What if my new Powerbook 15" have The Lines?

[QCassidy352]

Good luck guys..

On the upside even if it bothers you, MacIntels will probably be a few months away now, so you can always sell the junker and get the real gold 😀

yeah right, cause I'm sure rev. A mactels will be defect free...

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

If you do get a bad screen, they won't reimburse you (I think) because you ordered a BTO (build to order) machine. Good luck man 🙂

 

[generik]

i just hope the people that work in the store where i will buy my powerbook (FNAC) "can see" the lines (in case it has it)... i'm gonna use it a lot for design, the minor difference in color affects my work...

🙁

It doesn't matter, they will tell you it is within specs.

 

[YunusEmre]

If you do get a bad screen, they won't reimburse you (I think) because you ordered a BTO (build to order) machine. Good luck man 🙂

Less than a week ago I picked a non-bto 15" PB from the store. I have the horizontal lines problem, easy to see with this picture:

http://crankycat.com/pb15_problems.png

Tomorrow I am going to call Apple Care and ask them what I should do.

Edit: by playing with the screen calibration I was able to reduce the visibility of the lines. I used the manual calibration mode, now it is saved as a new color profile and the lines are less visible. I wonder if this is how Apple fixes this problem?

 

[Crusty]

If my baby has got the Lines Of Death (you heard it here first!) I'm giving Apple one chance to get me one that doesn't or I'm switching to the 12".

I'm still going to have to decide what to do with the two sticks of memory i ordered for the 15". I won't be able to return them if this takes too long. I wonder how long it takes for my computer to get here? It shipped on the 12th of november from Shanghai destined for Sweden.

 

[MRU]

Just received my Powerbook. Its a week 46 model according to the serial number. Yes I have the horizontal line issue, but I'm in shock at how much of a non issue it is. You have to be so close to the screen to see them that in nearly every , everyday scenario your never going to see them.

I am relieved that the problem or so it is called is such a non event. And all those posters who will kick up a stink now, I am a graphics designer and work primarily in photoshop; illustrator and corel painter IX.

But for me the screen is great and doesnt pose any problem. I guess there may be others who have deeper lines than others, mine are so faint like I say, that you really have to look for them as close to the screen as you can before you see them.

I wont be replacing my powerbook. 😀 😀 😀 😀

 

[revisionA]

Same Here

I love my powerbook and if I strain I can see the lines, but even with it in my lap, its never THAT close!

I should try and return my Vaio because its harddrive is active when its supposed to be sleeping.

I should try and return my Razr because every 50th photo is unexplicably distorted on its 0.3 megamixel camera.

I should try and return my Celica because the seat belt twists really easy.

see where this leads...

It doesnt crash, it doesnt burn me... its alrighty!

$

 

[MRU]

I love my powerbook and if I strain I can see the lines, but even with it in my lap, its never THAT close!

I should try and return my Vaio because its harddrive is active when its supposed to be sleeping.

I should try and return my Razr because every 50th photo is unexplicably distorted on its 0.3 megamixel camera.

I should try and return my Celica because the seat belt twists really easy.

see where this leads...

It doesnt crash, it doesnt burn me... its alrighty!

$

Couldn't agree more. I think people are exagerating the problem, if it is indeed a problem? Subjectivly to me, it isn't. I'm delighted I sold my 12" which I loved and upgraded. Sat typing with it on my lap, lights down and backlight keyboard looking stunning, I love it.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[Chrispy]

I love my powerbook and if I strain I can see the lines, but even with it in my lap, its never THAT close!

I should try and return my Vaio because its harddrive is active when its supposed to be sleeping.

I should try and return my Razr because every 50th photo is unexplicably distorted on its 0.3 megamixel camera.

I should try and return my Celica because the seat belt twists really easy.

see where this leads...

It doesnt crash, it doesnt burn me... its alrighty!

$

I disagree with this. It is the screen of the computer that has the problem... and for some people that creates a real issue with eye strain and image quality. Also, Apple advertises this new PowerBooks as having better screens so if you get one with a screen that looks worse than the previous revision then that is a problem. Now if a key was slightly off alignment and someone returned for that... then I could see your argument.

 

[generik]

yeah right, cause I'm sure rev. A mactels will be defect free...

Considering Apple will be doing minimal engineering, since even Dell engineers can produce defect free Intel machines, yes, I am confident that Macintels will be defect free.

There is just too big a pool of available engineers to make it totally easy.

 

[Temujin]

I disagree with this. It is the screen of the computer that has the problem... and for some people that creates a real issue with eye strain and image quality. Also, Apple advertises this new PowerBooks as having better screens so if you get one with a screen that looks worse than the previous revision then that is a problem. Now if a key was slightly off alignment and someone returned for that... then I could see your argument.

well better screens can mean anything. Better resolution is a better screen. Higher brightness level is a better screen. I don't have a problem with the new screen. Don't notice the lines issue at all.

 

[Crusty]

I just got my invoice and the serial number starts with W8546.

 

[pubwvj]

I recently ordered a 15" without doing my research (I didn't know about the line issue!! 😱 ) and now I'm absolutely kicking myself because as of this morning it's shipping and I can't cancel!! 😡 This problem seems to be so wide-spread that the odds of getting a perfect screen are slim-to-none... 🙁

Have I got a solution for you! When your computer arrives do not open the box. Instead just ship it right over to me. I'll check it out and see if it works, if the screen is okay, etc. Then, if it is sub-par you can just order a different machine and I'll keep this one. That way you won't have to ever experience the disappointment at looking at this horrid computer... 🙂

 

[motherduce]

Couldn't agree more. I think people are exagerating the problem, if it is indeed a problem? Subjectivly to me, it isn't. I'm delighted I sold my 12" which I loved and upgraded. Sat typing with it on my lap, lights down and backlight keyboard looking stunning, I love it.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

I agree that this issue is overblown to some extent. However, there is still an issue with these screens, and while it's not a major issue for most people, it is for some, and when you pay $1800 for a computer, you shouldn't have to settle for a mediocre screen. Everything you do through the system is viewed on this screen.

Again, this issue may not be huge for most people, but for that much money, I sure as heck better be getting a product that doesn't have any major flaws, like the lines.

 

[Crusty]

It should be here any day now! The useless TNT tracking page still shows it leaving China on the 12th but a quick phone call to customer support revealed it being much much closer than that!

Although I'm still nervous about the screen which kinda takes the fun out of recieving a new toy.

 

[muffinman]

Although I'm still nervous about the screen which kinda takes the fun out of recieving a new toy.

yeah i really hate that feeling also.

good luck on your powerbook.. keep us posted

 

[Crusty]

Well I finally got the Powerbook and sure enough the lines are there. However they're only really obvious when watching the demonstration picture at close distance. I'm not bothered with it while using the laptop normally. I haven't decided wether or not I should return it. It's first five are W8546 and DisplayConfigX shows the monitor at 46.3Hz refresh.

It's such a SEXY BASTARD and I never want to let it go!

What to do, what to do..

 

[Crusty]

And now even more rumors about Apple presenting Intel based Powerbooks in january. Maybe I should just return it for a refund and get a chew bone from a pet store to hold me over until then? Aah, the pain, the pain..

 

[sk3pt1c]

went to an applestore and saw 3 or 4 15" powerbooks,all had the lines.i know you dont see them at first,but you do in the end.the 17" doesn't have them,i'm not gonna talk about the 12 because it's not worth it. do you guys know if the 17 has had any problems? anything whatsoever? i could scrap the apple care as it doesnt apply in my country and go for the 17 if that means a good screen.
crusty they really are sexy but imagine how sexier they'd be with a proper screen!🙂
and as far as the other dude that suggested we exagerate...
imagine if you got a ferrari and the paint started chipping away after a week
would you return it or not?
imagine if you got the new sony ericsson p990 and the display had lines on it
would you return it or not?
imagine if you buy a villa and the walls are ready to fall apart
would you demand for your money back or not?

it's a matter of paying for the best, therefore rightfully demanding the best!

 

[paperinacup]

Well I purchased one 3 days ago. I do NOT have lines. Why I don't I have no idea but the screen looks as clear as every other lcd in my house. No lines here! 🙂

 

[Crusty]

I can hardly notice the lines myself. With the cranky cat image on the desktop there are clearly visible lines on the lower orange field and on closer inspection the picture of the boy if viewed at 4".

I'm going to keep mine unless the battery is broken too.

I wouldn't be interested in the 17" because it's way too big for my needs and the 12" is too underpowered.

By the way, does anyone have any tips on how to check if my powerbook has the battery charging problem?