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clevin

macrumors G3
Original poster
Aug 6, 2006
9,095
1
like these
GrayScreen.jpg

macbook_screen.jpg


I went to local apple store, seems all their macbooks, with white background, all show this uneven brightness. Is there a problem with apple's LCD?
 

adrianblaine

macrumors 65816
Oct 12, 2006
1,156
0
Pasadena, CA
I think most apple laptops have some form of this problem. My 12" iBook is really really bad after just waking from sleep or just turning on. It seems to get better after "warming" up.

I thought maybe the new generation of laptops would have this fixed, but looking at your pictures, i'd agree with you in that it isn't too bad. Mine looks like part of the screen plain isn't working for about 20 seconds...
 

clevin

macrumors G3
Original poster
Aug 6, 2006
9,095
1
oh, so sorry to hear this. looks like apple is "great design+impressive OS+poor quality LCD", lol
 

stealthman1

macrumors regular
Oct 20, 2006
240
0
Ca
There are substantial differences between the brightness levels on all 3 of your screen shots. Care to guess why in one it's darker at the center and on another it'd darker at the edges? Care to guess how often you use your computer with an all white/light grey screen? So does it matter?
 

WildCowboy

Administrator/Editor
Staff member
Jan 20, 2005
18,490
2,991
I just get a dim spot in the bottom left (not quite in the corner) on my PowerBook after I wake it up...goes away after about a minute.
 

clevin

macrumors G3
Original poster
Aug 6, 2006
9,095
1
There are substantial differences between the brightness levels on all 3 of your screen shots. Care to guess why in one it's darker at the center and on another it'd darker at the edges? Care to guess how often you use your computer with an all white/light grey screen? So does it matter?
no, not all of the picture are my machine, i was just trying to find out if this is same situation for other ppl, so i googled em.
 

ilkevinli

macrumors 6502
Apr 8, 2006
304
29
NYC
I have the same issue. My left side of the screen is brighter than the right. Doesn't bother me too much.

My MBP C2D has uneven brightness. It's not bad, but I do notice it. I don't have a problem with my 20" ACD though.
 

miniguu

macrumors regular
Jun 16, 2005
160
0
My glossy screen is slightly darker on the bottom edge. It's really only noticeable when I pay attention to the grey apple start up screen.
 

jsd

macrumors member
Oct 15, 2003
58
0
Orange, CA
looking at the macbook pros in the Apple Store, all of them are slightly darker along the edges than in the middle. There's no difference between the glossy and matte that I can see if I try to be objective about it, but there's a strong subjective difference in that the darker edges are less noticeable on the glossy, partly I think because the glossy just looks a lot brighter. It's not particularly noticeable except for the gray startup apple screen or pure white, anyway. I don't think this is necessarily a "problem", it's just normal because of the type of backlight they used and the limited space and power requirements. My old PowerBook 1.25 GHz screen (after I had it replaced because of the white spots issue) does the "warming up" thing, and it has to be on full brightness all the time or it will develop a "dark half". As long as my new MBP doesn't start doing that, I'll be happy.
 

mikesjo

macrumors regular
Nov 29, 2005
104
0
Vancouver, B.C.
I had a problem similar to yours on my iBook G4 when I first got it. The bottom left corner was darker than the rest of the screen. I brought it back and they replaced the LCD. The corner is not as notivable now.
 

iBorg20181

macrumors 6502
Apr 5, 2006
281
0
Minneapolis, MN
Fortunately for me, mine's flawless - lighting is even, with no stuck/dead pixels. My 4-year-old TiBook had some uneven lighting, which was only noticeable with a solid colored background, unseen otherwise. I've been blessed <knocks on wood> in never having any screen or pixel problems in 3 PowerBooks, 2 iBooks, and now 1 MBP!

:D

iBorg
 

clevin

macrumors G3
Original poster
Aug 6, 2006
9,095
1
Fortunately for me, mine's flawless - lighting is even, with no stuck/dead pixels. My 4-year-old TiBook had some uneven lighting, which was only noticeable with a solid colored background, unseen otherwise. I've been blessed <knocks on wood> in never having any screen or pixel problems in 3 PowerBooks, 2 iBooks, and now 1 MBP!

:D

iBorg
im not scaring you :D
it develops through time. try post back in 3 month.
 

iBorg20181

macrumors 6502
Apr 5, 2006
281
0
Minneapolis, MN
im not scaring you :D
it develops through time. try post back in 3 month.

Never had it happen with time in Wallstreet, Pismo, or TiBook - not expecting it'll happen with time with my MBP! <crosses fingers!>

If you have a screen with defective/uneven lighting, take it into an Apple store and see about a swap. But that's perhaps just me - I'm pretty particular when it comes to my lappy's screen!

;)

iBorg
 

clevin

macrumors G3
Original poster
Aug 6, 2006
9,095
1
Never had it happen with time in Wallstreet, Pismo, or TiBook - not expecting it'll happen with time with my MBP! <crosses fingers!>

If you have a screen with defective/uneven lighting, take it into an Apple store and see about a swap. But that's perhaps just me - I'm pretty particular when it comes to my lappy's screen!

;)

iBorg

LOL< i called applecare, and talked to the genies in the store, they don't think that's defect.
 

Chrispy

macrumors 68020
Dec 27, 2004
2,270
524
Indiana
LOL< i called applecare, and talked to the genies in the store, they don't think that's defect.

Yeah Applecare isn't going to call this a defect. It was like pulling teeth to get them to admit the horizontal lines issues in my last gen 15" powerbook was a problem. Apple just does not like to admit there is a problem with something. I suppose in this case the neven backligting for most people is very minor so I can see where they are coming from.

iBorg, you say you have a perfect screen. Do you have the matte or glossy?
 

clevin

macrumors G3
Original poster
Aug 6, 2006
9,095
1
Did they grant you three wishes instead? :p

they grant me that I am allowed to see them again in the future.
if I got three wishes?
1. better quality LCD
2. put MBP's specs into MB's clothes
3, all products go down to <$1000
 

iBorg20181

macrumors 6502
Apr 5, 2006
281
0
Minneapolis, MN
Yeah Applecare isn't going to call this a defect. It was like pulling teeth to get them to admit the horizontal lines issues in my last gen 15" powerbook was a problem. Apple just does not like to admit there is a problem with something. I suppose in this case the neven backligting for most people is very minor so I can see where they are coming from.

iBorg, you say you have a perfect screen. Do you have the matte or glossy?

Glossy!

If your lighting is truly, noticeably uneven, I wouldn't accept that as "normal." BTW, no notebook manufacturers "like to admit there is a problem with something" - it's the nature of the product and what they consider "within tolerances." And unlike stuck/dead pixels, which can be counted, the unevenness of lighting is somewhat subjective, so harder to get action taken to repair/replace.

As said here many times before, be firm, yet civil and respectful, and you'll get the best results. If dealing with a store salesperson, ask to speak with the manager. If dealing with apple.com, if you're getting nowhere with a tech support person, call back a few minutes later, and you'll get a different person, who may be more sympathetic/helpful. I've had 180 degree different opinions, a few minutes apart, with support techs in the past (e.g. first one told me that a failing battery was not covered under AppleCare, and the next one shipped me a new battery overnight express, free of charge! Last year, right before my TiBook's 3 year warranty was about to expire!)

Good luck in getting this fixed - you should be able to get satisfaction in this!

iBorg
 

Chrispy

macrumors 68020
Dec 27, 2004
2,270
524
Indiana
iBorg is dead on with his advice. I have done this in the past where I called and got nothing so just called back later and the problem was taken care of. I received a custom built PB about a year ago that had a warped screen casing and a key that continued to pop off the day I received the computer. The first tech told me I would have to send it away for repair. This was not acceptable to me so I just called back. The next person was fantastic and had a replacement sent out right away. Thanks for pointing this out as it worked wonders for me in the past! I'm gonna give the matte screen one more try and then will try for glossy. Had my case not had issues on mine I would have probably just stuck with my screen but it is disappointing to have those kind of issues in such an expensive laptop.
 

daneoni

macrumors G4
Mar 24, 2006
11,844
1,579
So i actually got around to taking a picture of mine and have posted it in the other thread but for the lazy folks, here goes:

dsc00627li7.jpg


Edit: added solid backround images..all at full brightness

dsc00628mh8.jpg


dsc00629ms3.jpg


Its not pretty, there's a black patch across the bottom of the screen and a blotch on the top left and right parts it seems. I've reverted to using it exclusively with my Dell display until TNT comes to take it back. Looks like glossy is on the horizon afterall
 
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