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Ironic

macrumors 6502a
Oct 6, 2008
652
0
In my MBA!
I was jealous at your perfect machine. I haven't got mine yet I was going to

order soon but screen issues really holding me back..

Looking at the first gen..oh God it's worse!

So I'm kinda in middle of road..any advice? :cool:

Go for it as I had seen many and not have seen the lines at all, many people are happy!
 

09872738

Cancelled
Feb 12, 2005
1,270
2,125
And many have perfect screens, the only people who complain are the ones with Issues, not the people who have great MBA's Common Sense!
Again the question: why do they receive 3, 4 MBAs with faulty displays? If only a few were faulty, it´s not very likely to receive a crappy one 3 times consecutively...
 

lincolnchee

macrumors member
Sep 13, 2008
66
0
Singapore
you would think that but my son has a MBA and its perfect.. go figure?

Suggest you to check the system spec (ensure it is rev.b - the one with the Nvidia graphic card). If it is rev.b, then try ramping up the brightness of the screen to full-bore and view any webpage with a white/gray background.
 

Ironic

macrumors 6502a
Oct 6, 2008
652
0
In my MBA!
LOL After spending 5K on both I am sure its a current MBA also Mine is always on brightest thats how I keep it his is also on Bright and not one faint line.
 

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lincolnchee

macrumors member
Sep 13, 2008
66
0
Singapore
LOL After spending 5K on both I am sure its a current MBA also Mine is always on brightest thats how I keep it his is also on Bright and not one faint line.

Hmm.. I guess you have got a perfect unit :) Good for you !
For those who are reading this thread, please help to participate in the poll:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/608263/

This give an idea on whether there are many people facing this problem or just a few unlucky one like me. Thanks.
 

arkhe

macrumors newbie
Nov 28, 2008
13
0
Is the build the problem?

Hello!

I have a theory that it is the build that is the problem.

Here's what I found:

The Apple support page (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159) says that the MacBook/Pros should have build 9F2088 and the Airs should have 9F2523. FYI, the general Mac OS X 10.5.5 build is 9F33.

So, I was able to compare a Rev. 1 Air, Rev. 2 Air, and the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros side-by-side at the Mall of America store today.

The MacBooks and the Pros had build 9F2088 (I should note that some of the Pros had build 9F2114) and had "clean" screens.

The Airs also had build 9F2088. The Rev. 1 had a "clean" screen but the Rev. 2 displayed both the lines and the flickering (page 4 of this thread).

Here's my theory: since the Rev. 2 Air has an underclocked NVIDIA chipset, could it be that the 9F2088 build is "overdriving" or otherwise misconfigured for the Air's chipset?

To test this, would people please post their build numbers and whether or not they have the screen issue? It would be especially interesting to see if the people who do not have the problem have the correct build (9F2523) - here's lookin' at you NC MacGuy and Ironic! :)
 

lincolnchee

macrumors member
Sep 13, 2008
66
0
Singapore
Hello!

I have a theory that it is the build that is the problem.

Here's what I found:

The Apple support page (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159) says that the MacBook/Pros should have build 9F2088 and the Airs should have 9F2523. FYI, the general Mac OS X 10.5.5 build is 9F33.

So, I was able to compare a Rev. 1 Air, Rev. 2 Air, and the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros side-by-side at the Mall of America store today.

The MacBooks and the Pros had build 9F2088 (I should note that some of the Pros had build 9F2144) and had "clean" screens.

The Airs also had build 9F2088. The Rev. 1 had a "clean" screen but the Rev. 2 displayed both the lines and the flickering (page 4 of this thread).

Here's my theory: since the Rev. 2 Air has an underclocked NVIDIA chipset, could it be that the 9F2088 build is "overdriving" or otherwise misconfigured for the Air's chipset?

To test this, would people please post their build numbers and whether or not they have the screen issue? It would be especially interesting to see if the people who do not have the problem have the correct build (9F2523) - here's lookin' at you NC MacGuy and Ironic! :)

Hmmm... I have the faint lines across my screen and my build no is 9F2523
 

bigrasmusdk

macrumors member
Nov 11, 2008
35
0
ALL 4 MBA that I now returned all had Build 9F2523

They were different weeks, 44,45,46 and 47

And after speeking personally with Apple Executive Relations, they confirmed that it is "within specifications" NO FIX FOR THE SCREEN... That's why I no longer own a MBA, I am writing on my new MB ... Perfect screen.
 

StefanR.

Guest
Nov 8, 2008
44
0
(9F2523)

week 47

second Air, very very soft faint lines, nearly not visible. but strong flickering, none of my others has that strong flickering.
 

foodcoma

macrumors member
Jan 31, 2008
38
0
So, to sum up for everyone:

4 finger swipe is missing on all non - US MBAs.

Crappy screens are the rule, not the exception.

That's probably an over generalization. I have a non-US MacBook Air and have 4 finger swipe. Bear in mind that most people without any issues wouldn't go online and post about it.
 

Ironic

macrumors 6502a
Oct 6, 2008
652
0
In my MBA!
Hello!

I have a theory that it is the build that is the problem.

Here's what I found:

The Apple support page (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159) says that the MacBook/Pros should have build 9F2088 and the Airs should have 9F2523. FYI, the general Mac OS X 10.5.5 build is 9F33.

So, I was able to compare a Rev. 1 Air, Rev. 2 Air, and the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros side-by-side at the Mall of America store today.

The MacBooks and the Pros had build 9F2088 (I should note that some of the Pros had build 9F2144) and had "clean" screens.

The Airs also had build 9F2088. The Rev. 1 had a "clean" screen but the Rev. 2 displayed both the lines and the flickering (page 4 of this thread).

Here's my theory: since the Rev. 2 Air has an underclocked NVIDIA chipset, could it be that the 9F2088 build is "overdriving" or otherwise misconfigured for the Air's chipset?

To test this, would people please post their build numbers and whether or not they have the screen issue? It would be especially interesting to see if the people who do not have the problem have the correct build (9F2523) - here's lookin' at you NC MacGuy and Ironic! :)


my info:

System Version: Mac OS X 10.5.5 (9F2523)
Kernel Version: Darwin 9.5.2
Boot Volume: Macintosh HD
Boot Mode: Normal
 

09872738

Cancelled
Feb 12, 2005
1,270
2,125
That's probably an over generalization. I have a non-US MacBook Air and have 4 finger swipe. Bear in mind that most people without any issues wouldn't go online and post about it.

That may be true, but you forget one thing: several posters here received 3 or 4 MacBook Airs, which ALL had the fault. So it´s obvious, that the fine lines do not appear here and there, it more likely seem to be the other way round: here and there an MBA seem to be allright.

Strange, that you have 4 finger swipe. As far as i know it´s confirmed behaviour that all non - US keyboard MBAs are lackting this feature.
 

foodcoma

macrumors member
Jan 31, 2008
38
0
That may be true, but you forget one thing: several posters here received 3 or 4 MacBook Airs, which ALL had the fault. So it´s obvious, that the fine lines do not appear here and there, it more likely seem to be the other way round: here and there an MBA seem to be allright.

Strange, that you have 4 finger swipe. As far as i know it´s confirmed behaviour that all non - US keyboard MBAs are lackting this feature.

Don't disagree that there exists an issue that Apple needs to fix. On the 4-finger swipe - no idea. Maybe I got a US version that somehow ended up in a different part of the world? It is a week 43 version.
 

arkhe

macrumors newbie
Nov 28, 2008
13
0
Oh well... :-(

Hmmm... I have the faint lines across my screen and my build no is 9F2523

Well, it only takes one instance to prove a theory wrong!

Thanks also to bigrasmusdk, StefanR. and Ironic for your replies.

That's really too bad and an extreme disappointment!

The weight difference between the MacBook and the Air is noticeable, but unfortunately, that screen is a decision breaker for me. It started to give me a headache.

To those who have good screens or are unaffected by the problem - congrats, you have what is, imho, a near perfect Mac!

I guess I will wait for 10.5.6 and/or 10.6 to ship on the Airs to see if that makes a difference. (I know, I know, but I really want one! :)
 

09872738

Cancelled
Feb 12, 2005
1,270
2,125
Don't disagree that there exists an issue that Apple needs to fix. On the 4-finger swipe - no idea. Maybe I got a US version that somehow ended up in a different part of the world? It is a week 43 version.
You don't agree a crappy display causing headaches and tearing eyes need a fix?

No words ...
 

Ironic

macrumors 6502a
Oct 6, 2008
652
0
In my MBA!
You don't agree a crappy display causing headaches and tearing eyes need a fix?

No words ...
I DO as i said ordered a custom HP 12" touch lappy and then i looked at it, my eyes hurt, i took it back and did not order another it was the touch screen film :(
 

StefanR.

Guest
Nov 8, 2008
44
0
You don't agree a crappy display causing headaches and tearing eyes need a fix?

No words ...


years ago, I bought a new screen for the desktop PC, do not remember the model, slowly my eyes startet to hurt, in any moment I thought could be the screen. went to the oculist, he told me that I need eyeglasses, since the results from analysis have been not satisfying, they made me glasses. time passed I worked with glasses when sitting in front of the screen, I think I used that screen for 6-8month, I bought a bigger one, suddenly my eyes started to hurt with the glasses, so I tried without them, everything was perfect, no pain without glasses. I never where glasses anymore... it was that shi.y screen what caused the problem.
 
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