Bought new iMac 20" Faded Screen

However, it looks like the old 17" was a 6-bit TN. So I don't feel as mad at Apple as I might have if the old 17" was 8-bit. As I said before...

low-end iMac: 6-bit (17" then, 20" now)
high end iMac: 8-bit (20" then, 24" now)

Yes, I'm ignoring the time when there were three sizes.

That said, there are TNs from other manufacturers that don't exhibit these problems, or at least to this degree. And there are 24" LCDs that don't have the 24" iMac's side-to-side problem. So even giving Apple the benefit of the doubt on going to TN on the 20" model, the screen problems with the new iMacs need to be addressed. Hopefully, with enough complaints, Apple will do something. At the very least, let's hope they address these issues with the next versions of these models.

I returned mine within the 14-days to the Apple Store and was charged the difference
between the 20 and 24 inch iMac. If you are over the 14 days, they will charge you a
restocking fee.

See thats what I was afraid of. At this point I'd rather just get rid of the stupid thing but Its way past the 14 day mark.

...ugh...

I wonder how much of the gradient problem people are seeing is actually a result of viewing angle. I watched the YouTube video on the page you referenced and then did the same thing he did. I then tilted the monitor up as far as it would go relative to my viewing position and the top frame of the bottom finder window became darker. I then stood above the monitor and tilted it downward and the top finder frame looked washed out. Genuinely defective LCD panels notwithstanding, I am inclined to believe that this is more of a problem with viewing angle than a genuine gradient problem.

capaho wrote:
I wonder how much of the gradient problem people are seeing is actually a result of viewing angle.

Not 100% sure, but I +don't think+ my camera moved his head while he was snappin' these pics of my ex.

...denial IS NOT a river in Egypt,

Looby

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http://picasaweb.google.com/TheLooby

20" ALU iMac -- Color Profile: iMac Profile


20" ALU iMac -- Color Profile: Adobe RGB (1998)


20" ALU iMac -- Color Profile: Custom Cal. #1


20" ALU iMac -- Color Profile: Custom Cal. #2

Good pics Looby, they show the problem really well and also shows that the camera is pointing straight ahead and not at an angle. And I think the camera flattened it out a bit, the ones I saw had an even greater shift. I get really ticked off at people saying that it's just the angle. They should go to Best Buy and check out all the non-Apple TN monitors (99% of them) and they won't see this problem, nor would they see that great a difference when looking at an angle, even though all are listed with the same 160 degree viewing angle.

Kevin

I just purchased a brand new 20 inch silver iMac and almost immediately noticed that all images and colors are significantly washed out at the bottom of the screen. Just wondering why Apple is releasing such an obviously defective product from their factory?

Thanks Scott, for this extremely useful information.

Yes, the new 20" iMac uses a TN film-based matrix - I am 120% sure - as I am now onto my second iMac 20" and the display is absolutely unacceptable.

What is odd, is that when viewing the iMac in store the display seems MUCH better than here at home. It is practically unusable. I am now trying to exchange the 20" for the 24" iMac with the reseller.

I really wish that I knew about this before, luckily I can "jump ship" and land safely into the arms of my trusted 20" first generation intel iMac.

Here is a screenshot of my iMac. Please let me know if you can see evidence of a gradient problem.

Is that a screen grab through software or a picture using an external camera? A software grab won't show the problem.

capaho wrote:
Here is a screenshot of my iMac. Please let me know if you can see evidence of a gradient problem.

Are you kidding me? This has got to be some kind of a joke. Seriously, just saying.

That screenshot is an accurate image, it's exactly as it looks to the naked eye.

It passed the eyeball test. I checked the image carefully to make sure it matched the actual screen. I wouldn't have posted it if it weren't an accurate representation of the display.

Here is a screenshot of my iMac. Please let me know if you can see evidence of a gradient problem.

Congratulations!

Your video card's 0's and 1's are of the finest quality -- almost too good for a mere consumer appliance.

...sheesh!

Looby

The interesting thing is that this image looks the same on my Dell PC with a TN panel as it does on the iMac. It's only on my generic PC with a CRT that you can attest to quality of the video card's 0's and 1's.

This raises an interesting question. If you use a display that has a gradient problem to view a photo posted on the web of a display that does not have a gradient problem, will the photograph appear to show a gradient problem?