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

new 24 inch imacs all have a significant monitor problem?

I

isuandrew

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 28, 2007
9
0
I just got a brand new 24inch 2.4ghz yesterday and noticed right away a brightness gradient from left to right as well as a color cast going from blue to yellow from left to right.

I did some searching and found this forum: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1093045&tstart=0

which really disturbs me if all the new 24 inch imacs have this problem, people have said that they have replaced 3 or 4 imacs and that they are still having the problem, and apparently you can go into a apple store and see this very problem on the display 24 inch imacs.

I got the 24 inch because the monitor has better viewing angles than the 20 inch as well as other better qualities, but that doesn't matter at all now because of this problem, I need this computer to do color sensitive work but cannot afford the mac pro with cinema display.

I know no lcd is perfect but this is ridiculous!!!!

I plan on sending it back and getting a replacement but from what I heard they all have this problem, and replacement wont help. But yet I can't find anything from apple addressing this problem.

Anyone else with a 24 inch imac that can confirm this problem?

If you want to test it go here: http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/#angleGrey

and make your browser smaller so you can move it around the screen and see if the background behind the lagom changes when it's on the left side of the monitor or the right side, mine shows a significant increase in brightness on the left side of the screen.
 
Yes, all the people complaining about their bad screen in on-line threads have significant monitor problems.

For a list of a few who don't, check here.
 
I didn't even find any need to calibrate it all worked just out of the box for me.
 
I'm awaiting my 3rd iMac due to the gradient and other issues. It's in town but TNT has not delivered it to me yet, hopefully on Monday. I wrote a letter to Apple about my experience. Last week somebody from Customer Support rang me up and apologized for the screen issues and inconvienience, he told me that there had been a problem with SOME of the screens and Apple had hopefully now fixed it. He also gave me his direct telephone number and said if there was anything wrong with my new iMac then all I had to do was call. Certainly in my case Apple has been brilliant in dealing with my issues, I can't fault their customer service.

Of course I'll post on here whether I am pleased or disappointed with my new computer.

Again I stress, if you receive a new iMac and if for good reason you are not satisfied with the quality, then just send it back immediately either for a replacement or a refund.

As for the screen calibration? How do you fix the dirty areas of yellow tint, dark patches and backlight bleeding if it is a defective screen? If you just have a slight gradient, is it possible to fix that as well?

As has been mentioned a number of times, judging by the limited number of recent posts both on here and Apple's support forum about the gradient issue and the number of people posting who are satisfied with their iMac screens, then Apple clearly must be winning the battle. I just hope I get one of the good ones this time.
 
So I just got my iMac today and....

...I friggin' love it! 24 inches of wonderfulness, this is me upgrading from a 900mhz G3 iBook!

I have had no issues with my display or whatsoever. But I however will remain vigilant and keep a lookout for any irregular behaviors.

I'm super excited for Macworld!!
 
I was concerned about the complaints of screen problems but my 24" iMac arrived on December 28 and is free of such problems so far. I live in the UK, BTW.
 
I ordered my 24" aluminum iMac on the release date, August 7th and took delivery about 2 weeks later. I've been loving it ever since and have had zero issues with it, monitor or otherwise.
 
Yes, you are correct, the screen on the 24" imacs do have gradient left to right issues. Just look, as you did, on all the forums. They all speak of it extensively, and more so than any other single and possibly combined issue.

I have personal experience myself as I have had 3 so far. Though the Apple customer service doesn't really address it to the extent that it appears to be at, they are willing to exchange these out in hope that you will eventually be satisfied. I have 2.8 iMac and also a white 24 inches intel iMac. The 2.8 has the color gradation and banding of which you have been lucky not to experience yet. The 24 inch White iMac has no problems at all and a very nice uniform screen throughout the entire screens area, but not readily available any longer.

I don't know what to tell you other than its a tough predicament to be in, you like the OS, you need the large screen for viewing print work etc. and its cheaper than the Mac Pro, which would be over kill anyway. There is no other Apple product that fits the bill. Other than the screen quality, the system works very well.

I understand and its frustrating, its like they got it almost all right, but how could they make such a big blunder in quality for such an important piece of the large screen concept computer. Its like shooting yourself in the foot.

Maybe you should wait to see if they come up with something new at the Macworld Conference and Expo or take your chances again. Its the best idea I can think of.
 
JCelvis2day said:
I understand and its frustrating, its like they got it almost all right, but how could they make such a big blunder in quality for such an important piece of the large screen concept computer. Its like shooting yourself in the foot.
Click to expand...

Because they didn't. It's called forum bias. Most are just fine.
 
Mine has a slight gradient issue and since there's an official repair centre nearby, I might take it there some day.
 
czachorski said:
Because they didn't. It's called forum bias. Most are just fine.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I love it. Here we go again. The guy's seen 3 screens of his own and read some forum messages and now he's going to come here and settle the matter once and for all about how the entire aluminum iMac line is clearly defective.

One thing there is never a shortage of in user forums are the self-righteous pundits.
 
I was also afraid before getting my 24" Imac because all the complaining here.

I have lot of experience of graphical stuff so i should be picky. I have used mainly CRT monitors before, so i was afraid of dead pixels, light bleed, and non even colour/brighness.

I got my iMac and it has no dead pixels, very small light bleed down left quadrand(very minor), and the color shift/brightness everyone is complainin is VERY hard to see with bare eyes, even less after calibrating this monitor. I used software named "SuperCal". I calibrated this monitor to use 2.2 gamma.

I use the lowest brightness and its still so lovely bright and crispt compared to my crt monitor. No complains here! :cool:
 
I didn't think rudeness was tolertated on this forum. My iMacs with screen issues were brought to the genius bar at the Apple store and they stated there was gradient issues as well as banding with them all, some less than others.

I think you should keep an open and objective view of any product, even ones you back whole heartedly. There is nothing wrong with pointing out that there is a problem. Apples own website has a substantial amount of disscussions on this topic over the past half year since I started looking into the product, its not new nor made up of a small group of biased purchasers.

Just look at the miriads of LCD screens manufactured by other manufacturers as well as Apples other screens at any of the electronic stores, you will find practically none that have this issue, nor any one discussing it on other manufacturers forums.

I am an Apple products owner and love everything about the compay, its OS, the look and feel and ease of use of their producsts. I have ipods for my family and will continue to buy their products to use in my business and in everyday use. I have been a windows user by default, not by choice, and made a switch to Apple and look forward to the quality that so many have brought to my attention. Also I like how the customer service department responded to me. Plenty of positives with Apple.

Sure, I believe most people have received machines that have not exhibited the flaws, but there are proportionately too many that have experienced flaws in their screens. Thats all I am saying, and by expressing ourselves on forums like this one will hopefully ignite able to look at their manufacturing or design process more closely.

Don't forget that Apple has over a short period of time, gone from 3% of the US market to 8% of total PCs sold in the US as of last quarter, and I believe it will grow beyond that. That rate of growth can often create problems of its own, often festering in quality control, or customer service issues or simply problems in keeping up with the market supply demands.
 
JCelvis2day said:
I didn't think rudeness was tolertated on this forum. My iMacs with screen issues were brought to the genius bar at the Apple store and they stated there was gradient issues as well as banding with them all, some less than others.
Click to expand...

Just reading the threads in these forums which you offered as evidence to back your own opinion should have told you that the "genius" was talking out of his behind if he made such a ridiculous comment.

Plenty of owners with absolutely no problems have made their voices heard here and of course there are the vast majority of others who never even had the need to visit user forums since they are not experiencing any problems.

To make such a ridiculous comment as "all iMacs have gradient issues" is beyond irresponsible.

I think you should keep an open and objective view of any product, even ones you back whole heartedly. There is nothing wrong with pointing out that there is a problem. Apples own website has a substantial amount of disscussions on this topic over the past half year since I started looking into the product, its not new nor made up of a small group of biased purchasers.
Click to expand...

There is everything wrong with pointing out that there is a problem on "all iMacs" when that is absolute, utter and total BS. There have been plenty of folks on both the Apple Discussion boards as well as in these forums that have posted about their gradient-free iMacs.

Are you calling them liars or just stupid?

Just look at the miriads of LCD screens manufactured by other manufacturers as well as Apples other screens at any of the electronic stores, you will find practically none that have this issue, nor any one discussing it on other manufacturers forums.
Click to expand...

Apple doesn't manufacture LCD panels.

Sure, I believe most people have received machines that have not exhibited the flaws, but there are proportionately too many that have experienced flaws in their screens. Thats all I am saying, and by expressing ourselves on forums like this one will hopefully ignite able to look at their manufacturing or design process more closely.
Click to expand...

Whoa, wait a minute. Make up your mind. So now you are backing off the statement you made 3 paragraphs ago that "ALL iMacs have gradient issues"?? Which is it, because if this is all you had said to begin with no one would have jumped down your throat.

I don't think you're really clear on what you are saying yourself. :rolleyes:
 
Just got my 2.8 24in last Saturday and it's perfect. Actually comparing it to my old 20in Cinema Display I'm shocked how good it looks :)
 
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