My thoughts on Mid-2010 iMacs...

[sissified84]

I previously owned an early 2008 20" iMac and LOVED IT. It had no "problems" to my knowledge and worked like a champ. I stumbled across MacRumors and became a BIG mac fan over the past couple of years. I check it nearly everyday just to see what's new in the Mac world. When the new iMacs came out, I figured that if I could sell my 20" iMac for $800-$900 I would be able to purchase a new entry level mid-2010 iMac for only a couple hundred dollars and even get a free iPod Touch and printer out of it. If I sold these as well, I would come out about even! Well, mission accomplished. But did I make a mistake?

At first, I thought so. I heard SO much about the yellow screens, dead pixels, high pitch noises, loud hard drive, yada yada yada. When I brought the thing home, I inspected every possible flaw and panicked at the possibility of my new baby not being as perfect as it's predecessor. I spent countless hours browsing through the forums with fury that I had just sold my perfect computer and purchased this "garbage."

I made a trip to the Apple store and switched out my 1 day old computer... I did the same thing with the second and two days later was back at the Apple store again. More countless hours freaking out about all of the "flaws" with this one. I got my third computer and was VERY frankly told by the Apple store manager that they would NOT switch out another one. I was extremely displeased with the Apple store and I still believe that they handled my situation very poorly. I never raised my voice, threw a fit, or complained much. I just told them that I felt that my computer had problems. They refused to have a decent conversation with me and had they I would probably still be on the first computer and completely satisfied. I was being unreasonable and they were being unprofessional with their language and attitude. No other company would continue to switch out a $1,000+ machine just because the owner felt it wasn't 100% perfect. It was handled poorly in the store, but the outcome was nonetheless impressive.

Over the course of 2 weeks, I never even enjoyed my computer. I was too caught up reading every single post on this forum. I understand that this forum has value, but too much of anything isn't good.

I had the opportunity of looking at other Macs at a friend's house... ranging from a G5, first generation iMac, a 2009 iMac, to my new mid-2010 entry level iMac. Did they show similar "flaws?" YES!!! Every single one of them! Did my friend ever even notice? NO!!! The "yellowing" in the bottom corner of my iMac is nothing compared to the yellowing that covers the other screens. I blew the "yellowing" problem way out of proportion. I was freaking out about nothing. Are Apple computers perfect? No, but a lot more perfect than any other computers out there.

We are all lucky to know about, own, and use such wonderful products. I think many people, including myself, put WAY too much effort in ensuring that everything is perfect. Nothing is perfect - these computers are made by humans, no matter what country they come from.

Applecare over the phone took the bad taste out of my mouth after dealing with the Apple store and were VERY kind in making things right for my time in going back and forth to the store. The problem was ME, not them, but they still made it right.

Bottom Line: My new computer is AMAZING. It runs flawlessly. It is extremely quick and responsive. The product is unmatched! From the keyboard, to the mouse, to the apps, to the OS itself, it is an amazing computer. I didn't notice any "flaws" in my 20" because I wasn't searching it inside and out. I am sure that I would have found a reason to take it back too. My advice: Enjoy your computer and stop freaking out about every little possible "flaw." Maybe it was just me, but I doubt it.

Thanks for letting me get that out.

 

[Intell]

My advice: Enjoy your computer and stop freaking out about every little possible "flaw."

This is why none of my many Macs have never had problems.

 

[nutritious]

My dad bought the 27" iMac and has an extremely nice panel. I am looking forward to when apple releases their 27" ACD and will grab two of them for my PC as long as they are compatible with them.

 

[Crunch]

@nutritious: Well, that's great. I'm happy for you! I'm also ecstatic with my FOURTH iMac, and after dropping over $2,000, I expect for everything to work just right. I don't think that anyone should have to tolerate even minor issues. I wanted a machine that performs as well as Jony Ive (senior design specialist) is raving about it in all the promo videos. Pound on wood!

Even though I went over every component with a magnifying glass, figuratively speaking, everything checks out with this one. I'm not bothered by the fact that it took me a few tries to get one that was completely without flaws. It also helps that I managed to get a killer deal for my inconvenience! This machine ROCKS!!!

 

[applefan289]

To sissified84: I love your post, because it reminds me of exactly how I am when I buy a new high-end electronic. It happened to me with my iMac (thinking the hard drive noise is abnormal), and it happened to me with my LED TV (seeing a tiny dark shadow in the bottom right - which all of the TVs for that time had). It is amazing how we think that because it's a working electronic, it has to be perfect. Same thing with cars - I leased my Honda 6 months ago and it seems to not be as smooth as when I bought it new. When electronics are displayed at a store or in a place with commotion, the product seems to work and display itself flawlessly until you bring it home where you can hear a pin drop.

But anyway, great post to tech-freaks like us that get bent out of shape when we hear a hard drive rattling. I think this mentality is also due to the fact that we spent so much money on it that it has to be "perfect". If you bought a used car from a car dealer for $200 you would feel great it's even running. When you buy a Bentley for $200,000, you freak out if the seat does not move itself back as smoothly as before.

 

[rcpilot44]

I totally agree with you apple fan 289. I had just posted this in another thread:


First off, give her a break the English used in the Netherlands might not be the same as in America. I have been in this forum for some time. I am personally getting tired of hearing about all the flaws with IMAC. I was at my local Apple store this weekend and while there was an issue with the monitor at the beginning of the new release they haven't had one come back lately. A computer is like any other thing that is made in the world. Look at what Toyota went through, and their sales are still high. Their are a lot of internet companies that won't take a monitor back if it only has a certain amount of dead pixels. There are issues with all computers being made, just ask someone who owns a Dell.
With that being said I am looking forward to buying a IMAC 7 this week. If there is a problem I will bring it back and get it replaced. Try doing this when you buy a new car. I would rather see some substance in these forums and not just yellow screens etc. Keep in mind for every bad Apple there are thousands that are perfect. Sorry for the rant!

 

[dagomike]

I've owned many Macs over the years, and the new iMac is as good as any and better than most.

 

[eddvedd]

I agree with you 110%, but some people have had incredibly bad "luck" with these computers. And by luck, I mean poor quality control. Don't get me wrong, alot of the issues floating around here are blown out of proportion, and in most cases the most severe of problems on an iMac is still ten fold less severe than one on a PC.

I went through four of the previous gen. iMacs (one HD was in the process of failing, one did fail, one had a power source failure, and the last arrived with a cracked screen (I blame Fed Ex for that one)). In the current gen, my first had a CPU fan that would spike to 2000 rpm within the first 5 minutes of use, the second had a stand so loose that the screen fell to the bottom position every hour, and the third is doing whatever the hell you would call the picture below.

Anyway, I know that some will say that Im an OCD freak looking for a flawless product that doesn't exist, but thats just not true. I just want an iMac with a functioning HD, power source, screen, and stand. In fact, before my first iMac died I loved it so much that I went out and bought a Macbook, iPad, iPod touch, and Timecapsule and not a single one of those has had a single problem, they're all perfect. To me, that tells me that this is an iMac problem and not a me problem.

Again, not trying to antagonize you, because I agree with you. Just saying that they are some people getting some really jacked up computers.

 

[moocat]

Anyway, I know that some will say that Im an OCD freak looking for a flawless product that doesn't exist, but thats just not true. I just want an iMac with a functioning HD, power source, screen, and stand. In fact, before my first iMac died I loved it so much that I went out and bought a Macbook, iPad, iPod touch, and Timecapsule and not a single one of those has had a single problem, they're all perfect. To me, that tells me that this is an iMac problem and not a me problem.

Again, not trying to antagonize you, because I agree with you. Just saying that they are some people getting some really jacked up computers.

I second this! macbook, macbook pro, mac mini, ipad ZERO problems. Old iMac ZERO problems. New 2010 iMac already returned 2 and am waiting on the third - the first two were just awful. We are talking about: whistling screens, major backlight issues (top right corner BRIGHT white), screen yellowing, dust specks under the screen, scratched base. All of these things at once! It's inconceivable.

On the other hand I do realize that those of us discussing our very real and serious problems can lead others to overreact to minor flaws in their systems. Honestly, if you are not a photographer the yellowed screen shouldnt kill the deal, but still- shouldn't have to deal with that on a high end system which uses the display as its main selling point. If yellowing was the only issue with mine I never would have returned it. Even though it would make me a bit unhappy... Best of luck to every one getting these systems. If you can get a good display you have practically won the lottery it seems

 

[applefan289]

If you can get a good display you have practically won the lottery it seems

Then I guess I won the lottery. I tried that link that showed the gray boxes to test for the tint, and don't know if it's my imagination, but there seems to be a *tiny* yellow tint, but I don't think so. My display seems to be perfect. Again, the only thing that's really questionable on my system is the hard drive noise, but a bunch of people seem to have it.

Same thing happened when I bought my PS3 Slim, I thought the fan noise was not normal, and everyone was saying their's is quiet, but I found out that it just gets hot and after about 30 minutes of playing, the fan level gets high.

 

[tombb]

didja notice

I know most folks use third party RAM vendors, but if you configure a 27" iMac at the Apple Store with two 4meg sticks, it costs $400 extra. If you configure with four 4meg sticks it costs $1000 extra.

My trusty slide rule tells me something is amiss. Perhaps adding those last two modules involves a rather tricky operation.

(Even so, RAM is cheap--heck I remember when the Mac II came out with theoretical support for up to 2 gigs of RAM. We all laughed and someone at the club figured out that that much RAM would purchase a really nice Ferrari.)

 

[NeuroEmp]

Guess i was lucky, almost 2 weeks now with the machine and i'm 100% happy.

 

[skcrane]

I agree whole heartedly. I got an i7 refurb for my first new imac and returned it after reading about the yellow tinge and in all realities it probably would have been fine and probably what I should have stayed with. My second refurb I ordered had a flickering screen problem and with out question I should have returned it. I ended up being so fed up with refurb ended up with a new one and probably over bought for my use. Ended up with the quad i5, probably should have bought the i3 for my use but talked myself into quad i5. Really the i3 27inch for myself and most people is the best machine for the value. Really wishing i would have saved the $300 on the new computer and bought that one but after reading these forum and second guessing myself bought the i5 quad. I guess you just learn from experiences and will do better the next time I buy, from now on will buy a base 27inch for my needs.

 

[easepease]

i agree for the most part. Some really have issues but yes most are blown out of the water. I went through 4 of them and got a perfect one, i was always very kind and just asked what i can do different to help my situation and let them make the decisions. At the mall of maerica store they were always very helpful and were like of course we will exchange it!! It was nice to have such great service and once I got my perfect machine I went back to thank all of them for there great help! two of mine has real flaws (yellow, then oddly backlight scree) the other was just hard drive noise.

I am sure my imac now has some flaws but I am not going to search for them, I will only consider it a flaw if I can discover it without running a "test" for it.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

i agree for the most part. Some really have issues but yes most are blown out of the water. I went through 4 of them and got a perfect one, i was always very kind and just asked what i can do different to help my situation and let them make the decisions. At the mall of maerica store they were always very helpful and were like of course we will exchange it!! It was nice to have such great service and once I got my perfect machine I went back to thank all of them for there great help! two of mine has real flaws (yellow, then oddly backlight scree) the other was just hard drive noise.

I am sure my imac now has some flaws but I am not going to search for them, I will only consider it a flaw if I can discover it without running a "test" for it.

When you were doing all of this returning, was it always within 14 days of purchase? I'm at about 25 days...

Not that I'm planning on returning mine...but, just like to know my options

 

[St. Germain]

Again, not trying to antagonize you, because I agree with you. Just saying that they are some people getting some really jacked up computers.

Yep, definitely see the yellow tint in that pic.

 

[lstone19]

I know most folks use third party RAM vendors, but if you configure a 27" iMac at the Apple Store with two 4meg sticks, it costs $400 extra. If you configure with four 4meg sticks it costs $1000 extra.

My trusty slide rule tells me something is amiss. Perhaps adding those last two modules involves a rather tricky operation.

Nothing amiss at all. The first 2x4GB replaces the standard 2x2GB. Since the price increase of going from the standard 2x2GB to 4x2GB is $200, we can determine that Apple values 2x2GB at $200. So when you elect the 2x4GB option, you are actually being charged $600 less a $200 credit for the 2x2GB removed from the configuration totaling the $400 you quote. When you then want 4x4GB, it's another $600.

 

[avacado]

My advice: Enjoy your computer and stop freaking out about every little possible "flaw." Maybe it was just me, but I doubt it.

That'd be good advice for various things. But you have to understand that many people use their imacs for work. A patchy yellow tint can make digital painting or photo and video editing more difficult than it needs to be. Especially when the colors are inconsistent across the screen.

Many people wouldn't notice the imac problems people complain about on this forum, and therefor wouldn't complain to apple. The less people who complain, the less apple will care about correcting these problems.

 

[leman]

Well, I can tell a small anecdote about this. As I received my new 27" iMac, I inspected it very carefully and was under the impression that there was some yellowing on the bottom. So, I show the monitor to my girlfriend and ask her if its ok. "It's perfect" - was her reply. "Why, " - say I, - "don't you think there is some yellowing at the bottom". She looks for another minute and says in a rather unsure voice that I may be right. But that small incident gave me a thought. So I invited some friends over (one by one), showed them the screen and asked questions like "do you see the yellowing at the TOP"? "at the left?" — and after a while they really STARTED to see it. Why, after some training I was able to convince myself that the yellow part is actually on the top and not at the bottom. A clear case of suggestion.

My point: while there are clearly some iMacs with screen issues, I believe that many people actually find flaws in their computers because they just look too hard. Remember how the forums were filled with people, posting photos with questions "do I have the yellowing issue?". If you really have the issue, you — and any other person — will be able to see it without suggestions. In the end, no screen is probably 100% uniform, but that is ok — its just the state of the technology. But the truth is, that for my purposes, the iMac screen is most surely the most clear, beautiful and colorful screen I have ever worked with.

 

[DrupNL]

@TS: You are so right!

I'm on my second 2010 iMac right now and this one also has the yellow tinge. It's really there, not just in my mind. At work I use a windows comuter and as I was reading your post yesterday I noticed a yellow tinge on the HP screen at work. I never saw it before but its there.

I guess it's because of the iMac's vibrant colors and screen clarity it just much more notable then on other screens.

I am going to keep my iMac, it's great!

 

[tomscott1988]

If this forum had a facebook tick box which said like i would grab a massive red pen and put a big tick all over it!

Exactly what i thought about everybody complaining!

BIG RED TICK HERE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kazmac]

glad you got what you wanted/needed

To the OP, great news. This is why I will pay the extra for Apple Care, they do step in even if you have to make a couple of calls to get to the right person.

I hope this freezing issue with my two week old iMac is indeed the aging external hard drive and nothing with the machine itself (which was perfect until last Wednesday night).

I really love the machine it is without any of the flaws that are well-known here (I encountered them in March). Yes some folks do look too hard and I, was, in fact, terrified to actually order an iMac but went ahead anyway

I'm waiting on my apple care advisor to get back to me but the 3rd fellow I am talking to is great. I have confirmation if this is indeed hardware Apple will take the machine back beyond the 14 day limit because I reported these within the 14 day limit. But it won't come to that....I know it.

Already got the refund from one of the two 3rd party software companies whose product may have caused the freezing ruckus in the first place.

I agree with the statements most folks made in this thread. And I hope the issues are ultimately fixed so everyone has the machine they want and expect.

 

[Felias]

Without hard feelings, this thread is the typical talk-show comment to catch the audience.

FOR SURE you are right, and EVERYBODY will confirm that (except a really really tiny group of customers).

But on the other hand: If we pay more than 2000 bucks, we want to make sure we have a device without major flaws.
Maybe you realize a flaw 3 seconds after first booting, maybe after 3 hours, 3 weeks, 3 months,... With the information on this board, you can check for the major flaws right away when you are still in the "exchange-without-problems-period".

By doing so, you MIGHT identify a flaw that you otherwise would never have realized. Thats the catch, but it's worth the risk in my opinion.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Crunch]

Without hard feelings, this thread is the typical talk-show comment to catch the audience.

FOR SURE you are right, and EVERYBODY will confirm that (except a really really tiny group of customers).

But on the other hand: If we pay more than 2000 bucks, we want to make sure we have a device without major flaws.
Maybe you realize a flaw 3 seconds after first booting, maybe after 3 hours, 3 weeks, 3 months,... With the information on this board, you can check for the major flaws right away when you are still in the "exchange-without-problems-period".

By doing so, you MIGHT identify a flaw that you otherwise would never have realized. Thats the catch, but it's worth the risk in my opinion.

Just my 2 cents...

Very well said and I agree completely. I would add that any amount of money that is significant to someone and that person buys a products with his or her hard-earned money or saved-over-months cash meets this standard as well.

I love my i7 iMac (mandatory knock on wood), but it is the 4th iMac that I bought in six weeks before getting this one. I don't care who considers what a "tiny flaw" or that I should "live with it" when something that doesn't bother even most people bothers me. And don't let anyone at the Apple store try to dissuade you either. Insist on a new product and if they don't like handing over yet another brand new iMac, show them your credit card and let them know to be sure to refund every last penny and not to forget the override button when the system suggests a restocking fee.

There are not a lot of people who would not have exchanged their iMac for a third or even fourth time, but the fact of the matter is that you CAN get an iMac that is flawless! Flaw-less. I am one of those people who after the second exchange looked hard to find the same issues found in the first two iMac's plus anything else that might be "off" and grow into a worse problem down the line. My third iMac had a somewhat loose audio jack, which is how I came into this one, my fourth iMac, and like I said, I am loving every last minute that I get to enjoy working and playing with it. Pound on wood! Don't be shy about being persistent until you get one!