Screen flickering on MBA Rev B

[Ironic]

Guessing, and that's all I have ... is that the macbook screen runs on a slightly different frequency , has a slightly different pixel density than that of the Macbook Air. Like I said in my previous post, I'm guessing you could create a 'flickering' effect with any LCD screen, using a pattern that had thinner/thicker lines etc., it would be a slightly different pattern for different LCD's. It just so happens this pattern is one that causes the 'moire' effect with this current MBA screen.

As far as headaches - again I could only guess. But causes other than the supposed 'flickering' could include...

- the MBA screen is so much brighter and more vivid than other laptop screens you've used, and you're not used to it

- you are simply spending more time than ever on your notebook since you got you're brand new $2700 macbook air (including taxes)

<or> maybe the headaches are caused by,

- vexing constantly over what 'may' be wrong with that Macbook Air you spent 2,700 hard earn dollars on (including taxes).

- an undiagnosed brain tumor.

Really, the possibilities are endless. In the case of that last guess, I think all others would join me in hoping that it is, in fact, a flickering screen.

I spend 10 hours a day online, I could not imagine having a headache from the screen as long as I am on, I ordered a new 12" HP touchscreen once, and the from the minute i got it, I had eye issues, it was the coating on the touchscreen, I returned it.

I think the problem is more in the coating, or a easy fix.

 

[alphaxono]

- the MBA screen is so much brighter and more vivid than other laptop screens you've used, and you're not used to it

You might be right here, but why do I not get a headache at the Movie Theatre?

- you are simply spending more time than ever on your notebook since you got you're brand new $2700 macbook air (including taxes)

Spent a total of 3 hours with the Air. Wish I could hold it now.

- vexing constantly over what 'may' be wrong with that Macbook Air you spent 2,700 hard earn dollars on (including taxes).

Already did that before I got the Air. Macrumors helped quite a bit.

- an undiagnosed brain tumor.

Hope not...I just bought Applecare

 

[ducatidoc]

i also have flickering. running an extended desktop, its easy to spot in comparison to its neighboring lcd.

doesnt give me a headache though. not sure if i really care since it doesnt bother me.

thankfully, i do not have the lines (or cant see them)

 

[frifra]

@ ducatidoc

Which Week is yours? Which screen? Which set up are you using?

Cheers!

 

[Ironic]

@ ducatidoc

Which Week is yours? Which screen? Which set up are you using?

Cheers!

whith all the info have you came to any conclusions?

 

[frifra]

whith all the info have you came to any conclusions?

Ironic, I am just trying to figure out, how to get rid of the problem (as apple doesnt seem to do this at the moment). I would be lucky and more than happy, if everything would just be a software issue. But nobody has been reporting so far, that he could, in any way get rid of the flickering or more importantly, the faint lines.

So far, I have no conclusions, as my question wasn't answered yet.
Although I have to add, that it would be very unlikely, that lets say 5 MBA, with the same screen, same options and same week etc. of production are having an issue, except for 1. This would more lead me to the conclusion, that some laptops are more affected than others, but all are affected and some users might just not recognise it.

 

[Ironic]

Ironic, I am just trying to figure out, how to get rid of the problem (as apple doesnt seem to do this at the moment). I would be lucky and more than happy, if everything would just be a software issue. But nobody has been reporting so far, that he could, in any way get rid of the flickering or more importantly, the faint lines.

So far, I have no conclusions, as my question wasn't answered yet.
Although I have to add, that it would be very unlikely, that lets say 5 MBA, with the same screen, same options and same week etc. of production are having an issue, except for 1. This would more lead me to the conclusion, that some laptops are more affected than others, but all are affected and some users might just not recognise it.

From the posted pic, how not can you see it but I do agree many might look past it, I hope they find a cure soon,
I wish we knew how many are bad?

Has anyone wrote to the executive offices of Apple?

 

[ducatidoc]

Model Name: MacBook Air
Model Identifier: MacBookAir2,1
Serial Number: W884402N5L9

for the LCD...
Manufacturer: 00000610
Model: 00009C9A
Serial Number: 00000000
Manufacture Date: C2486575

 

[frifra]

Would fit my assumption, that (most) of the good ones were produced in week 43/44: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/6755798/

(or you are just blind just kidding)

 

[6SSD4]

To me it really looks like the 9C9A has no thin lines. Most happy users are carrying that number.

 

[m21]

I purchased my mba 128 ssd about a week ago before reviewing the discussion threads commenting about the flickering issue and / or thin lines. This is the first apple computer I have had since a IIe when I was a kid.

As with a number of other folks, I can see faint thin lines and the screen did not pass the flicker test link as presented by the original poster. My wife says she cannot see them for the most part, however, she can see them easier on a grey backround. I will note it is not overly apparent (i.e. I see them every time I am looking at the screen), but they are there (unless my eyes are going, which could be the case).

I believe the manufacture date of my mba is week 47 based on the SN for those who are compiling. Additionally, I have the same LCD manufacturer, model and manufacture date as poster ducatidoc.

At this point, I am not sure what I am going to do with respect to returning as it sounds like the issue is not resolved whether repair is attempted or a new one is issued. I still have 7 days to decide, however, I am not sure what type of hassle it will be with the local apple store where it was purchased. (i.e. I take it in and tell them there are lines when you stare into the screen and present the flicker test page to show the issue). They may tell me I am nuts on the lines and there doesn't appear to be any other issues with the flicker other than when I pull the test page up. I am also not to keen on paying a restocking fee to return altogether.

I am probably going to start with the apple care tech and see how widespread the issue has been reported to date and see what they say.

 

[wisestar]

Can anyone tell if the 10.5.6 update solved the flickering problem as well as the grey line (I hope!)?

 

[mhnajjar]

Can anyone tell if the 10.5.6 update solved the flickering problem as well as the grey line (I hope!)?

No fix!

 

[wisestar]

No fix!

Not Even the Flickering issue?

 

[mhnajjar]

Not Even the Flickering issue?

The flickering is even occurring on the UniB MBP I am typing this on. I guess it is normal since these things depend on the resolution where the flickering won't happen if you were using the same resolution that patter was created at.

For example, I do not see it on my 24" iMac.

 

[ducatidoc]

went to an apple store today to check out the cinema display. checked for the flickering and the display worked fine. when i told the sales rep what i was doing, he seemed intrigued and asked me to show it to him on an mba. the mba in the store had the lines and flickering.

at least the word is getting out....

 

[YOKOJP]

has anyone found a solution for the flickering screen?

thanks.

 

[hodgeheg]

Flicker on test page, but nowhere else. Theory?

FWIW, I have 1.6GHz HDD Rev B air bought last week (and loving it - after the horror stories I'm finding it fast, and running cool even when watching long videos (flash and iTunes/Quicktime)).

Just tried the test page and yes it flickers, however I have not detected any flicker anywhere else, so I don't really have a problem. I'm usually very sensitive to and easily annoyed by any screen issue, particularly flicker, but here I seem to be OK!

In general the screen is very nice. Far better than my White MacBook, which has horribly visible dithering all over the place.

Sorry if this is covered already - don't have time to read whole thread - but might this be down to frame rate control in a particular model of LCD panel? My panel model is 00009C90, manufacturer 00000610, manufacture date C2486D00 and serial number 00000000 (odd?), in case any of that means anything to anyone.

All in all, I'm happy with this as a replacement for my white macbook.

Also FWIW, and again, apologies if I missed something as I've not read the rest of the thread, but I really didn't see the problem with Ironic's reply - he was asked a question and answered it!



PS. no difference in fluorescent lighting or natural light or in the dark even.

 

[Indydenny]

Just tried the test page and yes it flickers, however I have not detected any flicker anywhere else, so I don't really have a problem. I'm usually very sensitive to and easily annoyed by any screen issue, particularly flicker, but here I seem to be OK!

My question is this: Since the screen DOES show the flickering on the test page, does that mean it is flickering constantly and I just can't see it (therefore potentially causing eye distress or headache)? OR is the flickering only happening on certain graphic images where the frequency, combined with the type of image, may be the culprit?

Not sure I understand this, but if there is problem with constant flickering, it seems that it CAN'T be good.

I have the Macbook 2.4 and will be passing one of the laptops onto a co-worker. Like the screen in the Air much better, (and of course the size) but need to understand the flickering issue.

If this might be a health/eye issue, we will want to return the Air for another Macbook and not pass it along. Apple has been silent as far as I can tell.

Thanks

 

[mhnajjar]

hodgeheg, do you have the "LINES"?

 

[hodgeheg]

hodgeheg, do you have the "LINES"?

I don't think so. On some very light but not white backgrounds I sometimes get a glimpse, but only when I'm looking for them with my head two inches from the screen, and it's faint enough I'm not sure even then.

I used to have a G4 final model 15" powerbook (the 1.67GHz 1440x960 model) which had lines that were quite clear - all of those had them as far as I can tell - though I got used to them. It's certainly nothing as clear as that.

AIUI the fact that one image flickers doesn't necessarily mean the screen is always flickering. All screens update, and most 6bit per channel TN panels (which I'm guessing this is, though I can't see it on test images) use FRC instead of or as well as dithering, i.e. switching between colours, which if you were sensitive enough might be perceived as flicker.

I don't really understand how moiré etc work, but when I used to use CRTs you could have a rock-steady image generally (my monitor had 120Hz refresh) but still have a flickery effect on certain patterns.

 

[6SSD4]

My Rev A does also flicker, but I don't really care as I only notice when I try.
I did get headaches to begin with, but these have not accoured the last week, so it might have been something else. I'm not trying to get it changed though, as I might end up with a more serious problem, and this one doesn't even affect me much.

 

[mhnajjar]

Thanks hodgeheg.

The flickering is not an issue to me also since it only flickers on the linked pattern on this thread and the flicker is there on every MBA wether revA or revB. I even saw it on a unibody 15" MBP. It was not there on a WMB which does not have LED. This made me think that it appears on LEDs and that this pattern is suitable for non LEDs only.

However, the lines are the big issue since they are there as lines of dust/dirt hurting the eye after 15 minutes of work on the new Airs. For some reason, I noticed them on the revAs that are available on display also.

Either later revA share the same screen with revB or that Apple is having a wiring issue with their assembly since they disappear when hooked up to an external monitor.

 

[justit]

You can dramatically reduce flickering from the test pattern by calibrating the MBA or using other profiles.

 

[ducatidoc]

bad news. i have the lines. didnt notice them at first, but BAM!! one day there were there and i havent been able to ignore them since. sigh...

took it to the apple store, where we examined 3 other airs (two revB and one revA) and all had them. they basically said they could do nada to fix the lines.

darn mapple.