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SR MBP LED LCD yellowish and gradients issue

henhowc said:
I got my screen back. Apparently Apple's idea of repairing my screen is to get dirty fingerprints all over it. The repair summary indicated that they did the following repairs:

607-1099 LED DRIVER BRD/INSUL SUBASSY,M75 (UPDATE: Apparently they replaced the hardware that drives the power for the LED?)

Have no idea what that means but I know they didn't replace the panel. At least the service was quick. Repair service was requested on 7/25 and I received the machine back on 7/30. Would have been quicker if not for DHL not working on the weekends. Although the speed of the repair may have been because they didn't do anything at all :p

I think this is the best way to tell if you have the issue.

1. Hide the dock
2. Save the images to your desktop (the gray image is easier for me to tell):

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/313239/

3. Open up the images and move the image so that the bottom square is near the bottom of your screen
4. Flip your laptop upside down (im serious here) and compare the two squares by looking at the screen head on (NOT AT AN ANGLE, YELLOW AT AN ANGLE IS NORMAL!!!).

Hopefully this thread is true:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/335428/

Anyhow I am sending mine back. Hopefully they just replace the screen this time. The Apple "product specialist" noted that the problem may be due to a faulty logic board. That comment made me scratch my head. They seem pretty willing to help out until I'm satisfied so I'm crossing my fingers on this one.
Click to expand...



are you doing the repairs and what not at the store or are you doing it by sending it to them and having them mail it back to you?
 
Just got my replacement 2.4GHz SR MBP yesterday, includes new smaller power brick. Screen is LG and the yellow tint at the bottom is MUCH better that the previous Samsung. It is still there though just significantly less noticeable. I'm tempted to keep this one in part b/c the CPU temp is not exceeding 50C during normal usage (browsing web, working with Office 2004, preview, iTunes), plugged in or on battery. I'm not sure a 'perfect' MBP is possible, I worry if I send this one back I might get another one that has better screen but runs hotter.
 
wako said:
are you doing the repairs and what not at the store or are you doing it by sending it to them and having them mail it back to you?
Click to expand...

Through Apple Phone Support and Mail-in. Heard too many horror stories about lame Genius Bar employees denying people their returns. I just shipped it out again this morning. I'll update when I get the machine back (hopefully by the end of the week).
 
henhowc said:
Through Apple Phone Support and Mail-in. Heard too many horror stories about lame Genius Bar employees denying people their returns. I just shipped it out again this morning. I'll update when I get the machine back (hopefully by the end of the week).
Click to expand...

I called them and they are making me to have it checked out in an Apple store, how did you get them to replace it w/o confirmation??
 
pinwanger said:
I called them and they are making me to have it checked out in an Apple store, how did you get them to replace it w/o confirmation??
Click to expand...

Honestly, I think it depends on who you get on the phone. They pretty much took my word for it and put up ZERO fuss. Did you ask for a full exchange or a repair? Did you get transferred to a product specialist or were you strictly discussing with the first CSR you got on the phone?
 
I got my week 29 replacement! LG screen is perfect! It's amazing, I'm glad I lucked out and got my LG. Also, no dead pixels. However I did get the large power adapter.
 
Received my second repair back from Apple.

This time they replaced the entire LCD (and not the logic board as previously stated). Unfortunately the new LCD was also a Samsung and still had the yellowing issue. I ended up reinstalling OS X using the MBP install disks just to humor the product specialist.

She basically requested that I send my machine in a third time so that they could replace the logic board this time. From her point of view, she believes the only plausible explanation is a faulty GPU.

Although she did not GUARANTEE a replacement she said she would personally look into getting the machine replaced if this doesn't fix the issue. :(
 
Updated test image to detect yellowing of screen:

http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/test_3.jpg

1. Save file to desktop
2. Hide Dock
3. Open it up with Preview
4. Zoom to fit
5. Adjust the image size and placement so that the rectangles run along both the top and bottom of the screen.

To prove that this image isn't doctored, you can see the transition from white to yellowish (IF you have the issue) by dragging the image downward so that the top rectangle is located in the area where the bottom rectangle was.

Here are my attempts to illustrate the issue with my crappy digital cam and poor photo taking abilities :)

http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow.jpg
http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow2.jpg
http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow3.jpg
 
henhowc said:
Here are my attempts to illustrate the issue with my crappy digital cam and poor photo taking abilities :)

http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow.jpg
http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow2.jpg
http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow3.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks for the pics that's one of the better representations of the problem we've seen. It is difficult to put in picture. :apple:

I'm on my third brand new 2.2 Glossy MBP and this one is just fine, my first two had this display problem. So there is hope for the Samsung display [all three I have had sent to me have been the "8"]

:)
 
Good God, do the MBPs still have this screen problem? (I've been out of the country for the last few weeks). I was just about to buy a 2.2 GHz MacBook Pro tomorrow, but I checked out the forum and read so many horror stories; is there anyway to request/identify an LG unit as opposed to a Samsung whilst at the Apple Store? Is this still a problem to be worried about on newer MBPs sold?

I've actually been calling my local Apple Store daily, and they've ran out of both MBP models, which really surprised me. I hope the newer batches don't have this screen issue...
 
diehldun said:
Good God, do the MBPs still have this screen problem? (I've been out of the country for the last few weeks). I was just about to buy a 2.2 GHz MacBook Pro tomorrow, but I checked out the forum and read so many horror stories; is there anyway to request/identify an LG unit as opposed to a Samsung whilst at the Apple Store? Is this still a problem to be worried about on newer MBPs sold?

I've actually been calling my local Apple Store daily, and they've ran out of both MBP models, which really surprised me. I hope the newer batches don't have this screen issue...
Click to expand...


FWIW, yes the problem still exists. My replacement machine (Samsung, build week 30 has the yellow issue on the lower third).

When I called apple to advise that the replacement machine had the same issues, and several others, the rep. claimed not to have heard of the issue.

I was sent to tech. From there I was transfed to a product specialist, who asked me to go to an apple store so we could "quantify the issues." So like a good soldier I trapsed off to the SOHO genius bar. The genius looked at the machine for about an hour, compared it to others, went in the back room several times, and told me he would make notes and that I was to call apple back.

So today I called apple customer service. Of course customer service is perfectly apologetic, and offers to replace/refund, but states that a tech needs to approve the action.

Transfer to tech support again, and they transfer me to a product specialist. Nice guy, seems interested in helping me, claims that he has no knowledge of any ongoing problem the likes of mine. Now he would like me to send some JPEGS of the screen problem to him so he can present them to Apple engineering. At that point he said that Apple may want to take my machine so they can look at it from an engineering standpoint.

I don't know, maybe I was not forceful enough. When I hear stories of people receiving 3 and 4 replacement machines I can't imagine how they wrangle it. I seem to have come under the microscope after my first replacement.

Sorry about the rant. The short answer is, yes, the yellow screens still do exist. The damn thing about it is that I have seen perfect screens (as did the genius, on two out of five floor models), but I just can't get my hands on one.:(
 
Oh dear... although school starts later this month, am I better off delaying my purchase until "newer" MBPs come out with less issues, or should I just bite the bullet tomorrow and hope for an LG/problem-free MBP? It seems like it's more than a 50/50 chance of getting a defective unit!
 
diehldun said:
Oh dear... although school starts later this month, am I better off delaying my purchase until "newer" MBPs come out with less issues, or should I just bite the bullet tomorrow and hope for an LG/problem-free MBP? It seems like it's more than a 50/50 chance of getting a defective unit!
Click to expand...

Despite my present frustrations, I still say order now if you need the computer now. I don't think it is constructive to try to peddle doom about a solid product on a forum like this, and that was not my intent. Apple is notoriously above average about trying to make things right when problems arise; I am just a little unhappy about their course of action in my particular case.

I switched to a Mac after years on PCs because I really liked some things about their computers, and I still do. I will not switch back to a PC now, I just want to straighten out a few things about the machine I will rely upon heavily for the next few years.
 
henhowc said:
Updated test image to detect yellowing of screen:

http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/test_3.jpg

1. Save file to desktop
2. Hide Dock
3. Open it up with Preview
4. Zoom to fit
5. Adjust the image size and placement so that the rectangles run along both the top and bottom of the screen.

To prove that this image isn't doctored, you can see the transition from white to yellowish (IF you have the issue) by dragging the image downward so that the top rectangle is located in the area where the bottom rectangle was.

Here are my attempts to illustrate the issue with my crappy digital cam and poor photo taking abilities :)

http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow.jpg
http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow2.jpg
http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow3.jpg
Click to expand...

I was finding it hard to decide whether my screen had the yellow problem or not but your new image does help me to also notice the issue. The other thing I have noticed is that it is easier to detect the problem if you view the screen upside down.

Seeing all the problems people have had trying to get replacements / repairs I am thinking of leaving mine as it is. Can hardly see the issue and my MBP is otherwise pretty much perfect.:confused:
 
You really need to decide if it bothers you enough to go through the whole repair/exchange ordeal. It honestly is probably more of a subtle issue than some of the more "OMG" reports make it out to be. That being said, I think it bothers me more because we have two other MBPs in the office (one Rev A. and one SR) and the screens don't have the issue.

I'm currently on my third repair. So by the time I get my machine back, it will have been about two weeks since my first request to get it looked at (7/25). This is my ONLY computer and I plan to keep it at least through the 3 years of Applecare I purchased. To give it some more perspective, I showed my brother the screen (albeit it was only the screenies) and his reaction was "you're going through all that hassle because of THAT?!" He basically went on to call me anal-retentive LOL. I think we just have bad luck in our family. He's had to return his XBOX360 for repair multiple times as well :p
 
henhowc said:
Updated test image to detect yellowing of screen:

http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/test_3.jpg

1. Save file to desktop
2. Hide Dock
3. Open it up with Preview
4. Zoom to fit
5. Adjust the image size and placement so that the rectangles run along both the top and bottom of the screen.

To prove that this image isn't doctored, you can see the transition from white to yellowish (IF you have the issue) by dragging the image downward so that the top rectangle is located in the area where the bottom rectangle was.

Here are my attempts to illustrate the issue with my crappy digital cam and poor photo taking abilities :)

http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow.jpg
http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow2.jpg
http://henhowc.bol.ucla.edu/yellow3.jpg
Click to expand...

Not a bad test image, though I think the image on page 14 with the black is much easier to notice a different tint/yellow on the bottom when compared to the top. I called Apple to see if I could get it in to be repaired (and didn't realize they don't ship you a box in Canada) I have to drive to my nearest certified tech (100km) to get it fixed. Luckily the tech I spoke with thought it was the screen and not the logic board, so it could be a quick fix.
 
diehldun said:
Good God, do the MBPs still have this screen problem? (I've been out of the country for the last few weeks). I was just about to buy a 2.2 GHz MacBook Pro tomorrow, but I checked out the forum and read so many horror stories; is there anyway to request/identify an LG unit as opposed to a Samsung whilst at the Apple Store? Is this still a problem to be worried about on newer MBPs sold?

I've actually been calling my local Apple Store daily, and they've ran out of both MBP models, which really surprised me. I hope the newer batches don't have this screen issue...
Click to expand...

wow ... me 2 !! i've been out the country, and I am about to buy my first mac ever :D I was waiting for a way to distinguish LG from Samsung in the apple store.
as you all know we can't open the box in the store and if we do we have to pay 10%, that's ridiculous!!

that's my question too ... first I thought their stocks would be the same as the ones they have on the floor. it's too risky
is there anyway to identify from the box ? i don't want to go through replacement or exchange :(
 
Well, I've got it. It's not a massive problem but it's irritating, as well as the case not shutting fully on the left hand side and the spacebar squeaks. Not entirely happy.
 
Another way I noticed to tell if you have the 1/3 tinting is to load www.apple.com/ca/ and look at the safari logo on the screen and the safari logo in the dock. The one residing in your dock will have a yellow around the bottom of the compass by the "south" indicator. On a LG screen both safari compass logos are evenly white. That's my observations from looking at the problem in the Apple store at the display Samsumg and LG models. Do others notice this on screens with the yellowing problem? If both are the same colour , then you have nothing to worry about.
 
Adamo said:
Well, I've got it. It's not a massive problem but it's irritating; not entirely happy.
Click to expand...


If it's not too noticible, I might very well keep it instead of having to go through the process of returning it and possibly getting another defective unit (I'm going off to college soon). However, if so, would it lead to a higher failure rate in the future, or would it just be permanently yellowish? In other words, could I keep using the MBP for at least 3-4 years with no additional screen issues provided there are no other problems?

I've become absolutely scared to death getting a Samsung model and finding out I have a screen issue, even though I believe most MBPs don't have this. Getting a Samsung one doesn't necessarily mean there will be a problem, but if there is one, I guess there isn't much one can do about it.
 
Iced Angel said:
wow ... me 2 !! i've been out the country, and I am about to buy my first mac ever :D I was waiting for a way to distinguish LG from Samsung in the apple store.
as you all know we can't open the box in the store and if we do we have to pay 10%, that's ridiculous!!

that's my question too ... first I thought their stocks would be the same as the ones they have on the floor. it's too risky
is there anyway to identify from the box ? i don't want to go through replacement or exchange :(
Click to expand...

Btw you can open the box instore, I have done twice before and returned it with no problems straight after. Don't even have to pay any stocking fee or anything, just say you're unhappy with it and have it exchanged or get a refund. You can also return it within two weeks, and get it exchanged /refund with no problems or stocking fee, as Apple have the two week no quibble thing, if you read your receipt.
 
Maccleduff said:
Btw you can open the box instore, I have done twice before and returned it with no problems straight after. Don't even have to pay any stocking fee or anything, just say you're unhappy with it and have it exchanged or get a refund. You can also return it within two weeks, and get it exchanged /refund with no problems or stocking fee, as Apple have the two week no quibble thing, if you read your receipt.
Click to expand...

Apple will charge you a fee if they don't think there is anything wrong with your machine, i.e. if it has a slight yellow tint that the genius feels is 'normal' or 'within specs'. Until Apple acknowledges the defect, I would be very cautious buying from the Apple Store and would recommend buying from amazon.com instead since they seem to always accept customers' definition of defect, rather than the unwritten, undefined and largely arbitrary definition used by apple store geniuses.
 
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