i've asked this a couple times, but i still havent gotten an answer. if my MBP 15" glossy (BTO) has this problem, will they let it be returned at all? i'd almost rather have a macbook at this point just to avoid the problem altogether. its a shame that apple didnt recognize this at all. hopefully they begin to, and when you call up saying "my screen is grainy" theyll know what youre talking about.
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MacBook Pro Grainy Display
- Thread starter pbmikez
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I think it cause they don't have the problem. Presumably the coating is sprayed onto the panel, its not hard to imagine how difficult it will be to get this process just right, even when the whole process is automated there is still going to be some fine tuning involved somewhere. Yours was obviously bad, mine was blatantly obvious from the moment I switched on, others can't see it at all so they have either aways had a grainy screen (unlikely and it is also obvious as it is hard to focus on) or the problem is not there.
I tried to... still hard to see because of the nature of the photos... you'd really have to see it with eyes to get the effect. It's almost dizzying. I got eye fatigue really easy using the MBP and that never happens on my PowerBook. Even if I TRIED to look past the grain, it still jumped out at me.
According to Apple... custom orders are not returnable... they must be "repaired".
Well in that case.. Would anyone like to purchase a 15" Glossy 2.33ghz C2D with a 160gb HD?
I returned it and my replacement left shanghai yesterday, its probably gonna have the same problem. If it does than thats it. Im returning it asking for a refund AND a compensation for all the hassle.
To everybody thinking about returning yours, dont settle for repairs. Dont agree to the restocking fee. Its ********. The screen is flawed and in no way is that your fault, this goes for the BTOs too.
Good luck in your quest to find a decent MBP.
Just got back from my local Apple reseller and it is true 
The display on the 15" MBP C2D looks like it has dirt on it. I kept wanting to clean it. The shop assistant said he had not heard of or noticed the problem but when we set up a side by side it was obvious even to him.
BTW.... I was comparing it to an older 17" C1D.
I agree in general with the assesment put forward by TheSpaz regarding all Apple monitors.
Of note. The glossy MPB15" C2D was near perfect....almost no grain.
The MacBooks in both gloss and matt were really good too.
Conclusion.
This is a problem with the screen coating not the graphics card or other issues. The screen looks like there is a weeks worth of dust on it next to other screens.
I am cancelling my order and going with a 17" as I cannot use the glossy for my kind of work.
A big mahalo to all out there for bringing this problem to the fore and for all the considered and unemotional research and reasoning.
Now the only real question is how the hell Apple let this happen in the first place?
The display on the 15" MBP C2D looks like it has dirt on it. I kept wanting to clean it. The shop assistant said he had not heard of or noticed the problem but when we set up a side by side it was obvious even to him.
BTW.... I was comparing it to an older 17" C1D.
I agree in general with the assesment put forward by TheSpaz regarding all Apple monitors.
Of note. The glossy MPB15" C2D was near perfect....almost no grain.
The MacBooks in both gloss and matt were really good too.
Conclusion.
This is a problem with the screen coating not the graphics card or other issues. The screen looks like there is a weeks worth of dust on it next to other screens.
I am cancelling my order and going with a 17" as I cannot use the glossy for my kind of work.
A big mahalo to all out there for bringing this problem to the fore and for all the considered and unemotional research and reasoning.
Now the only real question is how the hell Apple let this happen in the first place?
This is important information. Some people (including myself) have reported the glossy MPB15" C2D display was affected as bad as the matte, either because they have a glossy or have seen one in the Apple store. Since you have seen a perfect glossy, and do know what the grain effect looks like, then there indeed may be good displays out there. Unfortunately, it seems there is no way to distinguish a bad from a good display by model number or other method (other than a personal look-see) yet, so sending your system in for a replacement LCD is a crapshoot at this time.
Just out of interest, what did you tell Apple to have them send you a new one. Mine has quite obvious grain problems, and after explaining it to a tech he said I would have to take it to a local service place to have them "diagnose" it before I could send it back.
This is my first Mac, and the only other dealings I have had with their AppleCare is for an iPod but they were quite helpful then. In all the times I have called Dell or HP they have never accused me of lying (practically speaking) and made me take it into a service centre, they just send out a replacement and I mail the broken one back.
Is this normal, or did I just get a bad tech? I am still within my 14 day return period but it was BTO, damn 160GB hard drive.
Thanks,
JJ
I think most of the people who are noticing this horrid effect on the MacBook Pro screens are the people who have owned an Apple laptop in the past and are used to a nice clear and flawless display (such as my old PowerBook G4 that I'm using right now). It's much more appealing than the MacBook Pro display. This one looks well built and very very very low grain level. It's not as bright but, I still think it looks better than the MacBook Pro display.
One thing that you should know. If I would have known that the MacBook Pro display wasn't going to look the same (or better) than my Powerbook screen... I wouldn't have purchased it. Also, even if I did look at one at the store before I bought it, who's to say I would have noticed it there in the blinding Apple Store lights and knowing the fact that hundreds of people touch the screen, scratching and leaving fingerprints all over it. I would have just thought the screen was dirty without knowing that it's how they come out of the box.
Anyone agree with me?
One thing that you should know. If I would have known that the MacBook Pro display wasn't going to look the same (or better) than my Powerbook screen... I wouldn't have purchased it. Also, even if I did look at one at the store before I bought it, who's to say I would have noticed it there in the blinding Apple Store lights and knowing the fact that hundreds of people touch the screen, scratching and leaving fingerprints all over it. I would have just thought the screen was dirty without knowing that it's how they come out of the box.
Anyone agree with me?
I think the MBP's display still trumps my 12" PB's...Just turned it on and did a quick compare: PB 's full brightness is equivalent to 4 bars of brightness on the MBP. My MBP screen is nice enough that I haven't needed to use my 20" Dell monitor since I got it.
Yes we do. And don't you dare settle for paying a restocking fee! You will be doing a great disservice to a lot of other ppl who are not happy with the screen on their MBPs. Just show this thread to the store manager, unless, of course, your legal name is TheSpaz
Yes we do. And don't you dare settle for paying a restocking fee! You will be doing a great disservice to a lot of other ppl who are not happy with the screen on their MBPs. Just show this thread to the store manager, unless, of course, your legal name is TheSpaz
What's done is done. It's to much of a hassle to go back and try to get my $250 back. I'll just take this as a lesson. RESEARCH and TRY what you are buying and carefully look at it to make sure you know you're making the right decision. I know I've said this a lot but, my PowerBook is built like a rock. It still looks as good as the day I bought it and the screen and overall build of the entire computer is very nice and rugged.
As a side note, I didn't really like having the iSight built into the display... for one, you have this ugly black hole in the top of the display and for 2 they should have made the bezel around the display the same size all the way around and centered the camera within it vertically... it looks oddly placed to me. I know Apple probably couldn't center it because there's probably space there to just barely fit the parts that go to the camera but, it was just a visual thing I noticed. Is anyone tired of reading these threads yet?? At least I'm happy for now and I can't wait to get my Mac Pro... I'll be sure to come back and share my experience with all of you (good or bad). I'm thinking of getting the 20" Apple Cinema Display but, I wanna know what other people think of them first. https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=3064558#post3064558
I've wondered about that myself, and having come from a Titanium PowerBook G4, I was wowed by the MBP's bright screen! After these screen complaints began, I brought out my (or, rather, my wife's "new" TiBook!) to compare, and the screens have the same color consistency (except the resolution of the MBP is higher than the TiBook) - no "graininess" on either (although the lighting is uneven on the TiBook). While you may be correct that some MBP buyers don't have another Mac screen to compare to, I can't see the flaw in mine, even when turning the screen brightness down to match the rather dim TiBook's.
I'm going to visit the MOM Apple Store this weekend, and I'm bringing my MBP to compare to the screens there - I'm interested in seeing how many complaints the store reps have had (although I think that they often deny "problems" when asked, towing the "company line!") The screens of 3 friends/coworkers seemed fine to me, but I haven't spent alot of time on them, either - BTW, they were all "glossy," too.
iBorg
No question that the MBPs have brighter screens, something I've wanted to see in the past several PowerBooks and iBooks I've had, which never seemed quite bright enough for my taste.
One thing to remember about comparing to a 12" PowerBook, is that they were universally criticized for using the same inexpensive LCD used in the 12" iBook. Quite different from the "better" screens used in the 15" and 17" PBs. (Well, until the last-gen PBook, which shipped with the faulty "horizontal lines" LCD screen.)
iBorg
I told em its simply unnacceptable that my MBP has an inferior screen compared to their cheaper consumer laptops(notebooks), they suggested repairs and I told him to get real you dont repair a 3 day old 2k+ computer and I asked for Customer Relations rather than their retarded tech support. They saw to it that I got priority shipping and I signed a waiver that Id have to pay for two MBPs if I failed to return my faulty one within a week of receiving the new one. I specifically asked for this as I cant go without a computer while they sort this mess out.
brikeh, I hope you get a good one on replacement - you're right to be firm concerning a brand-new notebook, in demanding a replacement instead of repair! Good luck, man!
iBorg
Going to the Apple center this afternoon to have them checked and compare to the others (P.S: the 14 days are from the day you receive it from the carrier, I guess?!?!) and then I'll see what they say and let you know!
Cheers!
Cheers!
Just checking.. if I bought a BTO (which I did), then the two week return period is irrelevant because Apple wouldn't take my machine back anyway, right?
If it is deemed as defective they will probably take it back. So argue your case, it is "defective"!