and saying "I don't have the lines mmmkay you retards?" without _ever_ backing it up will still click "my screen is flawless" in your poll script. And you can, by the way, just start a poll topic in this forum, but as I said, the results will not be representative.

Exactly. Why on earth would some units have the problem and others not? The most sensible theory I've read so far was on the apple forum (it's probably here somewhere too)- some have suggested it's because 1440x960 is a bit of a weird size, and the graphics adapter doesn't support it properly. If this is the case then perhaps it can be fixed with a firmware update. Lets hope so.

I'm on my third pb in 3 weeks for various reasons, and they've all had the lines. The thing is that they are fairly unnoticable to my mind, and they are only visible on certain backgrounds, under certain lighting conditions- I've been in various stores to have a look, and sometimes they aren't apparent at first, but bring up anything with a mid-grey area of colour and there they are. The title bar in itunes is a good one to test it on.

The other thing is that in my experience they are most apparent when working about 50cm or so away from the screen- if anything they get harder to see when you go up really close- another reason why people are saying they can't see them.

 

[Sic]

Exactly. Why on earth would some units have the problem and others not? The most sensible theory I've read so far was on the apple forum (it's probably here somewhere too)- some have suggested it's because 1440x960 is a bit of a weird size, and the graphics adapter doesn't support it properly. If this is the case then perhaps it can be fixed with a firmware update. Lets hope so.

I'm on my third pb in 3 weeks for various reasons, and they've all had the lines. The thing is that they are fairly unnoticable to my mind, and they are only visible on certain backgrounds, under certain lighting conditions- I've been in various stores to have a look, and sometimes they aren't apparent at first, but bring up anything with a mid-grey area of colour and there they are. The title bar in itunes is a good one to test it on.

The other thing is that in my experience they are most apparent when working about 50cm or so away from the screen- if anything they get harder to see when you go up really close- another reason why people are saying they can't see them.

i agree with all your points except the last one. i find they're easier to see up close, and anything over 50cm away i cant see them *at all*

i just got off the telemaphone with an Apple Engineer in Cork, and he said that apple have acknowledged that a lot of people are having this problem (presumably because not everyone is calling them!!) and they have people (at least in the UK) working towards a solution for the problem. i've got a call reference number and all that Jazz, and the guy said he was going to give me a call back after he'd spoken with his colleagues whom are working specifically on this problem.

the first-line tech support hadn't even heard of this problem.

i must admit that this issue isn't *that* big of a deal for me, as i said, the lines aren't noticeable at a normal working distance. however, if i'm offered the option to have this fixed, i will be taking apple up on that offer.

i'll report back this afternoon with what the Apple Engineer tells me. i must say that this seems to be a very promising step towards sorting the problem. it is my view that it could be devastating for apple if they choose to ignore this imperfection. that kind of blatant disregard for quality and customer service could quite easily destroy a company.

if it emerges that there will be no fix, i'll probably bite the bullet and go 17"...but it'll leave me poor for quite some time

 

[maverick808]

i find they're easier to see up close, and anything over 50cm away i cant see them *at all*

I agree that you can't see the individual lines from a distance but it definitaly still affects the image.

I returned one of the new PowerBooks because of this issue but for a short while I had the new one and a 15" 1.5GHz so I was able to compare them side-by-side. While you can't make out the individual lines from a distance if you compare the old PowerBook and the new PowerBook side-by-side with the same image then on the new one the image appears muddy compared to the old one which is far far crisper and clearer.

Same with movies and just general use. If you've only seen the new one you might think it looks okay but when you compare it to the old one you quickly realise just how subpar the new screen is. EVERYTHING looks a million times better on the old screen. I'm just very relieved I didn't sell my old PowerBook as I much prefer it's screen to the new one I had for a short while.