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Are the 21.5 Displays Still Yellow?

powerbook911

powerbook911

macrumors 601
Original poster
Mar 15, 2005
4,009
397
When the latest iMac update came out this summer, I ordered a 21.5-inch model.

However, 3/4 of the screen had a yellow cast/tinge to it.

Has this been fixed, or would I be likely to get this again?

Many thanks.
 
I am in the market for one as well - I am planning to gift a 21.5" iMac to my wife this Christmas. I am rather put off by this issue that has still not been corrected. What I have gathered so far (after trolling the forums extensively):
1) Better to go with another 27"
2) Get a refurb 21.5" or 27" - they have been thoroughly checked.
OR
2) Reserve a personal shopping (?) appointment at the Apple store, and inspect the iMac before purchasing.

BUT, an exception to 2 above, I ordered a refurb 27" i5 iMac (mid-2010), and it has the dreaded yellow tinge over the left and right sides. I will be sending it back, and trying my hand at another. Let's see.
 
All 21.5in imacs are affected, i checked every single one in the 5th ave mac store. My imac is affected, i gave up on doing replacements because they are all broken.

This problem will not affect everyone only because some people r blindz! :(
 
Well, you guys answered that for me.

I will NOT be getting an imac this generation I suppose.

Thank you for the clarification.
 
refurbs are bad too

i bought a refurb 21.5 and it had a bad case of jaundice. I got a replacement. I actually got a brand new one, assembled in USA, week 41 machine for no extra cost. It is MUCH, better, but the hint of yellow is still there. It doesn't annoy the piss out of me on the 2nd machine. Waiting at the Apple store is a freaking beating, so i'll just live with it. Its just sad that my 20 inch cinema display that 7 years old is still like the day i bought it. Of course black level on it is atrocious, but nothings perfect.
 
still broken

Yup, I will concur that all the mid-2010 21.5" imacs I have encountered (I work in IT at a University campus) have some degree of yellow tinge. However, the odd one out of five or six are pretty "ok". Not great, but bearable. Of course, we're using them in our labs regardless, which no doubt makes Apple happy. However, the 20 or 30 people that were considering purchasing one (and asked me for advice) may not have, depending on how highly they regarded my opinion. :)

It's really too bad, since they are pretty darn sweet little machines otherwise.

-iamthinking
 
Great information.

It simply blows my mind that they cannot create a screen without yellow.

iPhone and iPad and MacBook screens have gotten pretty good.

Of course, I realize Apple doesn't actually make the display. I surely wish they would correct the issue.
 
powerbook911 said:
Great information.

It simply blows my mind that they cannot create a screen without yellow.

iPhone and iPad and MacBook screens have gotten pretty good.

Of course, I realize Apple doesn't actually make the display. I surely wish they would correct the issue.
Click to expand...

It simply blows my mind that people like you decide not to buy something because a couple of people on the Internet blew their defective displays way out of proportion.

I still have yet to see an iMac with a defective display, and I use a different one every day in a lab with hundreds of iMacs in it.
 
The General said:
It simply blows my mind that people like you decide not to buy something because a couple of people on the Internet blew their defective displays way out of proportion.

I still have yet to see an iMac with a defective display, and I use a different one every day in a lab with hundreds of iMacs in it.
Click to expand...

I would never base a decision only on the word of the Internet. I have tried many machines myself, and I was simply asking here so I could not waste my time nor Apple's on yet another one. Someone else in a lab pointed out they see how bad they are.

I don't know if your imacs are older ones or you are not susceptible to the yellow screens. Honestly, I'd love to own a beautiful new imac, they are amazing machines I agree with you 100 percent on that. It's just the yellow screens.

Let me count the machines...

3 iMacs 27-inchs in January '10 returned due to Yellow Screens.
1 24 inch Cinema Display Returned Feb '10 due to Yellow Screen (not as bad as iMacs but still yellow)
1 iMac 21.5 inch returned Aug '10 due to Yellow Screen

I have seen it with my own eyes all these times!

Now, what does annoy me more is the complaints that were in the media about iPhone 4 reception. My reception has been much better with iPhone 4. Media needs to cover the real problem, Yellow Apple displays.
 
I have one, there is indeed a very slight "discoloration" at the bottom of screen. It has no effect on me whatsover, and I am NOT colorblind. The only time I remember it is there is when I read posts like this. If you can deal with it, the 21.5" is a fantastic mac. If you can't, then wait it out, or buy a notebook and get a non apple external display.
 
Some time ago, it was posted here that the "defect" in the LED-based displays has to do with a particular component of the panel that -- although fine during final assembly -- gets jostled and knocked out of place when the unit is shipped. Some moreso than others.

This seems to be due to the inherent design of the display itself -- only way to "correct" it will be to change the design.

If you want an iMac withOUT the "design defect", you have to go "far enough back" in generations to get a fluorescent-based iMac. The last of these were the 24" models, and I haven't heard many "yellow-screen" complaints about those.

They _do_ turn up as Apple refurbs now and then, but tend to sell out quickly.

Best to keep an eye on "refurbme.com" and check HOURLY if you're "in the market".
 
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