just curious if the mba screen problem has been fixed?

[threepin]

finally got to an apple store (none within 400 miles of home) with my revb to see what they would say about my screen and to check out some others. First screen i checked out did not have lines but was clearly not as bright-checked and was a rev a. Second screen brighter but had lines-rev b week 44 just like mine. Made an appt for the genius bar and right away the tech said he could see the lines and went into the back to check his stock claiming that all had the lines and that it was the film over the leds that was causing it. He said he could do nothing for me at the time but that if apple came up with a fix they would take care of me.
Certainly the mba is usable but the screen clarity is disappointing compared to previous apple laptops i have. this is especially considering the premium pricing.
I checked the earlier thread and was surprised to see it closed.

Just for reference i am hardly an apple newbie having started with the cube and my first laptop was a 145.

Now i find myself wondering what to do as my time to claim a DOA dwindles

 

[mhnajjar]

Just return it and either get an exchange or opt for the MBP since the MB's screen sucks big time!

 

[echo44]

Very Important Issue!!!

Please I posted this thread for people who have a problem with the screen
to learn from each other if there is a fix coming or if all the screens will always be in their current state! This is NOT a thread where people need to argue if the problem exists or not! If you don't think there is a problem than there is no need to post, I respect your opinions but this is not the thread for you! Also let us not use this thread to express opinions about each other!
That just creates background noise for those of us using this forum as a tool to improve our apple experience!

 

[alphaxono]

I received my MBA 1,8 128SSD on Friday in Germany and did not notice the grey lines while booting up. After booting up the system at home and looking at the Google Homepage I immediately saw that the lines. After installing Fusion and an Windows XP VM i started getting an headache.
Called Support and they told me to go back to the Apple Store cause it definitely sounds like defect. The Store sent it back and now I am waiting for a replacement. The machine itself absolutely beautiful and the SSD is awesome.
The 4 finger gesture was not working either.

I wonder if anyone here ended up getting a replacement with a working screen?
If yes please state Country/KB Layout and Build Week.

Mine was Germany/German Keyboard/47.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[h1d]

It's now a quite common observation for non US keyboard to have four finger swipes not working. (Presumably with a following software update.) Just FYI.

 

[Lumpydog]

Thought mine didn't have lines - it does...

So - I picked up a new MBA on Thursday. Traveled with it this weekend. I originally reported that it had no lines. After using it this weekend, on some backgrounds (light blue), I can barely make out the lines. I've seen much worse on the store floor models. Too see them, I have to have my eyes at the edge of the laptop and the screen tilted back.

I still have my Rev A. When I get home tonight, I'm going to do a close comparison of the screens to see what differences I can see.

I'm leaning toward keeping the Rev B because I honestly can't see the lines without a lot of trying.

When I do see them, the lines are constant and stay in place - I can scroll and the lines stay in the same place on the screen. It makes me think that the lines are caused by a film on the MBA's screen or the back light is somehow creating them...

I'm really leaning toward the backlight as the culprit. The new airs use less power and my guess is that this has changed the backlight's refresh rate - it gives you the effect of a flouredcent light. Flicker - causing headaches for some. I've read that LED backlight's use something called Pulse Width Modulation to save power and allow the backlight brightness to be adjusted. I'm wondering if the LEDs can be adjusted via firmware.

 

[mcdj]

This is NOT a thread where people need to argue if the problem exists or not! If you don't think there is a problem than there is no need to post, I respect your opinions but this is not the thread for you!

First of all, the thread topic is naive. You won't see a fix this quickly. If someone posts "mine was bought today and it's fine", would you automatically assume all MBAs bought today are "fixed"?

The rev B has only been out a short time, and there were delays. Heck, some people are just now getting the machines they ordered 2+ months ago. Apple may or may not even address the issue, but certainly not in the middle of the production run of the first (rev B) batch, especially with little to no press regarding the issue outside of forums. If Apple thinks the Air is here to stay in its current form factor, they may indeed revamp the screen, but it wouldn't be the first time if they decided to overhaul the design after rev B, burying the model along with its inherent problems and replacing it entirely.

Secondly, it's a web forum. Unless you're a moderator, you are wasting your time trying to guide the flow of the conversation or who should participate.

 

[frifra]

I was in the yorkdale store (canada, Toronto) again and tried to get rid of the flickering.

I choosed this option:

- "System Preferences">>> "Displays">>>"Color">>>Uncheck "Show Profiles for this display only">>> Wismud xxxx (the last one in the list)

First the test image was still flickering. So I just tried different resolutions for and back and changed as well to a thousand colors and tried to calibrate the display in the expert mode. As well I unchecked the ambilight sensor and changed the display light from max to min, back and for.
Then I went back to the standard options for the display (flickering) and choosed again "Wismud xxx" or "Wismut xxx" and the flickering was for some reason totally gone.

Furthermore you can adjust the contrast if you hold all 3 buttons left of the space bar and press "," and "." to adjust it.

I am kind a sad, as I will revieve an MBA next week - and I really hope it to be fine. - If so I will send it back and wait for a fix or might opt for a thinkpad...

EDIT:

... I don't understand why they can't display the newest models right there.

And links to some of the external references that popped up so far,

• Test image for flickering
• Possibly (or not) related story about MBP GPU defect admitted by Apple
• A slashdot comment actually describing the problem (But I don't understand where the source "C't" is. And a few replies on it talk about calibration problem too.)

First: The "C't" is a serious computer technics Journal in Germany. Their main page is: http://www.heise.de/ct/

And I have to add, that I was wondering as well, that apple doesnt show the MBA Rev.B in stores. I mean in Toronto, the "big" apple store in the EATON Centre just re-opened on 22.11.08 - I was there, but still until today they dont even have a single MBA Rev.B, neither on display, nor available. The Yorkdale apple store has one on display but none available, and they hope they will get some IN THE NEXT WEEKS OR MONTHS.

 

[tommi80]

flickering in windows? (bootcamp)

Hey,

has anyone tried to see the flickering with windows yet? (in BootCamp)

T.

 

[phoneorpda]

just bought a rev b 1.8 in Portland , OR at the apple store.

great machine, but yes: i have the horizontal lines too.

I can notice the difference even more as i have a MBP late 08 right next to it.

I will hold onto the Air until we hear something more from Apple...hopefully!

 

[lincolnchee]

just bought a rev b 1.8 in Portland , OR at the apple store.

great machine, but yes: i have the horizontal lines too.

I can notice the difference even more as i have a MBP late 08 right next to it.

I will hold onto the Air until we hear something more from Apple...hopefully!

Me too! Considering the fact that someone has returned several times to still receive one with the same issue.

 

[phoneorpda]

Exactly...

while it bothers me and i believe this issue shouldn't be there, considering the pricetag of this machine, I need to be really near the screen for it to bother me and i have another macbook pro i work on most of the time, when i am at home.
Granted, thihs might change, as i am loving the MBA more every minute that passes !

We'll see.
The issue has been reported on blogs and i believe apple will fix it eventually.
I had a "ghost" problem with my phone 1G where the screen had weird dots on it, last year...same amount of believers and non believers...
next thing you know, a software update silently fixed it.

I have faith that either it's software fixable, or that apple will fix the hardware, given time.

In the meanwhile, i dig my new MBA!!!!

Me too! Considering the fact that someone has returned several times to still receive one with the same issue.

 

[YOKOJP]

I'm currently living in Japan and bought my MBA in NY. Yes, I have the lines. Called Applecare in Japan and currently being Service. Got an email from Applecare Jpn yesterday and they said they've fixed the problem and I should get my MBA in 2 days.

When I get my MBA back, I'll see if they actually fixed the lines.

Will keep you guys posted.

 

[Vikz]

I absolutely disagree. How can you say that? Numerous reports are out there!
That´s nothing less than ridiculous!

Obviously the faulty displays are still beeing sold.
Obviously some people cannot stand criticism on Apple, even if well-founded

dude its a manufacturing defect. most probably in the LCD assembly line

I have seen those lines after LCD install in Imacs that were not done the way it was supposed to be, so most probably its the chinese worker who did not install the LCD the way it was supposed to or at least did not have all the ESD precautions.


its something to be expected when things are mass produced no matter its price.

 

[Lumpydog]

I still have my Rev A. When I get home tonight, I'm going to do a close comparison of the screens to see what differences I can see.

Here is my comparison: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/613186/

 

[frifra]

Hey lumpydog, nice review, but could you please check this image on both versions?

http://www.keithstravels.com/travelog/photos/desktopsplit-loginscreen.jpg

tell me which one is flickering, please.

BTW: Which week is your new MBA?

 

[Lumpydog]

Hey lumpydog, nice review, but could you please check this image on both versions?

http://www.keithstravels.com/travelog/photos/desktopsplit-loginscreen.jpg

tell me which one is flickering, please.

BTW: Which week is your new MBA?

It's a week 44.

I'll try that image when I get home tonight and post results.

 

[Ironic]

week 44 here and no flickering.

 

[sychee]

I was in the yorkdale store (canada, Toronto) again and tried to get rid of the flickering.

I choosed this option:

- "System Preferences">>> "Displays">>>"Color">>>Uncheck "Show Profiles for this display only">>> Wismud xxxx (the last one in the list)

First the test image was still flickering. So I just tried different resolutions for and back and changed as well to a thousand colors and tried to calibrate the display in the expert mode. As well I unchecked the ambilight sensor and changed the display light from max to min, back and for.
Then I went back to the standard options for the display (flickering) and choosed again "Wismud xxx" or "Wismut xxx" and the flickering was for some reason totally gone.

Furthermore you can adjust the contrast if you hold all 3 buttons left of the space bar and press "," and "." to adjust it.

I am kind a sad, as I will revieve an MBA next week - and I really hope it to be fine. - If so I will send it back and wait for a fix or might opt for a thinkpad...

EDIT:


First: The "C't" is a serious computer technics Journal in Germany. Their main page is: http://www.heise.de/ct/

And I have to add, that I was wondering as well, that apple doesnt show the MBA Rev.B in stores. I mean in Toronto, the "big" apple store in the EATON Centre just re-opened on 22.11.08 - I was there, but still until today they dont even have a single MBA Rev.B, neither on display, nor available. The Yorkdale apple store has one on display but none available, and they hope they will get some IN THE NEXT WEEKS OR MONTHS.

Can you send us the profile file (.icc). Thanks.

 

[steffi]

So, I went to my local Applestore today and I noticed that on the display model 1.8 SSD DDR3 they had suffered from those horizonal lines that everybody's been talking about. If looking closely enough on the older Rev A it was possible to notice them there also.

So that was enough for me to hold off any buying decision before taking the plunge. I noticed the Macbooks did not show those lines.

Also at my local Applestore macrumors was not blocked and the machine that had the lines seemed to work with the 4 fingered swipe.

W8843 was the serial number of the machine I saw.

 

[echo44]

hopefully this will help!

I am hoping the more press this issue gets the more likely apple is to issue a response!


http://theappleblog.com/2008/12/08/macbook-air-acting-up-just-in-time-for-holidays/

 

[h1d]

Holy ****, how do they keep picking on the only 50 computers available worldwide 1 for each country! (Ok, I stop...)

But seriously, I hope this doesn't make Apple and Nvidia's relationship relax, because Nvidia certainly did good job boosting graphic performance from some minimal one from the Intel's and I hope they do even better for next installments. (Or are we getting AMD next time? And what was the reason Apple chose Nvidia over AMD this time?)

 

[echo44]

more info

since i returned my mba and have been waiting for more info until i repurchase
i have been thinking about the MBP Here is a very good factual article
demonstrating Apple Lap tops are having their problems:

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/12/09/apple-macbook-pros-nvidia-bad

I think for the time being I will hold onto my 3 year old MBP that has been
so durable and trouble free. I leave that lap top on 24 hours a day and
it has performed flawless the quality control of the newer lap tops is a little disturbing from the perspective of this long time apple user who currently owns 5 macs.

 

[frifra]

I am wondering now, if probably all MBA Rev.B have the faint lines issue? May be the only difference is, that some people don't see them.

Was there anybody, who had lines (has seen the lines), who has seen another Rev.B without lines?

 

[sychee]

I am wondering now, if probably all MBA Rev.B have the faint lines issue? May be the only difference is, that some people don't see them.

Was there anybody, who had lines (has seen the lines), who has seen another Rev.B without lines?

As Rev.B is a premium laptop, it is never showcased in Singapore. Its on request basis - you gotta ask if you want it.

Good question though.... I am curious too.