Horizontal Lines in New Powerbooks

[luke23]

Yes, the illustrated diagonal is 15.4" on the new LCD and 15.2" on the "line" LCD.

However, the overall dimensions look the same (except the thickness). I'll have to check the width & length tech specs, but if they are the same, is it possible the screen frame was narrowed to gain space?

Anyway, if the new screen is too large, I would still call Apple Customer Service and plead, beg, or grovel for an exchange!

Who knows, Apple might take pity on the truly desperate!!

DIXIE

Do you really expect it? Imagine how I felt when I saw Steve Josb featuring the new MacBooks. So upset. I bought my computer last november... Anyway the price are astronomic, but if Jobs in person change my horizontal fuzzy display for a new MacIntel I kiss him 100 times. Now I know I am getting crazy with the lines issue. I demand a perfect computer, even it is Intel or not!!

 

[MRU]

Do you really expect it? Imagine how I felt when I saw Steve Josb featuring the new MacBooks. So upset. I bought my computer last november... Anyway the price are astronomic, but if Jobs in person change my horizontal fuzzy display for a new MacIntel I kiss him 100 times. Now I know I am getting crazy with the lines issue. I demand a perfect computer, even it is Intel or not!!

I'm kinda having that happen (not the kissing).. Bought my G4 PB in November but the battery was playing up. Rang up apple on the 8th and they decided to order me a replacement PB rather than just replace the battery.

Anyway the next day they released the battery firmware I was a little peed off as TNT had already rang to collect my PB..

Then today happened (or did it) and the MacBookPro is announced. I rang apple as soon as the keynote was over to cancel my replacement and order a refund. They said this wasn't a problem... I was in high heaven.. but

10 minutes later they rang and told me it could'nt be cancelled as it had reached the preparing stage, before it ships... DOH!!! but then was told to just ring once it arrives and they'll re-issue me another RMA and give me a refund...

A lot of messing, but I would have been more peed off if I had ended up with this liney PB when a perfect screen, more future proof (re-sale value in a year ot two's time)...

Try complainig about the screen, loudly and they may offer you a replacement. Looks like they are fully aware of the the lines now, new PB has differnet resolution and brighter screen... Good luck....

 

[luke23]

I'm kinda having that happen (not the kissing).. Bought my G4 PB in November but the battery was playing up. Rang up apple on the 8th and they decided to order me a replacement PB rather than just replace the battery.

Anyway the next day they released the battery firmware I was a little peed off as TNT had already rang to collect my PB..

Then today happened (or did it) and the MacBookPro is announced. I rang apple as soon as the keynote was over to cancel my replacement and order a refund. They said this wasn't a problem... I was in high heaven.. but

10 minutes later they rang and told me it could'nt be cancelled as it had reached the preparing stage, before it ships... DOH!!! but then was told to just ring once it arrives and they'll re-issue me another RMA and give me a refund...

A lot of messing, but I would have been more peed off if I had ended up with this liney PB when a perfect screen, more future proof (re-sale value in a year ot two's time)...

Try complainig about the screen, loudly and they may offer you a replacement. Looks like they are fully aware of the the lines now, new PB has differnet resolution and brighter screen... Good luck....

I will try it, take it for sure (it is say this way?) However, I kind a suspicious to be in the first pool that test the Intel. They may go with unknow problems due to be the first time working with Intel chips. (I am terribly sorry about my english, I hope I'd made myself understood)

If I were you I will take the laptop.

 

[tribe3]

Even though the lines don't bother me, I have to recognize that I'm a little ticked off with the fact of having a "new" 40 days old computer that suddenly got lapped 4 times with a new model... I guess its part of the human nature to feel that way…

Our 15” HD’s still smell new but became suddenly slooowww . lol. AND, they have a screen issue that now it may start bothering me. Not so much for the screen itself but yes for Apple ignoring the problem.

I feel a little like a second-class Apple customer.

There ya go… I vented somewhat

 

[buttercup]

My current status...

Gawd, I wish they would let me refund, or exchange for the new one. Its hard though I dont *really* want a Rev 1 anything either. And if I do get a refund\exchange for a MacBook what about the 1G ram and applecare I had bought for this one? Just a waste of cash?

Latest update from me - after being told by apple to call them back in a few weeks I called back last week. I talked to a "Product Specialist" - aka Tier 2 - who was shocked that the problem hadn't been resolved already. "Of course we can replace the screen and fix your issue" he said. I asked him several times if he was sure - and repeated that both the last apple person I talked to and the apple service centre who saw the issue said this was not fixable with a screen replacement. He *convinced* me it could be fixed.

Amidst all the problems, it really concerns me that if apple IS working on the problem its not more widely known.

I decided that maybe if I got screwed around a little bit apple would take pity on me and offer me a refund/exchange? What do you think? Or BEST case (more like miracle) - it comes back fixed.

Any opinions? Its only a rant really...

 

[MacTruck]

Gawd, I wish they would let me refund, or exchange for the new one. Its hard though I dont *really* want a Rev 1 anything either. And if I do get a refund\exchange for a MacBook what about the 1G ram and applecare I had bought for this one? Just a waste of cash?

Latest update from me - after being told by apple to call them back in a few weeks I called back last week. I talked to a "Product Specialist" - aka Tier 2 - who was shocked that the problem hadn't been resolved already. "Of course we can replace the screen and fix your issue" he said. I asked him several times if he was sure - and repeated that both the last apple person I talked to and the apple service centre who saw the issue said this was not fixable with a screen replacement. He *convinced* me it could be fixed.

Amidst all the problems, it really concerns me that if apple IS working on the problem its not more widely known.

I decided that maybe if I got screwed around a little bit apple would take pity on me and offer me a refund/exchange? What do you think? Or BEST case (more like miracle) - it comes back fixed.

Any opinions? Its only a rant really...

Its apple corporate policy that you are entitled to a new machine of your choice if they can't fix it in 3 attempts. ITS A FACT FOLKS. Keep tryin mate.

 

[Wombert]

Gawd, I wish they would let me refund, or exchange for the new one. Its hard though I dont *really* want a Rev 1 anything either. And if I do get a refund\exchange for a MacBook what about the 1G ram and applecare I had bought for this one? Just a waste of cash?

Latest update from me - after being told by apple to call them back in a few weeks I called back last week. I talked to a "Product Specialist" - aka Tier 2 - who was shocked that the problem hadn't been resolved already. "Of course we can replace the screen and fix your issue" he said. I asked him several times if he was sure - and repeated that both the last apple person I talked to and the apple service centre who saw the issue said this was not fixable with a screen replacement. He *convinced* me it could be fixed.

Amidst all the problems, it really concerns me that if apple IS working on the problem its not more widely known.

I decided that maybe if I got screwed around a little bit apple would take pity on me and offer me a refund/exchange? What do you think? Or BEST case (more like miracle) - it comes back fixed.

Any opinions? Its only a rant really...

Let us know if the unit you get back is really fixed

 

[BENJMNS]

i got away from the 15" lines fiasco and got me a 17" hi-res and haven't looked back.

i feel bad for you hi-res 15" owners. it's one thing if the new macbook had the same screen, but they make it slightly bigger and likely with no lines.

now if they do show lines, not as jagged of a pill to swallow.

but overall, if you just got your hi-res 15", hope for a fix.

if i had a nonissue 15" hi-res (doesn't exist), id' still be very happy with it.

i mean, it just came out not too long ago and suddenly your productivity just dipped because the macbook pro just came out? even if it is faster, how does it REALLY make your life any easier/speedier? tough to measure

it's really all in your head. go worry about something else. like what's cooking for dinner.

 

[buttercup]

Let us know if the unit you get back is really fixed

Oh dont worry, I will. In all CAPS.

Of course, lol, whats the chance that anyone would believe me? I would have to tour the world with the machine

 

[tribe3]

i got away from the 15" lines fiasco and got me a 17" hi-res and haven't looked back.

i feel bad for you hi-res 15" owners. it's one thing if the new macbook had the same screen, but they make it slightly bigger and likely with no lines.

now if they do show lines, not as jagged of a pill to swallow.

but overall, if you just got your hi-res 15", hope for a fix.

if i had a nonissue 15" hi-res (doesn't exist), id' still be very happy with it.

i mean, it just came out not too long ago and suddenly your productivity just dipped because the macbook pro just came out? even if it is faster, how does it REALLY make your life any easier/speedier? tough to measure

it's really all in your head. go worry about something else. like what's cooking for dinner.

I absolutely agree! It's not something to be "upset" about. But yes a little shocked that just a little over a month later they come out with a machine 4x faster!! lol. (and for the same money) But my productivity is just as good and I'm still very happy with my PB.

I'll get over it tomorrow....buahhh

Life is still good!

 

[luke23]

Its apple corporate policy that you are entitled to a new machine of your choice if they can't fix it in 3 attempts. ITS A FACT FOLKS. Keep tryin mate.

What matters to me is that Apple considers this lines as a failure. The policy runs worldwide? I live in Spain. I won't rest until my PB is fixed. Anyway I have to say that I am very happy with the PB, but I am worried because I believe software companies will make software to run programs if they were in a MacBook so my PB won't have a chance to run them properly.

 

[Sic]

i dont get why people are getting upset, we all knew that the MacBooks were coming out in January and we knew that the 10.4.4 update wasnt going to do anything! dunno why people are losing all hope just because of these things!! Apple are aware of a problem with my powerbook, and everything they've told me to do doesnt work. they've also told me that they're working on a solution, and to keep checking apple's support page or calling them for an update. i can't really do anything else, and i can't be expected to do anything else, from a consumer point of view. so all i'm going to do is wait. if they can't fix the problem, they're also aware that this is unacceptable to me and i will be expecting a replacement of something that has been checked to not sport the lines (either by me when it arrives, or them before it leaves, though i understand this to be unlikely). i have been informed on EVERY occasion that i've called them, that this will all be possible because the first time i called them was less than 14 days after the product was signed for at my address.

having worked in customer services before, i don't know whether this is all common sense or whether these are things that working in CS has taught me. i suggest that anyone who's after the 14 day period, make sure you call apple, get a case reference, remain calm and polite, and dont let it worry you. apple told me that they've had quite a large number of reports on this subject. i dont know what planet the people who are saying that apple are going to ignore it are from, but you're wrong. if there is a defect with a product (especially one that is as widely known and reported as this one (although the salesmen in my local apple store weren't aware of it)) cannot be ignored. that's just the way it is (doo doo doo...doo doo doo...doo doo doo(things will never be the same)) etc etc

 

[ortuno2k]

I sure hope that the MacBooks don't have that horizontal screen problem. I guess I'll find out soon.
Anyways, I'm returning my 3 week old 15" PB and waiting until the MacBooks area available

 

[generik]

I feel so happy that I sold that junker 5 weeks ago! Phew, such a relief! Once bitten twice shy, I guess I am going to wait for the first batch of beta testers to iron the bugs out of my MacBook Pro first!

 

[generik]

i dont get why people are getting upset, we all knew that the MacBooks were coming out in January and we knew that the 10.4.4 update wasnt going to do anything! dunno why people are losing all hope just because of these things!!

You knew? Steve Jobs told you eh?

Back to the screen, it is not a defect, it is simply a display that failed to meet up to customer expectations. Basically what is happening here is Apple is slowly trying to condition you into lowering your expectations of them, and before you know it they will just be another Dell charging Thinkpad prices. Just take a look at the latest MacBook "Pro". Hey, where did those features go? Oh, someone is trying to buy a new boat!

If it upsets you, get rid of it. Return it. Bring it to the store. Smash it through Steve's window if you have to. Believing what the customer service reps tell you is seriously.. stupid. What do you expect them to say? Secretly laugh with the thought that you have just been throughly shafted by Apple while telling you otherwise? Oh wait, if I'm a bottom earner working in a call centre that does seem like what I would do, but that's besides the issue.

The issue is.. you.. have just been shafted. You can wait, and wait, and your warranty will expire, and the same goes for your THREE (3) years of AppleCare, and nothing will still happen.

Don't believe me? Just wait. It's your time anyway.

 

[Sic]

You knew? Steve Jobs told you eh?

well, i was under the impression that an "intel powerbook" was coming in january, and i'd hypothesised from the reading i've done that this is not a graphics driver problem.

as for the rest of your post/you in general...there's a difference between pessimism and realism, and you are not a realist. the bottom line is that i will not wait forever for this to be sorted because my job depends on it. if it lasts too long, i'll be getting something else, be it PPC/mactel.

we all know your opinions, and how right you always think you are. you've said it plenty of times. what i don't understand is why you have to keep posting the same negative crap that you constantly post. anytime i see your name as the "last posted" here, it invokes ONE reaction. "ugh, generik again."

you offer nothing to this thread, so why don't you keep it to yourself, yeah?

 

[aristobrat]

Sometimes it's just easier to add folks to your ignore list:
https://forums.macrumors.com/profile.php?do=editlist

 

[luke23]

well, i was under the impression that an "intel powerbook" was coming in january, and i'd hypothesised from the reading i've done that this is not a graphics driver problem.

as for the rest of your post/you in general...there's a difference between pessimism and realism, and you are not a realist. the bottom line is that i will not wait forever for this to be sorted because my job depends on it. if it lasts too long, i'll be getting something else, be it PPC/mactel.

we all know your opinions, and how right you always think you are. you've said it plenty of times. what i don't understand is why you have to keep posting the same negative crap that you constantly post. anytime i see your name as the "last posted" here, it invokes ONE reaction. "ugh, generik again."

you offer nothing to this thread, so why don't you keep it to yourself, yeah?

You take the words out of my mouth.

 

[buttercup]

So sad...

Gawd, I wish they would let me refund, or exchange for the new one. Its hard though I dont *really* want a Rev 1 anything either. And if I do get a refund\exchange for a MacBook what about the 1G ram and applecare I had bought for this one? Just a waste of cash?

Latest update from me - after being told by apple to call them back in a few weeks I called back last week. I talked to a "Product Specialist" - aka Tier 2 - who was shocked that the problem hadn't been resolved already. "Of course we can replace the screen and fix your issue" he said. I asked him several times if he was sure - and repeated that both the last apple person I talked to and the apple service centre who saw the issue said this was not fixable with a screen replacement. He *convinced* me it could be fixed.

Amidst all the problems, it really concerns me that if apple IS working on the problem its not more widely known.

I decided that maybe if I got screwed around a little bit apple would take pity on me and offer me a refund/exchange? What do you think? Or BEST case (more like miracle) - it comes back fixed.

Any opinions? Its only a rant really...

No luck. Still the same. I am going to call first thing tomorrow and try to talk to someone who actually knows what is going on. Not shocking, but still - like c'mon educate your product specialists guys.

 

[drj434343]

sent in the Powerbook, so we'll see

I've got an affected Powerbook, and have been reading the relevant forums religiously for a month or so, hedging my bets and waiting to contact Apple Care until I was relatively confident they would acknowledge the issue. I finally cashed in and phoned today. As soon as I mentioned the line issue, the tech immediately seemed to know what I was referring to and proceeded to ask me several seemingly pre-canned questions that appeared to apply directly to the screen issue. One was how the lines manifested themselves (i.e. under which colors were they visible, were they accompanied by moving diagonal scanlines, etc). I asked her specifically if Apple had determined the problem and had a solution, and she replied that as of two days ago, there was a new tech issue document pretaining to the problem (she appeared to be searching an issue database on her computer), which directed her to schedule me for a screen replacement.

I'm not sure how much of this others have encountered, but to me, she seemed to really know what I was talking about and acknowledged that it was an issue. It seemed encouraging to me.

Is this old news? Has everyone else heard the same line from them only to get back an unchanged Powerbook?

I'll report back when it gets returned.

 

[Soccertess]

RE: sent in the Powerbook, so we'll see

Help Please: need advice. I did the same thing! I CALLED Apple !!!

I just called Apple about the Horizontal line. Bruce, a nice tech rep, said he never had heard of the problem. I was a bit surprised with this but we talked about the issue. I told him to look it up on google or on the apple Support forum. After, he said he would replace my the screen. I keep reading that replacement screens have the same problem. SO, i asked him for an upgrade to a Macpro, which he laughed and said NO way in hell!

we both had a good laugh but i was actually serious. Is there any point in getting a new screen or should i wait till they come out with an official statement?

I use my computer every day for work, so this repair time is a problem. Should I even bother with a screen replacement that might not work??

People’s input would greatly be appreciated!!

 

[DIXIE]

Obtain a case number.

As soon as I mentioned the line issue, the tech immediately seemed to know what I was referring to and proceeded to ask me several seemingly pre-canned questions that appeared to apply directly to the screen issue. One was how the lines manifested themselves (i.e. under which colors were they visible, were they accompanied by moving diagonal scanlines, etc). I asked her specifically if Apple had determined the problem and had a solution, and she replied that as of two days ago, there was a new tech issue document pretaining to the problem (she appeared to be searching an issue database on her computer), which directed her to schedule me for a screen replacement.

I'm not sure how much of this others have encountered, but to me, she seemed to really know what I was talking about and acknowledged that it was an issue. It seemed encouraging to me.

Is this old news? Has everyone else heard the same line from them only to get back an unchanged Powerbook?

I'll report back when it gets returned.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Attention: Soccertess

If the post above yours gets results, do the same. I would call Apple again and register a formal complaint and obtain a CASE NUMBER, if you don't already have one.

Maybe positive results will start to happen for you and many others.

DIXIE

 

[ortuno2k]

I decided to return my 15" PB with faint horizontal lines and wait for the MacBooks.
Let's hope these don't suffer from the lines.
The change in resolution may indicate something... but I don't know.

 

[buttercup]

More good news?

Talked to apple this morning and they claim they have fixed the issue. That there is some part that will fix it and I should bring it in for a repair.

The product specialist said he didn't know what kind of part it was as it was just a part number that was referenced in the internal tech article. But he DID seem more knowledgeable (though he was reading from somewhere) then the guy I previously talked to. I am going to call the local service provider and get them to order the part - and hopefully tell me what it is exactly what part it is.

 

[Wombert]

Talked to apple this morning and they claim they have fixed the issue. That there is some part that will fix it and I should bring it in for a repair.

The product specialist said he didn't know what kind of part it was as it was just a part number that was referenced in the internal tech article. But he DID seem more knowledgeable (though he was reading from somewhere) then the guy I previously talked to. I am going to call the local service provider and get them to order the part - and hopefully tell me what it is exactly what part it is.

Wow man that's fantastic news! Please please keep us posted!