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MacBook Air 2011 "Gradient" Effect at Bottom of Display
- Thread starter Chilla Frilla
- Start date
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Just an update, I returned the model with the screen I posted. They looked at it for 5 seconds, then the genius turned to the other one and just said "it has the dark spot issue." They gave me a new one, which upon turning on turned out to have some kind of bright white line coming out of the lower left corner of the display. So, we did another exchange. The Apple Store employee was cool and understanding, saying "I'd want mine to be perfect too."
Third time was the charm, no significant light bleed or darkness. Although it shows poor QC, this is why I continue to buy Apple, the excellent customer service.
And for anyone interested, I have the 13" ultimate, and all three units I received had the Samsung SSD and Samsung screen.
Third time was the charm, no significant light bleed or darkness. Although it shows poor QC, this is why I continue to buy Apple, the excellent customer service.
And for anyone interested, I have the 13" ultimate, and all three units I received had the Samsung SSD and Samsung screen.
I seriously don't understand why everyone is having problems, mine is fine. Other than the hour long wait to make a 3 minute purchase, my Air experience has been wonderful.
I had this to a small degree, i.e. dark splotches along the bottom of my MBA 13 screen. The shapes were similar to shadowy flames. Apple sent me a new MBA 13, no questions asked. The new screen is much better. They are both the Samsung panels.
I never noticed it all on my screen until reading this thread. Sure enough, if I look real hard I can see a very faint gradient. I guess I am lucky - very faint gradient, got a Samsung screen and Samsung SSD! So far, no complaints at all with this thing!
Yeah I saw this in the Apple Store yesterday on about 3 different 13" models.
It looks like something put in on purpose. It's barely noticeable and if I'd not read it here first I definitely wouldn't see it.
I was actually meant to buy one but that's a different matter. Last minute change of mind, the extra £250 for the memory I'll need is too much!
It looks like something put in on purpose. It's barely noticeable and if I'd not read it here first I definitely wouldn't see it.
I was actually meant to buy one but that's a different matter. Last minute change of mind, the extra £250 for the memory I'll need is too much!
I stopped in the apple store yesterday to see if I could get some information about iDisk and Lion.
I am familiar with this issue going back to my 2010 MBA.
I looked at 8 panels on one table, 6 11" and 2 13" . I checked all the panel types and it was a 60% LP 40% LT split. I even broke out my 11" LP and placed it beside one.
Conclusion; They all have that very narrow gray band at the bottom. The same as the 2010's did.
A few machines I have seen posted show it going into the upper 10% of the bottom panel and that is a defect.
Most will have a light 3mm of grey, varying in depth, not visible at all times and mostly noticeable in white background.
I am familiar with this issue going back to my 2010 MBA.
I looked at 8 panels on one table, 6 11" and 2 13" . I checked all the panel types and it was a 60% LP 40% LT split. I even broke out my 11" LP and placed it beside one.
Conclusion; They all have that very narrow gray band at the bottom. The same as the 2010's did.
A few machines I have seen posted show it going into the upper 10% of the bottom panel and that is a defect.
Most will have a light 3mm of grey, varying in depth, not visible at all times and mostly noticeable in white background.
Today I finally returned my MBA due to this gradient issue. BTW I found a colleague in my workplace who owns MBA 11". I've checked it and it also has a faint gradient at the bottom of the display. But he said he can bare it. Anyway I'm going to buy MBP 15" base model tomorrow.
i have this. my machine is definitely going to have the LCD changed. hope the technicians will do a great job on taking things apart and assemble it like new machine. i hate when i get my machine back with loosen parts. maybe they can fix my creaking lower case too.😱
Just exchanged my 13" 2012 MBA(LG display) for this exact reason....the replacement has a Samsung display but unfortunately the gradient effect is still there.
I noticed in the update that EVERY single MBA has this, is this also true for the 2012 models? How could apple let something as big as this become the norm? This is ridiculous!
I noticed in the update that EVERY single MBA has this, is this also true for the 2012 models? How could apple let something as big as this become the norm? This is ridiculous!
Well i find it ridiculous that part of this conversation is getting out of hand over a non-issue about panels being faulty....they are not, it's the same as the storm in a glass of water on nooooo my panel is a LG one i'm gonna return it.
I have a LG panel in my 2012 model and since i don't have any comparisation i really don't care, i work in a computer store which also sells monitors yes i can compare there but i'm not gonna buy 2 monitors i'm just buying one and that's the one i look at.
And if you really get picky, be my guest buy from 1 manufacturer 2 exactly the same screens hook them up next to each other, i will bet my right arm you will still see differences.
And the same goes for Toshiba versus Samsung SSD's these differences are well within QC standards by Apple.
But to respond just a tad on topic, i've just booted my VM Windows 7 on my MBA which has the same issue when in fullscreen Safari and on my Win7 installation the problem is not there, so apparently it's a OS specific feature and let's be honest you read on the top of the screen not the last 2mm on the bottom of the screen now are you, and if you do please seek help 😛
I don't understand people like you...If you're spending $1000-$2000 of your hard earned money on a product why wouldn't you want it to perform as best as possible?
You're right in that i do read at the top/middle of the screen but when you have a site with a white background open its quite distracting, especially since i hide my dock.
Yeh i understand your point also, but its not a defect in the notebook or screen, cause in my VM i dont have the problem, i do have it in safari and other fullscreen apps, i dont even have it when my MBA boots (apple logo screen)
Hi Guys,
Looking around for people with the same issue. I'm just returning mine for the exact problem, also for some dark spots saw at the bottom of my screen.
I really disappointed with the screen quality when I'm paying a premium price. I do love the laptop but this is really annoying.
Also realized that I've got Sharp screen and Toshiba SSD. So the worst of both worlds.
Maybe will try to get a replacement. I ordered online: is it possible to get a replacement from the store?
Have anyone find out whether this is a OS or Hardware issue? Same as above, cannot believe this is acceptable in this price category.
Looking around for people with the same issue. I'm just returning mine for the exact problem, also for some dark spots saw at the bottom of my screen.
I really disappointed with the screen quality when I'm paying a premium price. I do love the laptop but this is really annoying.
Also realized that I've got Sharp screen and Toshiba SSD. So the worst of both worlds.
Maybe will try to get a replacement. I ordered online: is it possible to get a replacement from the store?
Have anyone find out whether this is a OS or Hardware issue? Same as above, cannot believe this is acceptable in this price category.
I have this exact issue on my 2012 MBA. I kind of suspect it might be there (to a greater or lesser extent) on all of them. For what it is worth I've gotten used to it and rarely think about it now. But it definitely wasn't present on my 2009 13" MBP.
Isn't this gradient simply back light leak? I suppose this is the price of such a thin display that one can almost see through.
I've noticed all the 11" MBA's in the Apple store also have dark patches at each lower corner. These are visible when taking a web site with a white background, like this one, into full screen mode.
I'm hoping this 'extra problem' is due to the new model and will not be present in a few months.
The trouble for some of us, me definitely included, is once you see the defect you can't stop taking your eyes off of it 😱
I've noticed all the 11" MBA's in the Apple store also have dark patches at each lower corner. These are visible when taking a web site with a white background, like this one, into full screen mode.
I'm hoping this 'extra problem' is due to the new model and will not be present in a few months.
The trouble for some of us, me definitely included, is once you see the defect you can't stop taking your eyes off of it 😱
Alright, I just got back from the store. This is just something that the Airs have with them. All of the ones at the store had the same gradient effect and the genius hadn't even noticed it before since it's so subtle I assume.
It's not a deal breaker for me, it's hardly noticeable and since it's even across the entire bottom, it doesn't look bad (it almost looks like an intended effect Apple put on it, but I doubt that's true in this case).
EDIT: I'm afraid after using it for more hours the past day, I'm going to most likely return it. No matter what, I keep noticing the gradient at the bottom and it's irritating me. I think I'll probably return it and wait for the MBP refresh that will hopefully be real soon and just go that route.
I really like the Air, it's sweet, but that display 🙁
It's not a deal breaker for me, it's hardly noticeable and since it's even across the entire bottom, it doesn't look bad (it almost looks like an intended effect Apple put on it, but I doubt that's true in this case).
EDIT: I'm afraid after using it for more hours the past day, I'm going to most likely return it. No matter what, I keep noticing the gradient at the bottom and it's irritating me. I think I'll probably return it and wait for the MBP refresh that will hopefully be real soon and just go that route.
I really like the Air, it's sweet, but that display 🙁
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