Apple FINALLY acknowledge gradient issue!

[Nordichund]

I'm now awaiting my second iMac due to this problem and I must admit I'm worried. Now that the freezing problem has been solved this seems to be the number one problem on the iMac.

As I have said in other posts I have seen some reasonable screens in some Apple stores. When I picked up my defect machine from the store because they were taking too long to fix it, they told me that only 1 person had had their screen replaced and I was only the second who had complained about it.

I still believe that when you pay good money for a quality product, Apple should supply. I truly believe that Apple would like to provide every Al iMac owner with an excellent screen, but there does appear to be a production problem somewhere along the line for some.

I really don't know how widespread this problem is. Since Apple have now been producing the Al iMac for three months and so far I have not seen a single article about the screen problem in any recognized news media. If this was such an issue wouldn't Cnet, Macworld, The Register etc be writing about it? Some like The Register seem to enjoy bashing Apple whenever they get the chance, but not a peep out of them about the yellow screen and gradient problem some are suffering from.

The people at Customer Support and tech support have during the conversations I have had with them, acknowledged to me that they know about the problem.

I really don't know what I'll do if I get another duff screen when my new iMac arrives. Going through the motions of sending back a defect product and waiting for a new one is quite depressing.

 

[Fuchal]

Seems every new product Apple comes out with has a terrible LCD issue. Apple should take a serious look into their LCD suppliers and figure out what is going wrong. Remember when Steve used to say that they picked panels first and then Apple's competitors buy the panels that Apple rejects? It's clearly not true anymore.

 

[SaSaSushi]

So there are good screens without the gradient and yellowish glare? Or there are people with lower expectations who don't see that their screen is not OK ... I'm wondering if I just return the iMac and ask for my money or for a new iMac... I only hear stories from people testing their 4th or 5th iMac, so I'm thinking of money back...

Well, I don't really want to open this can of worms again. So let me answer your question by saying I have perfect 20/20 vision. I have normal color recognition and extremely high expectations, especially where Apple products are concerned.

Further, if the "ONLY" stories you are hearing/reading are from those who are testing their 4th or 5th iMacs I don't think you've been reading these forums very closely. There are many threads chock full of satisfied customers posting positively on their aluminum iMac screens. I really don't think it would be very fair to summarily classify them all as people with low expectations who don't know enough to see or care about defects.

But I'm only speaking for myself and I am perfectly satisfied with my screen. There is no yellow tint and despite my inability to capture it properly in a photo my screen also has no major gradient issues.

 

[ceres]

Hello!

A few hrs ago I received my 24in, 2.8 replacement unit. I made the exchange because I was not satisfied with the first unit´s display.
The new iMac came with Leopard preinstalled and it´s a W47 unit.
Well, the backlight bleeding is gone. Gradient and yellow tint are marginally reduced but still there. That issue just keeps bothering me. I have seen and tested 5 machines. Each of them had issues. As much as I would love to have a screen that rivals the white 24in iMac it probably will not materialize with the AL iMacs. I am looking at a 14 days period to carefully weigh my options. Problem is: There ain´t to many. If I go back PC it will be a high end machine bc in the pc realm anything else just doesn´t make sense for me.
Another option would be to wait on a new MacPro + ACD. Realizing that Apple will probably stick to expensive server hardware (xeons, low end graphics) I would need to spend an additional 1000 Euros and probably end up with a machine that is air cooled and noisy under load. So I am leaning towards this: Keep the iMac I currently have on my desk, purchase Apple care and unload the machine later next year once the quad core mobile hardware is released by Intel. By then, Apple should have figured out how to supply appropriate screens for 2400 Eur machines.

 

[rworne]

Hello!

A few hrs ago I received my 24in, 2.8 replacement unit. I made the exchange because I was not satisfied with the first unit´s display.
The new iMac came with Leopard preinstalled and it´s a W47 unit.
Well, the backlight bleeding is gone. Gradient and yellow tint are marginally reduced but still there. That issue just keeps bothering me. I have seen and tested 5 machines. Each of them had issues. As much as I would love to have a screen that rivals the white 24in iMac it probably will not materialize with the AL iMacs.

Don't give up yet.

I have actually seen a 24" Al iMac with a pristine bright white display at a local retailer on display. I have returned my original 24" due to the problems you mentioned, but the replacement I have is much better - very slight brightness difference (if any - I'm paranoid about it now), no bleeding, and no yellow gradient.

Another way to correct the problem is use a second display and go dual-monitor spanning. Once you get a machine that looks reasonably good for everyday use (web, email, Office and games), you can always hook up an external display to it via the mini-DVI and use the external as a work screen for images. Yes, it sounds stupid at first but it is a way of getting exactly the screen you want for color/brightness accuracy on an iMac for color work and it is far cheaper than fitting out a MacPro.

It has been a bit of a culture shock for me to move from a PowerMac to the iMac - normally I abhor all-in-one units - but I cannot justify the prices for the new MacPros after I get them roughly to where I can get the iMac right now for a lot less money, a lot less space, and a lot less noise. Plus I get to double the upgrade frequency.

 

[davekarn]

I have a question. I have the AppleCare warranty deal on my 24" iMac and I have the yellow tint (which seems to be either getting worse or I'm just noticing it a whole lot more). I can essentially wait, say another year or so and then send my iMac in right? I would just like to give Apple ample time to iron out some of the problems and was wondering if this would be feasible. Thanks for any info!

~Dave

 

[boutym]

I'm glad to see that some of you are having luck with Apple exchanging the problematic iMacs. My issue is that I bought mine from Amazon, which is an authorized dealer. The problem is that I have to incur a 15% restocking fee because I opened the box, which, of course, is how I know I have a problem iMac...

So has anyone had success returning/exchanging directly with Apple even though you purchased somewhere else? Thanks in advance!

You SHOULD NOT have to pay a restocking fee if it is defective, even if you don't exchange it. Any vendor that charges restocking on a defective product is a questionable vendor at best and I would fight them tooth and nail on it.

 

[ceres]

I have a question. I have the AppleCare warranty deal on my 24" iMac and I have the yellow tint (which seems to be either getting worse or I'm just noticing it a whole lot more). I can essentially wait, say another year or so and then send my iMac in right? I would just like to give Apple ample time to iron out some of the problems and was wondering if this would be feasible. Thanks for any info!

~Dave

you can always claim that the tint is progressing and spreading like the malignant cancer that it is.

 

[davekarn]

you can always claim that the tint is progressing and spreading like the malignant cancer that it is.

Haha..sounds good. I just don't want to wait TOO long. Thanks!

~Dave

 

[Eddiestein]

Oh, great, so maybe they'll have a new LCD soon!

Eddie

 

[mjagers1982]

I think I will do the same, I get a new one in a week. If it's OK I will be thrilled, but if it's not completely OK, I think I will keep it and wait till all problems are over and let the screen be exchanged by AppleCare...

Returning the iMac and ask for a refund is not really an option after three days of OSX use... I'm addicted to the OS already...

 

[ceres]

I'm now awaiting my second iMac due to this problem and I must admit I'm worried. Now that the freezing problem has been solved this seems to be the number one problem on the iMac.

As I have said in other posts I have seen some reasonable screens in some Apple stores. When I picked up my defect machine from the store because they were taking too long to fix it, they told me that only 1 person had had their screen replaced and I was only the second who had complained about it.

I still believe that when you pay good money for a quality product, Apple should supply. I truly believe that Apple would like to provide every Al iMac owner with an excellent screen, but there does appear to be a production problem somewhere along the line for some.

I really don't know how widespread this problem is. Since Apple have now been producing the Al iMac for three months and so far I have not seen a single article about the screen problem in any recognized news media. If this was such an issue wouldn't Cnet, Macworld, The Register etc be writing about it? Some like The Register seem to enjoy bashing Apple whenever they get the chance, but not a peep out of them about the yellow screen and gradient problem some are suffering from.

The people at Customer Support and tech support have during the conversations I have had with them, acknowledged to me that they know about the problem.

I really don't know what I'll do if I get another duff screen when my new iMac arrives. Going through the motions of sending back a defect product and waiting for a new one is quite depressing.

When is your replacement unit due to arrive?

 

[Nordichund]

When is your replacement unit due to arrive?

Estimated delivery date is next Friday 7 Dec. It was supposed to have been ready to ship on Tuesday, but Apple put it back to tomorrow the 30th.

I'm finding it difficult understanding why people keep refering to the iMac as a budget machine? When Steve Jobbs unveiled it, he certainly gave the impression that the Al iMac was good enough for the professionals. Seems that statement is open to debate.

Having two documents open on the 24" screen was like having two dirty pieces of paper staring back at me (due to the gradient) with yellow stains on them.

Does anyone know what causes those yellow stains? At first I thought it was some illusion caused by the light. Is it the glass panel that accentuates them?

Apart from the screen the 24" Al iMac rocks, but for me the screen is one of the most important parts of the computer experience.

 

[Kuska]

Estimated delivery date is next Friday 7 Dec. It was supposed to have been ready to ship on Tuesday, but Apple put it back to tomorrow the 30th.

I'm finding it difficult understanding why people keep refering to the iMac as a budget machine? When Steve Jobbs unveiled it, he certainly gave the impression that the Al iMac was good enough for the professionals. Seems that statement is open to debate.

Having two documents open on the 24" screen was like having two dirty pieces of paper staring back at me (due to the gradient) with yellow stains on them.

Does anyone know what causes those yellow stains? At first I thought it was some illusion caused by the light. Is it the glass panel that accentuates them?

Apart from the screen the 24" Al iMac rocks, but for me the screen is one of the most important parts of the computer experience.

Just to let you know, I sent three back due to the gradient and yellowing issues - I was talked into a 4th replacement instead of a refund (to be fair, I think I could have just kept sending them back forever - apple couldn't have been more helpful) and I'm glad I was - No4 has a great screen, no freezing (and it was delivered before the fix) with no dead pixels - a very happy iMac owner now. Good luck with your replacement.

 

[Nordichund]

Just to let you know, I sent three back due to the gradient and yellowing issues - I was talked into a 4th replacement instead of a refund (to be fair, I think I could have just kept sending them back forever - apple couldn't have been more helpful) and I'm glad I was - No4 has a great screen, no freezing (and it was delivered before the fix) with no dead pixels - a very happy iMac owner now. Good luck with your replacement.

Thanks for the encouragement and congratulations on getting a machine you are satisfied with. I must admit I'm dreading the thought of having to return another iMac. If I hadn't seen a couple of decent screens for myself in stores selling iMacs I would have just asked for a refund and waited for the next iMac upgrade.

My advice to anyone who buys an iMac who is not happy with the quality of their screen and they are still within the 2 week ruturns window is to just take it back and ask for a replacement or a refund.

 

[mjagers1982]

Nice, Apple acknowledges the fact that there is a gradient, but they say it's within the specs... http://blog.neofoto.nl/?p=3

 

[nhexima]

Ack. I was actually planning to purchase a refurb 24' or 20' iMac this very week! This scares the heck out of me. How common IS this problem? I expect my machine to look as awesome as it did in the store...

 

[SaSaSushi]

Nice, Apple acknowledges the fact that there is a gradient, but they say it's within the specs... http://blog.neofoto.nl/?p=3

More hearsay from unnamed Apple employees on some blog.

I'll believe that Apple acknowledges the gradient and considers it within specs when an official news outlet reports it and cites their sources.

I love how these days you write something up on a blog and the next thing you know its a "news story".

 

[neographikal]

More hearsay from unnamed Apple employees on some blog.

I'll believe that Apple acknowledges the gradient and considers it within specs when an official news outlet reports it and cites their sources.

I love how these days you write something up on a blog and the next thing you know its a "news story".

Well, it isn't exactly done to mention the employees by name, it could get them into trouble. I'm the author of the story on the blog and I deliberately didn't mention the employees by name.

 

[Leon Kowalski]

I'll believe that Apple acknowledges the gradient and considers it within specs when an official news outlet reports it and cites their sources.

Uh, what does "within specs" mean when there are no specs -- or when the specs are secret?

...just curious,

LK

 

[serega]

Are there problems with 24" screen only or 20" also. I've got lately 20" and I'm happy with it but this matter scares me.

 

[SaSaSushi]

Uh, what does "within specs" mean when there are no specs -- or when the specs are secret?

...just curious,

LK

Exactly right. So I guess you agree with me that this "news" about Apple openly acknowledging a gradient problem in their products is BS or just some random employees feeding crap to a user.

Apple has not officially admitted anything much less made a ridiculous statement that while there IS a gradient it is within their "specifications". Don't you think it would be newsworthy (all due respect to the blogger who claims this) if they had and that we all would have heard about it and there would be countless news stories covering it from well known sources?

I'm not defending that position. I'm saying Apple never officially took it.

 

[SaSaSushi]

Well, it isn't exactly done to mention the employees by name, it could get them into trouble. I'm the author of the story on the blog and I deliberately didn't mention the employees by name.

I'm not calling you a liar. Why would you think using their names would get them in trouble? This is huge news if what they said is true. If they are willing to make such outrageous claims they should be willing to back them up.

 

[Fletchzky]

I went to an Apple store last night and all three of the 24" iMacs they had on display had a tiny bit of yellow tint in the corners. Man, I really want one of these but I am going to be really annoyed if I get one and have to take it back for another, and another, and so on.

Luckily, I have three different Apple stores within 10 miles from where I live, so I won't have to mail anything back if something does happen but it will be a hassle regardless, especially if I have to set up an appointment with a "Genius" each time I want to take it back, and then they will have to fire it up and see what I am talking about.

Another thing that concerns me is that I won't be able to see that it has a problem right away and I will notice it later, past the return timeframe. Dammit.

 

[Fletchzky]

On another note, what is the best method to use while determining if an iMac has the gradient/tinting/backlight problems? When I am at the Apple store I usually just change the background to white.

The Apple stores are really bright so sometimes it is hard to tell. But if you have one at home would it be best change the desktop to white and turn the lights out? That's what most people seem to do (when posting pics).