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iMac 24" owners. LISTEN UP!
- Thread starter rainydays
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I've looked and looked and looked and don't see this problem on mine. I do see it in the OP's picture, however.
Well I don't need it to be 100% perfect. If that was the case I would have to spend as much on the screen as I've spent on the iMac. And I've done so before, but business is tougher these days so I can't spend that much money on a screen.
I can take differences in illumination, but when it's coupled with differences in tint it becomes a bit difficult.
I have never seen this issue on any other display. It must be the combination of uneven illumination and this specific panel.
Even my cheap Samsung 22" TN display had a more even backlighting. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a better display than this.
This is what I get for being blessed with good vision
lucky those people who doesn't notice it.
In my experience, if you need the even and consistent colors and brightness / contrast across the entire screen, then you should go with a CRT.
I am personally amazed that you had a LCD screen previously which gave you even coloring and brightness.
I've owned many, many, many LCD screens that were both standalone screens and screens that came integrated in Mac portables and iMacs.
Absolutely none of the LCD screens that I have ever used or owned have provided consistent color and brightness across the entire screen. This includes 2 iMac G5 systems - a 20-inch and a 17-inch - and the 17-inch was the same with both it's original and it's replacement LCD panel. Likewise, I've had the same experience with an iBook G3 366 and an iBook G4 1.25 GHz (12-inch).
And, I've had the same experience with my 19-inch LCD screen (a standalone DVI monitor), a 15-inch LCD screen (also a standalone monitor - but with VGA inputs).
I've observed the same thing on my old PC portable, and each PC Portable which my wife has been issued by her company for her use.
Over the years, that's a lot of LCD screens. And, every single one of them has had color variations (which are significant if viewed on a solid background of any color).
Likewise, all the various LCD screens and Laptop computers that I've looked at on display at the various stores also show this.
So, from my experience, the problem you describe is more an issue with LCD screens than with the iMac specifically.
Of course, it doesn't bother me since I'm not working with photos for a living. But, anytime I've needed exacting picture quality, I've dug out my pair of 17-inch CRT monitors.
I expect that most people don't notice or care because it doesn't bother or affect them.
Even now, the symptom is present on my screen. But, because I've got a textured background, it is minimized. And, while I can see the color shift in the white windows, it isn't enough to bother me.
Stuck pixels would bother me. But, fortunately with all the LCD's I've had so far, I've been fortunate not to experience that. I hope that trend continues.
I am personally amazed that you had a LCD screen previously which gave you even coloring and brightness.
I've owned many, many, many LCD screens that were both standalone screens and screens that came integrated in Mac portables and iMacs.
Absolutely none of the LCD screens that I have ever used or owned have provided consistent color and brightness across the entire screen. This includes 2 iMac G5 systems - a 20-inch and a 17-inch - and the 17-inch was the same with both it's original and it's replacement LCD panel. Likewise, I've had the same experience with an iBook G3 366 and an iBook G4 1.25 GHz (12-inch).
And, I've had the same experience with my 19-inch LCD screen (a standalone DVI monitor), a 15-inch LCD screen (also a standalone monitor - but with VGA inputs).
I've observed the same thing on my old PC portable, and each PC Portable which my wife has been issued by her company for her use.
Over the years, that's a lot of LCD screens. And, every single one of them has had color variations (which are significant if viewed on a solid background of any color).
Likewise, all the various LCD screens and Laptop computers that I've looked at on display at the various stores also show this.
So, from my experience, the problem you describe is more an issue with LCD screens than with the iMac specifically.
Of course, it doesn't bother me since I'm not working with photos for a living. But, anytime I've needed exacting picture quality, I've dug out my pair of 17-inch CRT monitors.
I expect that most people don't notice or care because it doesn't bother or affect them.
Even now, the symptom is present on my screen. But, because I've got a textured background, it is minimized. And, while I can see the color shift in the white windows, it isn't enough to bother me.
Stuck pixels would bother me. But, fortunately with all the LCD's I've had so far, I've been fortunate not to experience that. I hope that trend continues.
Okay, here's a shot of it...
I still don't see anything wrong.
Then it won't make any difference to you that I see it
Well, I've had subtle brightness issues on some. My MacBook is the worst one and it has a darker spot in the lower half of the screen, but I wouldn't expect great backlighting from a laptop. But uneven illumination is something I can deal with if it's subtle. The yellow tint however is really annoying.
What bothers me the most is that this panel is amazing. Really. It's top notch. But what good does that do when the backlighting ruins it?
Then it won't make any difference to you that I see it
As long as I don't see it, I'm fine with it. Honestly, it's a PIA (to keep) exchanging it.
I'm very picky/expect perfection, my HD DVD & BD Collection especially...I see a Hairline Scratch that doesn't even affect Playback and I get it exchanged.
Then it won't make any difference to you that I see it
Ha, thanks for picture. Yeah, I don't know if it's because it's on a slight angle, but the left side is brighter. I just wish the brightness was consistent. It seems like most of the left is brighter and then it kind of fades as you head right...kind of wish it was in the middle. Oh well, replacement tomorrow, and then maybe a Mac Pro.
To be fair the this 24 inch panels makes my Dell 17 look like it's from another era. When I go back to my PC, everything seems a shade of cream.
two good ideas from this/other threads
1)get a CRT monitor to connect to your iMac for photo/graphics editing (they're getting cheaper by the day!)
2)increase the brightness to 100% using the display panel in system preferences. then, try reducing the brightness to your desired level using the software brightness control linked in one of these 24'' iMac display threads.
I do see slight discoloration in the sample image, but it's not overwhelming. a friend has a 24'' white iMac with the H-IPS panel used in the ALU 24'' iMacs, but aside from uneven brightness visible on the edges of an all white screen, there didn't seem to be any yellow tinting.
good luck!
1)get a CRT monitor to connect to your iMac for photo/graphics editing (they're getting cheaper by the day!)
2)increase the brightness to 100% using the display panel in system preferences. then, try reducing the brightness to your desired level using the software brightness control linked in one of these 24'' iMac display threads.
I do see slight discoloration in the sample image, but it's not overwhelming. a friend has a 24'' white iMac with the H-IPS panel used in the ALU 24'' iMacs, but aside from uneven brightness visible on the edges of an all white screen, there didn't seem to be any yellow tinting.
good luck!
I see nothing on mine or yours
To the OP. I think you are making a unnecessary mountain out of a molehill and I'll tell you why. If you even have to set the LCD background to a specific color and then you have to tell us what to look for then you are making a problem out of something that's not.
I don't see any tint discoloration on your screen and I even spent 5 minutes looking for any hint on my iMac's LCD and I see nothing.
Just ask yourself, "is it really affecting my daily computing?" NO, because you have to set the background a certain color and "look" for specific discoloration.
The only thing I can attest to is the backlighting isn't even on the new iMac. I appears to be darker on the right half of the screen but with my experience in florescent tube lit LCD's the backlighting is never even.
Just enjoy your new computer and stop looking for a problem just because you read about it. LET IT GO. Be happy that you aren't amongst the few with dead or stuck pixels.
To the OP. I think you are making a unnecessary mountain out of a molehill and I'll tell you why. If you even have to set the LCD background to a specific color and then you have to tell us what to look for then you are making a problem out of something that's not.
I don't see any tint discoloration on your screen and I even spent 5 minutes looking for any hint on my iMac's LCD and I see nothing.
Just ask yourself, "is it really affecting my daily computing?" NO, because you have to set the background a certain color and "look" for specific discoloration.
The only thing I can attest to is the backlighting isn't even on the new iMac. I appears to be darker on the right half of the screen but with my experience in florescent tube lit LCD's the backlighting is never even.
Just enjoy your new computer and stop looking for a problem just because you read about it. LET IT GO. Be happy that you aren't amongst the few with dead or stuck pixels.
I've got the yellow tint on the left and right of screen...
When I took it to my mate whose a mac tech I asked him about it cause I though maybe I'm just getting old and the eye sight was failing... but he could see it too.
Doesn't really bother me too much though cause I'm mainly using mine for music production, but I can understand why this upsets people so much if you were using your machine for graphics/photo work.
When I took it to my mate whose a mac tech I asked him about it cause I though maybe I'm just getting old and the eye sight was failing... but he could see it too.
Doesn't really bother me too much though cause I'm mainly using mine for music production, but I can understand why this upsets people so much if you were using your machine for graphics/photo work.
No, not really, it shouldn't affect the work people do on their computers especially graphics and photo editing. The tint that's being noticed (if any) requires the screen to have a certain color background to even see it at all.
No I don't have to do that. It was the first thing I noticed when I turned on the computer and I see it all the time when working.
The solid gray background only makes it eaiser to see the shifts on the screen.
I wouldn't have bothered making this thread or returning my computer and be without it 2,5 weeks if it didn't affect my daily computing.
I don't have to look for it, I see it all the time. Just because it isn't a problem for you doesn't mean it's not a problem for anyone else.
I didn't know about this before. Yet the first thing that went through my mind when I first turned it on was "oh no, this is all wrong, I hope it goes away after a while". Turned out that many other have the same problem.
Like I said, I'd rather have a couple of dead pixels over this.
This thread sucks! LOL I hate it. I didn't want to know, now I think I see it!
I was afraid that would happen. Sorry
But if it didn't bother you before then it should really bother you now right?I don't think that's a good solution. I don't have the space for a large CRT monitor, besides I've only seen two models for sale here in Sweden and non of them are any good for graphics work.
It doesn't help really. It doesn't go away with full brightness. At least not for me. It reduces slightly, but only slightly.
just shipped mine back yesterday. i am worried the new one will have the same.
i spent about 7 hrs last weekend trying to get it right. My iMac is used for photos, movies, web, music, etc....nothing major but simply unacceptable.
my first apple (other than ipods) purchase is not going very well.....
i will post the results when the replacement comes in early next week (hopefully).
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM
750GB Serial ATA Drive
i spent about 7 hrs last weekend trying to get it right. My iMac is used for photos, movies, web, music, etc....nothing major but simply unacceptable.
my first apple (other than ipods) purchase is not going very well.....
i will post the results when the replacement comes in early next week (hopefully).
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM
750GB Serial ATA Drive
OK, a real world example from a webpage I'm working on at the moment. This is the background color. Now it's supposed to be slightly blue, however, as you can see in the picture it's hard to tell which color it really is.
I've taken two photos of different parts of the screen and put them side by side. And consider that this is not even the extreme parts of the monitor, only the middle of it where I have my workspace, the rest is filled with palettes.
It seems to me that this color being taken from two separate photos could result in the effect shown. You need to take the samples from the same photo.
Anyway my observations of my new 24" iMac is that there are some uneven backlighting issues that are only perceivable to me on solid colored screens. I don't see much color change and everything seems fixed if I turn the brightness all the way up. I can convince myself that I see a yellow tint on the left side of the screen but it reminds me of when I convince myself that I can feel the dust mites in my bed.
Anyway my observations of my new 24" iMac is that there are some uneven backlighting issues that are only perceivable to me on solid colored screens. I don't see much color change and everything seems fixed if I turn the brightness all the way up. I can convince myself that I see a yellow tint on the left side of the screen but it reminds me of when I convince myself that I can feel the dust mites in my bed.
Is this a fix?
I just received my 2nd replacement. Fire it up and noticed the same issue! The left side the screen is much brighter and the right side is darker and more yellowish (and this yellow isn't blaring, it's real subtle).
Well I figured I run the apple hardware test, by restarting the computer and holding "D". So I went ahead and ran the fast test. I then restarted my machine after the test and the iMac looked MUCH better, the colors are a lot more consistent and I am totally happy right now. I will play around a little longer and see if this issue comes back. But for now, if you have this issue, give this a shot and let me know if it works.
I just received my 2nd replacement. Fire it up and noticed the same issue! The left side the screen is much brighter and the right side is darker and more yellowish (and this yellow isn't blaring, it's real subtle).
Well I figured I run the apple hardware test, by restarting the computer and holding "D". So I went ahead and ran the fast test. I then restarted my machine after the test and the iMac looked MUCH better, the colors are a lot more consistent and I am totally happy right now. I will play around a little longer and see if this issue comes back. But for now, if you have this issue, give this a shot and let me know if it works.
Interesting. I just did the same thing but my screen looks exactly the same.
Might it be a placebo effect on your part perhaps? Would you mind taking a photo?
I'd really like to get to the bottom with this. Apple has to be aware of the problem by now since it dates back to the white mac. My guess is that they buy B rated screens on purpose to be able to cut the price.
It might be cheaper for them just to replace these things.
I wonder if we would have more luck with sending them in for repairs?