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Retina MacBook Pro Users Complain of Anti-Reflective Display Coating Wearing Off

If enough Mac Books start exhibiting this problem and Apple does not have a clear and cost-free solution, I am certain the class-action lawyers, who are probably already drooling and preparing legal briefs, will step in, file a lawsuit and Apple will suddenly step to the plate and solve it. Then Apple will make an announcement that all screens will be fixed, and then they will probably put out a quick replacement for the current MBPs where this occurs. And after all the expense going through legal wrangling and a public relations nightmare, people will scratch their heads and ask, "Why did Apple not fix this right away for customers, rather than being silent until legal proceedings against the company began before finding a solution for their customers."

A similar thing happened to Nikon with their D600 SLR. It was exhibiting dust and oil spots, that even after multiple cleanings by Nikon, continued to reappear. Nikon, at first, refused to do much besides clean the cameras, and they weren't always great about that. Then a California lawyer filed a class-action lawsuit, and voila, the problem camera bodies were completely fixed or replaced by Nikon with a new production model that they manufactured (the Nikon D610) that did not have the dust and oil issue.

We shall wait and see.
 
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What I really am dying to know is if this will carry over to the new rMB. The keyboard is more flush with the aluminum case and the screen is much thinner. I think it's safe to assume the keys rubbing against the screen shouldn't be an issue? If this is an issue that carries over into the other 2015 models Apple needs to stop everything and start production on a redesigned screen. One can only assume it's an issue with the design of the rMBP, if it continues with other models than we would know it's a problem with the screen. It's just really crazy to me how this could even happen, you would think they would put these screens through all kinds of tests to see how they would hold up.
 
Alloy201 said:
If this is an issue that carries over into the other 2015 models Apple needs to stop everything and start production on a redesigned screen. One can only assume it's an issue with the design of the rMBP, if it continues with other models than we would know it's a problem with the screen. It's just really crazy to me how this could even happen, you would think they would put these screens through all kinds of tests to see how they would hold up.
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I hope this doesn't happen to my mid 2015 (bought in late September) rMBP. Yes, in their quest to go thinner and thinner, they have sacrificed quality control and durability.

Make my Mac Book Pro laptop slightly thicker, but give me confidence and reliability that the screen will be protected. Thin is fine, but not to the point of destroying one's screen, which is one of the pluses of Macs.
 
Should I put an A4 paper on the keyboard when I close the Macbook, to avoid the contact which the touchpad and keyboard are making with the screen?
The piece of "cloth" (or whatever it is) which came with the MacBook between the keyboard and screen was accidentally torn.
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I suggest that one does not close the MacBook if it is warm.

The AR Coating might start to come off due to the heat that the computer dissipates, so turning it off, and waiting for a few minutes before closing it, might help avoiding the Display coating from wearing off.

Also if one wants to clean the screen with a piece of microfibre cloth damped with water, use bottled water.
Tap water has impurities which might make it slightly more acidic than bottled water.
 
aquilc said:
Should I put an A4 paper on the keyboard when I close the Macbook, to avoid the contact which the touchpad and keyboard are making with the screen?
The piece of "cloth" (or whatever it is) which came with the MacBook between the keyboard and screen was accidentally torn.
----------

I suggest that one does not close the MacBook if it is warm.

The AR Coating might start to come off due to the heat that the computer dissipates, so turning it off, and waiting for a few minutes before closing it, might help avoiding the Display coating from wearing off.

Also if one wants to clean the screen with a piece of microfibre cloth damped with water, use bottled water.
Tap water has impurities which might make it slightly more acidic than bottled water.
Click to expand...

I would use a thin and a smooth archival paper that is acid-free. The A4 and other over-the-counter printing papers have chemicals and acid in them. You can find acid-free paper at good art supply stores.

Don't just use bottle water, which also has impurities and minerals and differing ph factors, but use distilled bottled water.
 
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neversink said:
I would use a thin and a smooth archival paper that is acid-free. The A4 and other over-the-counter printing papers have chemicals and acid in them. You can find acid-free paper at good art supply stores.

Don't just use bottle water, which also has impurities and minerals and differing ph factors, but use distilled bottled water.
Click to expand...

That's a ridiculous amount of care to prevent a problem that shouldn't exist.
 
brianvictor7 said:
This is totally a result of their obsession with thinness. 1 millimeter of space between the keyboard and screen would have solved this. It is a design flaw as much as it is a "feature."

BTW, sorry about your loss (RIP Jasper). 14 is way too young. :(

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If you have applecare, don't accept this. Take it in to the nearest store and make them fix it!
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Thank you for the kind comment on our loss, but he was our doggy so 14 is pretty good, would have been wonderful to have had him for a couple of more years though :(
I think about him every day, but we are hoping to get another in the summer.

And yes, I think it is the design, my keys use to touch the screen but not so much now, I don't even clean the screen that often. I do think Apple has to step back and think more about its designs, like how durable is the new MacBook going to really be? And making it too thin for ports is ridiculous, its an expensive computer not a cheap tablet.

In my mind, although Apple are very good at replacing or repairing faults, as I have experienced, they really shouldn't be getting all these faults in the first place. I think they need to look at their entire quality control and adjust it. It doesn't stop me buying Apple though.
 
apolloa said:
Thank you for the kind comment on our loss, but he was our doggy so 14 is pretty good, would have been wonderful to have had him for a couple of more years though :(
I think about him every day, but we are hoping to get another in the summer.

And yes, I think it is the design, my keys use to touch the screen but not so much now, I don't even clean the screen that often. I do think Apple has to step back and think more about its designs, like how durable is the new MacBook going to really be? And making it too thin for ports is ridiculous, its an expensive computer not a cheap tablet.

In my mind, although Apple are very good at replacing or repairing faults, as I have experienced, they really shouldn't be getting all these faults in the first place. I think they need to look at their entire quality control and adjust it. It doesn't stop me buying Apple though.
Click to expand...

Dogs have a curious power to sneak into our hearts. We've had some scary moments with our 2 year old shih tzu and as silly as that critter is, we'd be deeply saddened if she passed away this early in life (and I refuse to think about her passing away much later)

I hear you on QC issues. I got the short end of quality where it came to my 21.5" iMac Late 2009. Over its life I have replaced the superdrive, hard drive (twice), screen and power cable to the screen. Most of that was done under extended warranty, but I spent $400 out of pocket in late 2013 after it had gone out of warranty. I have already had Apple replace the screen (entire upper clamshell) of my MacBook (also under warranty).

Like you said, Apple is very good at fixing its stuff. They've been courteous, available, and responsive with each issue. I've seldom seen better customer service. But it seems a combination of bad suppliers and vulnerable designs are causing these issues. Fortunately for them, I love the look of their hardware and the stability of their OS (even as a Beta tester!), so I'll stick with Apple for the foreseable future.
 
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So I am using a rMBP mid 2014 and only found this information today and it makes me really nervous.

I have two questions, can anyone please give me more information ? I would appreciate that much:

1. So far this issue only happens on Retina MBP ? Any non Retina MBP encounters this issue ?

2. Are there any MBP that encounters this issue having any type of screen protector ? Will applying the screen protector at the moment help to reduce the possibility ?

Thanks!
 
brianvictor7 said:
No chemicals for me but still an issue. Do you carry your notebook around a lot? In a backpack? Packed with a lot of stuff? This seems to be related to pressure on the clamshell and perhaps also cleaning solutions.
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I carry it in my backpack along with some notebooks and accessories everyday. It is not closely packed though.
 
brianvictor7 said:
No chemicals for me but still an issue. Do you carry your notebook around a lot? In a backpack? Packed with a lot of stuff? This seems to be related to pressure on the clamshell and perhaps also cleaning solutions.
Click to expand...

In my opinion a laptop is for portable using and thus it should be designed to be at least durable for moving around. If not then I'd rather buy a desktop and never have to be worried. I also put my MBP in it's own sleeve and I bet most of us here also do this. For the older MBP I have seen people put it under piles of books & stuffs on the table and it still last for years, not as months like we are seeing now.

If this new rMBP is that bad then Apple should at least gives us a FRAGILE sticker and tell us to never touch that screen.
 
Lads,
I went to the Apple Store Amsterdam with my MacBook on Saturday. The genius's looked at the screen and instantly took it for repair, no questions asked. My MacBook is 13 months old and I do have AppleCare. The whole clamshell got changed and it took them 6 hours to do it. I am attaching my "work authorization" as a proof, see notes the genius made. Maybe this will help you? Good luck at your local Apple store.
 
Virinprew said:
I carry it in my backpack along with some notebooks and accessories everyday. It is not closely packed though.
Click to expand...

I do the exact same thing here. Almost nothing else is in the pack.

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cayenne123 said:
In my opinion a laptop is for portable using and thus it should be designed to be at least durable for moving around. If not then I'd rather buy a desktop and never have to be worried. I also put my MBP in it's own sleeve and I bet most of us here also do this. For the older MBP I have seen people put it under piles of books & stuffs on the table and it still last for years, not as months like we are seeing now.

If this new rMBP is that bad then Apple should at least gives us a FRAGILE sticker and tell us to never touch that screen.
Click to expand...

I agree. We'll see what a complaint I've got in the Apple Exec relations pipe leads to. At least they've been responsive to me.
 
actuallyinaus said:
I took it to the apple store yesterday and they are replacing the screen for me, for free as it is under warranty.
Click to expand...

Exec Relations has offered to do replace my screen as well. At least Apple's customer service remains outstanding. I have a Genius Bar appointment for Monday. Given that this is the second screen replacement, I have little doubt that it will need a 3rd replacement before the year is up, but one can always hope. They say the engineering team is continuing to investigate this problem. I suspect they are at least more carefully watching this issue now.
 
AdonisSMU said:
This is awful. Whats more awful is apple is profiting off of repairing defective goods.
Click to expand...

What's really sad is people bending over for a company that values profits more than its customers.
Learn to vote with your wallets if you want them to learn their place and stop screwing you over.
 
0x000000 said:
That's a ridiculous amount of care to prevent a problem that shouldn't exist.
Click to expand...

I agree. Unfortunately, though, if you want to save your screen, this is what you may have to do!!! Apple has a problem. But until Apple, or the class-action lawyers figure this out, we users are faced with a potential problem.

Below is the whole thread quoted below for those who haven't followed these comments.
----------------------------
Originally Posted by aquilc View Post
Should I put an A4 paper on the keyboard when I close the Macbook, to avoid the contact which the touchpad and keyboard are making with the screen?
The piece of "cloth" (or whatever it is) which came with the MacBook between the keyboard and screen was accidentally torn.
----------

I suggest that one does not close the MacBook if it is warm.

The AR Coating might start to come off due to the heat that the computer dissipates, so turning it off, and waiting for a few minutes before closing it, might help avoiding the Display coating from wearing off.

Also if one wants to clean the screen with a piece of microfibre cloth damped with water, use bottled water.
Tap water has impurities which might make it slightly more acidic than bottled water.

And then I (never sink) wrote:
I would use a thin and a smooth archival paper that is acid-free. The A4 and other over-the-counter printing papers have chemicals and acid in them. You can find acid-free paper at good art supply stores.

Don't just use bottle water, which also has impurities and minerals and differing ph factors, but use distilled bottled water.

And then you wrote:
0x000000 said:
That's a ridiculous amount of care to prevent a problem that shouldn't exist.
Click to expand...

And I agree with you!!!!!!
 
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brianvictor7 said:
Then there is hope.
BTW, do you ever see smudges on the screen lining up with the keys where they would touch when you close the mac?
Click to expand...

Oddly enough for such an engineered product it does appear that with a little pressure, little (dots) will how on the screen matching the keys or key corners. Hence why on my MBP R I used a Marblue silicon key protector plus it prevents "shining" of the keys as I am a touch typer.
 
0x000000 said:
That's a ridiculous amount of care to prevent a problem that shouldn't exist.
Click to expand...

You're right this problem shouldn't exist in the first place. But one must take extra care of the rMBP since this issue is affecting these notebooks.

Hope that Apple offers screen replacements which have this issue solved. It's useless that they offer replacement screens with the same issue. :/
 
I am planning to get a new MacBook this summer (either 15" or the new rMB), but I am now a bit hesitant.

I am OCD. So I clean my MBP with disinfectant wipe, and then wipe the residue down with wet towel, and then I wipe it off with dry towel. I do this whenever my MBP was taken outside my room. My 5-year old MBP still looks new. No problem with the display. Not even a single hairline scratch.

Will the newer MBP/MB's with Retina display be able to handle my OCD?
 
Same Problem :(

File 19-04-2015 13 13 12.jpeg
 
Any idea how long it takes for this problem to show up? Any word on this happening to the 2015 Force Touch rMBP's? I don't see why it wouldn't, I doubt the touch pad has much to do with anything, but maybe they changed the coating without telling anyone. Or it could be too soon to tell.
 
I can't tell you about timing. My late 2013 rMBP is fine.

It's possible that the coating process is subject to some variations in process and some batches of screens get a better coating than others, and it's possible that Apple and its suppliers have changed or improved the process - without some kind of information from Apple, we're all in the dark.
 
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