MBA stucked pixel

[Sound Evolution]

Dear all,

After my great experience the last day with my two days old MBA 1.8Ghz/SSD I stopped smiling after I discover a stucked RED pixel in the middle of the screen.

Normally I'm not such a whiner, but $3000 is a lot of money for a laptop, and I think you should expect a 100% flawless product for this huge amount of money.

What to do?

I tried the online video fixer for more then 10 minutes... didn't work.

Should I give it a try at Apple? Or is it a no go?

The problem is, I bought it at an Apple reseller who had this MBA as showroom demo for a month. So even though for me the product is only 2 days old, i think for Apple it is one month old and that would imply that I lost al my warranty and refund rights already.

What to do??

Thanks,

With kind regards,
Bas

 

[queshy]

I've had 2 MBAs in my possession and neither have had pixel problems. Give it back. $3K is way too much to accept a screen anomaly. Go back to where you bought it from and ask for a replacement.

 

[vandozza]

I think I recall that some dead pixels are "acceptable" under Apple's returns policy, and that it requires >7 total, or >3 in a "central region" or something like that.

Please don't quote me on the figures!

I certainly think that for $3k your machine should be PERFECT. If I was you I would most certainly return the machine and try again if possible. (My only point in even raising this is that it was my beleif that Apple's policy does allow for some pixel defects, therefore don't be surprised if you encounter resistance!)

I think its a bit of a lottery if Apple will exchange your Air for you, it seems that some stores do this no questions asked, while others stick to the policy like it's the law.

If a store was to tell me no, I'd probably try another store or two, or ring Apple directly. See if you can get lucky!

If not do the old email to s.jobs@apple.com trick, and see if that gets you any attention.

Good Luck!

 

[Sound Evolution]

Dear All,

Thanks for the response and support. I did as follow:

I wrote an friendly and detailed email to my Apple reseller and tell them what is my problem. I explain them I know about Apple's Pixel policy but that I hope if they can please try their best for me to get it exchanged.

Since I got my MBA for en good price I offer them if they really can't arrange a replacement I want to bring back my MBA and order a new one and pay for the price difference.

Reasonable right?

Did someone actually really emailed apple on that email address? and with result?

Well if it is needed i will try it also. I love apple and their products and I just feel sad that my most expensive Apple product ever have this flaw.

I keep you informed how it get solved.

Have a nice weekend

With kind regards,
Bas

 

[bsheridan]

Have you tried turning the screen off [put MBA to sleep]?
I had 2 stuck white pixels on my MB, then I put to sleep, woke it about 10 secs later, and it was fixed.
It may take longer for you though if it were to work. Different things seem to work for different people.

This thread has some ideas/ programs to try.

b.

 

[ilovebananas]

Problem with stuck pixels is that there is an international standard (ISO) covering pixel defects on LCD screens. Because of this, suppliers are legally within their rights not to refund/exchange any product that is within this standard. The following summarizes the ISO

To regulate the acceptability of defects and to protect the end user, ISO have created a standard for manufacturers to follow. ISO 13406-2 recommends how many defaults are acceptable in a display before it should be replaced, within the terms & conditions of warranty.
All reputable manufacturers conform to and support the ISO 13406-2 standard.

The table below shows the allowable number of malfunctioning pixels that are acceptable, depending on the native resolution of the LCD and allowing for 2 malfunctioning pixels per million pixels.
Native resolution No. of pixels No. of million pixels Acceptable defects
1024 x 768 786,432 0.8 2
1280 x 1024 1,310,720 1.3 3
1600 x 1200 1,920,200 1.9 4
2048 x 1536 3,145,728 3.1 6

The table below shows the allowable number of malfunctioning sub-pixels that are acceptable, depending on the native resolution of the LCD and allowing for 5 malfunctioning sub-pixels per million pixels.
Native resolution No. of pixels No. of million pixels Acceptable defects
1024 x768 786,432 0.8 4
1280 x 1024 1,310,720 1.3 7
1600 x 1200 1,920,200 1.9 10
2048 x 1536 3,145,728 3.1 16

The table below shows the allowable number of malfunctioning sub-pixels that are acceptable within a 5 x 5 block of pixels, depending on the native resolution and allowing for 2 malfunctioning sub-pixels within a 5 x 5 block, per million pixels.
Native resolution No. of pixels No. of million pixels Acceptable defects
1024 x 768 786,432 0.8 2
1280 x 1024 1,310,720 1.3 3
1600 x 1200 1,920,200 1.9 4
2048 x 1536 3,145,728 3.1 6

The above is relevant to Class II LCD panels.


Hope this helps. I know this because I work in retail and we get so many problems.
It is possible to make screens that have zero defects (Class I), but very few companies specify them as they cost so much more, they would make the product unattractive from a price point.
To my knowledge, the only consumer product that specifies zero pixel defect (Class I) screens is the Nintendo DS.

 

[spatlese44]

Hope this helps. I know this because I work in retail and we get so many problems.
It is possible to make screens that have zero defects (Class I), but very few companies specify them as they cost so much more, they would make the product unattractive from a price point.

Nice post. I vaugely remembered something like this, but don't recall ever seeing the actual standard.

From my experience, most of the screens I've seen haven't had dead pixels. Am I wrong or are most screens defect free? Maybe one in ten has something wrong? I'm sure this stat is out there. If it's 10%, you would have lot's of problems in retail. 10% is a lot of people, but I would pay 10% of the purchase price to get insurance.

For that matter, can't you just return and pay the re-stocking fee?

 

[Sound Evolution]

Nice post. I vaugely remembered something like this, but don't recall ever seeing the actual standard.

From my experience, most of the screens I've seen haven't had dead pixels. Am I wrong or are most screens defect free? Maybe one in ten has something wrong? I'm sure this stat is out there. If it's 10%, you would have lot's of problems in retail. 10% is a lot of people, but I would pay 10% of the purchase price to get insurance.

For that matter, can't you just return and pay the re-stocking fee?

Dear All,

I just got an reply from my very nice apple dealer. He said that I don't have to worry and that he gonna take care of it. He thinks with one prominent pixel in the middle of the Screen in such an expensive product Apple will replace it.

I keep you all informed.

With best regards,
Bas

(Ps. I'm aware about the pixel policy and that in theory I don't have any rights or warranty, that is why I offer to pay for restocking etc. but it seems not necessary as of now)

 

[queshy]

you shouldn't be paying any restocking fee...if I had 2 MBAs with no stuck pixels, why is it that you have to get jipped?

 

[Sound Evolution]

Dear all,

I also noticed today that the case of my MBA is not entirely straight. It wobble between it's two rubber foots when putting it on a flat surface and it is irritating with typing. Do I just have bad luck or are more MBA's like this?

I still love the machine though and I don't want to go back to any other laptop

with kind regards,
Bas

 

[NC MacGuy]

If this was a showroom demo, they should have let you fondle it before buying and you'd have caught these problems. Once unboxed, it's fair game. Did you get a discount for it being a demo?

Good luck regardless.

 

[Sound Evolution]

If this was a showroom demo, they should have let you fondle it before buying and you'd have caught these problems. Once unboxed, it's fair game. Did you get a discount for it being a demo?

Good luck regardless.

Dear,

I was not ouf for a discount or anything. I just wanted to buy a MBA. This was the only one he had in stock and out of himself he offered me reduction. I played with it in the store, but I didn't really checked it (stupid me). I assumed it was just ok. Anyways I offer the store to bring this MBA back an I pay the price difference between the retail price and my discount.

Back to my question. Do more MBA owners have a unequal chassis? Mine is really wobbeling between two points when I am typing. Is it so wrong to accept a almost perfect build from a $3000 machine?

With kind regards,
Bas

 

[Sound Evolution]

Dear All,

It seems I start to get even worser luck with my MBA. Like I told before I noticed the MBA wobbel on a flat surface. But I discovered today that the trackpad-button make scratches on the corner of the screen lid. The same time there is a permanent mark on the right side of the trackpad-button because of contact from the metal of the screen rim that touch the trackpad-button.

All with all summing up my problems

-One dead pixel in the middle of my screen
-A wobbeling case
-Permanent marks on the screen lid and trackpad-button



Myself I'm extremley carefull with my MBA. I treat it like a baby.

I might be a whiner but are you not agree with me this should not happen with a premium product...

Are there more people here with a wobbeling case or scratches on the trackpad-button caused by the screen rim?

Maybe it is my own fault and was it better to wait for the rev.b but the point is I really needed a laptop right now.

Ps: The funny side however is, that even with watching endless youtube videos or talk more then 3 hours over skype with Isight I never experienced a core shutdown...

With kind regards,
Bas

 

[Sound Evolution]

Dear All,

I am happy to tell that Apple approved a replacement for my MBA.

They where agree with me that a RED pixel in the middle of the screen is unacceptable for such an expensive machine. Also the fast core shutdown should not be happened they said. So I'm curious how the new MBA will perform. I keep you informed.

I can say Apple care was really helpfull and kind. Their service is first class! I'm very satisfied with the way Apple deal with me as a customer.

With kind regards,
Bas

 

[eVolcre]

Is there some way to manually stick a pixel? ;-) Voila - 3 dead ones in a row = exchange

eV

 

[Sound Evolution]

Is there some way to manually stick a pixel? ;-) Voila - 3 dead ones in a row = exchange

eV

I don't know. I should not try to do that if I was you. Better call Apple care and just talk to them. They are not that unreasonable at all.

In my case it was not only the stucked pixel that was the problem.

I had the following problems:

-Bad bluetooth chip
-A dead magnetic latch
-A misformed chassis that makes the MBA wobbeling and damage the screen when close because of the trackbar button
-Extremely fast core shutdown
-High frequency noise from the left side

So they decide to confirm my MBA DOA and send me a new one.

With kind regards,
Bas

 

[sanPietro98]

Some people have reported success in unsticking a pixel using one of the apps that cycles through lots of colors. But is there a way to use of of these apps if the stuck pixel is in the menu bar at the top of the screen?

 

[tbobmccoy]

I don't know. I should not try to do that if I was you. Better call Apple care and just talk to them. They are not that unreasonable at all.

In my case it was not only the stucked pixel that was the problem.

I had the following problems:

-Bad bluetooth chip
-A dead magnetic latch
-A misformed chassis that makes the MBA wobbeling and damage the screen when close because of the trackbar button
-Extremely fast core shutdown
-High frequency noise from the left side

So they decide to confirm my MBA DOA and send me a new one.

With kind regards,
Bas

Actually.. sometimes they are unreasonable.

I have 2 dead pixels in my iPhone to prove that one.

/grumble