MBP 17" Display Issues Still?

[knifegun]

I went through about 10 MBP 17" machines both CD and C2D before finally returning them for a full refund. The last C2D machine I had was a week 49 build.

The biggest issue was the screen illumination issues and the on the latest C2D, the right speaker would distort when the standard OS X alert sound was played. I went to the Apple store and notice all laptops had the same issue include the MB and MBPs.

My question is for those who have gotten machines lately is has the quality improved? Have they finally fixed the display illumination issue? I heard they had stopped production but I am not able to find details about whether this was rumor or a fact and whether anything was fixed as a result.

Thanks in advance!

 

[buckwheat]

No, they haven't fixed the problems you're talking about. I've gone through 3 replacements all built at differnent times, 2 with different screen id's. I've had one with a bad keyboard, and one with a bad DVD/CD.

But ALL 17's have screen issues - especially the glossies. Apple was nice enough to send a couple of replacements, and they DID try. They even pulled one off the line in China and QC'd it before shipping. But since the bar is already lowered these went through with a thumbs up as well. Apple's QC machine is slow to change, and requires lots of input from owners - so don't let it go.

IMHO this will get fixed in about 3 months of production, or exhaustion of component stock. According to the engineer I spoke with in Tiawan, they issue revised specs to suppliers, go through a massive purchasing cycle, then they start showing up on production equipment.

But here's a delima - will the C2Ds be obsolete by then? I would bet Apple would not go to the trouble of a mid-production redesign of the C2Ds, instead just waiting for "rev2" or something. Like maybe the 2.5ghz or whatever - then maybe with a batch of other fixes/enhancements like LEDs.

So why in hell am I still using a 17" C2D glossy? Same reason everyone else just grumbles and continues on - it's OSX. Best OS in the universe for workstations, period.

 

[knifegun]

Great info and insight! How did you get to talk to one of the engineers? I was talking to someone from corporate relations but I never got a chance to talk to an engineer or even have them QA a machine before sending it. You must be connected

 

[Butthead]

No, they haven't fixed the problems you're talking about. I've gone through 3 replacements all built at differnent times, 2 with different screen id's. I've had one with a bad keyboard, and one with a bad DVD/CD.

But ALL 17's have screen issues - especially the glossies. Apple was nice enough to send a couple of replacements, and they DID try. They even pulled one off the line in China and QC'd it before shipping. But since the bar is already lowered these went through with a thumbs up as well.

Sad sign of the times unfortunately. Chinese manufacturers are capable of producing quality product, but Apple plays the cost numbers games with the rest of the competition, and just lowers the bar like everyone else.

IMHO this will get fixed in about 3 months of production, or exhaustion of component stock. According to the engineer I spoke with in Tiawan, they issue revised specs to suppliers, go through a massive purchasing cycle, then they start showing up on production equipment.

But here's a delima - will the C2Ds be obsolete by then? I would bet Apple would not go to the trouble of a mid-production redesign of the C2Ds, instead just waiting for "rev2" or something. Like maybe the 2.5ghz or whatever - then maybe with a batch of other fixes/enhancements like LEDs.

What I was thinking, wait for Santa Rosa/Merom upgrades which could come as soon as 3 months, with the next revision and hopefully backlit LED screens with more uniform illumination. I can wait and I don't want to put up with all those flaws, and so I will (hurry up Apple ). But bad keyboards, bad drives, optical (made in Japan?) or hard; will all seemingly always be a standard problem.

 

[dixiehacker]

Refurbished MPB C2D

I just got a 17" refurbished MBP c2D today. I just finished running the LCD program, and I saw significant banding. The gradient almost looked like it was colored with a sharpie. Since I am in the software development business, however, I don't notice because Intellij looks just fine.

For graphics professionals, though this display would be just plain horrible. I don't think I will return mine, though because I have already been through that process wiht a 15" MBP CD due to over heating issues.

 

[shadowwraith3d]

What I've seen of the 17"

Last week I was in the computer shop to get my 15" C2D Macbook Pro glossy screen checked out by the technician, one thing I did notice upon entering the shop, they had the new 17" C2D Macbook Pro (matte screen) on display, now this screen seemed perfect to me compared to what I'm experiencing on my glossy MBP screen and the 15" matte MBP screen in the shop. The 17" was evenly illuminated, there was no grain on the screen, the keyboard was more responsive, I think the word "perfect" came to mind, with my 15" on the other hand, the screen still has grain despite it being a glossy screen, not as bad as the 15" matte, but still visible when I'm processing photos. Even though the technician refused to recognize the problem and I have no other glossy screens to compare it too because here in and around Melbourne (Australia that is) the pathetic joke for apple stores will never order a glossy demo model in to be on display. So basically I'm stuck with this computer as is. If they had the demo of the 17" when I ordered the Macbook pro, I would have gone with the 17" despite the extra weight I would have had to put up with.

Ah well, at the end of the day I've learned a very valuable lesson, don't buy Apple products in Australia, unless you can see the exact product on demo to begin with, if not, wait.

Despite the problems I do like this machine, so much faster than my old desktop machine and OS X is growing on me, could be better but I do like allot of features on it

Whoops sorry for the rant, but yeah the 17" seems a nice machine, however I can't guarantee they are all like that

 

[hotboiled]

same here
I like my mbp but the screen is HELL
this is NO pro lappy

problem is that i need it for work so returning is a nono
or are the giving a replaycement right away when you return it ?

 

[shadowwraith3d]

same here
I like my mbp but the screen is HELL
this is NO pro lappy

problem is that i need it for work so returning is a nono
or are the giving a replaycement right away when you return it ?

Yep same goes for me as well, I need it for work as well, now for my day job the laptop is fine, but for my photography on the side, the screen is a big let down.

 

[hotboiled]

but for my photography on the side, the screen is a big let down.

YES all my photos are getting refused at istockphoto
but thats normal if you edit them on a MBP

 

[dorthyinoz]

mines more than perfect. I'm quite happy

 

[iW00t]

Sad sign of the times unfortunately. Chinese manufacturers are capable of producing quality product, but Apple plays the cost numbers games with the rest of the competition, and just lowers the bar like everyone else.

I have actually been wondering, doesn't Apple specify the components that goes into their macs? How does it work actually? Does Apple have real oversight in these matters, or do the chinese make all the decisions?