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Apple acknowledges MacBook graphics glitches

updated 12:05 pm EDT, Mon April 14, 2008

Apple admits MacBook bugs

The latest Apple MacBooks are suffering from serious graphical issues, according to widespread reports. Both the basic MacBook and the MacBook Pro are said to be suffering from instances of visual corruption, in which text duplicates, documents fail to scroll completely, or animations and videos flicker; the last problem seems to primarily affect Flash or Quicktime clips viewed in a web browser. Critically, the issue appears to be independent of graphics hardware, given that basic MacBooks use integrated Intel chips while Pros use GeForce 8600M GT cards by NVIDIA.

Some notebook owners claim that the issue may be connected to the Leopard Graphics update, which was released around the same time as Mac OS X 10.5.2. This is unconfirmed however, and other users say that the problem has continued despite restoring their systems to factory defaults. Installing the developer build of Mac OS X 10.5.3 can allegedly alleviate the problem, but not entirely.

Apple has officially acknowledged the problem, but does not currently have a fix. "Apple has received reports similar to the behavior you are describing and we are investigating those reports," a message from the company states. "Further information will come in the form of a Knowledge Base article, Software Update, or Software Release."

 
Previous Comments

yow

04/14, 12:36pm reply

wow that kinda sucks. But at least Apple is dealing with it straight up, rather than pointing the finger somewhere else like some other companies are notorious for. This is the advantage of buying the computer from the company which made the machine as well as the OS.

climacs

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

0

"ackownledges"

04/14, 12:36pm reply

typo!

climacs

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

0

s**** that!

04/14, 12:52pm reply

Im still waiting for a fix for my DVD player in my G4 Powerbook. That last set up updates (and I think it was the graphic update) killed DVD play back with apples DVD player. And a lot of Powerbook G4 users have reported the same thing to Apple over a month ago.

Athens

Addicted to MacNN

Joined: Jan 2003

0

for once...

04/14, 01:16pm reply

I bought one of the previous generation MacBooks as a refurb from the Applestore only to see the new ones come out about two weeks later. I was bummed for about a millisecond (well, maybe slightly longer) until I saw that the performance stats (due to less cache) and the absence of a remote combined with the numerous teething problems that have emerged with the new platform. For once, it seems that not only have I not been caught out by Apple's fiendish marketing machine, but I am actually better off. Hooray! Of course, this is cold comfort for those getting caught and rather than being the third gen of an existing platform (which would normally have most of the bugs winkled out), it is most definitely the first generation of something else. Sorry to say that, as experience has taught most of us, one should never buy the first version of anything from Apple (or anybody else!).

Feathers

Forum Regular

Joined: Oct 1999

0

not only text

04/14, 03:39pm reply

The updates broke other things too. Connect the MBP to an external monitor using the DVI connector. Close the lid after working and then take the connector out. Let the MBP sleep and later when you open the lid the screen does not come up. you can ssh or share etc. Everything but use the monitor. Kind of funny. It really gets frustrating. I a corporate environment it get all more difficult as we keep connecting to various projectors and move meeting rooms. Not good.

macnixer

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2006

0

circular

04/14, 03:45pm reply

> This is the advantage of buying the computer from the company which made the machine as well as the OS.

It's not much of an advantage - knowing that it is Apple that is at fault for your Apple computer not working.

deVilliers

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2007

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Amusing

04/14, 05:23pm reply

Does anyone else find it sadly amusing that the crappier Macintosh products get the more popular they become? I've long held the suspicion that about 90% of the population can't distinguish quality differences in most things. And, I'm trying to make a distinction here between subjective quality (which music is good) and objective quality (which popular singers have good pitch and which don't). I'm talking about a real inability to look at a quality product next to a a crappy product and tell the difference. Differences in fit, difference in the quality of the materials used to make the product, and so on. In terms of Apple systems, for quite a while all of them were pretty well made, had reasonably high-quality components, etc, and yet were not terribly popular. Now they are suddenly gaining popularity, but at the same time many of the models are of notably lesser quality than in the past. Glossy 6-bit screens, no real 3D capabilities, cheap discoloring plastics, overheating video cards... None of these are good signs for the long-term quality of our beloved Macs.

panjandrum

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Joined: Dec 2004

0

Re: yow

04/14, 10:21pm reply

But at least Apple is dealing with it straight up, rather than pointing the finger somewhere else like some other companies are notorious for. This is the advantage of buying the computer from the company which made the machine as well as the OS.

Yeah, the advantage is you know who's at fault. But the difference here is that this must either be a really bad problem, or it's a software issue. Otherwise Apple never would claim to have knowledge of a problem. Most of the time, Apple pretends there is no problem (despite all the reports to the contrary, they won't admit issues with PPC G5s, esp the ones with liquid cooling).

testudo

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

oh god

04/15, 07:17pm reply

As usual, you don't have a clue testudo.

syzygi

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2008

0

Actionable info.

04/16, 04:30am reply

If anyone is having this issue, please email brent07@macsavants.com

I'm compiling information about how and how often this issue occurs.

Eccent

Junior Member

Joined: Dec 1999

0

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