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The Ultimate rMBP Image Retention Test

Did you see Image retention on your rMBP with this test?

  • Total voters
    706
Set it on this checkerboard image and let it burn in for 15 minutes, then see if you have an image.

What do you think screen savers were invented for?

So you wouldn't have an image sit on a screen for 15 minutes and burn in!!!!:eek:

I guess I've been around computers just too long, that I've seen people go from designing screen savers to prevent screen burn in, to trying to fry their screens just to see if they can withstand it.

What comes around goes around.
 
My IR issue is rather unique, I think. At least I haven't seen it mentioned by anyone else.

I received a rMBP today with an LG display. I went to check for IR or pixel problems as soon as I did the basic setup. Note that I haven't transferred any apps or content at this time, so I've got a perfectly empty desktop aside from the dock.

I flipped to a solid gray screen and could immediately see very visible image retention down the right side. It manifests as file icons, like if you had a bunch of zip file or text files on the desktop. Except I've never had a single file or icon on my desktop at this time. I literally arrived from China an hour ago.

It's much more difficult to photograph than it is to see, but it's visible with any solid color (not just gray). I'm completely baffled as to how this could happen.

photo-2.JPG
 
My GF and I both have the same model of rMBP with 15'' screens.

Today, we both noticed IR and resorted to Google.

We both have LG screens, and the burn is evident within 2 minutes of leaving any window open.

Restarts did not remove the unwanted image, and while most evident with a solid dark gray wallpaper, the window burns are noticeable on all wallpapers that aren't the same color as the window.

Since our computers are within the 14 day timeframe, we will most likely return these for replacements with the Samsung displays.

:apple:, I am disappoint.


In addition to this, we both have had problems upon startup. Occasionally on sign in the display will be on but not show the desktop, dock, or anything except a black screen with the backlight. This problem was solved with restarts, the most I had to do was three.
 
How exactly would you go about negotiating a Samsung screen? I mean, wouldn't that entail opening numerous boxes, and spending a lengthy amount of time, etc? Not to mention the consternation of the workers and anyone else would would witness such a thing.

Apple certainly is accommodating if they would go along with something like this. Of course your logic would be that since you are spending a lot of money you are entitled to get the best version. The fact that Apple will see it this way is commendable.

It certainly would be interesting to witness. Has anyone stumbled on this scenario at an Apple store? (there seems to be a number of people doing this)
 
BoycottLG said:
My GF and I both have the same model of rMBP with 15'' screens.

Today, we both noticed IR and resorted to Google.

We both have LG screens, and the burn is evident within 2 minutes of leaving any window open.

Restarts did not remove the unwanted image, and while most evident with a solid dark gray wallpaper, the window burns are noticeable on all wallpapers that aren't the same color as the window.

Since our computers are within the 14 day timeframe, we will most likely return these for replacements with the Samsung displays.

:apple:, I am disappoint.


In addition to this, we both have had problems upon startup. Occasionally on sign in the display will be on but not show the desktop, dock, or anything except a black screen with the backlight. This problem was solved with restarts, the most I had to do was three.
Click to expand...

I'm wondering this too. Surely after so many units Apple will say " No more"? (and people will get refunds?)

Since I have the base with an upgraded processor, it has to be built to order... I really don't want to order 2 or 3 more replacement all the way from china to get a samsung screen... I feel like when I email Apple to ask them if they can specify which screen to use? I'm sure that's not possible though...

You'd think that Apple would tighten up on these things by now, especially since they are marketing this computer based entirely on the screen.
 
mac jones said:
How exactly would you go about negotiating a Samsung screen? I mean, wouldn't that entail opening numerous boxes, and spending a lengthy amount of time, etc? Not to mention the consternation of the workers and anyone else would would witness such a thing.

Basically long story short is that you just have keep replacing it and hope to win the Samsung lottery.

Apple certainly is accommodating if they would go along with something like this. Of course your logic would be that since you are spending a lot of money you are entitled to get the best version. The fact that Apple will see it this way is commendable.

It certainly would be interesting to witness. Has anyone stumbled on this scenario at an Apple store? (there seems to be a number of people doing this)
Click to expand...

The head genius at my closer store refuses to replace it after the first time because according to him it is "normal display characteristic".

I got on the phone with Applecare and escalated to Senior Advisor and he had me send in pictures and agree that it was not normal. He left notes on my case saying that he agrees that the screen should be replaced it.

But the Genius at my bar decided to be an ass and wanted to mail it in to the depot leaving me without a laptop for 2 weeks, so I took it to the Apple store across town.

If you go to the First Colony Mall in Sugar Land and have a rMBP, take it in and show the Genius that you won't accept this "normal display characteristic".
 
BoycottLG said:
My GF and I both have the same model of rMBP with 15'' screens.

Today, we both noticed IR and resorted to Google.

We both have LG screens, and the burn is evident within 2 minutes of leaving any window open.

Restarts did not remove the unwanted image, and while most evident with a solid dark gray wallpaper, the window burns are noticeable on all wallpapers that aren't the same color as the window.

Since our computers are within the 14 day timeframe, we will most likely return these for replacements with the Samsung displays.

:apple:, I am disappoint.


In addition to this, we both have had problems upon startup. Occasionally on sign in the display will be on but not show the desktop, dock, or anything except a black screen with the backlight. This problem was solved with restarts, the most I had to do was three.
Click to expand...

About the black screen after startup, do you use a scaled resolution?
 
I've just received a reply form the Apple Rep. and she has agreed that because it si not satisfactory, a replacement can be sent out. In the meantime I someone else from Apple will contact me regarding the issue. ( I will forward the post on Apple's official pages, NOT the ones on here as they probably won't can't look at it... RUMORS)

I've asked her whether she can instruct the factory to use a Samsung, but I'm waiting for a reply... My guess is that they don't have the infrastructure for that.
 
LG display and I have Image Retention. I left the checkered image for a little over 10 minutes and there was definite retention. It didn't bother me that much but this was less than an hour after turning it on for the first time and I suspect it will only get worse. Plus I have a whole mess of other problems with the display so I'm going to the Apple store later today to talk about getting a replacement. The machine runs beautifully though and I got a little over 8 hours on my first full charge
 
I don't know. If this issue is as bad as people say it looks like trouble.

Like I posted elsewhere, I have an Lenovo X220 (actually two of them). They have HORRENDOUS ghosting. I mean, really bad. it's an issue with some IPS screens, and the speculation about this is that it is a low power thing.

But sure enough, the Apple crowd is different. Why? Because Apple is accommodating. Lenovo would just laugh in your face.

Perhaps Apple will be able to continue this type of policy, and customer support. But then again, they just can't use a single supplier, and there will be variation in components, along with the bad press. Scrutiny of screens must cost them a bit.

But all in all, I think it's a bad idea to look for problems that you may never encounter normally. The Lenovo IPS screen ghosting is very evident in normal use, but my retina doesn't have this issue and I'm certainly not going out of my way to find it. From the posts here, i'm sure it does ghost, but why would you care if you don't see it except for during some test? Doesn't make any sense.

You may say that your doing this because you can't be sure there might be an app where it would show up, or that you just want the best. But what if they ALL did this? You would then most likely just live with it. In other words, if all the screens were LG, that would solve the problem :D
 
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Thanks for the image. LG is really BAD! My previous replacement was good (Samsung). Waiting for ANOTHER replacement, it's getting really annoying :mad:
 

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henry72 said:
Thanks for the image. LG is really BAD! My previous replacement was good (Samsung). Waiting for ANOTHER replacement, it's getting really annoying :mad:
Click to expand...
That looks pretty severe. How long have you been using your macbook?
 
So I promised myself that I will NEVER do this checkerboard test since I received my new rMBP.

But I have been always tempted to do it, so I finally tried it. I just wanted a peace of mind considering that I plan to keep this system for the years to come.

This is confirm that I have a Samsung screen with no image retention.
 
Mine is pretty bad. I first noticed it while editing my photos. Perhaps it was a bit easier to see because I was working in b&w but I could actually see text and parts of the Safari window in my image while I was trying to edit. I'd estimate it took about 3 minutes to go away. So people in this thread are suggesting that I just wait 3 minutes to edit every image? If I leave that image up too long do I need to wait 3 minutes to edit the next one? When I am color correcting how will I ever know if I am consistently getting the same color or if I am off because I was reading xkcd and left the window up for 15 minutes? (This being deemed an unrealistic test by posters in this thread)

Absolutely none of my other displays do anything like this but some people here think we should just accept it as normal. Whatever, all companies have issues with their products from time to time and all Apple really needs to do is fix it. It isn't helpful when people are dealing with defective equipment to just keep telling them to suck it up and use something that clearly doesn't work. It definitely manifests in real world usage and makes the machine unusable for some tasks. I'm sure LG will be bearing the brunt of this financially when it is all said and done.
 
New Test Application

I have developed a small aplication to test the image retention problem in a measurable way. It allows also to get the display model code.

You can download it at the following url:
http://www.mediafire.com/?1jwh6o6ql1wmiww

A unified test for image retention allows to:
  • Track the problem during time, since the level of retention seems to increase as time passes;
  • Compare the entity of the problem with other users, in order to realize the defect entity and decide to swap or not the unit, evaluating the probability to receive a macbook with a better display.
 
I have pretty bad ghosting on my display. Leaving the image up from the first post for 30 seconds ends up have some IR that goes away with another 30 seconds.

If I leave it up for one minute, it takes around 1.5 minutes for the image to completely go away (against the darkest gray background in OS X).

I actually emailed support and got this response from them a few weeks ago, but I've been too busy to actually follow up with it:

Thank you for your inquiry. During the investigation into units Apple has determined that ghosting and image retention can occur on these displays and is normal behavior.

You can prevent image persistence by using the Energy Saver sleep feature to turn off the display when it is not in use, or by using the screen saver to make sure that a static image isn't on the display for long periods of time. The Energy Saver sleep feature is very useful because the backlight is turned off during periods of inactivity.

The persistent image remaining on the screen will disappear on it's own over time. You can also change the desktop pattern and have nothing else visible on the desktop in order to refresh the display. This helps reduce the amount of time the persistent image is visible.

Repairs or replacements of the display or whole unit are not required.
Click to expand...

This has actually been the most problematic MacBook I've owned in years (my 5th or 6th one). IR issues, wifi dropping with bluetooth connected, trouble going to sleep and more hard crashes in the past 2 months than all my other laptops combined. But I use it daily for programming and gaming/photography on the weekends. Such a love hate relationship with this laptop... :mad::D
 
vow said:
I have pretty bad ghosting on my display. Leaving the image up from the first post for 30 seconds ends up have some IR that goes away with another 30 seconds.

If I leave it up for one minute, it takes around 1.5 minutes for the image to completely go away (against the darkest gray background in OS X).

I actually emailed support and got this response from them a few weeks ago, but I've been too busy to actually follow up with it:



This has actually been the most problematic MacBook I've owned in years (my 5th or 6th one). IR issues, wifi dropping with bluetooth connected, trouble going to sleep and more hard crashes in the past 2 months than all my other laptops combined. But I use it daily for programming and gaming/photography on the weekends. Such a love hate relationship with this laptop... :mad::D
Click to expand...

Completely agree... I really wanted it to be great but just couldnt take the problems any more. Returned mine and waiting for next gen
 
Having just picked up my MacBook, I ran this test.

I left it on for a few minutes and then the screen went black (having not adjusted my preferences yet). Login screen came up and there was clearly image retention (it's an LG screen).

This is reason for returning the laptop isn't it? I'm usually not picky but that's a little irritating.
 
Fed said:
Having just picked up my MacBook, I ran this test.

I left it on for a few minutes and then the screen went black (having not adjusted my preferences yet). Login screen came up and there was clearly image retention (it's an LG screen).

This is reason for returning the laptop isn't it? I'm usually not picky but that's a little irritating.
Click to expand...

Apple knows about it and has a protocol for it. They were sweet as pie to me in the store today. Since I am after 14 days they will be replacing the screen and not the unit. The closest store to me is a small store in a mall so they are ordering the part and expect to have it by Tuesday or Wednesday. They inform me that if I drop it off in the morning it will be ready by the afternoon. It took exactly 1 second for them to agree that my display was unacceptable.

It is good that Apple can recognize this problem and handle it properly unlike some of the posters in this thread.

Although I haven't received my new screen yet, I am currently a pretty happy camper.
 
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