New PB & risk of dead pixels

[ThatSoundAgain]

Hi everyone.

How are the new Powerbooks doing in regards to dead / stuck pixels? Any reports?

I'm probably soon buying a shiny new 15". Last time I bought a notebook from Apple, it had three stuck pixels, not enough to warrant a replacement of the screen. But I've heard that screen tech is constantly getting better, so maybe the risk is lower now.

Should I demand to check the screen before purchase in the store (local reseller)? Any other strategies you can recommend?

 

[wdlove]

There is always that risk with purchasing a LCD screen. I haven't really notice that many poster complaints about problems with the PowerBook. The worst was with the 23" LCD model. You can always ask to see the Mac prior to purchase, but not sure if they will or not. Just be polite. Will be interested to hear what happens at the store.

 

[bug]

Hi everyone.
How are the new Powerbooks doing in regards to dead / stuck pixels? Any reports?

My last gen PB 17 (1.67 GHz) has one dead pixel in the lower left hand side. My dock is there though so I never notice it, and if I go to look for it it often takes me a moment. My 23" ACD doesn't have any. We've had two iBooks, and while both of them died early deaths, they had no dead pixels. Neither have any of our iPods.

It certainly happens, its a roll of the dice. If you can see it first then great.

 

[Temujin]

Well my new 15" PB has no dead pixels

 

[ThatSoundAgain]

Well my new 15" PB has no dead pixels

Well, that's one data point. Glad to hear your screen is good, pixel-wise. How do you like the screen other than that?

I should mention that I'm in Denmark where there are no official Apple stores. My iBook purchase from Apple online was somewhat disappointing, that's why I'm going to a reseller now. You see, I found that calling Apple about the stuck pixels was not as effective as taking the computer to a store would have been - the rep couldn't see the screen, and if I sent it in to have it checked I might end up paying for the service. So it would be a gamble to even have it looked at. In the end, Apple replaced the screen under warranty for another problem, so the story had a happy end.

Still going to ask - politely - about seeing it first.

 

[Demon Hunter]

My PB is last gen and has 1 stuck pixel, I haven't had success in removing it yet. It was disappointing but 1 out of 1.4 million is pretty good.

 

[al3000]

If you get some dead pixels, won't apple replace it?

 

[Zoowatch]

apple only replace ur brand new powerbook if it has got more than 5 to 10 dead pixels...

apple sometimes refuse to replace those PB with just 1 or 2 dead pixels although they have just been purchase in less than a day (that's their policy)

IMO, this is quite unfair to the consumer...

what i always do is to carefully check the product at the store before paying for it

as to buying online from Apple Store.... it carries some kind of risk... but i figure u can return it within a number of days

 

[Temujin]

Well, that's one data point. Glad to hear your screen is good, pixel-wise. How do you like the screen other than that?

I should mention that I'm in Denmark where there are no official Apple stores. My iBook purchase from Apple online was somewhat disappointing, that's why I'm going to a reseller now. You see, I found that calling Apple about the stuck pixels was not as effective as taking the computer to a store would have been - the rep couldn't see the screen, and if I sent it in to have it checked I might end up paying for the service. So it would be a gamble to even have it looked at. In the end, Apple replaced the screen under warranty for another problem, so the story had a happy end.

Still going to ask - politely - about seeing it first.

The screen is really nice. Better than on any other notebook I've ever owned. Can't really compare the new PB screen with the old one. My first mac

 

[jonomo]

I had problems with my last PB purchase.. but it wasn't with dead pixels..

I got 3 DOAs in a row...

1. Dead dvd drive
2. Dead HD
3. Warped frame...

I would check for pixels, but I would also try and run through every feature and make sure all the ports and stuff work...

 

[Zoowatch]

problem with my 17" powerbook:

dead airport card
shift key not working
logic board had to be replaced

other than that the screen is excellent

 

[QCassidy352]

when I tried to check an ibook screen prior to purchase at an apple store, they told me that I couldn't do that because it entailed opening the box, which they could only do if the computer had been paid for. It makes sense - if apple doesn't accept 1 dead pixel as a "defect," why would they let you open a box, check the machine, and then reject it without payment if there's an "acceptable" nubmer of dead pixels? They'd have to sell that machine as open box, at a discount, despite having a policy that says there's "nothing wrong with it."

honestly, people worry too much about this. I have a stuck pixel (dark red) on my 20" cinema, and very rarely do I even notice it, and when I do, it's no big deal.

 

[ThatSoundAgain]

when I tried to check an ibook screen prior to purchase at an apple store, they told me that I couldn't do that because it entailed opening the box, which they could only do if the computer had been paid for. It makes sense - if apple doesn't accept 1 dead pixel as a "defect," why would they let you open a box, check the machine, and then reject it without payment if there's an "acceptable" nubmer of dead pixels? They'd have to sell that machine as open box, at a discount, despite having a policy that says there's "nothing wrong with it."

honestly, people worry too much about this. I have a stuck pixel (dark red) on my 20" cinema, and very rarely do I even notice it, and when I do, it's no big deal.

I understand the store's problem. Of course, I'm not going to make this a major issue - they probably won't let me see it, and if I refuse to buy a computer because of this, I'll never own a Powerbook.

In response to your point about worrying too much: My iBook last time had a bright green one right in the center of the screen and a bright red one close to it. It annoyed me every time I tried to watch a movie, play a game, or work on dark graphics, which was often. It might just be me, but I was nonetheless annoyed by it every day. Seriously detracted from the experience, and as I explained, I couldn't get a clear answer from Apple.

The screen is really nice. Better than on any other notebook I've ever owned. Can't really compare the new PB screen with the old one. My first mac

Nice! It will be a serious improvement over my 12" iBook display, no doubt. Welcome to the Mac Community, BTW!

 

[cepler]

I'm picky. I was concerned about dead pixels and made it very clear when I purchased the laptop at the local Apple store. They told me I'd have 14 days to exchange it which to me was a fine policy because if I saw any pixel problems I'd just hop back to the store for a different one.

So far, I don't see any and all my peripherals thus far appear to work (Don't have any firewire 800 devices yet). So far I'm a happy 1/2 switcher (I'm probably going to pickup a Thinkpad T43 in addition as there is still some PC stuff I need to run occasionally)

 

[eva01]

i have never had a dead pixel *crosses fingers*

 

[Vanilla]

I would simply have a quiet word with your local reseller prior to purchase. Providing you are buying a standard stock configuration it should be relatively straightforward to agree on a period where you can return/exchange the product.

Here in the UK the London Apple store operates a 14 day return period on stock configuration items and the local reseller I purchased my Powerbook from was equally accomodating.

Frankly, this was the major reason I purchased my computers from a store (iMac from Apple London, Powerbook from London reseller) rather than online. Yes you are limited to stock configurations but if you wait a couple of generations initial BTO options tend to become stock configs anyway.
Vanilla