Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

LED yellow band: to return or not to return? That is the question.

S

Sonic

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 4, 2006
206
63
So I've been seeing if I can live with my Samsung panel that has the yellow gradient issue we've seen so many posts about. My main field is audio, although I also do graphic design for my record label and am also an amateur photographer.

I'm so torn - my screen exhibits a clear uneven-ness, with a darker, yellower band in the bottom third. It's not immediately noticeable, in fact my girlfriend who is also a professional graphic designer didn't notice until I pointed it out. When I move a white window from the top to the bottom of the screen the clear difference in brightness is immediately noticeable, and she agrees.

I have to say it's not awful by any means, in fact the overall brightness, contrast and sharpness is wonderful - but I am a perfectionist, and just when I try to ignore it, I do notice it again.

I have to decide in one more day as I will soon be leaving the country and will not have a chance to return it.

My dilemma is this: what if I get a worse one? Besides the screen issue and a 3mm warp in the lid (I hear this is on almost all of them) and its usual Alu-Mac-laptop heat (worse than I thought it would be, worse than my old 1 Ghz TiBook) I think it's a perfect machine. Battery seems good, keys are all flush, not weird noises, no other cosmetic faults.

I couldn't take my only chance of a return bringing me something worse....

What would YOU do? Help me decide, please! :confused:
 
If you do graphic work, return it.
Could you check the new in the store, maybe?
 
Vidd said:
If you do graphic work, return it.
Could you check the new in the store, maybe?
Click to expand...

Ah I should also mention I'm in Tokyo and need a Western keyboard specially shipped in, so I'd have to wait a couple of weeks either way.

Also what do you think about the possibility of getting a worse one?
 
I'm just gonna bump this cos my time is running out on my 14-day return... Any advice would be much appreciated!
 
I would say return it.
If I had the yellow band and I was conscious of it, it would but the heck out of me. Like most people have said in this forum: you've spent over 2k for a higher end product, so you would expect it to be near perfect. The brighter, more vibrant LED screen is one of the major reasons why I chose to buy now and if it's flawed, I'm raising a stink and sending it back.
 
Thanks for replying - but what about the possibility of getting a worse one? I don't think I could live with that - and I might be out of the country and unable to do anything about it... Are you sure you'd still return it in my shoes? I now dread getting a more warped lid, a hotter machine one with kernel panics etc...

Damn you Apple for making afraid of buying one of your MBP's! There are so many niggling issues with each rev of the MBP. My TiBook was perfect, as ere all my friends' AlBooks. Laptop build quality has def. gone down since the Intel switch.
 
Sonic said:
I'm just gonna bump this cos my time is running out on my 14-day return... Any advice would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...

You actually waited so long?

If I were you I would take one look at it (having known about the issue) and called Apple on the spot. No time for hesitation and emotionalism when it comes to a ****** computer baby!
 
Hehe well no... I've only had it three days. I just want to make the right choice as I probably only have one chance to exchange it before I leave the country. I'm pretty sure there are worse ones out there, the issue is not glaringly obvious, but it's there. As I said, just when I think I'm not noticing it any more, a white window at the bottom of the screen makes me feel it.
 
I have no idea what the possibilities are. I purchased mine two days ago in fear that I might get a problematic laptop. I guess I have an optimistic view on the whole situation... people with problems post their issues on the forum while those with a.o.k laptops somply go on their merry way w/o leaving a note saying that they've encountered zero problems.

Now if I were in your shoes and you didn't mind noticing the band once and a while, then just stick with it. But if it's going to bother you, definitely call Apple and be firm about it, telling them that it's a "known issue" even though they may deny it. Tell them your situation, even saturate it to make it extra persuasive. If it means returning it for a refund and waiting until the next revs come out to purchase once again, then so be it.

I thought buying an Apple would be an out of the box perfection, ready to go - and that's why I didn't mind paying a bit more. I guess not.
 
I also noticed that here in Tokyo every SR MBP I saw in the wild prior to buying was the Samsung screen (around 20) - I wonder if they're only sending the LG to USA / Europe because the Japanese complain less, haha!

Damn, I really have to make up my mind today. It's so hard to gain a real insight into my chances of a perfect one from reading MR, because, as you say, people with perfect ones are less likely to post about them.
 
So anyone else have any thoughts on this situation before I make my decision? Would be greatly appreciated as I'm still on the fence.
 
return it! Why shouldn't you? there is always a chance that the new one is worse, but there is probably a greater chance that it's better. If you keep it, you'll never be completely happy with it.

Other alternative: keep it and wait until it can be replaced with a good display . Tell Apple about it and say that you want to replace the display in a few months when you have time. Make sure you get a case number.

I would definitely return it, no question about it.
 
PDE said:
return it! Why shouldn't you? there is always a chance that the new one is worse, but there is probably a greater chance that it's better. If you keep it, you'll never be completely happy with it.

Other alternative: keep it and wait until it can be replaced with a good display . Tell Apple about it and say that you want to replace the display in a few months when you have time. Make sure you get a case number.

I would definitely return it, no question about it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the considered advice, I think you're right and I'll kick myself if I don't. Do you return the laptop to the vendor (an Apple reseller in this case, not an official Apple store) or do you call Apple directly?

To Scott,
I hope that was tongue in cheek.
 
Sonic said:
Thanks for the considered advice, I think you're right and I'll kick myself if I don't. Do you return the laptop to the vendor (an Apple reseller in this case, not an official Apple store) or do you call Apple directly?

To Scott,
I hope that was tongue in cheek.
Click to expand...

You'll have to return it to the store you bought it from. Apple can only help you with repairs at this stage, not returns.

I think you are making the right decision. I'm a perfectionist too, especially with displays, and it's hard to get past a problem once you've seen one. Better to return, get a refund, and wait a little. I feel reasonably confident that Apple will take care of this soon. they were obviously on top of the flicker issue, even if the new firmware seems to have some problems. At least it shows they are on top of it.

Hope it goes well!
 
You know what, after calibration things aren't nearly so bad. I admit that there IS a darker band in the backlighting towards the bottom (more of viewing angle thing - it's not darker when I lower my viewing level) -but I think I can live with it, for fear of getting a worse one with any of the other issues being reported.

I know some of you will say I should hold out for the perfect laptop, but I honestly am scared out of returning it by all the 4-returns stories I'm hearing. It shouldn't be like this, I know, but I won't have another chance to exchange if I am unhappy with my return. I'm giving it one more day. If anyone has any comments I'd still be really interested to hear what you have to say!

Thanks.
 
I just used the Apple one in expert mode, no hardware. Kept making profiles until it looked as close as it could to my iMac. It's all but eliminated the yellow bottom 1/3, but it now looks like a simply uneven backlight, which has been the case with all my prior 3 LCD Macs to varying degrees.
 
I still haven't seen any photos of this defect after tons and tons of reports here on the forums. I don't suppose anyone actually has a photo of it that they could post? Its hard to give educated responses to questions like this when the majority of posters don't even know what degree of a defect you're talking about here.
 
Ok for all those wondering what this issue looks like, here is the best I can come up with...

Ignore the coloured 'moire' patterns which is just the result of picking up the RGB crystals, you can't see them with the naked eye. The screen is also clearer and brighter than this image shows.

However, it does go a long way to illustrating the un-evenness of the backlight, even if it is exaggerated in the photo (not artificially, the camera just saw it that way). It also shows a slight discolouration.

See what you think!

LEDscreen.jpg
 
To be honest, I don't see the yellow discoloration. There is the pattern caused by taking the photo, and the backlight does look a bit uneven...but that could be from the photo again. Maybe its the photo and the way it was taken, but I certainly don't see anything worth returning the computer over. :confused:
 
Yeah the yellow tint definitely seemed a lot worse before calibration. But look at the white of the title bar compared to that of the bottom of the window (near the top of the dock). There is a clear difference. When scrolling text becomes clearer at the top of the screen. But like you said it may not be worth returning for.

Also every photo I took at slightly diff. angles showed the same gradient.
 
I suppose there is a bit of yellow tint now that I look at it again, but it isn't nearly what I imagined it would be from the volume of complaints here on the forums. I suppose if it really bothers you and you convince the store you bought it from to take it back, then go for it. It would probably bother me too since I'm anal about my machine's perfection. If it doesn't really bother you that much and you're just looking for defects, then I would say it isn't worth returning.
 
Yeah at the end of the day I'm just making certain I have the right machine to use day in day out for the next three years. I'm pretty much on a computer 24/7 and use it for everything - music / design / photos / games / programming / 3D. My last TiBook was good to me and my iMac CD is the most flawless machine I've ever had. I just had to be sure!

Thanks for taking a look anyway.
 
Return it...

Sonic said:
Yeah at the end of the day I'm just making certain I have the right machine to use day in day out for the next three years. I'm pretty much on a computer 24/7 and use it for everything - music / design / photos / games / programming / 3D. My last TiBook was good to me and my iMac CD is the most flawless machine I've ever had. I just had to be sure!

Thanks for taking a look anyway.
Click to expand...

Hi, I have tried taking pictures of my screen too and they look pretty similar to yours. My experience so far has been incredibly unlucky. I'm devastated.

Two weeks ago I purchased the top end macbook in white. I had audio problems which I posted here on MR. Anyway, I had to return 2 macbooks and it's not just round the corner. It's a 300 mile round trip! Anyway, the store assistant manager couldn't have been more helpful. She basically upgraded me to a MacBook Pro (2.2GHz) for an extra £120. I thought this was amazing and wasn't expecting any problems on a pro machine.

Anyway, the audio is great but mine too is suffering from a yellow (darker) tint in the same region. There is also one stuck pixel (red). I feel so battered by all these problems I just feel like giving up. Anyway, they have advised that I courier the MacBook Pro to them and they will send a replacement once a new one is in stock. Apparently, they're all out of stock.

I too am a perfectionist and expect the same from the hardware I buy, especially when things are so expensive.

Now I cannot fault the customer service I have received - it has been of the highest quality. However, my experience with 2 macbooks, and 1 macbook pro have not been all that great. So, I'm gonna be packaging this one up for tomorrow and heading over to the post office. If I get another dodgy one, I'll probably get my money back. Haven't a clue what I'd buy.

I've been SOL lately... what with these macbooks/pro and a HD Samsung LCD (which had to be returned 3 times before I got one without dead/stuck pixels). Isn't there a samsung LCD in the MBP?

I'm sick!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back