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Has the Rev. B MBA's line issue sorted out?
- Thread starter jjahshik32
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Your whole argument is ridiculous when you start saying the people with perfect screens have flawed eyesight - but really - if it makes you sleep better at night thinking my perfect screen actually has lines - then go ahead - think my eyesight is flawed. Sleep better.
You make a mockery of the people who DID/DO have lines - and then have recently received/seen new MBA's with no lines.
Last weekend I visited the closest Apple retail store fully prepared to buy an Air. I had 'played' extensively with the Rev A and really loved the portability, the screen quality and the general 'polished river stone' touch and feel. I was going to buy the best 1.86ghz, SSD version and use it for travel and for software development (plugged into a large monitor at home.)
When I arrived at the store, I headed straight for the Airs and sat down. They only had two on display and it was immediately obvious that they had the dreaded lines in them. My heart sunk because I'm one of those guys who's eyes are drawn immediately to screen flaws... and this was a big one. The helpful salespeople saw them too and were very understanding and sympathetic at the situation. I stepped back to think.
When I stepped back, I noticed something else about the screens: The LED back-lighting was horribly uneven, with lots of bleed all over the screens. Both had identical problems. I'm still unsure as to whether the REV A versions I've used were better or not. Either way, this was unacceptable.
I gave up on the idea of using an Air for extensive travel.
Once I opened up to the idea that I wasn't going to be using this laptop for travel, it was like my eyes were suddenly opened to all the other possibilities. To make a very long story a bit shorter, I ended up walking out with a brand new 17" pro with matte screen!
Here's what has surprised me: Although I love the Air, I'm VERY happy with my purchase decision because strange as it may sound, I really wanted a huge, anti-glare screen. The 1920x1280 resolution is great.
I haven't given up on the idea of owning an Air, but I'll wait until these issues are sorted out.
When I arrived at the store, I headed straight for the Airs and sat down. They only had two on display and it was immediately obvious that they had the dreaded lines in them. My heart sunk because I'm one of those guys who's eyes are drawn immediately to screen flaws... and this was a big one. The helpful salespeople saw them too and were very understanding and sympathetic at the situation. I stepped back to think.
When I stepped back, I noticed something else about the screens: The LED back-lighting was horribly uneven, with lots of bleed all over the screens. Both had identical problems. I'm still unsure as to whether the REV A versions I've used were better or not. Either way, this was unacceptable.
I gave up on the idea of using an Air for extensive travel.
Once I opened up to the idea that I wasn't going to be using this laptop for travel, it was like my eyes were suddenly opened to all the other possibilities. To make a very long story a bit shorter, I ended up walking out with a brand new 17" pro with matte screen!
Here's what has surprised me: Although I love the Air, I'm VERY happy with my purchase decision because strange as it may sound, I really wanted a huge, anti-glare screen. The 1920x1280 resolution is great.
I haven't given up on the idea of owning an Air, but I'll wait until these issues are sorted out.
I brought my second Rev B back to another Apple Store yesterday, and all of their Air's had the line issue.
The Genius looked up the issue, and Apple merely states that the screen behavior is normal. I am in the process of trying to get it exchanged toward a Macbook Pro as well, largely because the screen on the regular Macbook is not as good.
The Genius looked up the issue, and Apple merely states that the screen behavior is normal. I am in the process of trying to get it exchanged toward a Macbook Pro as well, largely because the screen on the regular Macbook is not as good.
No idea why you're being so passive-aggressive, but we're not talking big cm-wide streaky banners here. Even at their worst, they are very faint lines, and most people either don't notice them or can barely see them.
Ask any opthalmologist and they'll confirm that visual acuity is affected by many factors, even transient environmental ones like ambient lighting, but the most usual and normal inherent change is that it declines with age.
You say you have a perfect screen. Good for you. I don't doubt it. They DO exist, which is exactly the reason I will not accept a screen with lines, just on principle. But it is also true that many people, even when they're pointed out, just cannot see the issue clearly or at all. I've had 20-something ASGs stare blankly at my insistence, and only a few have conceded their existence, often with surprise as they hadn't noticed before. Strange considering the perfect clarity of MBP displays around them - which again was my other argument about people, sometimes new to Mac, or who do not own or have recent experience of another PB/MBP/ACD etc.
I have 9C8F which is the screen that also used to be in Rev A and it is perfect.
However at 3 Best Buys, Micro Center, Frys and two Apple Stores I saw NO line free Rev B before I got mine from Amazon. They were all 9c9f and 9c90 with varying degrees of the lines showing.
I was actually going to settle for subtle lines and got very pleasantly surprised when I got the model 9C8F right after I read about someone else also getting this model.
It is a beautiful screen.
However at 3 Best Buys, Micro Center, Frys and two Apple Stores I saw NO line free Rev B before I got mine from Amazon. They were all 9c9f and 9c90 with varying degrees of the lines showing.
I was actually going to settle for subtle lines and got very pleasantly surprised when I got the model 9C8F right after I read about someone else also getting this model.
It is a beautiful screen.
Suggest you read my post again, because I clearly say that "it is far more likely that the majority of MBA owners WITH screen lines are not aware they have them....". Very different to saying all MBAs have lines but people just can't see them. Maybe your eyesight isn't that good after all?
We all know the majority of MBA users do not frequent MR, so it's therefore safe to assume, the majority don't know/care about the lines issue IF they are unlucky enough to have one. However, the problem is common enough even within this infinitesimal sample community to suggest we're just the tip of the iceberg and that the problem extends widely.
I've said a million times I don't have any doubt perfect screens are out there, many here have them and/or have seen them. I'm also not saying those who have them are deluding themselves or a bunch of Mr Magoo types, blissfully ignorant. The very fact perfect screens are out there is exactly why I refuse to accept anything less.
In the interim waiting for the rev.C (hopefully in June), the only two questions I'd like answered, based on the feedback so far, are:
1. Whether anyone here has a 9C8F screen WITH lines? This older display model seems to be free of the problem, which is itself quite interesting and suggests an inherent QC problem.
2. Whether anyone in say the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia etc. has experience of line-free MBAs? I've yet to personally see one in the wild (and trust me, I've looked at lots). Seems this heat/humidity theory suggested by Scottsdale may have some credence - guy posted last night, had the same spec as one of mine, same screen model, bought from same source, but unlike me he lives in hot and humid HK, and guess what.....no lines!
I just received an Air (admittedly a refurb) from Apple. It has the lines, very conspicuous I might say.
Refurb should have nothing to do with it.
Specs, serial part, display model 9CXX, and your approx. location?
I'd guess 1.6 HDD, range W8850xxxx-W8905xxxx, 9C90/A, and somewhere outside of the tropics with a temp less than 20C/68F right now. Sorry can't be bothered looking up those co-ords
Am I close?
No need. He'll either be offered a replacement or (the recommended option) his money back no questions asked.
That's what Apple do within 14 days regardless.
I would have assumed that the reason Apple took so long to sell rev B MBAs refurbished was they were waiting on a line fix. Now have read three refurb rev B buyers have had the lines. Crazy! I guess Apple just doesn't care to fix the lines and assumes many are nearly blind and will not see the lines. We have to assume the vast majority of returned rev Bs have the lines. And if Apple is not fixing the lines before selling refurbished rev Bs, then we should all avoid refurbished rev B MBAs. Sad, very sad!
Apparently Apple just had a huge inventory of rev As it needed to dump before getting to rev B refurb sales. So what about all of those that returned rev Bs, Apple surely has a bunch of refurbished rev Bs it must sell. Does this prevent Apple from releasing the rev C anytime soon???
Doubt that re. the delay to 'fix', as I said the refurb rev.Bs have been available here in Europe since late Feb.
it's very obvious to me that, like with the 3 units I returned, they just give them a once over to check nothing is significantly wrong and the unit is "within spec" and just ship 'em out to the next poor unsuspecting customer who, they hope, will not notice the lines.
No way they'll implement a 'fix' at this stage with existing units, new or refurb. Even if it has been acknowledged internally (and you have to assume it has judging by the existing refurb MBA mountain) then any funds and resources tasked with fixing the issue will be held back for the rev.C and silently implemented.
Really can't see that being the case. Surely in the case of the MBA, refurb inventory must not be allowed to significantly affect the launch of facelifted model (no development as such just spec upgrades). Surely??? I could see it might if we're talking a new form factor, or redesigned model, as the release of such would cause the stock of refurb units to plummet, seen as outdated, but we're not at that stage yet.
I am surely praying the rev C MBA comes out soon and only features new components... and NOT a new form factor NOR a black bezel. The only differences I want to see with the computer off is the glass buttonless trackpad.
I do not knwo which is the Apple's planning, but i do not want changes on the Air design. The only point to solve is the problem that some people explain about screen-lines.About this subject, i know that i have bought two refurb. rev.B and both of them are 100% lines-free.
I bought a refurb. rev.A on the beginning. Later, when i saw that really i want MBA as my first portable computer (my MB Alu is working like my desktop now) i gave it to my girlfriend and i bought one refurb. rev.B Now she also want a rev.B, and today i have received it.
I have compared them with my original rev.A and i can assure that there is no lines difference, and the three MBA which are now in front of my have exactly the same screen.
I do not know if it is because i am lucky or if Apple have solved the problem..but i feel very happy with MBA and i know that this is the BEST compater that i have never owned.
I bought a refurb. rev.A on the beginning. Later, when i saw that really i want MBA as my first portable computer (my MB Alu is working like my desktop now) i gave it to my girlfriend and i bought one refurb. rev.B Now she also want a rev.B, and today i have received it.
I have compared them with my original rev.A and i can assure that there is no lines difference, and the three MBA which are now in front of my have exactly the same screen.
I do not know if it is because i am lucky or if Apple have solved the problem..but i feel very happy with MBA and i know that this is the BEST compater that i have never owned.
It's bound to be the 8F isn't it? The fact he says there's absolutely no difference between all 3 (rev Bs and a rev A) confirms it, as the 8F was used in the rev.A
I am now on the work, and i don't have here on this moment my MBA, but as soon as i will return home i will check and confirm it.
Veinticinco said:
The point that i can confirm, because i have been checking with different pictures and web sites, is that these three screens look EXACTLY the same. I did it to be sure that i am not wrong and i do not see the lines because of one eye's mistake.