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The New 2010 iMac's and Poor Quality Control
- Thread starter byron_hinson
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Do we really need another one of these stupid, ill informed posts?
OP, No offense but you are a troll coming into a mac forum just to bash mac, just like everyone else.
Having purchased thousands of computers for large businesses as well as being a desktop and server technician for many many years I will tell you you are 100% wrong. Apple has the highest quality control that I have come across in any machine.
If you want poor quality control, please go troll at the Dell forums. They rank the lowest out of everything I've purchased. (50 XPS gaming machines, all dead within a month of arriving (dead graphics cards in most, bad ram in ALL of them), 500 of the dell laptops shipping with bad touch pads, etc.). There is MUCH worse out there then Apple.
Not to mention these types of things happen with mass production. If you would rather them handcraft each machine I'm sure you or others would then complain that they cost 10 times the amount.
Pick your poison.
OP, No offense but you are a troll coming into a mac forum just to bash mac, just like everyone else.
Having purchased thousands of computers for large businesses as well as being a desktop and server technician for many many years I will tell you you are 100% wrong. Apple has the highest quality control that I have come across in any machine.
If you want poor quality control, please go troll at the Dell forums. They rank the lowest out of everything I've purchased. (50 XPS gaming machines, all dead within a month of arriving (dead graphics cards in most, bad ram in ALL of them), 500 of the dell laptops shipping with bad touch pads, etc.). There is MUCH worse out there then Apple.
Not to mention these types of things happen with mass production. If you would rather them handcraft each machine I'm sure you or others would then complain that they cost 10 times the amount.
Pick your poison.
As someone who purchases a lot of consumer electronics I can say with absolute confidence that if you look closely at many of the products you buy today, you'll be able to notice problems that shouldn't really be there. I've begun to learn that I'm just happier not looking for them, unless they're blatantly obvious.
Just to give you a crazy example. My wife and I bought 2 Honda Civic's back in early 2007. Identical car except for the paint color. One had a much more responsive and smooth shifting transmission/engine than the other. Took the shoddy one to the dealership and they swore it was perfect in their testing.
In other words, there is a fairly large gap that most companies allow for discrepancies when manufacturing products in this day and age. People who are particular will pick up on these things, and if you choose to get annoyed with them, it'll drive you crazy. The average consumer never picks up on such things, and thus these companies produce things in the ways they do.
Just to give you a crazy example. My wife and I bought 2 Honda Civic's back in early 2007. Identical car except for the paint color. One had a much more responsive and smooth shifting transmission/engine than the other. Took the shoddy one to the dealership and they swore it was perfect in their testing.
In other words, there is a fairly large gap that most companies allow for discrepancies when manufacturing products in this day and age. People who are particular will pick up on these things, and if you choose to get annoyed with them, it'll drive you crazy. The average consumer never picks up on such things, and thus these companies produce things in the ways they do.
I agree that Apple is still one of the best QA companies out there, but I absolutely see them trending towards their competitors. I've been a Mac user since 2004 (2 Macbooks, 1 Mini, 2 iMacs, 3 iPhones, and 2 iPods) and I've absolutely never had the immediate issues I'm having with my new iMac. I can't help but think that this, coupled with my iPhone 4 dropping calls (until I used the bumper case), is a trend of Apple starting to slip.
To be honest, before the iPhone 4, the only issues I had with Mac products were...
1) original Macbook's battery had to be replaced, not a big deal
2) 1st generation iPhone developed a dead spot for touch input, easy replace
3) 2008 Macbook's screen would blink if set to integrated graphics, something that developed over 1 year+ of use
Again, all of these issues were something that came up well after they were purchased and are completely normal for electronics. However, the only time I've ever had such an immediate issue with a product, like I am with my current iMac purchase, was a Sony Bravia TV which I had to send back twice due to dead pixels and a cracked screen.
Apple is aware of the problem to because when I first called Applecare about the yellow tint/grey bar discoloration, the operator said "Oh, another one with the yellow tint. Yes, let me put you through to a senior advisor"
You think I've come here just to bash the Mac? You really have very little idea about me then.
Also just managed this moment to pick up an i7 in store in Cambridge UK - they ran it for us after we spoke about all the problems we had with the last 3. The guy was great
No dead pixels
Hard drive is even a WD 1TB
Buzzing was hard to tell as the store was so loud but fingers crossed
So you think I'm bashing macs you really need to open your eyes sometimes. I love Apple's stuff and have done for years - our house is full of it, I even got my wife from Windows to her Macbook which she also loves. I guess I'm just not a fanboy as I see the good and bad everywhere, and I still feel that Quality control lacks badly. I'm not coming here and telling everyone who says they have a good machine is wrong am I? So why assume those who come in with problems are just trolling.
Oh and I agree about Dell
I've reviewed and written about hardware and software for 15 years I'm not here to bash Mac's for no reason
Oh and as a footnote - the genius in the store also said that they were aware of lots of customers returning the latest and older iMac's due to the seagate drives, and although they agreed it wasn't a good option to have in an iMac it was out of their hands.
Thanks. Nice article. But you didnt mention the yellow tint. Is your new 2010 iMac free of this tint or you just forgot to include it?
We've returned that third one for a refund. We have just picked up a new one from the local Apple store where they actually had one i7 in stock. Fingers crossed. It didn't seem to have dead pixels in store and the hard drive was a WD one - the buzzing we hope isn't there, but was hard to tell with the noise in the shop.
Actually I do think some people have an obsession that is a sort of perverse enjoyment.
Apple should sell a version of each product for a 25% surcharge that includes extensive Q/A and documentation.
Or maaaaaybe, just maybe, people just like to get what they pay for. The irony is that those who accept the inferior products are the one's who empower Apple (and other companies) to continue to spend less and less on QA.
Just out of curiousity, how does the fact that other Apple users are demanding a defect-free machine affect you negatively in any way?
This would go in line with a vague perception, that replacements are being "recycled", at least for the first few replacement rounds. Once you RETURN faulty unit and BUY the new one your chances to get better unit are better. This could explain multiple cases of people replacing units 3-6 times (before getting tired).
Tom B.
Well I don't want to speak too soon but now on the 4th i7 iMac this time direct from an Apple Store and it seems (touch wood) that this one is as near as perfect as we will get.
Very very slight speck of dust top right
No hard drive noise as the WD drive is great
Electrical buzzing due to the faulty PSU's is not here, even when above 50c
The i7 is noisier than the i5's but it seems great so I really hope it lasts!
Very very slight speck of dust top right
No hard drive noise as the WD drive is great
Electrical buzzing due to the faulty PSU's is not here, even when above 50c
The i7 is noisier than the i5's but it seems great so I really hope it lasts!
I don't understand that issue with "hard drive noise." Aren't they supposed to have noise? They DO have moving parts.
With no indicator light, listening to the hard drive sound is the only way I know that it's working.
In a very quiet room, I can hear it but no worse than any of my external drives, and with some music on, etc, can't hear at all. Normal hard drive sound is not an indication of a failing drive, but there are some noises that are nice to hear when they do indicate a failing drive.
With no indicator light, listening to the hard drive sound is the only way I know that it's working.
In a very quiet room, I can hear it but no worse than any of my external drives, and with some music on, etc, can't hear at all. Normal hard drive sound is not an indication of a failing drive, but there are some noises that are nice to hear when they do indicate a failing drive.
Oh yeah some noise is normal for most - the Seagate's make loud clunking noises even when not doing many tasks. Sit it on the desktop doing nothing and it churns away.
This WD drive on the other hand is near silent
Apparently, mine is not one of those. Perhaps, Seagate has QC problems? Apple doesn't make most of the components in these machines, merely assemble them. Perhaps, a little finger pointing at LG would be wise (are they not the ones who MAKE the screens?).
I did the yellow tint test when I got my i5 (refurb) and did a hardware test and it was as perfect as it could be. I guess I will be happy to not have any of these problems.
Because the more people return Macs 4+ times for stupid noises which are on every model, the more Apple has to "eat" by selling as a refurb...which over time, will effect the cost of their products...which will effect my wallet....
Not to mention all the negativity in the iMac forums while the 98% of happy consumers just want to have normal and productive iMac threads to read. Not some schmuck blabbering about how much he hates Apple QC as he continues to buy more Apple products...
If they suck so much, go get a nice shiny PC all-in-one, because they are so awesome and free of noises...
i suspect that many of those who dont understand the issues being discussed dont have sharp senses. if you have good hearing the buzzing/whistling can be headache inducing. if you have good sight the yellowing is hard to ignore. i've had 2 machines that were absolute garbage. i would describe them as "scratch and dent" but they were purchased brand new. there are real problems in this imac line 
Ordered on launch day. 27" i7 2.93, 16GB, 2TB+SSD
1st iMac: Bent Stand, wont stand by itself otherwise perfect. RMAed
2nd iMac a week later, Severe yellow screen, thick grey band, RMAed
3rd iMac a week later, Dent in the back, box destroyed, dust under glass, yellow screen. Looked like it was packaged by a blind monkey. RMAed today.
Hmmm....
1st iMac: Bent Stand, wont stand by itself otherwise perfect. RMAed
2nd iMac a week later, Severe yellow screen, thick grey band, RMAed
3rd iMac a week later, Dent in the back, box destroyed, dust under glass, yellow screen. Looked like it was packaged by a blind monkey. RMAed today.
Hmmm....