Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
is it worth getting a 24" imac with all the screen problems?
- Thread starter h2009
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Well, that's what these forums are for.
There are some threads about those who have problem-free iMacs, but most people post if they have a problem, not if they don't.
These problems are overly exaggerated here, only made worse by the distractors of this forum. They argue there isn't any pics of good panels, but come on who would go the trouble of publishing them (except maybe Czachorski if only to prove them wrong).
If you do get a 24" imac with screen problems you might as well send it back and get another because you have the chance. Its not worth it having those problems because they can get annoying when your playing a game or just generally on the iMac.
So i recommend not to.
So i recommend not to.
Like most others in the topic, I would say yeah, go for it. It seems the problems with the 24" iMac affect a small minority, and if you are one of the unlucky ones, you can simply take it back. The more you think about the problems, the more you get put off from buying one, when in reality, the (apparent) problems are only skin-deep.
-Tom-
-Tom-
There are pics of the good screens up in the forums. In the same places that are asking them for it.... it's funny how the asker disappears afterwards as well.
From what I am reading, the 20" iMacs have the most problems, and believe you me they are few and far between. I like to think that the complainers are looking through piss colored glasses.
Either way you will be fine, and I have gone through quite a few 24" iMac screens, as in, I have plenty of colleauges, friends, acquantinces, and my own fiancee that has the 24" and they all have NO problems.
And many of them are color specific individuals.
I'm on the second replacement LCD panel in my 24" aluminum iMac but they were replaced for hardware issues, not gradients. I had a scratch on the first one (under the glass) and backlight flickering with the first replacement.
The LCD panel now is beautiful. There is no gradient problem and I am totally satisfied with the machine.
The LCD panel now is beautiful. There is no gradient problem and I am totally satisfied with the machine.
The alleged screen problems are with the 20 inchers-- 24 inchers have very good reports. I'm typing this on a Dec 07 20", by the way and the screen is great. It has a bit of a limited viewing angle, or at least the angled viewing has a yellow tinge-- but its great when you are in front of it.
I'm about to return mine due to screen issues. I've had three and all have had pretty noticeable gradient issues/screen discoloration (yellowing). I'm going to Europe for a few weeks and then afterwards will decide if I should try my luck again with another iMac. We'll see.
I probably read some of the same posts as you regrading problems with the 24 iMac display. However, I concluded these were isolated instances that lacked any indication of being a systemic issue with the new iMac 24 displays.
As such, I decided to go ahead and buy a 24 iMac (3.06 GHz flavored version) which arrived on Friday. My 24" iMac came without any display related issues.
As such, I decided to go ahead and buy a 24 iMac (3.06 GHz flavored version) which arrived on Friday. My 24" iMac came without any display related issues.
When is the minority not a minor?
I followed most of the threads here about screen problems on the new 24" iMacs before I bought mine. As others have said I figured it was just the minority of sold machines with problems. It could very well be, but I joined the minority this week when my new 24" iMac showed up with a bad case of stuck pixels. I am not exaggerating when I say it had hundreds of stuck pixels. It was only noticeable on a sold black background. I also had one dead pixel. If I had not read all the posts here I would not have tested to verify the screen was OK and may not have noticed the problem for a while.
I called Apple, got a slight jerk around while being passed from one department to another. They said they would send me another one after I sent the bad one back. Still waiting on the new one to ship. Hopefully I will leave the minority and get a good screen.
I followed most of the threads here about screen problems on the new 24" iMacs before I bought mine. As others have said I figured it was just the minority of sold machines with problems. It could very well be, but I joined the minority this week when my new 24" iMac showed up with a bad case of stuck pixels. I am not exaggerating when I say it had hundreds of stuck pixels. It was only noticeable on a sold black background. I also had one dead pixel. If I had not read all the posts here I would not have tested to verify the screen was OK and may not have noticed the problem for a while.
I called Apple, got a slight jerk around while being passed from one department to another. They said they would send me another one after I sent the bad one back. Still waiting on the new one to ship. Hopefully I will leave the minority and get a good screen.
It's always a chance that you will end up in the small % that gets the bad product but Apple are extremely easy to deal with if you are polite.
Besides like many people stated forums like this are not a good place to find a biased opinion about hardware. Happy people don't create posts 'my Mac is great' They just simply enjoy it.
Besides like many people stated forums like this are not a good place to find a biased opinion about hardware. Happy people don't create posts 'my Mac is great'
They just simply enjoy it.
It's always a chance that you will end up in the small % that gets the bad product but Apple are extremely easy to deal with if you are polite.
Besides like many people stated forums like this are not a good place to find a biased opinion about hardware. Happy people don't create posts 'my Mac is great'
I agree. I have purchased new, refurbished and used Apples since 1986. Prior to my 24" iMac pixelstuckousmajorous experience, I had only one warranty issue and it was for an 'N' key that popped off my 17" Powerbook. It was handled very quickly and with no pain at all on the last day of the laptops warranty. I should add that ultimately that laptop failed a couple of years later due to one of the keyboard mounting screws located in the memory compartment came loose and shorted out the laptop. Had I purchased Applecare it would have been fixed, but by that time I was ready for a new Mac anyway.
I'll be sure to keep you posted on my replacement iMac, good or bad.
I am on my second iMac 3.06 and its a keeper.
The first one had gradient issues, some backlighting and one stuck pixel. The replacement has some variance in brightness that may be due to viewing angle and a little backlighting but neither are deal killers for me.
The first one had gradient issues, some backlighting and one stuck pixel. The replacement has some variance in brightness that may be due to viewing angle and a little backlighting but neither are deal killers for me.
It all boils down to personal preference about the screen. There have clearly been a lot of issues with the 24" screen for many users. The evidence of this can be read on the MANY message boards about Macs on the net.
You can also read users who haver the gradient problem and backlight bleed saying they can live with it and are still happy with their machine.
Where the disagreement seems to lie is just how big the problem is with the 24" iMac screen? Some people would suggest that it affects ALL 24" iMacs, whereas others suggest, except for the normal small percentage of defect machines the issue does not exist and that ALL the other iMacs are PERFECT.
At the end of the day it's up to you. My advice would be to go to the Apple store, tell them you'd like to buy a new 24" iMac, but would like to examine it closely before you take it home with you, preferably in an area where there is not much light so you can get a better look at the screen.
If your satisfied buy it, if not then ask to see another or leave.
You can also read users who haver the gradient problem and backlight bleed saying they can live with it and are still happy with their machine.
Where the disagreement seems to lie is just how big the problem is with the 24" iMac screen? Some people would suggest that it affects ALL 24" iMacs, whereas others suggest, except for the normal small percentage of defect machines the issue does not exist and that ALL the other iMacs are PERFECT.
At the end of the day it's up to you. My advice would be to go to the Apple store, tell them you'd like to buy a new 24" iMac, but would like to examine it closely before you take it home with you, preferably in an area where there is not much light so you can get a better look at the screen.
If your satisfied buy it, if not then ask to see another or leave.
I really don't know, I guess that would vary from store to store and how much they want to sell you an iMac. I suspect most stores would have an area out back which could be used with a more normal lighting level. Remember you are the customer, it's your choice and your hard earned money.
Dark hood?
I wonder if they would let you come in with a black cloth and sit in front of it and cover yourself and the iMac with the cloth and see how it looks?
I have a 24" iMac, just 2 weeks old and I have no problems with the display. I've tried full white image, no issues. Considering the number of iMacs sold, it's not surprising that there are some problems.
I wonder if they would let you come in with a black cloth and sit in front of it and cover yourself and the iMac with the cloth and see how it looks?
I have a 24" iMac, just 2 weeks old and I have no problems with the display. I've tried full white image, no issues. Considering the number of iMacs sold, it's not surprising that there are some problems.
Try a solid black background. Its the easiest way to spot stuck pixels. I know that the stuck ones did not show up on mine with a solid white background, and the stuck ones I had were sub-pixels, some red, some blue.
Yes
The way I look at it, the vast majority of people are completely satisfied with their iMac's and the screens that come with them..
Unfortunately, you never hear from those people on these boards... Why? Because unless you have issues with your computer, most people don't seek out forums like this..
How often do you a post like "Yay! My iMac works great and I am happy with my purchase!" (Well, besides the guy above me)
Bryan
I will be buying a 24" iMac when I get my tax check and I will make it a point to post good or bad!
The way I look at it, the vast majority of people are completely satisfied with their iMac's and the screens that come with them..
Unfortunately, you never hear from those people on these boards... Why? Because unless you have issues with your computer, most people don't seek out forums like this..
How often do you a post like "Yay! My iMac works great and I am happy with my purchase!" (Well, besides the guy above me)
Bryan
I will be buying a 24" iMac when I get my tax check and I will make it a point to post good or bad!