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just got my new g5 with a DEAD PIXEL-HELP

I have yet to have successful dealings with Apple support.

My iMac sounded like a 747 blowing full blast 24/7...the support people told me it was normal and there was no problem.

After this made me irate, they put me through to an engineer, who I talked to for a very long time on several occasions. He asked me over the phone:

"Do you have the air conditioner running?"

"No sir, that's my iMac."

He gave me his direct number, email address, etc. I performed a number of tests he asked me to do, and we concluded - and he agreed 110% - that my iMac was indeed VERY defective.

But would the support people verify a replacement? Nope. Instead, they sent me a power supply and a 30 page instruction manual.

Two hours and numerous tedious steps (and a new power supply later), I still had an absurdly loud iMac.

Called again...they decided.."oh, it must be the entire midpane this time"...so this time they send me an entire mid pane and an even larger instruction packet.

A lot of time and a ridiculous install later, though I essentially had a different machine, it was still obnoxiously loud. Called again, and they wanted to ship enough midpane to me.

At this point, I'd had enough. I took it to the Apple store, plunked it down on the genious bar, and told them everything I'd been through. Well, they didn't agree with me either, and agreed to replace the midpane for me.

Note that due to the length of shipping times, I was unable to use my bran new iMac for weeks at a time. By now, 6 months had passed in total.

2 whole weeks after I dropped it off, I go to pick it up, we turn it on, and WOW - no more wind tunnel!!

But guess what? There was now a RIDICULOUS ringing buzz sound. They said they heard it but it was under "spec" and they could not replace this machine or offer another one.

I took it home, and lucky for me, the LCD went haywire. Turned around, took it right back, and got a new LCD replacement. Another 2 weeks of no computer passed.

As you can see...this experience nearly had me to NEVER buy another apple product again. And keep in mind, each time I said I "called them back," I was on the phone well over an hour each time, being denied and turned down by several people, until eventually I'd get someone who'd give in.

Totally unnacceptable by any standards.
 
From Apple.com:

About LCD display pixel anomalies

This document defines the term "pixel anomaly", explains why such anomalies occur, and describes what to do if you feel your active matrix LCD panel has more than an acceptable number of pixel anomalies.

Many Apple products use active-matrix LCD panels, including the iMac (Flat Panel), iBook, recent PowerBook computers, Apple Cinema displays, and iPod models with a color display. In addition to being slim and light, active-matrix LCD technology provides customers with many visual performance advantages when compared to traditional cathode-ray tube- (CRT) based displays, such as increased brightness, sharpness, and contrast ratio.

Active-matrix LCD technology uses rows and columns of addressable locations (pixels) that render text and images on screen. Each pixel location has three separate subpixels (red, green and blue) that allow the image to be rendered in full color. Each subpixel has a corresponding transistor responsible for turning the subpixel on or off.

There are typically millions of these subpixels on an LCD display. For example, the LCD panel used in the Apple Cinema HD display is made up of 2.3 million pixels and 6.9 million red, green, and blue subpixels. Occasionally, a transistor does not work perfectly, which may result in the affected subpixel being turned on (bright) or turned off (dark). With the millions of subpixels on a display, it is quite possible to have a low number of faulty transistors on an LCD. Therefore, a certain number of subpixel anomalies is considered acceptable. Rejecting all but perfect LCD panels would significantly increase the retail price for products using LCD displays. These factors apply to all manufacturers using LCD technology--not just Apple products.

If you suspect your display contains a high number of pixel anomalies, take your Apple product to an Apple Authorized Service Provider for closer examination. There may be a charge for the evaluation.
 
From Dell.com:

Quality Standards

During the manufacturing process, it is not uncommon for one or more pixels to be fixed in an unchanging state. The visible result is a fixed pixel that appears as an extremely tiny dark or bright discolored spot.

In almost every case, these fixed pixels are hard to notice and do not detract from the display quality or usability. A display with 1 to 5 fixed pixels is within the industry standards, and is therefore considered an acceptable display. LCD screens that do not meet this industry standard are rarely passed on from the point of manufacturing.

If you notice more than six (6) fixed pixels on your display, or if there are several fixed pixels in a small area of the screen, refer to the E-mail Dell section under Additional Information to contact Dell Technical Support.
 
dmetzcher said:
That's like saying that hard drives fail and it's not the manufacturer's fault.
Click to expand...

No what it is saying is equivalent to if you have one bad sector on your hard drive or DVD or CD. You are not allowed to return your computer if you have a hard drive which has one unusable block.

Doug
 
With the millions of subpixels on a display, it is quite possible to have a low number of faulty transistors on an LCD.
Click to expand...

So they are basically saying it's OK to sell you a faulty product.

I don't think so.
 
You guys are missing the point. You probably wouldn't own your LCD if there was a zero tolerance policy. It would cost too much for most to buy. Perhaps your issue is with the visibility of these policies... (as I have posted above, they do exist) because surely your issue can't be with the policy itself. It's simple economics.
 
In my opinion (which is limited).

You bought an iMac, the iMac has an internal non replaceable display that is also non user serviceable. It is not acceptable for anything with that type of display to have a fault during the first few days of owning it, no matter how little or much it costs.

Apple can easily resell that system on their refurbished site to someone that may find 1 dead (or stuck) pixel acceptable, while also avoiding an angry customer that paid full price for this item. I can't see how it would be in Apples best interest to aggravate customers for an obvious flaw (This is obvious, horizontal lines are in a more grey area then this.), as it could potentially lead that person to turn away other potential Apple customers.

Again this was just my opinion, nothing more.
 
I think what it should finally boil down to is customer satisfaction....if not for me ( the customer) NO company would exist! Especially for Apple, which, is backed by a devoted set of fans, they should be a bit more nice.....how can they forget that it is the testimony of those who have vehemently backed it bring them the moolah and more customers. Anyone may disagree, but if they expect me to accept a defective product out of the box as it is lower than the acceptable level, then they would have adjust to the 1% less money I could have in my bank account when I write out a check and ask them to live with it, as a few dollars here and there is fine by my standards!!!! Who are these people to set standards on what is acceptable when I pay for it with MY money!!!!!!!!!!!! No WAY!!!!!!!!:mad: :)
 
Just got my iMac after waiting a long time.

And I have a pixel always on. It does bug me but I will get used to it. I spoke to Apple today to see if it could be changed. Not that I am bothered but I wanted to check before loading on all my tunes and pictures. Nothing worse than setting up a machine and then returning it.

A little disappointed about the pixel which is red and exactly half way horizontally and 2/3 down from top.

I have been 'massaging' the screen and running the video mentioned earlier on the thread but no joy yet.

My friend told me that he had an always on pixel and it 'fixed' itself after a while. Well I think he just got used to it and then ignored it in reality.

Anyway, here's wishing me luck..tim e to get the damn pixel fixed.
 
When I purchased my ibook, I brought it home, opened it up, and booted for the first time....to see a single stuck pixel. Dead pixel? I don't know. Anyway, I took it right back to the apple store (1-2 hours later) and told them about it, and they told me I could exchange it ONCE for a replacement. If the new one had a dead pixel, then that was all they could do. So I could either keep that one, or get a new one and take my chances. So I opted for the new one, and got a perfectly fine display, all pixels normal (as far as I can tell). I was just very polite and didn't make up any stories about high end photography - i'm not sure if you buy it from apple.com if it is harder to do this though. I guess for that reason the retail store is nice.
 
aquajet said:
That's right....for those of you that insist a single dead pixel is unacceptable, you have a choice. Are you willing to spend that much? I'm not.

Some of you just can't accept the reality of the situation.
Click to expand...

Nah, playuh.

I've always gotten what I wanted. You don't have to settle for sub-par. And I didn't have to rub my weiner on the screen or massage it.
 
By the way, as far as I know, most if not all CRT screens above a certain size have horizontal lines running across the screen either in one or two places. This obviously makes it 'unperfect', but that's the way they come. Try sending those back. Personally, I think one dead pixel is better than a line running all the way across my screen, but whatever. On either screen, you don't notice it after a while.

I think the lesson here is do your research- but also, it would be nice if the general public knew more about LCD tolerances. Then they would know that they got what they paid for.
 
aquajet said:
That's right....for those of you that insist a single dead pixel is unacceptable, you have a choice. Are you willing to spend that much? I'm not.

Some of you just can't accept the reality of the situation.
Click to expand...

Uh huh... so why are you buying a Mac?

I fail to see why having dead pixels are acceptable for a Mac, and yes, a Mac is expensive.

If I buy a $100 "ABC" LCD panel, yes, I won't get too pissed if there is a dead pixel. But if I buy a $1999 computer from a spastic manufacturer that insists on sticking a monitor together with the rest of the computer, with no user servicable parts, I sure as hell want a PERFECT display.
 
MacAficionado said:
My daughter's Gameboy Advance has a dead pixel,, it's an LCD it happens, and it is not Apple's fault.

I believe it might go away in time. It's just one of those things.
Click to expand...

It is Apple's fault if they refuse to replace it. Dell will let you replace any monitor with even one dead pixel.
 
I just back from apple store

I just back from next byte, a rather big australian apple retailer.

I had a look (just a glance, not a careful look) on their iMac on display table. Same dimmer area on the left lower area like my powerbook 12".


Apple is just hopeless. They simply don't know how to fix the problem. If they keep leaving that iMac on display table I would have no chance to replace mine. Coz I need a better display to show mine is worse. Now I found mine is better than theirs. Maybe I came to the store with my laptop people over there will say, "Hi You are lucky you get a perfect apple LCD!!!"

I always heard "Microsoft is robbing people's back account." I agree, I just don't agree that apple didn't do the same thing.
 
iGary said:
Nah, playuh.

I've always gotten what I wanted. You don't have to settle for sub-par. And I didn't have to rub my weiner on the screen or massage it.
Click to expand...

Of course you have

I usually get what I want and need, but every now and again, perfection is just unobtainable.
 
decksnap said:
There are typically millions of these subpixels on an LCD display. For example, the LCD panel used in the Apple Cinema HD display is made up of 2.3 million pixels and 6.9 million red, green, and blue subpixels.
Click to expand...

Sounds impressive right?

Well in my camera there are EIGHT MILLION sensors on the CCD sensor, and factoring in the component colors there are (GASP) 24 MILLION SENSORS! Look at the size of that thing! Just imagine the sheer engineering required. Do I have to put up with stuck pixels?

Well they do occur from time to time, but for the most part they don't really exist.

Making a LCD panel is child's play. All that bit about "increasing production costs" should really be "we want to line our pockets and gorge off you more by selling you defective products"

Under no circumstances should anyone accept a defective product.
 
What's interesting is the equilibrium reached when most people accept a dead pixel or three while only a few don't. This means that Apple is able to absorb the cost of a small percentage of returns without having to jack up the price of their products with LCDs because they know their "policy" along with "common" technological sense will hold off any large-scale demand for no-dead-pixel screens.

In other words, the people who demand perfect screens at a low price are only getting them because the majority of people are not complaining. Instead of arguing with or trying to change the minds of non-complainers, perhaps we should be thanking them.

-K
 
aquajet said:
Of course you have

I usually get what I want and need, but every now and again, perfection is just unobtainable.
Click to expand...

Except you must not confuse stuck pixels with perfection.

Let's take Eizo LCD displays as an example, since I am generally so happy with them.

PERFECT backlighting.. no uneven blotches or "pink" corners like the ACD!
PERFECT color calibration
Obviously no stuck pixels

Sure, it does cost a tad more than an ACD even, but ACDs still easily costs twice as much as equivalent displays.

Now let's look at the iMac in question, and realise this. Unlike normal circumstances when I can buy a separate display, or use an external monitor, or whatever.. for the iMacs, that's it. You are stuck. Sorry out of luck.

Only an idiot will accept it under any circumstances, sorry I just gotta say that. Even if I am an AAPL shareholder and it is in my best interests to *maximize Apple's margins* I will still not have it happen on *my* expense.
 
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