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11/30/2007, 6:00pm, EST

Friday, November 30th

iMac LCD screens failing en masse

A growing number of users are reporting an issue where iMac LCD screens are failing, showing a number of artifacts that include single-pixel lines spanning the length of the screen. An Apple Discussions thread regarding the issue has so far gained more than 80 posts, with the following case being typical: "It started out a 1 pink line, Then about 2 weeks later another 2 lines appeared. Every now and then when I start up they are gone but seem to fade in after about 5 minutes." Some users are reporting the progressive appearance of 50 lines or more.

Early indicators are that this is an issue with the display itself not the video card, as users have hooked the affected iMacs up to other displays which do not show the problem. iMacs that show this issue are generally falling into the following serial number range: W860****U2N.

A petition requesting that Apple address the issue has been established, with the organizers stating "We, the undersigned, request that Apple Inc. officially acknowledge and address the defect in their LCD Displays. The defect causes vertical lines (cyan/yellow/pink) to appear cutting through the screen and multiplying as time goes by. Unfortunately, the problem starts to appear right after the end of the one year warranty. This problem has been filling up the Apple's online discussion forum and with no possible solution. We are the loyal Apple fans and would love to see Apple show its appreciation by stepping up to this issue."



Users who take their iMacs in for service at the Apple Store are being quoted prices of more than $700.

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Had similar issue
0
11/30, 7:26pm, EST
With my PowerBook G4 17" last year, they ended up replacing the entire top assembly (under AppleCare). Since my Intel iMac's serial number ends with U2N, I'm glad I have AppleCare on it as well.

Right now, it sounds like everyone's doing the right thing... taking them in, getting them looked at and logged, and banding together. If it truly is a widespread issue, Apple will address it.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Apr 2000
User is offline
AppleCare
-1
11/30, 9:33pm, EST
Who cares about lines if you have AppleCare? Oh, you don't, then "so sorry". Buy the 3-year plan. Sell your machine at the 2.5 year mark. No worries.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Apr 2002
User is offline
Apple the new Dell
0
12/01, 1:20am, EST
I am so glad to be with HP, I switched from Mac to Vista Ultimate... All companies have bad products but Apple is the most arrogant of them all. Yep those I'm a Mac and I'm a PC look like the lies they are. How Apple could allow this to build until it gets nasty is beyond me. Every week Apple faces another class action suite and they always at first respond with outrage to the idea that these loyal customers should be helped. Stop buying Apple Inc computers... they no longer make computers that are more than trinkets.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined May 2007
User is offline
Apple fixed mine FOC
0
12/01, 6:57am, EST
Ouch! I've just had exactly the same problem with my iMac CD - the screen failed 2 months out of warranty.

Its ironic that it started with a single line for me in EXACTLY the same place as in the pic and then added an extra dead line each week.

Apple replaced mine FOC as it had been into a store for repair a few weeks earlier. Needless to say anything that isn't user serviceable needs warranty cover and now I have Applecare on all new Macs.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2006
User is offline
Humm,
0
12/01, 9:59am, EST
That picture doesn't look like an iMac to me.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2003
User is offline
Oh,
0
12/01, 10:00am, EST
the old, white ones ;-)
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2003
User is offline
Dell fixed theirs
0
12/01, 10:50am, EST
It appears Dell had similar problems with some of their computers using the same LCD components (from LG). However, Dell repaired those screens out of warranty at no cost to the consumer. I can understand not fixing something that is just caused by the regular wear and tear on the machine, but this is caused by faulty components and should be replaced free of charge, IMO. (My roommate is victim to one of these 17" iMacs and has 8 lines on his screen last time I checked.)

http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/06/19/17774.aspx
macnn writer is stupid.
-3
12/01, 12:17pm, EST
"Failing en masse?" That is total crap. First of all, this issue affects only a few of the 17" white imac core duos that were made almost 2 years ago. All electronic components will fail at some point. Apple has a one year warranty and allows you to extend it by 2 years at a nominal cost. So, your computer failed after the warranty expired. BFD. And the writer of this macnn piece is just trying to create a story where there is none. By using a ridiculous title, he is implying that the current imacs are failing "en masse" or that Apple is somehow designing their computers to fail right after the warranty expires. Whoever the writer is, he should be ashamed of himself. So many pitiful and idiotic writers on the web, it is amazing.
Faulty hardware
0
12/02, 3:09am, EST
At work, I've had two Dell 19 inch monitors fail with the same symptoms. A call to support and some basic troubleshooting to confirm that it was, in fact, hardware failure, led to a quick replacement with no questions asked.

If it is happening within warranty period, it should be replaced by Apple without question.
Mac Elite
Joined May 2001
User is offline
Ditto
0
12/02, 6:33am, EST
My uncles machine that I sold him has the same problem, same serial number range etc etc etc. Lets hope for an extended repair policy on this fault outside of warranty. The bloody eMacs and the noisy MDD G4 and the iMac G5 leaky capacitors and many other machines have received extended warranty for specific issues. Apple is pretty good historically. Lets give them a chance - the warranties are only now running out.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Sep 2004
User is offline
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