Some Retina MacBook Pro Users Experiencing Display 'Ghosting'

[AidenShaw]

Funny how when retina displays were announced, everyone was claiming how innovative Apple was and didn't want to give any credit to Samsung and LG. And now that there are some defects, folks want to assign the blame to Samsung and LG?

You fanboys can't have it both ways.

LOL

Interesting...but can you cite a reference that states Apple is actually using binned parts? This is the first I've heard of this.

While I agree with your challenge for corroborating evidence, "binning" has been around for a long time. Intel doesn't build wafers with "3.0 GHz" CPUs and other wafers with the same CPU at "2.4 GHz".

After they're built and tested, some run faster and some run slower and are put in the corresponding "bins". Similarly, although all the chips are meant to be quad-core - some only have two or three fully functional cores, and are put in the "dual core" bin. Some don't have all of the cache working, and are put in the "Pentium" bin (once called the "Celeron" bin).

"Binning" is not a bad thing - it's a useful tool to lower overall costs by selling less capable chips for less, and more capable chips for more. If you buy something with a "binned" chip with some of the cores or memory disabled - you're not buying damaged goods. You're getting a deal because the silicon vendor is selling silicon with certain features disabled - but it is fully functional for the advertised set of features.

If Intel sells a CPU with 8 MiB of cache for $300, and a CPU with 4 MiB of cache for $200 - do you care if the 4 MiB $200 CPU is cut from the same wafer as the $300 CPU, but has been discounted because some of the cache has been disabled due to defects?

 

[tim100]

There is absolutely no image retention on my MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

There was none of the half dozen I looked at in-store.

If it comes up, I'll let you know.. but for now, a non-issue and non-starter, at least for me.

under regular usage the ghosting issue will not be seen. there are specific instructions in this forum setting the wallpaper to dark grey and leaving an image on for 30 mins, then the issue presents itself.

 

[iChrist]

I have an open case with Apple care regarding a different display issue that I know a few people have also had. I had a small consistent light spot on my Retina display (others have reported several). The spot isn't due to ghosting and does not go away. It looks like a small 1/8 inch light spot and its more apparent at certain angles and against a lighter background.

I've already spoken with Apple Care and someone from the engineering department. They're very interested in the case. They're sending a replacement unit, but are treating defective units differently than new sales, so the replacements ship within 1-1.5 weeks rather than a whole month.

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If you upgrade the non-retina to the same specs as the retina, it's $200 more and you don't get the retina screen.

This is not true. There is no such phenomenon and I doubt an apple engineer would actually talk to you. Really.

 

[pearvsapple]

Thank you for beta testing the Retina display on the Mac. And you too, iPhone 4s users!

 

[AidenShaw]

This is not true. There is no such phenomenon and I doubt an apple engineer would actually talk to you. Really.

Yes, pretend that it doesn't exist....

 

[charlituna]

Unfortunately as Apple have been built up as the company where everything just works in addition to the fashion factor, and you price accordingly, people expect perfection.

yep. It doesn't help that they don't get simple facts of life like all tech has issues during the first couple of months of existence. Or that the issue could be caused by something relatively easy to fix or something you brought over transferring data from an older system. Perhaps not so much in this case but definitely with things like the iPhone and iPad. Although I did see a friend who transferred his user from an old ibook and now his 27 inch keeps looking for his dial up modem

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Only in USA. I doubt local Apple web stores or physical retailers will promptly accept the problem and ship another unit just because a neurotic consumer is whining about this insignificant issue.

Some countries have very strict consumer protection laws that would require just such a replacement. They might not have to put that person on the top of the list but they would have to replace it if the customer isn't happy. Or depending on the laws, issue a full refund.

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Apple care 4tw - or does that not cover it? Then you would have to "accidently" drop it since that is covered.

not if the iPad is out of warranty. if it is just the standard limited warranty or the pre March regular version, drops aren't covered. you have to have bought apple care plus for damage covered.

 

[G51989]

I don't see this as a big deal, its the first generation of a new screen type for this line of laptops, it happens. Errors occur.


Anyone remember the early LCDs from the late 90s? Random dead pixles right out of the box

Could be worse

 

[blue22]

1st gen of anything new by Apple always seems spotty...

I don't see this as a big deal, its the first generation of a new screen type for this line of laptops, it happens. Errors occur.


Anyone remember the early LCDs from the late 90s? Random dead pixles right out of the box

Could be worse

I agree that it could indeed be worse. But $2200+ worth of "it could be worse" is a rough one to endure.

 

[G51989]

I agree that it could indeed be worse. But $2200+ worth of "it could be worse" is a rough one to endure.

I once remember my dad spending FIVE THOUSAND dollars on a early 19 LCD monitor when I was...much smaller than now. Random dead Pixls on the first one that came in, I think 3 or 5 more died over a span of 5 years.


New products, errors happen. Simple as that.

 

[mentaluproar]

my iPad never had a ghosting problem, but my 24" iMac...THAT was annoying.

 

[MNT]

This isn't a bug or something related to it being a first generation of a new product. My latest-generation iMac with the 27" IPS screen does the same thing. It's not serious, and it goes away after just a few seconds generally. How hot the machine is running does affect how much ghosting happens.

Every time Apple releases a new product, tech blogs seize upon whatever reports they can find from users of the new device. What is now retina display ghosting was Antennagate was dead pixels on cinema displays, the story never really changes.

 

[MH01]

And this is why I learned not to be an early adaptor since iPhone 4's antenna gate

The legend of Apple rev A products was born a long long time before the iPhone

 

[MNT]

Hey guys how do you check for screen ghosting?

Look at your screen. If it looks fine, it's fine.

 

[blue22]

I once remember my dad spending FIVE THOUSAND dollars on a early 19 LCD monitor when I was...much smaller than now. Random dead Pixls on the first one that came in, I think 3 or 5 more died over a span of 5 years.


New products, errors happen. Simple as that.

5g's? Good God Man!!!

But I hear you. That's why it's always wise to hold out 2-3 months from the initial announcement of a new product from Apple as by then the vast majority of the manufacturing kinks should be worked out by that point reducing ones chances of picking up a lemon.

Still, if you're an early adopter of this rMBP and had to wait 3-4 weeks to get your hands on your new system it kinda sucks if you have to return it almost immediately to address any fabrication kinks. The price you may have to pay for being "bleeding edge" I suppose.

 

[MH01]

This isn't a bug or something related to it being a first generation of a new product. My latest-generation iMac with the 27" IPS screen does the same thing. It's not serious, and it goes away after just a few seconds generally. How hot the machine is running does affect how much ghosting happens.

Every time Apple releases a new product, tech blogs seize upon whatever reports they can find from users of the new device. What is now retina display ghosting was Antennagate was dead pixels on cinema displays, the story never really changes.

You may find this panel is new.... Being first generation. Though more importantly, you are fine with your iMac ghosting?!?!?! That's a serious defect!

 

[Konrad]

The new MBP I just bought does not have any of those problems. It also sports the Ethernet, FW, has a drive and it was only $1,100 flat. And I don't have to call the annoying people at apple.

Seems like the risk factor of costly hassle is too high to deal with this product right now. Moving data, driving, parking, waiting in line, packing, unpacking, shipping, calling, waiting, time allocation..Not worth it. Unless one has nothing better to do.

 

[nicuni]

You're aware that physical media is pretty much dead and none of the new Macs (including Mac Pro) will come standard with an optical drive within a couple years?

I am aware, but that doesn't mean that I don't still have games and media on optical media that you cannot legitimately use without the disc. Yes, you can make disc images, but you have to either download them from the net illegally or have the disc to create it. Either way, it's not like the Mac notebooks are the best for playing graphic intensive games, especially the new games. But the retina display would be nice for those beautiful new games, but you still don't get the ability to have more than a gig of graphic memory, which for some next gen games is the just the minimum requirement.
Alas if I were rich I could just get an awesome Mac pro with all the upgrades...
I wish that they would make a touch screen retina macbook. It would be a bit unnecessary since you have the trackpad, but it would be cool I think.

 

[mvdb]

It is strange, Screen issues seem to always be Apple's weak point. I don't know why this is. You would think after year of screen issues on earlier Apple products, and the fact that it's the screen that is, by it's very nature, in your face, they would do everything they can do to make sure future products do not suffer any noticeable flaws.

there are three simple reasons for this:

1. Apple releases attract more attention.
2. Non-Apple users tend to care less about such flaws.
3. Many HP/Lenovo/Dell/Sony/etc.. come with screens with terrible quality to begin with, and people don't care because the laptop was cheap.

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And this is why I learned not to be an early adaptor since iPhone 4's antenna gate

I bought the first unibody MacBook Pro upon release, and it has worked without flaw until today.

I bought an iPhone 4 upon release and it came with a yellow screen. They replaced it without a question.

If you buy a retina MacBook Pro today, nothing stops you from swapping it out 10 months from now under warranty. So I don't really see the point of waiting...

 

[baryon]

Good thing they're replacing the affected machines. No one wanted to replace my faulty 9600M graphics card when I got the late 2008 Unibody MacBook Pro!

 

[Since 1984]

Some hardware QA would be nice, wouldn't it?

I know that product is flying off the shelves. Of course it's blasting through the pipeline in China, too. But, somewhere along the way you'd think that someone would have noticed an issue like this, especially since it's the biggest "new" feature of the MacBook Pro revision. If I'm going to spend $4K on a laptop, I'd like to not have to do QA for the factory.

 

[frabber]

Good thing we got an active community here at macrumors to present and talk about early problems. I am sure Apple will take note and act accordingly.

 

[mstur]

No ghosting !!

I have seen ghosting on Apple displays before: All my three Apple 17" LCD Displays do show ghosting, but on these displays there is always the same basic image presented, a medical imaging software logo, and the screensavers are turned off. The logo is now visible all the time when a grey wallpaper is used as background. The logo´s "ghost" is "burnt in"...

No other Apple Display I have (Cinema 22", Cinema 23", Cinema 30", LCD 24", iMac G5 20", iMac 27", Macbook Pro 15", Macbook Air 11 and 13") ever had any ghosting, but I use the screen savers from OSX all the time, kicking in after 15 to 30 min of inactivity.

For testing my new Retinabook I changed the settings for full brightness, installed a grey wallpaper and opened an empty window in Pages. All screen savers and screen darkening options were turned off. Even after 45 minutes, no ghosting is visible when the bright empty window is closed.

IMHO I would never use the Retinabook this way. I always reduce brightness somewhat, and have the automatic screen darkening option and a screen saver installed.

So, as far as my testing shows, ghosting of the kind seen in the forums is NOT a design problem present in ALL Retinabooks, and anyone experiencing this problem should get a replacement unit ASAP ...

 

[KnightWRX]

The problem is apple is known to buy binned parts.

Good, if they're known to do it, you won't have a problem giving us a citation on that.

 

[mikerr]

On binning, nearest I can find is this from an appletv teardown:

http://www.chipworks.com/en/technic...ple-a5-from-the-apple-tv-3-surprise-surprise/

The new A5 processor die is not a single core processor, but contains a dual core processor. Either Apple is only utilizing one core or they are binning parts. Parts binning is a common process in semiconductors where devices are segregated (binned) based on meeting a subset of the overall requirements, in this case they could disable the “bad” core, this increases the usable die per wafer, lowering the cost.

 

[archurban]

retina display is not really new technology. it's only increased density twice. OLED is real cutting edge screen technology. Apple will be faced with the limitation soon. nowadays, I have seen it slowly. next 5 years, Apple will get stuck like sandwich.