gidnitacs

Q: Vertical line issue - How can we get Apple to address this?

Hi guys,

As can be seen in this forum (and a lot of other forums, as well), a lot of people are experiencing this problem on their 17" iMac G5 with iSight. Here are some pertinent details (which may be familiar to a lot of people but can be a primer for those who are just starting to experience the problem):

1. For most of us, these lines started appearing between 13-15 months after they purchased them. The lucky ones either had these failures occur during the first 12 months, or had APP.

2. The majority of these units can be traced to the Shanghai factory W8 (enter your S/N in this website to get the manufacturing information of your unit: http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html).

3. A similar issue occurred (or is occurring) with 17" PBs. From what I have read on the Apple PB forums, it seems that this has been a long standing issue and Apple has SUPPOSEDLY attempted to censor some of the posts discussing this. Note that these units can also be traced back to the same Shanghai factory.

4. The "iMac G5 Repair Extension Program for Video and Power Issues" which certain people have always been referring users to on posts discussing this type of problem obviously refers to a totally different issue (http://www.apple.com/support/imac/repairextensionprogram/) and is applicable only to first gen iMac G5s. I'm sure that everyone appreciates it but, at this point, it is quite clear that it is not the solution to our problem.

5. Based on the number of posts discussing this very same problem in the Apple forums, it is pretty obvious that these are not isolated issues. There are too many similarities (time of failure, how the numbers of line increase over time, manufacturing source, etc.)

6. Some people have suggested that unstable power sources may be the primary cause of the problem. However, based on the locations of the people with these problems who have posted in this forum, it seems unlikely. From what I can see, the problem happens whether you are from a highly industrialized country (where a stable power source can be expected) or a developing country (where power sources MAY be more unstable).

7. Apple has typically responded (to anyone who has taken the time to write or have their iMacs inspected) that this is not a known manufacturing defect issue. As such, the cost to repair this problem, which can go up to USD 500, will have to be borne by the owner.

8. Based on posts of some people who have had their units repaired, it is the LCD that has to be replaced. This is also supported by posts from people who have resorted to purchase a separate display as a workaround.

Now, the question is, *how do we get Apple to address this issue*? Do we all start writing Steve Jobs about it? Do we go to the press? Should we put up a website and Digg it to death? A spoof video on YouTube? MySpace? Or will we just suffer in silence? Suggestions anyone?

P.S. Suggestions that involve any sort of violence or industrial sabotage are not acceptable, please.

Note that Ale_Tog has put up a Flickr page where we can post photos of our poor iMacs. Just send the photo to ale_tog@hotmail.com with the subject "Dead pixels on iMac". No text, just the photo attachment. (+Ale_Tog, if you read this, I hope you don't mind me posting this here. Also, I suggest that we at least put the first 5 chars of the serial number, the factory information which can be retrieved on the link in #2 above, and which country the unit is based.+). I highly recommend that everyone send a photo to show that these are not isolated issues.

To get an idea on how many people are experiencing this problem, here are a list of posts in these forums, as well as others, discussing this issue (feel free to add to this):
http://i7.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/b2/75/2e8d_1.JPG
http://i16.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/b2/75/2ee5_1.JPG
http://i12.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/b2/75/2faf_1.JPG
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=974094
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5146382&tstart=0
http://www.macusersg.org/forums/index.php?topic=40998.0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=607522&tstart=180
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=463075&tstart=270
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=197560&tstart=360 (this is about dead pixels, but one person reported a whole line)
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=292889&tstart=390
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=293895&tstart=390
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=279138&tstart=420
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=197630&tstart=465
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=197745&tstart=510
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=197741&tstart=510
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=197641&tstart=585
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4227335&#4227335
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=976574&#976574
http://discussions.apple.com/messageview.jspa?messageID=4369582&stqc=true
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=778470&tstart=0

Please start sending your suggestions. The more the many-ier!

17" iMac G5 1.9ghz with iSight, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Sep 23, 2007 5:56 AM

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Q: Vertical line issue - How can we get Apple to address this?

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  • by Cathy Dillon,

    Cathy Dillon Cathy Dillon Dec 11, 2010 8:56 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 11, 2010 8:56 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Hi am so happy to realize that I am not the only one with vertical lines appearing- and it's not my fault!! and yes I have 3 on the right side of the screen and several others spread further apart. My imac G5 was new Feb 2006..... so maybe coming up on 5 years is about the limit. Sadly I never have enough money to enjoy a new computer purchase - it is always some level of crisis.
  • by John Cooney,

    John Cooney John Cooney Dec 19, 2010 4:01 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 19, 2010 4:01 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Have read this with great interest as my iMac G5 has the same problem - now on about 30 vertical lines and counting.

    A quick question for anyone out there re the issue of the factory it was made in. My serial number begins 3U6090 and was apparently made in the 3U factory in March 2006. Anyone else with the same problem whose machine came from the 3U factory?

    And if so, has anyone with a 3U machine had any success getting it repaired for free?

    Have to say, I've been using Apple machines for about 10 years now and am increasingly disappointed with the build quality. Have an Intel MBP which has needed two major repairs in less than two years. Ho hum.

    John

    Message was edited by: John Cooney
  • by rafa1215,

    rafa1215 rafa1215 Dec 25, 2010 9:06 PM in response to Jon Stein
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2010 9:06 PM in response to Jon Stein
    This campaign to fix the display works. Just be nice and not defensive when you talk to the folks at the Genius Bar. Some of them know of this campaign and some do not. If the Genius doesn't know what to type in the work order just show them this post. I got my LCD display replaced at no cost to me. The Genius did AppleShift3. Double clicked the newly created icon on the desktop. Grabbed the preview window and moved it to the left. Thus showing the entire screen shot of the desktop move to the left. He was afraid that it might of been a logic board or video card problem. No, it was just a defective display. If it was the other then I would of been on my own.

    My work order said this verbatim

    Issue: Unit presents itself with vertical bands on the display. The left side of the screen is black. Took a screen shot of the issue and it is not present in the picture ruling out of the GPU

    Steps to reproduce: Boot unit to desktop and observe

    Proposed Resolution: Replace display under EM80 Campaign
  • by Ameri-Swede,

    Ameri-Swede Ameri-Swede Dec 27, 2010 7:08 AM in response to Ameri-Swede
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2010 7:08 AM in response to Ameri-Swede
    Earlier had posted that the smc fan control, plus not allowing my computer to go to sleep mode resulted in my vertical lines disappearance.

    Sad to say, I now have 3 more lines that have shown up in other places, all to the right-of-center of the screen.

    I'll be contacting the nearest Apple repair center to see if they can locate that free Apple program that some say is there, but which most Apple representatives either deny or won't look up.
  • by nocr,

    nocr nocr Dec 30, 2010 10:11 PM in response to Ameri-Swede
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 30, 2010 10:11 PM in response to Ameri-Swede
    Ameri-Swede wrote:
    Earlier had posted that the smc fan control, plus not allowing my computer to go to sleep mode resulted in my vertical lines disappearance.

    Sad to say, I now have 3 more lines that have shown up in other places, all to the right-of-center of the screen.

    I'll be contacting the nearest Apple repair center to see if they can locate that free Apple program that some say is there, but which most Apple representatives either deny or won't look up.


    Tell them its the EM80 Campaign
  • by TaylorTod,

    TaylorTod TaylorTod Dec 30, 2010 10:12 PM in response to Ameri-Swede
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2010 10:12 PM in response to Ameri-Swede
    Hey Guys i just got my Imac fixed today for free.Call them and tell them about the lines and remember to cite this thread.They'll ask you to take a screen shot.The picture in the screen shot will not be affected by the lines.
  • by Ameri-Swede,

    Ameri-Swede Ameri-Swede Dec 31, 2010 8:49 AM in response to TaylorTod
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 31, 2010 8:49 AM in response to TaylorTod
    Thank you for the advice, TaylorTod! Very helpful to have the "EM80 campaign" campaign language to use with the authorized Apple repair shop.
  • by TaylorTod,

    TaylorTod TaylorTod Jan 1, 2011 4:26 AM in response to Ameri-Swede
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 1, 2011 4:26 AM in response to Ameri-Swede
    No problem.They told me they would get mine fixed in 3-4 days time.I wonder if the Lines would appear again after the repair.
  • by Robert Gendernalik,

    Robert Gendernalik Robert Gendernalik Jan 1, 2011 3:23 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 1, 2011 3:23 PM in response to gidnitacs
    As further discussion regarding vertical lines, my iMAC started this about a year ago and has progressed so far now that the entire screen is vertical lines and the desktop is no longer visible. My local Apple authorized repair center advised that the problem was with the LCD and needed replacement.....BS.. on an mac that was at the time less than 1.5 years old?

    APPLE DEAL WITH IT PLEASE
  • by Christopher_W,

    Christopher_W Christopher_W Jan 4, 2011 6:40 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 4, 2011 6:40 AM in response to gidnitacs
    I also have been experiencing this problem, yet it only began as of about two months ago, gradually progressing all over my display. My model is a late 06', 17" Core 2 Duo model (not one of the infamous G5 models), out of warranty. This machine is my professional life. I contacted Apple by phone, to see if any options were available. I spoke to one of the people on the support line, and discussed my issue, he switched me over to his supervisor, after remaining on the line for about 10 minutes, he came back and said he would add a one time extension to the warranty to fix the LCD issue free of charge, and even set up an appointment with my local Genius Bar (Green Hills, Nashville, USA for repair, I go in next Sunday.

    In closing, I urge everyone to contact Apple as soon as you run into any problems. I am a loyal mac user and have been for quite some time (Performa 475 era), and am still satisfied with their service and products. IMHO they need to shut down the W8 plant, there have been too many mishaps at that location.

    Thank You.
    CW
  • by deemer76,

    deemer76 deemer76 Jan 10, 2011 9:24 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 10, 2011 9:24 AM in response to gidnitacs
    I'm wondering: For the people who've had their screen swapped, have you all been line-free since. I know some months back (on this or a related thread), posters had mentioned the lines had come back within a few days or a month or so. I'm curious if Apple's screen repairs lately have been successful...
  • by MacDreamMini,

    MacDreamMini MacDreamMini Jan 10, 2011 5:23 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 10, 2011 5:23 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Wow!
    I paid top dollar for this iMac 27"
    and just a month latter the monitor is useless!

    A band made of a cluster of purple lines: http://grab.by/8j2X

    Now I have to stop my work while Apple takes its time to repair.

    Completely UNFAIR.
  • by Bearpaws9,

    Bearpaws9 Bearpaws9 Jan 24, 2011 11:04 PM in response to Christopher_W
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 24, 2011 11:04 PM in response to Christopher_W
    I have these multi-colored vertical lines as well, and hope Apple will cover the repair. My machine is 7 years old, but if it's a factory defect, I think they should fix it regardless. My serial # starts with W8606XXXXXX, and there's a number that shows where it was assembled, in my case, China, EMC # 2104.

    There's only one Apple store in KY, that I know of, it's a 150 mile round trip for me. But that's ok, if they'll repair this free of charge.

    I had no idea what the problem was, I've been looking for solutions for a long time. I started a couple of threads about it, and none of the suggestions were of any use. Then I found this thread, and found out what the real problem is, so I'm very grateful to the OP, and everybody who posted more info. Thanks, folks!
  • by EnglishmanAbroad,

    EnglishmanAbroad EnglishmanAbroad Jan 26, 2011 11:50 AM in response to Christopher_W
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 26, 2011 11:50 AM in response to Christopher_W
    Our iMac was purchased in the UK in late 2006, serial number starts CK63, while my wife was studying there. The lines started to appear about 6 months after the original warranty had expired so I just connected up an external monitor, not pretty but it worked.

    We moved back to Tucson AZ in July 2010 and by that time the screen was covered with lines in multiple colours. After finding this thread I took it into the Apple Store here last Friday, 21st Jan and after two genius bar appointments they have duly replaced the screen at no cost. Picked up the computer today and everything looks great.
  • by bitter apple,

    bitter apple bitter apple Jan 27, 2011 8:15 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 27, 2011 8:15 AM in response to gidnitacs
    It started with the "iMac G5 Repair Extension Program for Video and Power Issues" which they fixed-this happened apprx. 2007 (my computer is from 2005). About a yr ago it started acting up, first the web cam didn't work, and then the lines started showing up. color lines and then checkered design, I would install the CD's that came with the computer and it would go back to work, but after installing the disk maybe for a year and 20x. It finally stop working all together. I looks like it could be the logic board. I called the store today and they said my computer is a "Vintage" I can't even bring it to the store they gave a phone number for some other company. She said they don't even have the parts for this "Vintage computer"
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