Class Action Lawsuit over Apple MB and MBP Displays?

[SeaFox]

Lawsuits... bleh. That's not the way to do anything. But at the same time, I'm upset at the 6-bit issue. I'm a photographer and I want 8 bits. Way not cool, Apple. Boo.

Seriously, I didn't even know that all LCDs were 6 bit instead of 8 bit still. I heard that LCD's didn't reproduce colors as well as CRT's years ago, but nowadays I hear that issue has been resolved and they are a lot better. If it still isn't possible to display all the same colors on an LCD as it is a CRT, I'm gonna tell the next person who dogs on CRTs to ****.

Do 8 bit panels exist at this point at all?

Does this mean I should wait to buy a MacBook?

I would say you should wait anyway for the update later this year when the Santa Rosa and LED upgrades come in.

 

[SMM]

I find this thread hilarious.
Is anyone else laughing at this?
People will complain about anything and everything these days.
For God's sake, stop your damned whining!

This reeks of an anti-Apple thread, with your typical chorus of newbies. Damn this is getting old.

 

[itsallinurhead]

This reeks of an anti-Apple thread, with your typical chorus of newbies. Damn this is getting old.

How is being pro high quality anti-apple?

 

[iW00t]

I wasn't talking about the average Mac user, I was talking about those who specifically require 8-bit panels. All I'm saying is that if you're particular about a certain spec, you should do the research to clarify any ambiguous manufacturer specs before you buy. The info is readily available. But I wasn't excusing the manufacturer from being intentionally ambiguous.

So I am an educated content creation professional. What if I found out that Apple's current offerings are lacking? Boohoo, throw my few thousand dollars worth of CS/FCP licenses into the bin and switch to a PeeCee?

Seriously, I didn't even know that all LCDs were 6 bit instead of 8 bit still. I heard that LCD's didn't reproduce colors as well as CRT's years ago, but nowadays I hear that issue has been resolved and they are a lot better. If it still isn't possible to display all the same colors on an LCD as it is a CRT, I'm gonna tell the next person who dogs on CRTs to ****.

Do 8 bit panels exist at this point at all?

It doesn't matter, I have laptop screens that are 4 years older than the ones on the MBP and produces better colour saturation AND viewing angles.

 

[EricNau]

I've had rather poor experiences with the Genius bar employees lately. They seem to be more interested in selling new products rather than fixing existing problems. Do not like.

Same here. According to them, my iMac's fans were "perfectly normal" and if I wanted a quieter machine my only option was to buy a new intel iMac.

I took three trips to my Apple Store regarding this issue and all three times I was refused service.

After more recent developments, an on-site repair has been scheduled and my iMac will be getting a new power supply and logic board for heat related complications.


I will not be going back to my local genius bar as they are incompetent.

 

[Mr Fusion]

I've had rather poor experiences with the Genius bar employees lately. They seem to be more interested in selling new products rather than fixing existing problems. Do not like.

I have always had better customer service experience with Apple over the phone. My PBTi G4 had a screen that was borderline "white splotchy." The Genius Bar politely told me to get lost. I called AppleCare and a week later my laptop was back with a brand new screen free of charge.

This seems like a non-issue. Apple should change their product specs to accurately reflect the product. If it is 6-bit instead of 8, say so. If it uses dithering to create millions of colors, then say that specifically so there is no confusion. End of story.

I am hoping the switch to LED backlit screens moves Apple back to the forefront in displays, as they have allowed this end of their hardware to slip for quite sometime. Minus the slight resolution increase there is no noticeable difference in quality between today's MBP screen and my five year old PB screen.

 

[slooksterPSV]

Omg people are idiots, I love my iBook, the graininess that was on it when I first got it, I don't really notice it anymore execpt when my colors switch to Thousands by other programs. But other than that, apple does a damn good job. Screw those guys I hope they lose.

 

[warwickt]

SOME MACBOOK PRO DUAL CORE 17&15inches are definately

Guys, just a quick wander through the thread and a comment from ACTUAL EXPERIENCES with 3 recently purchases (Dec 2006) brand new MAC BOOK PROS (2 x 15inches and 1 x 17inches).

regardless of the worthiness of the american based law suit.....

My opinion is that a FAIR PROPORTION of the MACBOOK PRO DUAL CORE displays are faulty... maybe its the ones purchased in ASIA.

check out this link @ http://youtube.com/watch?v=YOn_zhY4tgU

Here's why from our experiences:
• the 17inche brand new MACBOOK PRO display was so faulty in the way it had so many disparate GREY and DARK areas on the display , we had the DISPLAY change not once but THREE (3) times by APPLE here in HONG KONG. It was a dreadully slow and painful process. We only managed 16 days use of this BRAND NEW MAC BOOK DUAL CORE PRO 17inches before APPLE finally agreed to REFUND THE MONEY for it including the apple care. THANK YOU APPLE - in fact it took escallation to a CUSTOMER SERVICE executive to get this to happen. This was in MARCH 2007 .. it has left a very bad taste concerning the line of these machines - eapecially when our purchases have number now into the 20's of APPLE machines. Imagine using the machine for just over 2 weeks in 4 x MONTHS! - disgraceful indeed.
• the two remaining MACBOOK PRO DUAL core 15inches appliances also have disparate grey areas on the displays and complaining about them doesn't seem to get aywhere and we CANNOT have them away for a month at a time while APPLE ASIA bugger around to replace a display as they are used also for business.

NOw lastly what is very frustrating to see is PERFECT Apple MACBOOK PRO DUAL CORE DISPLAYS in other parts of the world yes I traval a lot for work). THeir owners are very satisfied wi their appliances and their displays are wonderful compared to ours. HOWEVER when they see my MBPDC 15 (this one) they all agree that this one is definately faulty when compared to theirs. Will we return these displays for a fix? well maybe but not if I have to wait a MONTH to get the replacement. We have APPLE CARE PROTECTION on all these.

The greater furstation is that APPLE techs state that the quality of the machines we have is NORMAL. This is in quite doubtful when compared not only with pother machine of their kind but even a 4 year old G4 Powerbook display which is BRIGHTER than these 5 month only LATEST AND GREATEST.

LAstly... we are waiting to see what the NEW generation machine is like before buying anymore. AND will sit at the apple shop for at least two hours with the machine on BEFORE we take it away...
dont wanna get caught again with another dud display.

It's nothing to do with backlights or cards etc .. that's all b/s....

again, go check out http://youtube.com/watch?v=YOn_zhY4tgU

fwiw

 

[FX120]

Personally I just returned my week old MacBook Pro because of the sub-par screen and replaced it with a 15" T60p which IMO has a much better screeen. CS3 works just about as fast on Windows now anyways.

I like Apple and their software, but reciently they seem to be having issues with their hardware.

 

[SeaFox]

So I am an educated content creation professional. What if I found out that Apple's current offerings are lacking? Boohoo, throw my few thousand dollars worth of CS/FCP licenses into the bin and switch to a PeeCee?

You would buy a MacPro and purchase a monitor from another manufacturer.

 

[EricNau]

My view: This lawsuit is total BS. We're too lawyer-happy around here.

The old'c cliche of sue-happy Americans proves itself once again.

There really are greater things to worry about these days......

So, for users who spent thousands of dollars on systems, and need/want a better display, what are they expected to do? Buy a new one? Do you have any better ideas?

I'm guessing both of you, along with many of the naysayers here, have not been affected by Apple's poor build quality lately (or their refusal to make repairs).

 

[bearbo]

So, for users who spent thousands of dollars on systems, and need/want a better display, what are they expected to do? Buy a new one? Do you have any better ideas?

I'm guessing both of you, along with many of the naysayers here, have not been affected by Apple's poor build quality lately (or their refusal to make repairs).

Or just completely fanboyism.

 

[nagromme]

If it's a rare issue, Apple needs to address it.

If it's a common issue, Apple needs to address it.

If it's no accident, but intentionally selling 6-bit displays while advertising 8-bit ones then that is VERY serious--but I don't see evidence of that.

If, as someone posted at AI, rebooting with Boot Camp fixes the issue, then it's a software driver thing that simply needs a patch.

 

[Masquerade]

if a pixel with the 10th million colour is not displayed then the display support millions of colors?

ok i went to the apple site and it only says there is support for millions of colors not displays millions of colors....

"15.4-inch (diagonal) TFT display, support for millions of colors; optional glossy widescreen display"

so while i agree that you should have better parts for expensive laptops apple is not lying in what they say about the screen.

 

[Sutekidane]

...again, go check out http://youtube.com/watch?v=YOn_zhY4tgU

fwiw

I totally agree with your whole post.

For more examples of the problem: http://flickr.com/photos/8339569@N06/sets/72157600223455835/
This is FAR from being the first time apple has had display issues.

 

[deadpoet]

As far as I can tell, Apple has been using 6-bit LCDs in their notebook range since the very beginning. I don't know of any notebook manufacturer that offers true 8-bit built in LCDs, but if anyone does, I'd appreciate it if you could post the information.

Apple of course doesn't claim any kind of colour accuracy with the built-in notebook LCDs. I do think notebook manufacturers should move towards 8-bit screens using technology such as PVA or S-IPS panels, but I suspect this is difficult because of the thinness of the notebook displays. Maybe new technology such as SED might help in this regard.

In conclusion, this is another ridiculous frivolous class action lawsuit which could equally well be launched against any notebook provider in the world. The whole concept is just one big money-grabbing troll.

 

[EricNau]

The whole concept is just one big money-grabbing troll.

As far as the customer is concerned, class-action lawsuits are not about making money. At most, each affected customer will receive compensation for their purchase, and Apple will (hopefully) learn their lesson.

 

[indiekiduk]

As far as I can tell, Apple has been using 6-bit LCDs in their notebook range since the very beginning. I don't know of any notebook manufacturer that offers true 8-bit built in LCDs, but if anyone does, I'd appreciate it if you could post the information.

Apple of course doesn't claim any kind of colour accuracy with the built-in notebook LCDs. I do think notebook manufacturers should move towards 8-bit screens using technology such as PVA or S-IPS panels, but I suspect this is difficult because of the thinness of the notebook displays. Maybe new technology such as SED might help in this regard.

In conclusion, this is another ridiculous frivolous class action lawsuit which could equally well be launched against any notebook provider in the world. The whole concept is just one big money-grabbing troll.

Just because you haven't had problems, or noticed problems with your Apple displays doesn't mean you should disregard the people that do. Its quite insulting when technically competent people go to the effort to make their problems known only to have them thrown in their face by idiots.

People put up with alot of crap these days, either because they are not technically minded enough to realise there is a fault, physically are unable to notice, or just don't even care. I'm suprised at how many people in this thread don't understand or care about Apple's display quality problems.

Personally I've seen the grey lines problem in a 17" MBP and a year old 15" MBP, dithering in my MacBook displays, dark spots appearing in my MacBook Pro displays. With a bit of effort and a few returns its possible to get a fine 15" MBP display, but I havn't yet seen a MB display without bad dithering in greys, backlight leakage and a decent viewing angle, hence I wouldn't buy a MB again until there is word they are using a different brand of LCD. Apple aren't the worst though, Acer and Sony laptops I have used had truly shocking displays. I tried an Acer with bad grey dithering and grey lines, and a Sony with diagonal interference (shimmering) which they claimed only some people's eyes would notice. What can be even more infuriating is the engineers which work at these companies repair depts just put laptops together according to part numbers and spec sheets and have no clue about quality, or can even do anything about it. If you care you can send your laptop with a big note on it and a model id of the display you would like, but why should the consumer have to go to this effort researching the best model of lcd supplied by a laptop company? I hope this lawsuit succeeds so tehnically competent people don't need to go to this effort to get a quality display, and joe public also won't get ripped off.

I say, ABOUT TIME.

 

[e12a]

I totally agree with your whole post.

For more examples of the problem: http://flickr.com/photos/8339569@N06/sets/72157600223455835/
This is FAR from being the first time apple has had display issues.

except the guy in the video is wrong about the screen being glossy. That is far from a mirror shine. They just switched the way they manufacture/coat the screen. Also, the light bleeding is okay if the screen is looked at from anywhere but dead on. They aren't meant to be looked at from the side and top, plus laptop screens are have horrible vertical viewing angles.

and to the people who keep posting "show me where it says it displays millions of colors", Its open to interpretation, but most people at first glance would assume that it does indeed show millions of colors. It only takes a forum like this to show that they're wrong. Its like that lawsuit against PC manufacturers and their "Vista capable" sticker. Sure its capable, but that doesnt mean it can run Aero too (which most people assumed...but then there was the "premium" sticker, but who would have noticed two different types of stickers? especially the casual consumer?).

 

[scrambledwonder]

I would say you should wait anyway for the update later this year when the Santa Rosa and LED upgrades come in.

Never wait. Buy now and do work. Then buy again later. It's the capitalist way.

 

[localoid]

As far as the customer is concerned, class-action lawsuits are not about making money. At most, each affected customer will receive compensation for their purchase, and Apple will (hopefully) learn their lesson.

"Follow the money" in the most class-action suits and the trail usually leads directly to the legal firm that filed it...

 

[livingfortoday]

Never wait. Buy now and do work. Then buy again later. It's the capitalist way.

You're right. People shouldn't work at all, just wait to buy before they die, then try to get some work done.

 

[oldwatery]

Just because you haven't had problems, or noticed problems with your Apple displays doesn't mean you should disregard the people that do. Its quite insulting when technically competent people go to the effort to make their problems known only to have them thrown in their face by idiots.

People put up with alot of crap these days, either because they are not technically minded enough to realise there is a fault, physically are unable to notice, or just don't even care. I'm suprised at how many people in this thread don't understand or care about Apple's display quality problems.

Thank you...I couldn't have said it better.
Why is it that some people just cannot stop making things personal.
I have spent countless hours dealing with Apple over a very real problem and doing my best to understand what is actually at fault here. That includes participating in these forums.
I have better things to do than waste my time on a rant and I'm sure most of the other pros out there are of similar mind.
We have participated in these discussions to help find an answer.
It is grossly unfair of some of the posters to lable those of us who want to make something better simply as whiners and money grabbers.
I want nothing for free.
However I do want what I've paid for.
I know that nothing is perfect but when my 6 year old TiBook has a display that is less problematic than my new MBP C2D I have a reason to at least ask why.

 

[i needed logic]

blah

If you do not own any of the products being discussed, why are you posting? Do everyone a favour and don't post your BS comments. The macbook (more specifically my macbook) is garbage. I will now tell you why it is garbage.

1 The screen is unviewable from any angle. Even viewing perpendicular to the face of the screen it is so bad that i cannot view the entire screen without losing view at the top or bottom. Ridiculous. I also experience the same uneven backlighting as mentioned by others.

2 Dead pixels. Never happened to me before.

3 Terrible customer support. I can't call support after 3 months? wtf is that? Once i did get on the phone with them it was like pulling teeth. Scammers. I bet most ppl just back off and let apple get away with it. I think thats their plan by making the process so difficult.

4 Did you hear about random shutdown? I did for 6 months. Software patch made it go away for a bit, but the other day it was back.

5 Thing gets dirty and disgusting just by looking at it. Robert Ives sucks

6 stripped screw in the memory compartment cap.

To tell you the truth i hardly use the thing, which makes things more disturbing. I hope the lawsuit goes well. All i want is a refund.

 

[zimtheinvader]

Take it seriously Apple!

The screen on 12" PB sucks!!! I had hoped that if I shelled out $2K for the 15", this problem would be fixed. Now this! Its not like there are other Apple notebook options... this is THE PRO NOTEBOOK!!! Marketed toward A/V professionals, the screen must, it needs to be perfect! Hopefully LED or whatever backlight thingy will remedy this. There is NO excuse for shoddy displays on ANY apple product!