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Horizontal Lines in New Powerbooks

I enclosed a letter with mine...didn't help.

This time I'm just going to put a note with big black letters saying "REPLACE THIS SCREEN"

:rolleyes:
 
Dunno if this will interest anyone but my cheap ass NEC flatscreen 1760NX exhibits horizontal lines too.

It's many years old and really is an awful display. I have a bunch of headless PCs and use it to plug in when something goes wrong. I would never work off it.

EDIT: I ran it through the crankycat images just to make sure and yeah it definitely without a doubt suffers from those lines. If this is what you guys are getting all the time I would be furious.
 
Exactly.

maverick808 said:
Dunno if this will interest anyone but my cheap ass NEC flatscreen 1760NX exhibits horizontal lines too.

It's many years old and really is an awful display. I have a bunch of headless PCs and use it to plug in when something goes wrong. I would never work off it.

EDIT: I ran it through the crankycat images just to make sure and yeah it definitely without a doubt suffers from those lines. If this is what you guys are getting all the time I would be furious.
Click to expand...
 
sending off a second time

Thanks for the wallpaper VF, it looks great (as in...horrible). I also included a letter the first time, but this time I've got the wallpaper, a readme file on the desktop, the crankycat image on the desktop, and a nice glossy paper letter with instructions, several links, the phone # of the tech I talked to, and a huge color pic of another of VF's pictures clearly showing the lines. There isn't much more I can do...

The question comes to mind with all these "within spec" returns. Do we all have amazingly sensitive eyesight or are all the apple techs retarded? It seems funny that everyone here can agree they exist, but everyone in Apple care somehow "agrees" they are fine. If it's a conspiracy, that type of consistent response on their end takes a lot of organization.
 
Powerbook returned. "In spec." Plus, they put a note about how my battery is no longer functional within the normal range, but is not defective either. That last bit is a bit strange since I had no complaints about the battery in the first place. Let's hope they haven't mucked it up.

If anybody would like to email me with the extension of a knowledgable rep, please do so at detert at gmail.com. I'll be calling them back later this afternoon.
 
VisualForces said:
I've attached a png file to set as a desktop background that clearly shows the effect of the lines. The ONLY difference between both sides of the image is that one side is 1 pixel higher than the other. This results in one side looking a shade darker than the other.

Not. Pro.
Click to expand...

Best picture to show the problem so far. Good Job!
Its best to open it in "Preview" and move it up/down one pixel. Also when rotated left or right the lines are continuous.
 
drj434343 said:
The question comes to mind with all these "within spec" returns. Do we all have amazingly sensitive eyesight or are all the apple techs retarded? It seems funny that everyone here can agree they exist, but everyone in Apple care somehow "agrees" they are fine. If it's a conspiracy, that type of consistent response on their end takes a lot of organization.
Click to expand...


Not really. It only takes a corporate memo saying "Don't replace screens for line problems!" and they just won't do it.
 
MacTruck said:
Not really. It only takes a corporate memo saying "Don't replace screens for line problems!" and they just won't do it.
Click to expand...

I would normally agree with you, however, in my experience, there hasn't been a complete denial of issues. The last tech I talked to looked at some of the example pictures and said yes for sure it was a defect, and that they could fix it. So in your case, the memo would have to read "don't replace any line problems on PB's, but outright lie to them and make them believe you agree there is a problem."
 
VisualForces said:
I've attached a png file to set as a desktop background that clearly shows the effect of the lines. The ONLY difference between both sides of the image is that one side is 1 pixel higher than the other. This results in one side looking a shade darker than the other.
Click to expand...

Well, I can't sleep, so I'm going to post a reply with my random thoughts. I don't even have a powerbook! Sorry if any of this is a repeat (I did scan the threads quite carefully).

* Does everyone see the right-hand side of this image darker, or is the left darker for some of you? Anyone know whether that relates to odd or even rows of the display?

* Anyone tried displaying a pure red, green or blue version of this image? IE, are all three color equally affected or is one color much worse than the other two?

* Anyone prepared to open up their Powerbook and find both the Apple part number and supplier part number for the screen?

* Anyone know if the logicboard in this revision of the powerbook is essentially the same as the previous revision? Anyone got access to both revisions of laptop and could try swapping the screens over to determine whether the fault is on the logicboard or screen?

Of course, Apple should be doing all this not the customer, but if any of you are game, the results would be very interesting to know.
 
The logic board is different, new DDR2 memory support and new intrepid2 chipset. And of course there are also the additional audio jacks etc. Unfortunately Apple has a new cashcow now in the MacBook Pro, and they have probably retooled their lines to start manufacturing parts for the new revision, so it is pretty unlikely that they will have lots of parts sitting around to fix up your Rev-Es with, especially in view that they can always stick to their guns and insist that they ALL exhibit this artifact (well, they won't use the word "problem" or "issue"!)

It is just an artifact, a symptom, a trait unique to the final Rev 15" PBs, but not a problem :)

Apple 101 for ya
 
Thanks for your ever-constructuve input Generik, but it seems that people ARE getting good screens back after replacement:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=310990&tstart=0

generik said:
...Apple has a new cashcow now in the MacBook Pro, and they have probably retooled their lines to start manufacturing parts for the new revision, so it is pretty unlikely that they will have lots of parts sitting around to fix up your Rev-Es with, especially in view that they can always stick to their guns and insist that they ALL exhibit this artifact (well, they won't use the word "problem" or "issue"!)...It is just an artifact, a symptom, a trait unique to the final Rev 15" PBs, but not a problem :)
Click to expand...
 
VisualForces said:
I've attached a png file to set as a desktop background that clearly shows the effect of the lines.
Click to expand...

How about creating an unambiguous test image for Apple, something like this (again, I don't have a PowerBook, so the color of the word "Pass" might need to be tweaked slightly so it doesn't show up on failing PowerBooks)?

Edit: Deleted image, see, Spectrum's post, #1215 for a better version.
 
mdavey said:
How about creating an unambiguous test image for Apple, something like this (again, I don't have a PowerBook, so the color of the word "Pass" might need to be tweaked slightly so it doesn't show up on failing PowerBooks)?
Click to expand...

A funny idea :D - but, as you said, the grey is not quite right...

this tweaked image is closer (on my screen at least) - so long as you use the ColorLCD profile. You also need to move down the Safari window 1 pixel, or set as desktop for it to work best.

BUT: it's too close to see a difference on my iMac now...

HOWEVER! it turns out that if I look carefully, my iMac G4 17" display ALSO shows a difference in the shade of the two sides of the screen! Much less obvious than on the PB, and obviously, I do NOT see lines across images like I do on the PB, but the effect is there nonetheless, and it shifts as I move the desktopsplit image down one pixel at a time..
 

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Spectrum said:
An funny idea :D - but, as you said, the grey is not quite right...

this tweaked image is closer (on my screen at least) - so long as you use the ColorLCD profile

BUT: it's too close to see a difference on my iMac now...

HOWEVER! it turns out that if I look carefully, my iMac G4 17" display ALSO shows a difference in the shade of the two sides of the screen! Much less obvious than on the PB, and obviously, I do NOT see lines across images like I do on the PB, but the effect is there nonetheless, and it shifts as I move the desktopsplit image down one pixel at a time..
Click to expand...
Don't get mad about the iMac. Since this images are made by human it is highly possible that they are not completely accurate so the effects on other machines should be studied carefully.
 
No - that isn't the case.

The lines in the images are ONLY made up of two shades - something like 64%black and 100%black. (I'm not talking about the overlaid text)

The two halves are then shifted by 1 pixel vertically.

If there is no difference in the intensity of alternate lines on the LCD, then both halves of the image should have a constant overall intensity (when viewed from a distance).

This is definitely not the case for the PB, and a difference is also weakly observed on the iMac - and it swaps as you move the image down 1 pixel.

Anyone with a cinema display out there care to try?

luke23 said:
Don't get mad about the iMac. Since this images are made by human it is highly possible that they are not completely accurate so the effects on other machines should be studied carefully.
Click to expand...
 
Hi guys,

I have left my dear laptop in the authorized technicall support. I speak with a very kind woman about the issue. She saw the lines with the various images I showed to her and agree about the lines (not very enthusiastically) and the discuss in the forum. She did not know anything about the problem (this is not very meaningful since in my city Apple computers are not widely known [the city (Bilbao) only has about 350.000 citizens]) and ask me if anyone had solved it. I told her very very very few (almost anyone but I did not have the courage to say that). So, she frankly said to me that all will depend if the screen she gets is a good one and we will know the answer in a week. About the refunds or other questions she redirect me to the shop I bought it.

I only have a ray of hope for getting a correct display but it is just what I can do from now until the day she call me. (is this phrase correct?)

I do not believe in God but I will pray to have a nice display. May the force be with me.

Bye
 
latest update..

So.. the latest update is that my apple product specialist is working with my local apple provider to get him the right part. According to the product specialist there IS a new lcd (with a new part number) and the trick is to make sure thats the part that gets on the laptop....

who knows.... hopefully they will have it by sometime next week - and maybe, just maybe it will fix it..
 
Not to hijack this thread but I've had to turn my 15" 1.5GHz Alubook into the Apple store here in Hawaii to be serviced due to horizontal lines that would run up and down my screen until the screen would black out and the computer would be completely unusuable. I had purchased the powerbook back in August of 2004 and have had no problems whatsoever and have been more than satisfied with my purchase since I took it with me to Iraq since my unit had been activated shortly thereafter. It was only until August 05 I started having problems with my screen flickering horizontally then blacking out with the exception of a very thin faint blue line on the bottom portion of the screen. Since Apple doesn't have a store in Baghdad I unplugged my laptop and went through the process of resetting the pram and the power management unit but to no avail. The problem eventually went away after I left my powerbook alone for several days and I figured it must have been an overheating issue since it never our building and I always kept it plugged into a power source. It was only until this past December I started encountering the same problems with the LCD screen flickering and blacking out. Constant fiddling around with expose and the mouse cursor at times would bring the screen back, SOMETIMES. Oddly enough some days I'd power it up and the screen would be fine while other days I could not even get past the login screen since I could not see it. Since coming back home last week, the problem has been intermittent and I was forced to take it to the Apple store(thank god I paid for the Applecare when my 1 year was up) to have it looked at by a "genius". Not surprisingly the guy wasn't aware of any screen issues and much to my dismay, upon first powering it up the screen was fine. He said there wasn't much they can do if they cannot replicate the problem so he restarted and fortunately the screen started to flicker uncontrollably, thus providing the evidence. He being a self-proclaimed Captain Obvious, stated that it was a hardware problem and would be something that would require my powerbook to be shipped to California. He wasn't sure what exactly was the cause, possibly a logicboard issue stemming from the video card(ATI Radeon mobility 9700 w/128MB) that was producing the garbled video and/or no video at all. So...sad to say I've been without my powerbook for three days now and I've been slightly irritated that my repair status is still at "shipment pending to Apple repair center". The genius said it'll take roughly 7-10 days for me to get my powerbook back but I have to wonder if that was a generous estimate since it seems like it's still sitting in Hawaii. It's not that I need my powerbook for work but it irks me that I could have taken it to an Apple certified technician whom possibly could have done an on-site repair or I could have requested a work order straight from Apple and I could have shipped it off to California myself. Just a little rant although I have always been and will forever be an Apple user although I am wondering as to whether anyone else has had the same problem as I.
 
Gymnut said:
Not to hijack this thread but I've had to turn my 15" 1.5GHz Alubook into the Apple store here in Hawaii to be serviced due to horizontal lines that would run up and down my screen until the screen would black out and the computer would be completely unusuable. I had purchased the powerbook back in August of 2004 and have had no problems whatsoever and have been more than satisfied with my purchase since I took it with me to Iraq since my unit had been activated shortly thereafter. It was only until August 05 I started having problems with my screen flickering horizontally then blacking out with the exception of a very thin faint blue line on the bottom portion of the screen. Since Apple doesn't have a store in Baghdad I unplugged my laptop and went through the process of resetting the pram and the power management unit but to no avail. The problem eventually went away after I left my powerbook alone for several days and I figured it must have been an overheating issue since it never our building and I always kept it plugged into a power source. It was only until this past December I started encountering the same problems with the LCD screen flickering and blacking out. Constant fiddling around with expose and the mouse cursor at times would bring the screen back, SOMETIMES. Oddly enough some days I'd power it up and the screen would be fine while other days I could not even get past the login screen since I could not see it. Since coming back home last week, the problem has been intermittent and I was forced to take it to the Apple store(thank god I paid for the Applecare when my 1 year was up) to have it looked at by a "genius". Not surprisingly the guy wasn't aware of any screen issues and much to my dismay, upon first powering it up the screen was fine. He said there wasn't much they can do if they cannot replicate the problem so he restarted and fortunately the screen started to flicker uncontrollably, thus providing the evidence. He being a self-proclaimed Captain Obvious, stated that it was a hardware problem and would be something that would require my powerbook to be shipped to California. He wasn't sure what exactly was the cause, possibly a logicboard issue stemming from the video card(ATI Radeon mobility 9700 w/128MB) that was producing the garbled video and/or no video at all. So...sad to say I've been without my powerbook for three days now and I've been slightly irritated that my repair status is still at "shipment pending to Apple repair center". The genius said it'll take roughly 7-10 days for me to get my powerbook back but I have to wonder if that was a generous estimate since it seems like it's still sitting in Hawaii. It's not that I need my powerbook for work but it irks me that I could have taken it to an Apple certified technician whom possibly could have done an on-site repair or I could have requested a work order straight from Apple and I could have shipped it off to California myself. Just a little rant although I have always been and will forever be an Apple user although I am wondering as to whether anyone else has had the same problem as I.
Click to expand...
That's a totally different issue than the one discussed in this thread
 
buttercup said:
According to the product specialist there IS a new lcd (with a new part number) and the trick is to make sure thats the part that gets on the laptop...
Click to expand...

Any chance of finding out what the old and new LCD part numbers are?
Do you have an Apple support case/tracker/call reference for your issue?
 
i dont think you're allowed the part numbers for spare apple parts. i asked for the part number for the old screen and they said i wasn't allowed it.

a screen is getting delivered to my local repairer on monday, and if that doesnt fix it, i think i'm going to bite the bullet and go for the 17". i'm at the point now where i just want a laptop that works, and the extra 300 quid doesnt really bother me anymore
 
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