!#%@@!!! Where to find new iMac screen glass?

[NY Guitarist]

First off, this was my own damn fault...

I was carrying some gear through my office and clipped the top corner of the iMac and busted the glass front. It wasn't even a hard hit, but must have been just the exact right angle and force to shatter the corner.

After going the the 5 stages of grief I started looking for replacement glass.

In an effort to make lemonade out of lemons I'm going to use the opportunity to upgrade the 1TB Fusion to a SSD drive. So at least I've got that going for me.

Any idea where to source this part? No luck at iFixit, Amazon, eBay. Going to Apple rules out the SSD upgrade.

2014 27" iMac Retina Display

 

[chscag]

I'm not sure but I'm thinking that you may not be able to only replace the glass on that machine. You may wind up having to replace the entire display. Anyway give www.powerbookmedic.com a try to see if they have or can get the glass part for you.

 

[NY Guitarist]

I'm not sure but I'm thinking that you may not be able to only replace the glass on that machine. You may wind up having to replace the entire display. Anyway give www.powerbookmedic.com a try to see if they have or can get the glass part for you.

Damn, looks like you might be right. $500! This is the problem with Apple making their hardware service unfriendly!

Dammit... Back to stage 2: Anger.

 

[einsteinbqat]

Apple will replace the glass screen. Just get the screen replaced, and make the SSD upgrade yourself.

 

[NY Guitarist]

Apple will replace the glass screen. Just get the screen replaced, and make the SSD upgrade yourself.

I'll stop in the Apple store and ask if they can replace the glass only.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Damn, looks like you might be right. $500! This is the problem with Apple making their hardware service unfriendly!

Dammit... Back to stage 2: Anger.

The glass is bonded to the display you have to replace the whole thing. This is not about making it service unfriendly it's about providing a much better screen experience you could see the gap on my old 2010 MBP not so on the retina machines it's a much nicer visual experience.

 

[chscag]

Apple will replace the glass screen. Just get the screen replaced, and make the SSD upgrade yourself.

You can't just replace the glass on retina models as it's glued to the display. On older model iMacs that was true but on the newer ones, the entire display would have to be replaced. I guess that's known as progress. $$

 

[NY Guitarist]

You can't just replace the glass on retina models as it's glued to the display. On older model iMacs that was true but on the newer ones, the entire display would have to be replaced. I guess that's known as progress. $$

FML at this point. I'm over the Apple disposable hardware 'experience'.

Basically this is why I hate the iMac.

 

[chscag]

FML at this point. I'm over the Apple disposable hardware 'experience'.

Basically this is why I hate the iMac.

Love my iMac but it's just like the late model autos we buy nowadays. You have to be an electrical engineer and automotive engineer all rolled into one to just change the spark plugs! Yeah, all new Macs are of the disposable kind.

 

[einsteinbqat]

That's definitely lame.

 

[NY Guitarist]

That's definitely lame.

Yup, and looking at the cracked screen just pours salt in the wound. It's not the broken screen, but Apple's path of intentional obsolescence by using locked down, disposable hardware.

 

[maflynn]

Yeah, all new Macs are of the disposable kind

Sadly this is the case, and companies like MS with their surface computer lines are doing the same.

I fear my 2015 iMac is the last Mac I'll be buying for that very reason.

 

[cynics]

Does it still work?

Replace the Fusion drive now with an SSD so you dont need to worry about damaging the screen then have Apple replace the screen.

I hate to be "that guy" but its not like you need to dispose of the entire iMac, just needs a new screen/display. Gluing the screen to the display is a "feature" has ridiculous as that sounds just as the unfortunate side effect of needing to replace the entire thing if its damaged.

 

[atlas_0]

People call for new display tech, higher resolutions, better viewing angles, and thinner hardware.

They get it, then complain that it's not serviceable enough, too hard to DIY repair, and too expensive to pay for a repair on.

But now, if Apple goes back to a thicker display panel, goes back to an air gap, and makes the iMac thicker, you same lot will piss and moan about how it's a step backward and terrible. See the new, cheap iPad for reference.

 

[ascender]

I've had the exact same issue following a burglary. They stole the iMac, it was recovered, but damaged in the process. As you said, it seems that impact to the body of the iMac can cause cracks on the screen. I'm going to get a third party to do mine and add an SSD at the same time.

 

[maflynn]

People call for new display tech, higher resolutions, better viewing angles, and thinner hardware.

I don't know too many people who have been crying for a thinner desktop computer

They get it, then complain that it's not serviceable enough, too hard to DIY repair, and too expensive to pay for a repair on.

higher resolutions, new display tech has nothing to do with repairability. As for thinness, you can still design a computer that is thinner but allow for upgrades. Back in the day you could upgrade the ram and storage of the iMac. I'm sure those brilliant designers at Apple could figure a way if it was important to them

 

[Samuelsan2001]

You have a choice a gap between the glass and the screen and a much worse viewing experience (and the likelihood of ruining the LCD when replacing the glass anyway this was a very fiddly job that often ended up with the whole thing being replaced anyway) and the best viewing experience available on an all in one computer with very low glare for a glossy screen (bonding is a huge part of this along with the antiglare coating) the best colour gamut around and the only 5k computer you can buy.

Apple chose the better quality option that comes with the compromise of it all being bonded together. If you don't like it only buy 5 year old or over monitors simple as that.

 

[G.McGilli]

Tell us what Apple says it will cost, and what it will need to do to get you back working again...

 

[chscag]

Friend of mine was quoted ~$600.00 by Apple to change out the display on his 2012 21.5" iMac with a cracked glass. Doing the same by Apple on a 27" retina model will likely cost even more.

 

[NY Guitarist]

Tell us what Apple says it will cost, and what it will need to do to get you back working again...

When, or if, I do this I'll report back. May just throw it on CL for cheap and get something else.

2014 iMac 27" Retina, 1TB Fusion, 32GB ram. Screen is cracked in top right corner, doesn't go into viewable area too far, but it looks like hell.

What do you all think this is worth?
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Apple chose the better quality option that comes with the compromise of it all being bonded together. If you don't like it only buy 5 year old or over monitors simple as that.

This isn't about old vs new tech. Apple extended the glass to the edge to give the false impression that the picture does too, when the reality is the bezel is glass! Except tap the damn glass on the corner and watch it crack across the screen. More appearance over function, like the fake speaker grilles on the MacBooks. A thin bezel would be fine and likely have saved the display.

Also, I won't buy old tech, thats why I won't buy the 4 year old nMP.

 

[9917282]

A thin bezel would be fine and likely have saved the display.

A "thin" bezel would not be fine at all. How would look the iMac with that "thin" bezel when we already have the aluminum one in the bottom?

 

[Samuelsan2001]

When, or if, I do this I'll report back. May just throw it on CL for cheap and get something else.

2014 iMac 27" Retina, 1TB Fusion, 32GB ram. Screen is cracked in top right corner, doesn't go into viewable area too far, but it looks like hell.

What do you all think this is worth?
[doublepost=1490586915][/doublepost]

This isn't about old vs new tech. Apple extended the glass to the edge to give the false impression that the picture does too, when the reality is the bezel is glass! Except tap the damn glass on the corner and watch it crack across the screen. More appearance over function, like the fake speaker grilles on the MacBooks. A thin bezel would be fine and likely have saved the display.

Also, I won't buy old tech, thats why I won't buy the 4 year old nMP.

Why would a thin bezel have saved the display?? This makes no sense? The display is bonded to the glass, this is one of the engineering solutions used to combat glare and other issues with displays wether it was a thin bezel or not a damaged glass will need a replacement display.

That is the nature of the beast, it was well publicised when it was released and was attributed to many display improvements. If you did not do your research, did not consider what would happen if it got broken when you bought it then you have no one to blame but yourself, if you ended up with a computer that has this as part of its design.

Apple never hid this information indeed it was a big part of their keynote when the original thin iMacs were announced in late 2012, how the bonded display was making them a much better viewing platform.

Appearance over function?? For a display?? The appearance is the function!! it's a display!! the clue is in the name. I get that you are mad that you have to replace the whole panel but that is what you bought, the information was all there and you made that choice when you bought the computer, no point whinging about it now!!

 

[NY Guitarist]

Why would a thin bezel have saved the display?? This makes no sense? The display is bonded to the glass, this is one of the engineering solutions used to combat glare and other issues with displays wether it was a thin bezel or not a damaged glass will need a replacement display.

BS. The iMac display has a stupid amount of reflectiveness and resultant glare. The glass runs to all the way to the edge purely for cosmetic reasons, which I appreciate, yet makes the display vulnerable to being easily damaged.

If you did not do your research, did not consider what would happen if it got broken when you bought it then you have no one to blame but yourself, if you ended up with a computer that has this as part of its design.

Again, total BS. This information was not advertised on Apple's website, so get off your high horse.

Appearance over function?? For a display?? The appearance is the function!!

I totally disagree. The glass running to the edge is purely cosmetic, again which I appreciate, but it's adds NO functionality. It looks nice but creates a situation where a simple tap cracks the screen.

As I've posted I take responsibility for bumping the screen, am still shocked at how a light tap on the corner cracked the display, am critical over the glass being so vulnerable for such a fragile part, but even more shocked at the cost of repair.

From now on I'll stick with computers and separate displays.

 

[komatsu]

As I've posted I take responsibility for bumping the screen, am still shocked at how a light tap on the corner cracked the display

This extreme fragility has crept into a lot of IT products - esp. in the last 2 years. And its not just Apple, about 1 month ago a fairly lightweight book fell on an open CD tray of a Dell Inspiron Desktop - tray physically broke and the ribbon cable (very thin ribbon) snapped. Never seen anything like it before! You only have to look at these some "hard"-ware these days and it breaks!

 

[EnderBeta]

People call for new display tech, higher resolutions, better viewing angles, and thinner hardware.

They get it, then complain that it's not serviceable enough, too hard to DIY repair, and too expensive to pay for a repair on.

But now, if Apple goes back to a thicker display panel, goes back to an air gap, and makes the iMac thicker, you same lot will piss and moan about how it's a step backward and terrible. See the new, cheap iPad for reference.

It's not the same people complaining.

Plus an iOS device has never in my mind been serviceable.

I think maybe if Apple stuck to the monitor on the iMac the way it is now but used strong magnets or some kind of locking mechanism that can be unlatched like the nMP then at least for me complaints about it being a pain to work on the iMac would subside a lot.
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When, or if, I do this I'll report back. May just throw it on CL for cheap and get something else.

2014 iMac 27" Retina, 1TB Fusion, 32GB ram. Screen is cracked in top right corner, doesn't go into viewable area too far, but it looks like hell.

What do you all think this is worth?

Here is a listing that ended recently where the machine was from what I can tell maxed out at a low amount of $1000. Here is another that sold for over twice that. So if your machine is maxed out and the screen wasn't damaged I would say a safe estimate of the value would be $1,600. However not knowing what CPU and GPU your machine has it's possible the machine is worth less.

Now for the bad news. The part alone on eBay is $540. Time and effort to fix the device easily knocks off a couple hundred dollars of the value in addition to the cost of the part. My estimate is that with a damaged screen your iMac is worth maybe $800 - $900.