gidnitacs
Level 1 (0 points)

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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gidnitacs

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

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  • by stompy p,

    stompy p stompy p Nov 27, 2007 10:35 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 27, 2007 10:35 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Vertical Lines on My iMac ;-( Doesn't look so pretty with them.

    Apple has a service program for (now at least) earlier iMac G5's within a specific Serial # range. Here is a link to see if yours qualifies....
    http://www.apple.com/uk/support/exchange_repair/imac.html

    Otherwise, I suggest a call into Apple and make a formal complaint and get a case #. Yours isn't an isolated case. If this particular issue is reported enough times then Apple would be foolish not to extend the service program to cover all iMacs that are faulty or defective.

    Asking customers to pay for expensive repairs to faulty parts just a little time out of the standard warranty is not good for their business. They need to step up and sort this out.

    Apple Customer Support...Be sure to get a case #
    http://www.apple.com/support/contact/

  • by gidnitacs,

    gidnitacs gidnitacs Dec 9, 2007 11:32 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2007 11:32 PM in response to gidnitacs
    For those interested. Here's a link to a photo of my unfortunate iMac.

    http://bp0.blogger.com/L3q6vr3_Fss/R0jB-T5pX6I/AAAAAAAAABs/xiEIJ4QgrPc/s1600-h/IMG2301ed.jpg

  • by CBM40,

    CBM40 CBM40 Dec 9, 2007 11:55 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 9, 2007 11:55 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Heard that in asia (or at least in Singapore), the service centers do not have any stock of the LCD display for the iMac.

    I just asked today the service center how much it would cost (double the US price) and how long it would take to order the LCD and they said they're not sure because it's been out of stock since May this year! So even if one has the 3-yr extended warranty, it would still be a long wait until you get your unit back.

    Update >> My iMac now has another 2-in thick group of vertical lines left of center, in addition to the 2.5 in wide vertical blotch on the right side. My workable space has been reduced to like 8 inches wide

    Probably much better to buy an external LCD screen and treat my iMac like a mac mini

  • by gidnitacs,

    gidnitacs gidnitacs Dec 10, 2007 12:39 AM in response to CBM40
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 10, 2007 12:39 AM in response to CBM40
    well, at least you have a pretty wide workable space. my lines are spread apart so it's pretty difficult when i'm editing photos.

    yeah, i'm currently shopping around for an external lcd. was thinking of getting a 22", but since the native res is higher, sharpness might be an issue. so i think i'll stick to a 19".

    problem is i need one that's pretty good in terms of color accuracy. any recommendations? brands available here in the philippines are acer, asus, viewsonic, mag, lg, samsung, hanns-sg (or something like that), hp. haven't seen nec here, which is too bad, cos they consistently score high on color accuracy on online reviews.

    btw, i've read that the issue with the vertical lines are also starting to come out on the intel 17" AND 20" imacs. here's a link: http://forum.hardmac.com/index.php?s=7f9709207a4ab471c8e2d6a648b9fc5f&showtopic= 2772&pid=6333&st=0&#entry6333.

  • by tintinlad,

    tintinlad tintinlad Dec 10, 2007 10:28 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Dec 10, 2007 10:28 PM in response to gidnitacs
    I read somewhere that some Imacs 17 inches Isights cannot use an external monitor because there is only port for video out which gives only tv quality. Could this be true?

  • by gidnitacs,

    gidnitacs gidnitacs Dec 10, 2007 11:01 PM in response to tintinlad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 10, 2007 11:01 PM in response to tintinlad
    based on the specs, it should be able to accommodate an external monitor with the same specs (max of 1440x900). if they're not able to, then i suppose you can claim that apple provided you with an under-spec machine.

  • by fabis,

    fabis fabis Dec 11, 2007 10:12 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 11, 2007 10:12 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Hi guys,

    I have 2 vertical strips (3cm thicker each) on my iMac G5 screen. After talking to Apple's customer service they just told me nothing could be done for me because my 1 year warranty had expired... and my s/n W8604xxx was not part of the "iMac G5 Repair Extension Program for Video Issues".

    The amazing thing is... my computer has a similar issue recognized and accepted by Apple and the CS person told me that unfortunately my s/n was not part of the list. No way to argue with them... They always try to make fun of Microsoft and Vista in their ads but this is a big joke for me!!!

    If anyone having the same issue and s/n like me, let me know... maybe a bunch of people together could take another avenue to find a solution... a lawsuit?

    Message was edited by: fabis

  • by naknak,

    naknak naknak Dec 13, 2007 1:32 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 13, 2007 1:32 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Same problem in my *iMac Intel (core duo) 17"*, today my first vertical line
    Serial number: W8603xxxxxx

  • by gidnitacs,

    gidnitacs gidnitacs Dec 13, 2007 6:28 PM in response to naknak
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 13, 2007 6:28 PM in response to naknak
    hey naknak,

    just curious. could you try tracing the manufacturing information for your machine at http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html. want to see if it's still manufactured at the same plant in shanghai (w8).

  • by musashi88,

    musashi88 musashi88 Dec 13, 2007 7:09 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 2 (455 points)
    Dec 13, 2007 7:09 PM in response to gidnitacs
    mine's a W8 Shanghai victim too. W8602...so far 2 lines

  • by naknak,

    naknak naknak Dec 13, 2007 10:59 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 13, 2007 10:59 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Yes gidnitac my iMac intel was manufactured in "Factory: W8 (Shanghai China)"

    Message was edited by: naknak

  • by naknak,

    naknak naknak Dec 13, 2007 11:05 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 13, 2007 11:05 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Yes gidnitacs my iMac intel was manufactured in "Factory: W8 (Shanghai China)"

  • by Holly Manfredi,

    Holly Manfredi Holly Manfredi Dec 17, 2007 7:06 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 17, 2007 7:06 AM in response to gidnitacs
    It seems most of these posts refer to first or second generation G5's but I am having the same problem with my third generation G5. I purchased my G5 December 9th 2005 and my first vertical line appeared November 5th 2007. Like another buyer I didn't spend the additional $160 dollars for the extended warranty and am now out of luck regarding repair and am getting the same story regarding the number of owners versus the number of complaints about this problem. Apple offers no turn in policy so we cannot even get one or two hundred dollars for recycling this unit to use toward a new model. I previously owned Gateway and Dell and when it came time to replace my 7 year old Gateway, Apple was very highly recommended to me by friends and relatives who own them. This is my first experience with an Apple and I do love that it is more user friendly but am not impressed with what seems to be Apples lack of concern for this issue.

  • by gidnitacs,

    gidnitacs gidnitacs Dec 17, 2007 2:41 PM in response to Holly Manfredi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 17, 2007 2:41 PM in response to Holly Manfredi
    hi holly, actually, most of them models experiencing the vertical line issue are 3rd gen (the ones with the built-in isight).

  • by zaloita,

    zaloita zaloita Jan 4, 2008 2:42 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 4, 2008 2:42 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Hi!
    Actually, I have the same problem. I own a 17'' iMac G5 built in Cork, 3rd generation also. I bought it in December 2005 and yesterday a vertical yellow line appeared. It's quite disgusting and as long as it's not my fault, I don't think I should pay for a new lcd.
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