I hooked up my new 24" aluminum iMac and after about an hour of using it, a 1" x 3" strip of condensation gradually appeared in the lower right portion of the screen behind the glass. Anyone else see this?
I started having the same problem when I move my IMAC to our vacation home in MA. There is no A/C at the house, but it gets cold at night, and we often leave the computer off for 2-3 weeks. I noticed an impressive fogging that filled about 1/3 of the screen and disappeared approximately 1 hour later. I think the explanation of what is happening is fairly simple since I never had this problem when we left the computer on or were in a different environment. Condensation forms when humid air (water that is in the gas phase) becomes cool and turns into liquid. That is why you get condensation on your car window in the winter or why a cold Coke can gets condensation in the summer when you take it outside. The gaseous water is cooled and it becomes a liquid, forming condensation. So what happens in the IMAC is that the computer is cold and then warms up. The air inside the computer has water inside it that hits the glass, which is colder than the inside of the IMAC. The gradient causes the water to liquify on the glass. So, is it really an environmental problem? NO, NO, NO. Any manufacturer should take into consideration the likely environments that the product will be used and design accordingly. In this case, Apple has let form exceed function. In some real world situations, the IMACs will have condensation because a gradient exists between the temperature inside the IMAC and the temperature of the glass. I have not tried this, but it would make sense that heating the glass gently with a hair dryer or with a heating could prevent this problem. As long as the glass is as hot or hotter than the inside of the IMAC, the condensation should not occur. Is this ridiculous for a $2000 machine? Yes. Is it likely to work? Yes. Also, a cover for the screen when it is not going to be used may also solve the problem somewhat, although not as likely as the first solution. Nonetheless, Apple should acknowledge this design flaw and offer realistic solutions.
I started having the same problem when I moved my IMAC to our vacation home in MA. There is no A/C at the house, but it gets cold at night, and we often leave the computer off for 2-3 weeks. I noticed an impressive fogging that filled about 1/3 of the screen and disappeared approximately 1 hour later. I think the explanation of what is happening is fairly simple since I never had this problem when we left the computer on or were in a different environment. Condensation forms when humid air (water that is in the gas phase) becomes cool and turns into liquid. That is why you get condensation on your car window in the winter or why a cold Coke can gets condensation in the summer when you take it outside. The gaseous water is cooled and it becomes a liquid, forming condensation. So what happens in the IMAC is that the computer is cold and then warms up. The air inside the computer has water inside it that hits the glass, which is colder than the inside of the IMAC. The gradient causes the water to liquify on the glass. So, is it really an environmental problem? NO, NO, NO. Any manufacturer should take into consideration the likely environments that the product will be used and design accordingly. In this case, Apple has let form exceed function. In some real world situations, the IMACs will have condensation because a gradient exists between the temperature inside the IMAC and the temperature of the glass. I have not tried this, but it would make sense that heating the glass gently with a hair dryer or with a heating pad could prevent this problem. As long as the glass is as hot or hotter than the inside of the IMAC, the condensation should not occur. Is this ridiculous for a $2000 machine? Yes. Is it likely to work? Yes. Also, a cover for the screen when it is not going to be used may also solve the problem somewhat, although not as likely as the first solution. Nonetheless, Apple should acknowledge this design flaw and offer realistic solutions.
Count me in on this latest defect. As a Mac bigot I am very annoyed that now the new iMac 24 has this defect in the screen. Never saw any monitor or other computer show this kind of condensation.
This is just another in a series of events showing poor Apple manufacturing quality in recent years. Slicker looks, shoddier quality.
MacBook Pro 17 had to have defective motherboard replaced. New iPhone 3GS had the screen of death. Previous PowerBook G4 17" had defective motherboard replaced. EVERY Apple device I've bought in recent years has had to go back for repairs.
Taking a laptop or walking in with an iPhone to show Apple store people is one thing, lugging an iMac 24 is a hassle that I am doubly annoyed at contemplating. Here we make fun of Dells and HPs (well, at least I do) and look at what Apple's quality standards are coming to. Very disappointing.
No surprise there since the new cinema display has the same design flaw--an unsealed sheet of glass floating over the screen. Are you listening, Apple? Ditch the glass!
Just took purchase of 52 24" iMac's. Many of them have far more condensation than just 3" x 1". There is a large "V" shaped condensation patch forming from the bottom of the screen more than half-way up forming an upside down triangle of condensation in the middle of the screen. Should be fixed or replaced. I was told by Apple rep. this might be a seal issue.
Just tried the hair drier trick - moisture vanished instantly. Made me think, and perhaps this has been mentioed before - pardon me not reading through 30 + pages of the same accounts...
How apple could solve potentially - vent some of the exhaust head from the cpus / graphics cards between the airspace of the screen and glass panel. It may result in potential slight dust build up on the inner surface of the glass, but would certainly address the heat differential and reduce the condensation effect.
