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iMac 24" screen: a NEW and quick way to test it

How does it look like?

  • The two finder windows look the same

    Votes: 11 39.3%

  • The top left window is less bright (or more yellowish) than the bottom right

    Votes: 1 3.6%

  • The bottom right window is less bright (or more yellowish) than the top left

    Votes: 16 57.1%
  • Total voters
    28
Revlimit Punk

Revlimit Punk

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 8, 2006
166
0
Italy
As an owner of a new iMac 24" who is not satisfied by its screen (which is affected by a yellowish gradient to the center-right part of it), I think i've found a clever new way to make a poll and discover how many iMacs have the same brightness issue.

Just open two identical finder windows, and place one on the top-left corner of the screen and the other one on the bottom right part of the screen as illustrated by this screen capture:
Test_-2.jpg


Now compare the white background of the two finder windows: do they look the same? Does one of the two windows look less bright (or more yellowish) than the other?

As a comparison, here is the picture of my screen (which clearly presents a yellowish finder window on the bottom right corner):
HPIM3533.JPG



Please all iMac 24" owners answer the poll! Your input is very much appreciated! (pictures are even more appreciated!)
 
Good job, you just found out that inactive windows become lighter. ALso, for good "measurements", turn off all the lights, get a camera that actually takes straight pictures instead of a half-assed fisheyed pictures. Then turn off your flash.
 
Nothing new about that test method. But yeah, it's also a good way to show it. Especially if you cut out a part of each window and put them side by side, then it becomes very obvious.

I will add that many iMac screens have the darker/yellowish area in the middle and not to the right.
 
Bolteh said:
Good job, you just found out that inactive windows become lighter. ALso, for good "measurements", turn off all the lights, get a camera that actually takes straight pictures instead of a half-assed fisheyed pictures. Then turn off your flash.
Click to expand...

I was just gonna say, I thought the iMac was a flat panel (looks at his 24" iMac) yep it's a flat panel, why am I looking at a CRT? LOL

Anyway, I don't need a test to see it. I know it's there but it's not as bad as others. In fact it's not very noticable. The gradient is an LCD plague not just an Alum iMac plague.

Google and you'll see. I've done similar tests on the other 5 LCD's in my house. 2 have it, 3 do not of the 2 that have it, they aren't even very noticable and one of the 3 that do not is probably one of the cheapest LCD's I own (I use it for my kids pc). It's almost like dead pixels, you'll either get one or none or a lot.

If it's that bad, take it back and get it replaced, you might end up with a better one or one with an even uglier gradient. I picked the 24" simply due to reading prior to buying the 24" had less likelyhood of having a noticable gradient and a better quality LCD.

I have it, I know it, I like it, I'm happy, I even named my gradient George.
 
Bolteh said:
Good job, you just found out that inactive windows become lighter. ALso, for good "measurements", turn off all the lights, get a camera that actually takes straight pictures instead of a half-assed fisheyed pictures. Then turn off your flash.
Click to expand...
Yeah I know, the camera I used is garbage, but I don't have any better laying around right now and it's good enough for the purpose anyway so...

Oh, about the flash and the lights... i used that picture because it was the one that better represented what my eyes are really seeing. I tried to capture the same brightness difference without flash, but maybe the camera isn't good enough to display it in full effect without it.

Here's a link to all the pictures i've taken:
iMac 24" screen pictures

Edit: by the way, Bolteh, your screen looks great compared to mine.
 
Bolteh said:
Anyway, pics of my screen (also, spot the dead pixel :eek:)
Click to expand...

Would you mind taking another shot with a window in the middle as well? If that turns out the same color then I think I've finally seen the second good screen out of 51.
 
Bolteh said:
Good job, you just found out that inactive windows become lighter. ALso, for good "measurements", turn off all the lights, get a camera that actually takes straight pictures instead of a half-assed fisheyed pictures. Then turn off your flash.
Click to expand...

The metal of the finder windows does not become lighter, the text and other finder window elements do. If the metal is in fact changing color it is do to the shift of the display.
 
I have found...

no noticable issues with mine at all. Does it mean that this issue is not there? No. Does it mean that if it is, it is not there enough for me to see it? Yes. I am just thrilled with my machine.
 
rainydays said:
Would you mind taking another shot with a window in the middle as well? If that turns out the same color then I think I've finally seen the second good screen out of 51.
Click to expand...

Here's mine. Came today. I've looked at it 10 different ways, and it looks great to me. You be the judge:

alum_imac6.jpg
 
Slight Brightness Variation Not A Problem for Me

I voted that mine is slightly less bright on the bottom right, barely detectable mostly in the bottom right hand corner of that finder window.

This is not a problem for me; the screen is gorgeous when I use the computer in various applications.

It is not yellowish, however.

Also, I have no problem with the glossy screen, although I was a little worried about it before my iMac arrived after reading some posts.

I am very happy with my new alum 24" iMac even if I can barely detect a slight variation in brightness when I scrutinize the screen for these tests. During normal use I am only aware of how stunning it is.
 
czachorski said:
Here's mine. Came today. I've looked at it 10 different ways, and it looks great to me. You be the judge:
Click to expand...

It does have the yellow tint. But it's not as extreme as in some others.
However, if it looks great to you, it shouldn't bother you :)
 
Revlimit Punk said:
Yes, it has a bit of gradient, but it's very minor. I'd definitely be happy with a screen as good as yours.
Click to expand...

Yup - very slight. I did the photoshop chop and moved pieces of the screen around, and then you can see a very slight gradient. You don't notice it at all when using the screen, or even looking at it in a gradient test screen. You have to take a picture of it, photoshop chop it, lay different pieces side by side, and then you will see that it is slight. Definetely in the range that makes me thrilled.

Meanwhile, after working on it side-by-side with my 20 ACD, when I go back and fourth between the two (while getting the new iMac set-up), the ACD looks dim, dirty and dark. I am probably getting fooled by the brightness of the iMac, but side by side with my 20" ACD, this iMAc screen is gorgeous, bright, colorful and beautiful.
 
Mini-update: I called Apple yesterday and they are replacing my iMac. I hope the new one will come with a good screen. I'll post back when I receive it.
 
Thanks, unlike some of the other threads on this subject, I actually found this one very useful and reassuring. Since this great debate about the quality of the 24" iMac screen has been going on. I have been closely examining my just over a week old machine´s screen to see if I have the problem. I can now clearly see that I don´t.

Obviously if someone has a screen which when turned on has a yellow tint clearly ruining things like their pictures, there is something wrong and the machine has to go back. What I have discovered on mine after making my eyes go loopy after staring at white screens is that I can see some minor yellow blotches, however when I move to take a closer look at that part of the screen they disappear. Whenever I look at any pictures I have taken in full screen mode, they look crisp, clean and amazing on the glossy screen. No hint of yellow or anything else that looks like it shouldn´t be there.
I have also noticed that the white screen is slightly lighter on the left side. But again this is minor, and for what I am using this excellent machine for, insignificant. I probably only noticed it after reading about it on here. It´s not like I have people whom I show my new iMac to saying things like, "What´s wrong with the screen? Look at those dirty marks! You´ve been ripped off etc. Their reactions have been very positive and complimentary indeed.

It would seem that Apple are a company who are willing to exchange their models for new ones if people are not satisfied. If you feel you are not happy with your screen, or anything else with the machine, then that´s what you must do

Nope I´m very happy with my new 24" 2,8 ghz iMac, it sure beats the hell out of my last Dell. I´m pleased to have joined the Mac club. Sitting on my desk my Alu iMac looks like a work of art. Hopefully it will be staying here for at least another 3 years.
 
I finally took the time to do the finder screen test. I put them in the corners and then moved them all over the place. They both looked the same, other than the activation highlite. No yellow and no difference in brightness. So, I am very happy with mine :)
 
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