MacBook Air Grey Line photos

[hohohong]

Ok, I just got my MBA. People have being talking about the grey line issue. I googled and only found 2 photos.

Photo 1.

I can't really see where the line is on photo 1. If you know, can you highlight it and reply this thread?


Photo 2

I can see clearly that the line is across the apple logo. But does this happen at other location on the screen as well? If this is it, then I think mine's ok.


If anyone else has picture, please post it.

Cheers!

 

[pufftissue]

If you don't see the gray lines, good for you!
But I can see them easily. But seriously, if the pics look good to you, then you have nothing to worry about. I wouldn't even press the issue any further.

 

[aleksandra.]

It isn't a line, but lines. They cover the whole screen, not only specific areas, but they're much more visible on very bright background. In the first photo, look at the space between the posts and the thread name, next to "Post Reply" button. It's white and should be plain, but there're thin, grey lines there - ten or so of them. If you look at the same area in this thread, you'll see the difference - unless your Air has the same issue. Mine does, but lines are very, very faint - much more so than in either photo (they're visible at all only when screen brightness is set at 50% or more).

 

[randomusername]

Photo 2

I can see clearly that the line is across the apple logo. But does this happen at other location on the screen as well? If this is it, then I think mine's ok.

How is that a picture of a MacBook Air? That is a picture of Tiger. MacBook Airs we released after Leopard was released.

 

[gr8tfly]

How is that a picture of a MacBook Air? That is a picture of Tiger. MacBook Airs we released after Leopard was released.

+1
That's a picture of an early release of Tiger. The "line" was a poor attempt at creating a rounded effect in the Menu bar. It was later smoothed out.

 

[darrellishere]

I have a Powerbook 1.67 and a revision b macbook air!

They both have the grey liens.

 

[pufftissue]

FYI, I have seen 8 mba rev b's in the last 24 hours at retail stores and every single one of them has these grey lines to varying degrees. I would am not so sure that I'd call them dealbreakers when they are faint.

I have not seen any rev A's. Are they not using the same screen? I guess they changed it? Anyway, it seems like rev B have these lines, while rev A don't.

 

[spriter]

Are they grey lines a fault with the screen or graphics chip? As in, if I use an Air in Clamshell mode with an external ACD when at home will they be on my ACD?

 

[dubhe]

The lines are in the screen coating, not the graphics chip, an external display will be fine

 

[Scottsdale]

Someone posted an article explaining the reason the lines are there. When laptop manufacturers try to save power and prolong battery life (and be green), they often reduce the power allocated for the display. So, the display doesn't get optimal power, and sometimes that equals these lines.

So, there are three types of displays in the rev B MBA. One, more recent one, rarely reported, has no lines on any of them. The other two are largely split one going to low end and the other going into high end MBA. The low end has reports of more obvious lines and consistently bad, while the one used in high end has some lines and some without any lines.

My question is, WHY? Does Apple really reduce the power from optimal going to the display? Why does it affect one brand of display more than other? Why do latest reports show sporadic third display with no lines?

If the display isn't truly the issue, is there a way to change in firmware or somewhere how much power is sent to the display? I couldn't believe it when I read the article, but I did some research and found more of the same types of reports.

So, maybe these displays would all be PERFECT if they just had more juice flowing to them. I am all for saving power, but I would not live with those lines to get 20 extra minutes between charges. Why cannot we decide to lower the performance to gain battery life? That would be the ultimate solution. Place a setting in the prefs to allow people to change it.

This line issue has really ruined an otherwise perfect Mac. I love everything about the rev B MBA except the lines. Luckily mine doesn't have lines. Unluckily, the thief who stole mine is benefiting from the perfect display.

 

[GeekGirl*]

I went back to a Rev. A because of the lines and very happy that I did!

 

[Insulin Junkie]

The first picture is actually a depiction of the MBP screen, not the Air's. Though I guess it's similar / the same, it might be helpful to post that information, to avoid potential confusion.

I hope that issue will be resolved in rev. C at the latest!

 

[stoconnell]

I am not sure how easy it is to capture this behavior as an image. It really feels more like an optical illusion -- my Air has lines albeit they are faint and only noticeable under certain lighting conditions, angles and with certain backgrounds (light colors) -- where your eyes draw lines due to the natural pixellation of the screen being overly apparent.

 

[manhattanboy]

The lines are in the screen coating, not the graphics chip, an external display will be fine

this is correct!
that is why everyone is reporting them at "weird" angles, etc.