Thin Horizontal Lines on Rev 2 MBA?

[orch5]

I have a 9C9A here, identical to the others. Also no four finger swipe either. I'm returning mine back today and Apple is replacing it (UK model).

I spent some time comparing the Air display with my white (Intel) MacBook. On reflection the MacBook screen is darker, but the display is crisper and the text much cleaner than the Air. The screen on the Air is fantastic and bright but the lines seem to make the text less readable. It reminds me of a slightly out of sync CRT monitor, as if the text is just a little off focus, very subtle but you know it’s not right. It's odd to describe but I have to say I noticed it instantly when it was out of the box.

It gets more annoying in a darker room and it's *very* distracting when typing documents. You constantly find you’re questioning the focus, more so when you know you have a MacBook that you’ve used for years with a perfect screen (and nearly a £1000 less money).

I’m not entirely sure the replacement will be any better. However, if I do get one without the lines I will post about it on here.

Right! Back to my MacBook.

G.

 

[Luvion]

....

I’m not entirely sure the replacement will be any better. However, if I do get one without the lines I will post about it on here.

Right! Back to my MacBook.

G.

That's what I'm thinking as well. I also have the lines and no four finger swipe. I'm not sure yet about exchanging it.

 

[aristobrat]

Back to the drawing board, I guess?

Would appear so. Blah.

 

[GoCubsGo]

I think, at the end of the day it's not really Apple's fault for receiving a batch of working but faulty displays... Apple after all doesn't manufacture it's own parts, though you think with all the experience from previous systems they'd be quality testing for future occurrence??

Umm scratch that! Those system are built in cheap and cheerful China, where they'll most probably resort to buying "B" rated displays to save a cent. Therefore, faults and imperfections is the norm!

I couldn't disagree more with the first statement. Quite frankly, if you do a random sample testing of each batch you would have caught this. I am not convinced there's an issue, but I haven't bought mine yet.

The second part is mildly true. The display on the MBA is actually quite nice. I don't think you own an air so it'd be hard for you to compare. I can tell you that the Air's display is better than the new MB display and probably up there if not better than the MBP display (probably more along the lines of up there).

 

[LeonX]

I wonder if the horizontal line problem is the reason while delivery has been postponed here in Germany. The earliest date you could get a revB here is November 25/26. No reseller carries them to date, all of them saying they have been noticed that even the SSD-model wont come before. I was about to put in an order right after the announcement but thought I might rather wait until the first units are on display... now it seems to be worth to wait a few weeks for fixinig...

 

[kanpachi]

Those with lines, why don't you give your machines to Apple to do their research/HW and find out what is wrong?

I'm returning mine today and coordinated with the Apple Store and Executive Relations to have it sent back to Apple HQ for investigation. Engineering is already looking into the issue, but hopefully this will help resolve the issue for everyone else out there.

For now, it's back to the good old reliable Thinkpad with Win XP for me.

 

[dogg]

I'm returning mine today and coordinated with the Apple Store and Executive Relations to have it sent back to Apple HQ for investigation. Engineering is already looking into the issue, but hopefully this will help resolve the issue for everyone else out there.

For now, it's back to the good old reliable Thinkpad with Win XP for me.

I to emailed Steve Jobs yesterday like Kapanchi. A member of Executive Relations also phoned me today. They are sending me a new MBA, and are going to make a door step swap for my current one, which is then like kapanchi's, going to the labs for testing.

Cant wait for delivery of the new MBA...

You just know its going to have the same faults as my current model!!!

 

[dehory]

The only way we can be certain those without lines truly don't have the lines is if they had a previous unit with lines or have seen the lines on other units.
The lines are not obvious and could be overlooked.
I am still waiting to hear from someone that had the lines and exchanged for a unit that doesn't have the lines? Therefore at the risk of sounding arrogant
until this happens i am not willing to drop 2.5k and assume all units have the lines

I don't discount the possibility that the lines are right there in front of me -- but to my eyes, those two 'test cards' look identical on my MBA as they do on my 15" PB G4.

It'll be interesting to see whether the people who are exchanging them get units with line-less screens. If nothing else, at least it seems like Apple is taking this quite seriously.

 

[MiBook84]

My new MBP also has the lines across the screen. Quite annoying when you think of it, it looks like the screen has a texture or something. Very weird and most certainly not software but in the screen hardware. Also my screen is really yellowish, white colours are brown/yellow.

Beginning to think apple is compromising on screen quality. Or this might be a problem with the new chipset - nVidia.

Edit: just took a picture to show how it looks on my MacBook Pro Late 2008. I should say that the lines are not visible on my MacBook Air (delivered march -08).

 

[kanpachi]

My new MBP also has the lines across the screen. Quite annoying when you think of it, it looks like the screen has a texture or something. Very weird and most certainly not software but in the screen hardware. Also my screen is really yellowish, white colours are brown/yellow.

Beginning to think apple is compromising on screen quality. Or this might be a problem with the new chipset - nVidia.

Edit: just took a picture to show how it looks on my MacBook Pro Late 2008. I should say that the lines are not visible on my MacBook Air (delivered march -08).

Wow, that's a great picture - exactly how it looks on the MBA. Sorry to hear it's affecting your MBP as well, that's terrible.

 

[zer0tails]

so for those with macbook airs with the lines issue, would you advise me against purchasing one at the moment?

I need a laptop but if all the MBAs are suffering from this issue, I might just pick up a refurb macbook pro.

what do you say, honestly?

 

[zer0tails]

Hello everybody,

I bought the Macbook air in Montreal last sunday. The four fingers works and I do not see any trouble with the display. I have attached a picture of the default LCD profile. I feel sorry for you guys.


Macbook air 1.86 v2 128 SSD

Love Montreal. I'm in Canada too, Toronto actually. I wonder if maybe the Canadian MBAs escaped this problem? Could you kindly post a picture of your screen if it ain't too much trouble? thanks

 

[Cynicalone]

After seeing those two pics posted above, I can 100% say I don't have those.

 

[wheelerw]

So, just received my Macbook Air. It is a week 45, 1.6 with SSD... It has the lines and 4 dead pixels. I called up Apple and they will issue me a full refund. Its back in the box ready to be shipped back. I really hope they fix the line issue soon. It is a great computer, but I just can't see spending $2,200 on a computer with a screen like this. Especially the 4 dead pixels.

 

[menix]

Hey, my display also shows the lines and it was produced in week 44. There is no four finger scrolling for me! Got mine from Apple in Germany.
TNT is gonna pick it up for a replacement today and my new model will arrive the next days. I'm very excited if the replacement has the same issues.
...very annoying!

 

[Essjay]

Returned my 2 Airs because of this issue, and know I have to return my second MBP because of scratches and the computer wont go to "sleep." Ill put it in my bag and an hour later it will be smoking hot and have a drained battery....

Has Apples QC gone way down or is it just me?

 

[The golfer]

ZerOtails,

I don't think those picture are gone help much since my screen does not show the pixels you see here. one picture was taken from a camera, the other from
a picture screen.

 

[al3ph]

Same problem here, thin gray lines and non functional 4 finger swipe.

Also when viewing the test image my display flickers in a nauseating manner , anyone else seeing this..

http://www.csse.uwa.edu.au/~lucas/background.html


W88450BN5L9

Display
manu 00000610
model 00009c9a
serial 0000000
Man date C2486D00

 

[Sybersport]

I was at the Apple Store Yorkdale (Toronto) and the new 1.86 SSD MBA definately had the lines.

 

[HLdan]

so for those with macbook airs with the lines issue, would you advise me against purchasing one at the moment?

I need a laptop but if all the MBAs are suffering from this issue, I might just pick up a refurb macbook pro.

what do you say, honestly?

Since you want an "Honest" opinion, I say stop reading forums and you may actually purchase a computer and enjoy using it. MR forums can be useful, AT TIMES, however if you need MR to help you point out flaws then there are really no flaws if you need a forum to point them out.
You will never buy an Apple computer if you hang out here too long.

Example, the allegedly MBA horizontal line issue was brought up by ONE person on the forum and then extended to several due to the snowball effect. Until yesterday it seemed that it was dedicated to the MBA. Now that one forum member has shown us that it also extends to the MBP then we know it's not dedicated to the MBA.

Yes, there are faint horizontal lines, so what? Is it damaging the screen to a point where it's not useable? NO. Is it so noticeable that it detracts focus away from what you are doing on the computer? NO. Have many people actually noticed it so much that it bothers them? YES. Why? Because they came here to MR and allowed them to make a mountain out of a molehill.

And before you tell me that I am wrong, I have the new MBA Rev B so I speak from experience. I am enjoying my computer ever since I got it 4 days ago and maybe you will too if you just buy it and USE it instead of letting MR downgrade your enjoyable experience.

 

[Starfall]

Have many people actually noticed it so much that it bothers them? YES. Why? Because they came here to MR and allowed them to make a mountain out of a molehill.

I for one noticed these lines on my new Air within the first few hours of using it, before reading about others' experiences here on MR.

And since these lines are not present on all screens, it is obviously possible to have an LCD screen without the lines. So I think it's legitimate to point out the lines as a flaw, since they're obviously noticeable to many and not within spec for standard LCDs.

That said, I'm not returning mine, mostly because I need it, and I don't see consistent stories of the problem being fixed.

 

[tigres]

Since you want an "Honest" opinion, I say stop reading forums and you may actually purchase a computer and enjoy using it. MR forums can be useful, AT TIMES, however if you need MR to help you point out flaws then there are really no flaws if you need a forum to point them out.
You will never buy an Apple computer if you hang out here too long.

Example, the allegedly MBA horizontal line issue was brought up by ONE person on the forum and then extended to several due to the snowball effect. Until yesterday it seemed that it was dedicated to the MBA. Now that one forum member has shown us that it also extends to the MBP then we know it's not dedicated to the MBA.

Yes, there are faint horizontal lines, so what? Is it damaging the screen to a point where it's not useable? NO. Is it so noticeable that it detracts focus away from what you are doing on the computer? NO. Have many people actually noticed it so much that it bothers them? YES. Why? Because they came here to MR and allowed them to make a mountain out of a molehill.

And before you tell me that I am wrong, I have the new MBA Rev B so I speak from experience. I am enjoying my computer ever since I got it 4 days ago and maybe you will too if you just buy it and USE it instead of letting MR downgrade your enjoyable experience.

+1 X2

Received my MBA last eve. The first damn thing I looked for were the lines from this forum. Well, mine is as clean as a whistle; perfect actually.

So this poster has it right, I was almost was scared before I even recieved my unit.

Point is this: This is a very nice machine; it is in the top of it's category on all fronts; however you will always find people who have negative to say. If you want one and can afford it--- go buy it most likely you already know you will love it.

 

[Cynicalone]

The problem is the same as it always is. People come to a forum more often when they have problems. Not when there computer/phone/ipod is working perfectly. If you took a look around here you would never buy an Apple product.

 

[echo44]

found the lines before comming to this forum
and it is reassuring that others are noting the same problem.
I have been reading these forums for years and currently own
7 macintosh computers. The forums are invaluable!!!
My advice is to wait until Apple irons out the problems!.
If you don't notice the lines or they don't bother you go ahead with the purchase. I do believe this is a wide spread problem since every unit I have seen has the issue. Also there is a post about this on both apple's discussion forums and Mac intouch web site.
It seems from what I have been reading many issues exist with the MBP
as well. I have been using Macintosh computers for 20 years. Although from time to time issues arise I have noticed a decline in quality control over the last year or so?
User should make a big deal over these issues. The appeal of Macintosh computers has always been their attention to details to provide a better computing experience for the users. Thats why we pay a premium for their products. If perceived quality is declining should we just close are eyes
to these issues and fork out 2500k$ ?

 

[wheelerw]

Since you want an "Honest" opinion, I say stop reading forums and you may actually purchase a computer and enjoy using it. MR forums can be useful, AT TIMES, however if you need MR to help you point out flaws then there are really no flaws if you need a forum to point them out.
You will never buy an Apple computer if you hang out here too long.

Example, the allegedly MBA horizontal line issue was brought up by ONE person on the forum and then extended to several due to the snowball effect. Until yesterday it seemed that it was dedicated to the MBA. Now that one forum member has shown us that it also extends to the MBP then we know it's not dedicated to the MBA.

Yes, there are faint horizontal lines, so what? Is it damaging the screen to a point where it's not useable? NO. Is it so noticeable that it detracts focus away from what you are doing on the computer? NO. Have many people actually noticed it so much that it bothers them? YES. Why? Because they came here to MR and allowed them to make a mountain out of a molehill.

And before you tell me that I am wrong, I have the new MBA Rev B so I speak from experience. I am enjoying my computer ever since I got it 4 days ago and maybe you will too if you just buy it and USE it instead of letting MR downgrade your enjoyable experience.

The problem IS very noticeable, maybe not on all (yours), but mine you could notice right on startup. It doesn't make the computer unusable, but it degrades the screen quality ALOT, at least in my case. I brought my computer to the Apple store and they said it is a problem, and that I shouldn't have to live with this kind of screen. I would recommend waiting a few weeks until the problem is ironed out instead of spending the money now. Apple will fix this problem. They know about it. Or if you can "live" with the problem knowing that you will most likely get a screen with lines in it, by all means buy it now. If they can get the screen like they had on the rev. A MBA's, then this computer would be AMAZING! It will be fixed, hopefully within the next few weeks.