MacBook Pro Vertical Striping Issue

[deputylove8]

hmmm..i would think this is juz a QC problem. Majority would seem 'ok' mbps while a hanful of unlucky dudes and dudettes may get displays
that are problematic.

now where is my kit kat...

 

[padré]

screen problem

yeah, I got this stopid screen thing to though it happend only a time or 4 since I got it (which is like when they came out) so I learned to live with it...

 

[Marion]

It's my first Mac ever (MBP Penryn 2.5Ghz) and I have the issue. I've got 6 IBM/Lenovo and 1 Sony VAIO within the last 7 years and not an issue at all with these 7 laptops...

If it's only a small percentage that are affected, should I count myself lucky knowing that I've hit a defective screen on my first MBP. No matter the real percentage, for me it's 100% defective devices that I've got from Apple so far compare to 0% with IBM/Lenovo and Sony (Apple, where's the quality???). Knowing that IBM/Lenovo and Sony are less expensive and seems to show better reliability, I could say that there is a real PREMIUM to be able to run OSX.

At first I tought that the screen issue was a nice feature to save battery life... well I'm new to Mac...

I had the issue at least 3 times (from what I remember) since the last 3 months.

Anyone in Canada got their MBP replace after this issue ?

 

[PDE]

I'm a Genius at an Apple Store. I have not seen a single MacBook Pro with this problem. It would be great if you guys took into account the fact that just because 500 people post in an Apple discussions thread about a problem does not mean it is plaguing every new computer Apple makes. To be honest the types of people who post here are the ones that are never happy. You are the people who spend your whole appointment telling me how much you love Apple and how you've been using them forever and then take the next person's appointment complaining that I won't give you a new MacBook Pro because I can't see the imaginary yellow tint your SR MacBook Pro has (hint: you've convinced yourself it has this tint because you read online that it is a big problem).

Try to keep in mind that Apple's top priority is customer satisfaction. Believe it or not they do everything in their power to help you out.

Edit: I will elaborate on my yellow SR comment. I'm not saying that wasn't a problem with a few of them. However, someone brought one in reporting the yellow tint and I couldn't see it despite the white background with gray boxes on the top and bottom (the only way he could see the problem). I went ahead and replaced the LCD for him anyways. The day after it was replaced he came back saying he could see a yellow tint. I could not see it again (and this time checked with several other people in the store, none of which could see it) and would not replace the display. He convinced himself he had this problem because he had read that it was common. That was the first and only time I ever saw anyone reporting that problem.

Hi Stopcomplaining,

Are you suggesting that this is not a wider issue? If it's a random issue that doesn't affect many MBPs, there would not be thousands of posts on it. There aren't thousands of posts on most issues, just the ones that are more frequently experienced. Besides, the Apple geniuses and technicians I've spoken with have said that Apple is aware of the issue and hopefully there will be a software fix. Is that not true? Either way, the issue is REAL and widespread. You not having seen it means little.

As for the yellow issue. I can't think of a worse place to diagnose any issue related to displays or audio than the geniusbar in applestores. I mean, you can't see ANYTHING wrong under that lighting, nor can you hear weird noises. The yellowing issue has also been common and just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't a problem. Perhaps your eyes are not as sensitive as those who use the machines in their work and need consistency and even color.

Anyway, Apple has had lots of issues with the macbooks and MBPS in terms of quality, regardless of what you choose to see/acknowledge. It's not imaginary.

 

[legacyb4]

My MacBook (black, January 2007) exhibits this when waking (slightly darker spot along the bottom of the screen when waking) but goes away once the machine is fully awake.

Related issue?

 

[radio893fm]

I'm a Genius at an Apple Store. I have not seen a single MacBook Pro with this problem. It would be great if you guys took into account the fact that just because 500 people post in an Apple discussions thread about a problem does not mean it is plaguing every new computer Apple makes. To be honest the types of people who post here are the ones that are never happy. You are the people who spend your whole appointment telling me how much you love Apple and how you've been using them forever and then take the next person's appointment complaining that I won't give you a new MacBook Pro because I can't see the imaginary yellow tint your SR MacBook Pro has (hint: you've convinced yourself it has this tint because you read online that it is a big problem).

Try to keep in mind that Apple's top priority is customer satisfaction. Believe it or not they do everything in their power to help you out.

Edit: I will elaborate on my yellow SR comment. I'm not saying that wasn't a problem with a few of them. However, someone brought one in reporting the yellow tint and I couldn't see it despite the white background with gray boxes on the top and bottom (the only way he could see the problem). I went ahead and replaced the LCD for him anyways. The day after it was replaced he came back saying he could see a yellow tint. I could not see it again (and this time checked with several other people in the store, none of which could see it) and would not replace the display. He convinced himself he had this problem because he had read that it was common. That was the first and only time I ever saw anyone reporting that problem.

StopComplaining,

I'll make it short. You are not a genius, far from it. Instead, you are just another fanboy that pretends Apple products are 'it' and Steve Jobs is your God. BTW: how pretentious is to call those guys geniuses... Einstein might be rolling in his grave!

Come back to reality, stop bashing all day MS, Dell, Lenovo or any other non-Apple company, and try to be objective.

If it weren't for fanboys, self-made-self-called 3 month training vs real enginneers- geniuses that blame all on customers, Apple would have already fixed the thousand of hardware issues and software issues we have faced in the last couple of years.

That's it.

 

[mikey.f]

I had this exact problem on my (then) month old MBP. Firstly, I called the Tech support and explained the problem and linked him to macrumors forum with the pics. He gave me a case number and told me a best thing to do is to go to my nearest apple store for a genius appointment, and that i should give them that case number. So I did that, plus I also had some photos of my screen from when the lines happened... They didn't really discuss it much with me, just told me they would replace the display and that it could take up to several days. I was going to travel anyway, so I left the display with them and they actually called two days later that it's fixed. After I got it back, I never experienced the issue again (thankfully). It was apparently a faulty batch of screens ...

 

[EgbertAttrick]

I have some graphic bug from time to time. Looks like that:

I had that. Send it in. They replaced my logic board.

 

[JeffDM]

When you state that in a thread where many people seem to affected, and where numerous postings like this is linked to, that is indeed dismissing the problem, no matter if that is your intention or not.


Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that many people feel the urge to post these things: They wouldn't have if the problem was isolated, if there weren't any problems like this, now would they.

No, we won't know for sure. We will never know how high a failure rate the batteries had either.
The thing is, downplaying problems at every corner won't help the customers and it will only make Apple ignore it for even more months or years or denying it entirely.

The way you write, it sounds as if you're offended at what I wrote, as if I pissed in your coffee.

We may have different ideas of what "widespread" means, but the existence of a few threads and a page with several pictures doesn't prove it. "Isolated" doesn't mean that there are only five bad units.

The battery problem was a much more serious one. People can handle a product that doesn't work a lot more than they can handle the prospect of third degree burns.

I do agree that QC is going down a bit, but the last I checked the broader stats (Consumer Reports and IIRC, PC World), Macs are still on top. I really can't take anecdotes as a good indicator of how prevalent a problem is.

 

[Electrolytic]

Of all the responses to this I'm surprised no one pointed out that Apple doesnt sell the MacBook Pro display separate from the MacBook Pro. I say this since I'm only reading this as a MacBook Pro issue.


I'm not sure I understand your comment... Whether or not Apple makes or buys displays from other mfg (which they do) Apple is responsible for picking high quality displays which they don't, they pick very cheap & poor quality displays & put them in pretty cases. This is why you can see issues across the imac & macbook/pro lines....

 

[lr4life]

I know the Feeling!

I have had this same problem a couple of times with my MBP. It hasn't done it in a while, but this is obviously a REAL problem. Apple needs to own up!

 

[lr4life]

StopComplaining,

I'll make it short. You are not a genius, far from it. Instead, you are just another fanboy that pretends Apple products are 'it' and Steve Jobs is your God. BTW: how pretentious is to call those guys geniuses... Einstein might be rolling in his grave!

Come back to reality, stop bashing all day MS, Dell, Lenovo or any other non-Apple company, and try to be objective.

If it weren't for fanboys, self-made-self-called 3 month training vs real enginneers- geniuses that blame all on customers, Apple would have already fixed the thousand of hardware issues and software issues we have faced in the last couple of years.

That's it.

Well, I'm regular person, not a "Mac Genius" and I have heard about this problem a couple of times before on other forums. Shouldn't a "Mac Genius" take his time to be on top of these problems and do a little research.

By the way, I have recently switched from being a PC user and I have never seen a single PC with this problem. If Apple is charging at least $2000 for a laptop with specs that you can get for literally half the price in a PC, these problems should not be an issue.

Also, Apples employees who are supposed to help its users should be worried about helping their fellow Mac users, not trying to make them feel stupid.
This mentality to act superior to others is why Apple still holds only 10% of the personal computing market share.

 

[cdembek]

Is anyone tracking date codes or s/n for affected units??

 

[ArcaneDevice]

Edit: I will elaborate on my yellow SR comment.

...

That was the first and only time I ever saw anyone reporting that problem.

Those that know it's there don't need "genius" clarification. They just send it back. Like I did twice.

Don't mistake the fact the vast majority of the Apple general public wouldn't know how to calibrate a screen, recognize grayscale and backlight uniformity or what a mura defect is, as a sign that that the issue is not widespread or a major flaw in MBP displays.

One or two reports is an isolated incident. Repeated hardware replacements and massive amounts of photographic proof isn't.

 

[137489]

Wow,

you guys are bashing this poor apple employee. I used to repair out of warrenty PC's for people and I know for a fact there are a lot are hypocondriacts where they automatically assume their computer problem is something someone else reported when it is not; or they read something and say "ya know I think that mine....".

Also, I had to deal with people wanting new parts just to keep their old machine from dying because they did not want a new one (up until recently I was still repairing Pentium II Windows 95 PC's for people.

A couple of people even tried to swindle free upgrades out of me.

To be honost, you all mention "other furoms". I have seen where people log into one forum with one name and then log into another forum with another name to rant about the same problem. Heck, with Dell's poor customer service I posted a few rants on other forums as well.

Granted all electronics may have a glitch here or there, and it is possible where a whole bad batch went out before a problem was caught.

my wife used to work on an assembly line assembling and QC'ing Micros touch screen kiosk systems. That company did QC on their logic boards by hooking two connectors, if the green light came on, that meant electricity was flowing through the board and moved them on to the shipping area.

their QC was:

1. insert memory and a fake hard drive.
2. Connect the connectors.
3. Green light on? Yes, remove memory and hard drive and ship to next assebly area or ship out.
4. green light not on? Remove memory and hard drive and put in a bin to go back to where ever (sometimes back on a boat to China).

Another issue. Some of you say assembled in California. Did you ever look at the insides of a computer lately. I took a Dell laptop apart because of issues:

1. LCD made in China by Samsung
2. Hard Drive - Western Digital also made in China
3. Logic board - chips marked made in China, Made in Korea, Made in Tawiian.

So I can't say blame apple if the parts are to blame. Heck, I even received an IBM (company I used to work with). I turned it on and it had a message on the screen stating it was the first power up and asked if I wanted to run the burn-in period. Appearantly they never turned the machine on after assembling it.


I also had some weird PC problems where a problem happened only once and never came back again.

So, in short. Leave the poor apple buy alone. I am not sure about Apple, but I have seen at Compusa where a lot of techs (again PC's)were hired off the street and only paid $10/hr and I knew more than they did.

I have a lot of complaints about Dell, just I chose to live with them.

Also I think there is a limit as to the number of repairs. If someone is complaining about their LCD after it had been fixed 3 times they keep coming back day after day, when it leaves the store working fine. I have to wonder if I was dealing with a lunitic or is the person abusing their machine.

Our news network also warned people about leaving laptops in their cars during hot days, as the chemical used in the LCD display will boil. the tech guy who was on showed some of the problems with LCD's that got too hot.

Color off
Pixel corruption
Screen not come on at all
tie dye effect

Remember computer electronics can be fragile, you need to take care of your machines. Abuse them and they will break.

 

[Gasu E.]

By the way, I have recently switched from being a PC user and I have never seen a single PC with this problem. .

I am really confused about this problem. From the decriptions, it sounds like this state can be cleared by closing and reopening the case, or by typing a simple keychord; and that those afflicated see it maybe once per month. Is that right? If so I do not understand the level of complaints. I have near daily freeze-ups with my PC. Even with my Macs, I have more frequent problems that are more annoying to fix than this.

 

[137489]

I am really confused about this problem. From the decriptions, it sounds like this state can be cleared by closing and reopening the case, or by typing a simple keychord; and that those afflicated see it maybe once per month. Is that right? If so I do not understand the level of complaints. I have near daily freeze-ups with my PC. Even with my Macs, I have more frequent problems that are more annoying to fix than this.

I am right there with you on the PC freeze ups; and also the confusion about how widespread or re-curring these issues are. In fact it was not until this thread did I even hear of the problem.

A friend of mine is looking to buy a mac. He is not tech savvy nor internet savvy and asked me where he could find out more info (he is a pc switcher also, tired of the expensive software of MS, tired of the support from Dell, also needs Garage Band, Logic and a few other apple apps as he is a musician and likes to have his work 99% complete before entering a recording studio (studio time can get expensive).

I did not share Macrumors with him because I did not want to bog him down with rumors and mis-informtion he would not understand. Nor did I want to ruin him possibly switching because of a few complaints not everyone experiences.

he is looking at a macbook with the similar configurations I have. A macbook pro would be just way advanced for this needs.

 

[ArcaneDevice]

Wow,

you guys are bashing this poor apple employee. I used to repair out of warrenty PC's for people and I know for a fact there are a lot are hypocondriacts where they automatically assume their computer problem is something someone else reported when it is not; or they read something and say "ya know I think that mine....".

when someone is obnoxious enough to state that a problem doesn't exist just because they haven't seen it themselves is an invitation to criticism.

I posted a photo of this effect back in March. So even though I've been using and fixing Macs since the Apple II I guess I must have imagined it, because our resident genius couldn't possibly be wrong can he?

If a problem occurs and an Apple Genius isn't around to see it, does it still exist? Hmm, one of the great conundrums of our age ...

 

[GutBomb]

Well, I'm regular person, not a "Mac Genius" and I have heard about this problem a couple of times before on other forums. Shouldn't a "Mac Genius" take his time to be on top of these problems and do a little research.

By the way, I have recently switched from being a PC user and I have never seen a single PC with this problem. If Apple is charging at least $2000 for a laptop with specs that you can get for literally half the price in a PC, these problems should not be an issue.

Also, Apples employees who are supposed to help its users should be worried about helping their fellow Mac users, not trying to make them feel stupid.
This mentality to act superior to others is why Apple still holds only 10% of the personal computing market share.

The "mac genius" sees broken macs on a daily basis at the apple store. If he's never had a mac come in with this problem, it is considered a small problem. The symptoms of the problem may be big to the people experiencing it, but the amount of people actually experiencing it is small, hence a small problem. Apple has to prioritize it's efforts to fix things (time is money) and something very few people (however vocal) is going to fall pretty low on their priority list compared to other things.

 

[mobile23]

the problem seems to be gone after resetting PRAM. hopefully those vertical strips will not come back again

 

[tivoli2]

Wow,

you guys are bashing this poor apple employee.

From what I can tell he's (I think it's a he...) being checked for making rather condescending remarks about Apple customers who aren't happy with their products acting up on them, and making as though people imagine most of the problems. Personally, if I needed help, I'd hate for this particular Genius to be the one that ended up helping me, knowing his view of the unwashed masses. Sure, people are picky and apt to make a mountain out of a molehill, but people having issues like this with their laptop screens (the screen being a rather important and integral part of the whole "laptop" experience, I think we can all agree) ought not be summarily dismissed as technological hypochondriacs, especially since Macbook Pros tend to be used where image quality is a prerequisite. That last bit, to me at least, is as obvious as your closing remark:

Remember computer electronics can be fragile, you need to take care of your machines. Abuse them and they will break.

*sigh*

 

[LastZion]

similar issue

I just replaced my 2.16 MBP with a new 2.5 and I experienced an issue this morning:

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=120487&stc=1&d=1213819865

But windows were still active and I could move things around and start and stop a video in VLC. Then when I apple tabbed over to Parallels the Windows screen came up alright... which makes me think software no?

 

[lr4life]

The "mac genius" sees broken macs on a daily basis at the apple store. If he's never had a mac come in with this problem, it is considered a small problem. The symptoms of the problem may be big to the people experiencing it, but the amount of people actually experiencing it is small, hence a small problem. Apple has to prioritize it's efforts to fix things (time is money) and something very few people (however vocal) is going to fall pretty low on their priority list compared to other things.

I understand that very well. It is just that for me, switching from a PC, which has never had this problem, to a Mac, which costs $2000 and is supposed to be vastly superior because it is constructed and tested by the same folks who write the software, it is a bit discouraging when Apple won't even take the time to listen to their customers when a genuine problem exists.

 

[GutBomb]

I understand that very well. It is just that for me, switching from a PC, which has never had this problem, to a Mac, which costs $2000 and is supposed to be vastly superior because it is constructed and tested by the same folks who write the software, it is a bit discouraging when Apple won't even take the time to listen to their customers when a genuine problem exists.

Where is that happening? The guy talked about one instance where someone brought in a macbook claiming his screen was tinted yellow because he had convinced himself he had that problem.

"Apple" the company has not made any comments or shown any actions at all that show they do not listen to their customers. Most people who have gone to an apple store with just the machine and snapshot photos (and sometimes just a description of the issue) have had their machine replaced on the spot. Hardly apple not listening.

 

[Tosser]

The way you write, it sounds as if you're offended at what I wrote, as if I pissed in your coffee.

I'm sorry, you obviously have never met anyone with an opinion.

We may have different ideas of what "widespread" means, but the existence of a few threads and a page with several pictures doesn't prove it. "Isolated" doesn't mean that there are only five bad units.

Now, are you saying that we're merely talking five units world wide? Wouldn't that be a statistical impropability that the only people affected by this are in this thread, plus the people who are stating they have this problem too?

The battery problem was a much more serious one. People can handle a product that doesn't work a lot more than they can handle the prospect of third degree burns.

Really?
Many people use their computers for graphics work of all sorts, and as such the screen is a rather big part of this. If their screen is not up to scratch, it's more or less useless as something to base you income off of.

I do agree that QC is going down a bit, but the last I checked the broader stats (Consumer Reports and IIRC, PC World), Macs are still on top.

The world is bigger than the US - and "customer service" ≠ "Hardware quality". Besides, you can't have missed all the fanboyism that sticks to Apple's products. Perceived quality is certainly something that is affected by flock mentality.

Sony's products also seem to be well-liked in the US, for God knows what reason.

I really can't take anecdotes as a good indicator of how prevalent a problem is.

No, me neither. The problem is, that you're dismissing any and all claims as "anecdotes", no matter how many claims are made. One can only conclude, that unless Apple themselves admit they have a problem, everything must be just anecdotal.