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Would you return this 13" rMBP?

thadoggfather said:
Call me crazy but just used 10% and $50 edu discount to get the 256gb 2015 model for $1400 after tax.

Had to try this force trackpad, potential 4k output possibility (though I won't be able to try that for a while, I have a 1920x1200 monitor currently) down the road, and Yosemite/alleged better battery life, and double IO before my 2014 refurb return policy is up, just to know. Price difference of $178 from refurb 8/256 to the new model. Might be worth it if I can cope with Yosemite only (we'll see)

Comparison between A02A left (2015) and A018 (2014). They're kinda close is my initial impression, the 2015 is warmer and I can't tell if the menu shade changed from Mavericks or not but its at max brightness/default profile/

for educational purposes:
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Hmmm i think I prefer A018, its brighter and purer looking side by side but A02a isn't bad, and still nothing like the A020 I had on my previous refurbished 2014. And looks better than the demo A02a that was on display at the store.

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using the 2015 by itself it definitely appears to be a nice panel too. I don't think I could go wrong either way.

ran IR checkerboard test for 20 minutes (just to be certain), no faint trail of it AT ALL :D at least of the three total (2x 2014, 1x2015) none have exhibited IR. its good they nipped that in the bud. Gonna give credit where its due.

Running black magic on my 256 samsung drive (again 3 for 3) I get roughly double the io of my 2014. Dang, thats badass!

http://i.imgur.com/1iepSPg.jpg zoom to your hearts content, its the full size from what came off my 6+. I'd say thats representative of in a decently well lit room.
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That's not a bad 2015 display at all. I'd be pretty happy with that. In fact I cannot see anything wrong with it at all.
 
For a price difference of $178 total would you go with 8/256 2015 or 8/256 2014 with those screen disparities in mind?

what do you make of the color differences in that blue banner showing "preorder countdown apple watch" and the white ish area in the buttons?
 
thadoggfather said:
For a price difference of $178 total would you go with 8/256 2015 or 8/256 2014 with those screen disparities in mind?

what do you make of the color differences in that blue banner showing "preorder countdown apple watch" and the white ish area in the buttons?
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After using the 2015 model myself I personally think the quicker SSD and trackpad are worth the extra ($178 dollars in your case) plus potential resale value in the future is increased.

As for the screen. It looks pretty darn good. After looking at the high resolution image you uploaded I can hardly tell a difference between the 2. The 2015 does seem ever so slightly warmer if I was nitpicking badly, but relatively minimal in my eyes anyway.

Guess it depends whether you feel the extra features of the 2015 are worth it to you.
 
its probably worth future proofing with 2015, no?

And though I hated Force Touch in store, its not bad at all after a few hours.

I like that you can click the side corners and I'm sure with iPhone having this, they're trying to make it a big deal (whether it is or not, who knows)
 
thadoggfather said:
its probably worth future proofing with 2015, no?

And though I hated Force Touch in store, its not bad at all after a few hours.

I like that you can click the side corners and I'm sure with iPhone having this, they're trying to make it a big deal (whether it is or not, who knows)
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I'd say it's worth future proofing with the 2015 for sure.

First time I used force touch I loved it. Now I hate using the 2014 trackpad. I got used to being able to click anywhere too.
 
36gJr38.jpg


this is just insane!
 
Would you return this 13" rMBP?

thadoggfather said:
its probably worth future proofing with 2015, no?



And though I hated Force Touch in store, its not bad at all after a few hours.



I like that you can click the side corners and I'm sure with iPhone having this, they're trying to make it a big deal (whether it is or not, who knows)
Click to expand...




Good to see you warming up to the 2015 after your previous posts. Since I also had a couple of days with both the 2014 A018 and the 2015 A02A prior to returning the 2014 model I was also able to do a side by side. In my case I didn't feel that the A02A panel was necessarily "warmer" than the A018 panel but I felt that the A018 was slightly brighter at the highest brightness setting. When I ran my various display related tests, both had no IR issues however when testing the black levels I did find that the A02A had more distinguishable black levels than the A018 where at the blacker levels the A018 black levels all blended in.

I would be curious if you find that this is the case for you as well. If you want go to:

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

And give it a try.

Also if I were you.......return the 2014 and keep the 2015. :)
 
diesel said:
Good to see you warming up to the 2015 after your previous posts. Since I also had a couple of days with both the 2014 A018 and the 2015 A02A prior to returning the 2014 model I was also able to do a side by side. In my case I didn't feel that the A02A panel was necessarily "warmer" than the A018 panel but I felt that the A018 was slightly brighter at the highest brightness setting. When I ran my various display related tests, both had no IR issues however when testing the black levels I did find that the A02A had more distinguishable black levels than the A018 where at the blacker levels the A018 black levels all blended in.

I would be curious if you find that this is the case for you as well. If you want go to:

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

And give it a try.

Also if I were you.......return the 2014 and keep the 2015. :)
Click to expand...

Yep, I observed this as well running star wars trailers side by side.

But on its own, its a beautiful display. wiping, repartitioning and sending back the 2014 rMBP refurb. Even if I have my gripes with Yosemite, dark mode helps and installing Java 6 from apple direct fixed lack of subtitles for output using ps3 media server (DLNA functionality), something that sucked when I last used Yosemite in the beta days.

Plus, OS X will be more polished. Tossing mac by the way side in terms of software quality seems unlikely over time. They would lose too much share potentially.
 
Decided to swing by an Apple store close to my folks' place and bought another 13" 2015 rMBP to compare. Rather than swear off the rMBP for good, wanted to try one last time. My new model has an A02A screen and is much better than my A029 screen.

Photo is attached, both are 2015 13" rMBP. The A02A is on the right and A029 is on the left. I think my current one, A02A, is the best I will get and will just return the other one. Noticeable difference compared side by side to piss yellow A029.
 

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jlp2979 said:
Decided to swing by an Apple store close to my folks' place and bought another 13" 2015 rMBP to compare. Rather than swear off the rMBP for good, wanted to try one last time. My new model has an A02A screen and is much better than my A029 screen.



Photo is attached, both are 2015 13" rMBP. The A02A is on the right and A029 is on the left. I think my current one, A02A, is the best I will get and will just return the other one. Noticeable difference compared side by side to piss yellow A029.
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Very noticeable difference. Glad to hear about another happy ending. :)
 
jlp2979 said:
Decided to swing by an Apple store close to my folks' place and bought another 13" 2015 rMBP to compare. Rather than swear off the rMBP for good, wanted to try one last time. My new model has an A02A screen and is much better than my A029 screen.

Photo is attached, both are 2015 13" rMBP. The A02A is on the right and A029 is on the left. I think my current one, A02A, is the best I will get and will just return the other one. Noticeable difference compared side by side to piss yellow A029.
Click to expand...

awesome! Maybe this thread sent you good vibes at the apple store
 
I am sure this isn't the case every time. But A02A seems to be the display that is most consistent, reading through these posts.
 
Playing the Lottery, A02A and A029, and IR, Oh My

Hello, first time poster. I've just gone through five returns and now I have some data about screens that I think others might appreciate.

I initially bought a 128GB 2015 13" (before I knew about the IR problems!) but returned it because the 128GB SSD has half the advertised write speed (it's not double write, just double read, compared to the 256GB and up versions). That's where my problems began.

I got a 8GB/256GB with an A029 screen, and while I also wanted a 16GB version, i ran the now-infamous "checker test" and found severe "IR" issues... i mean, two minutes of the checker and it was obvious. So, i returned it and ordered a 16GB/256GB from the apple store and waited a week for it to come in. The new computer was an "A029" screen.. and it had it even worse! At the apple store, I tried to switch it back to the 8GB/256GB version thinking i'd just settle, and sure enough the one they brought out from the back it was also an "A029" and it also had horrible, obvious IR issues. The Apple Store staff wouldn't let me open any more to get a working screen saying, quote, "Maybe you don't like the products we sell" as if it was just a matter of "taste". So, defective screens are what apple is standing behind officially, take note. So no laptop for me that day.

I then went to Best Buy; seems they get better binned units. Maybe apple doesn't want to piss off their authorized resellers with lots of returns. Got yet another A029 screen. This time, while the screen had no IR issues out of the box, looking a bit warmer than the A02A and did in fact seem to have better viewing angles, i just couldn't stomach the thought of both not getting the computer I wanted (16GB) and that IR may emerge in the future, past the return date. Of course, the Apple Store did offer to swap screens (another lottery) and that's the last thing i want to have done to a brand new computer. No way.

So i returned that and got a 8gb/512GB model at a different store entirely (the only one in stock) and, finally, it was an A02A screen again (finally!), with no issues whatsoever.

Now, it's still not the computer I want, so i'm going to spin the wheel just one more time to try to get a 16GB/256GB model with an A02A, BTO. If i get it, GOOD! Otherwise i'll keep the one I got today, and consider myself "lucky" but definitely not a satisfied customer (and my debit card is seriously hurt until the returns post-- many people would never have the "privilege" of getting the advertised product). Wont ever be able to get the RAM spec i needed.

The breakdown from all this: ALL the floor models are A02A, and I believe it is the Samsung display. I find it bad business that they show you one model of display on the show room floor(s) and sell you a totally different one online or in-stock.

What i think, is that they have a limited number of A02A's so they all went out in the first batch, to reviewers and as floor models, plus a small number to be sold to early adopters. After that, they've been filling orders with A029s, from all Apple stores and BTO. I only got A02As from machines made right at the beginning.

They seem to reserve the A02A screens as replacements, for anyone that is lucky enough to complain, and then they'll replace it.. but you're still not guaranteed an A02A. That's a lottery, too. They know it's bad, but this way they get to issue stock of good screens only to those that notice and are willing to put them on the spot. Apple lies about IR being "normal", when clearly, "good" screens don't have it *at all*. That sort of obvious lie is costing them a great deal of reputation with me.

If you have the choice, get the A02A -- what I believe is the Samsung screen -- every time. Maybe there are good A029s (and they seemed to have a slightly better viewing angle, like I mentioned) but i cannot guarantee they'll stay good... i just don't know the exact issue at play and Apple isn't talking.

I DO know that for 1900$, i'm not about to play a parts-lottery. I want what they show on the 'floor. I don't like the idea they are banking on the uninformed to sell a screen they know is defective at the factory during calibration routine -- it's that easy to spot and that big a flaw.

Long story short: A02A seems to be the "good" ones and I believe it's Samsung. A029 - you dont know what you're getting and I think they are LG. "Good luck"
 
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objectiveseeker said:
What i think, is that they have a limited number of A02A's so they all went out in the first batch, to reviewers and as floor models, plus a small number to be sold to early adopters. After that, they've been filling orders with A029s, from all Apple stores and BTO. I only got A02As from machines made right at the beginning.

They seem to reserve the A02A screens as replacements, for anyone that is lucky enough to complain, and then they'll replace it.. but you're still not garurenteed an A02A. That's a lottery, too. They know it's bad, but this way they get to issue stock of good screens only to those that notice and are willing to put them on the spot. Apple lies about IR being "normal", when clearly, "good" screens dont have it *at all*. That sort of obvious lie is costing them a great deal of reputation with me.
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I'm not sure it is intentional on Apple's part but interesting theory given my experience earlier today. My 1st 2 units I got prior to caring to look up the screen model number so can't comment on those. I did retail swap / exchanges each time, they were all sealed and not designated replacements as far as I was aware. My next 2 units were both A029 screens not A02A. The 4th one I got looked good by itself but was garbage when compared side by side to another MBP. My 1st 4 units were from the same Apple store. Today I went to a different Apple store and finally got a good screen which happens to be A02A as posted earlier. 5th time was a charm.

At the store today I asked the guy if I can just buy one that is on display that looks good- happened to also be an A02A. He said Apple doesn't allow that. They are able to look up the serial numbers prior to opening the units and can probably find out what factory a unit came from, but they will not do this I was told. My point was please go find me one that came from the same place as this nice white screen. The guy seemed sincere when explaining that it really is a crapshoot and there's no way they can easily tell the screen model number prior to opening a unit.

I honestly don't think there is any hoarding going on re: "good screens," however, I wouldn't be surprised if they check out the display units prior to putting them out on display. Why would they not want to sell me an already opened unit for the same price as new? When I think about it like that, your theory makes a bit of sense, haha.
 
Got mine on Friday. BTO 2,9/512/16.

Immediatly noticed an uneven yellow tint across the screen. Like every safari page have litterally fading colors from left to right. Smh.. A029 aswell.

Now waiting for UPS to pick it up. Got a brand new replacement on the way. Will keep exchanging at least until i got a even screen that i can calibrate..

Here's a pic with my sister 2011 white macbook. The uneven tint cant be noticed but it's here.

Pretty disapointed since i need this computer asap to make a living...
 

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8tm said:
Here's a pic with my sister 2011 white macbook. The uneven tint cant be noticed but it's here.



Pretty disapointed since i need this computer asap to make a living...
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I would not be happy with the one on the left as well, it does look yellowish. However in my opinion also think the one in the right isn't white at all but on the bluish side and if it couldn't be calibrated out I wouldn't want that screen either.
 
diesel said:
I would not be happy with the one on the left as well, it does look yellowish. However in my opinion also think the one in the right isn't white at all but on the bluish side and if it couldn't be calibrated out I wouldn't want that screen either.
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Yes very blueish. I dont mind warmer/yellowish screen but it has to be even !
 
8tm said:
Got mine on Friday. BTO 2,9/512/16.

Immediatly noticed an uneven yellow tint across the screen. Like every safari page have litterally fading colors from left to right. Smh.. A029 aswell.

Now waiting for UPS to pick it up. Got a brand new replacement on the way. Will keep exchanging at least until i got a even screen that i can calibrate..

Here's a pic with my sister 2011 white macbook. The uneven tint cant be noticed but it's here.

Pretty disapointed since i need this computer asap to make a living...
Click to expand...

That left one looks like it has f.lux enabled, its that warm.
 
Again another A029 with a yellowish screen. I see a pattern arising here.
 
Dang, I was ready to pull the trigger on a 2015 rMBP/i7/512 to replace my 2011 MBA, but I'm thinking of holding off after reading this thread. I don't have the time to keep returning and re-ordering until I find one with an acceptable display. I wonder if Apple will eventually sort this out by going with the better supplier (Samsung?) or insisting on improvements from the other vendor.
 
Roller said:
Dang, I was ready to pull the trigger on a 2015 rMBP/i7/512 to replace my 2011 MBA, but I'm thinking of holding off after reading this thread. I don't have the time to keep returning and re-ordering until I find one with an acceptable display. I wonder if Apple will eventually sort this out by going with the better supplier (Samsung?) or insisting on improvements from the other vendor.
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historically speaking, i think they'll ride it out and continue to do it.
 
Would you return this 13" rMBP?

Thanks for the further study on the 2015. I'm very happy I have A02A :) on first try. I thought it was still slightly warmer than I like but after seeing A029, oh my!!!
 
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