dead like black pixel splotches..

I've got this problem too. Just out of warranty about a month ago--is that perfect timing or what? I really wish Apple would create a program to fix this issue, but as it is I'm probably stuck with it.

My guess is that there's a sealing defect in the LCD which allows dust under the screen. My Motorola Q cell phone had this exact same problem, and it was replaced twice no questions asked by Verizon Wireless. It's too bad to see Apple doesn't have the same quality of customer service.

Same problem here. I thought it was dirt and though I never cleaned the screen because I never touched it with fingers and use a foam pad, somehow grease was still managing to transfer from the keys to the screen or something, because I could see the outline of all the keys on the screen in the sunlight. I just have to get a really good cleaner I thought.

I just had it repaired by Apple for something else, and they cleaned the screen and all the key marks are gone. Its perfect.
But I still have these 2 grey smudges about 2 inches out from the centre, and other marks. They don't line up with any particular key and are under the screen, not on it. Its 10 months old. They've been there from about 3 months old and getting worse.

Hi guys, I've had my MBP for about 16 months and same issue. I just got a replacement screen,(which was not cheap to replace) they promised a glossy screen to replace the matte one, (since apparently they were out of them for about 3 wks, and they called me to see if I wouldn't mind a glossy one which I accepted) yet when I picked it up, I got a matte one back. One funny thing, when I picked it up, a report was also given and my 1Gig 3rd party RAM removed (which I had installed when I purchased my MBP) and it was running smoothly without problems before taken it in to apple. They reported that my memory was causing problems, yet I never had a problem. I wonder if the memory was the one to blame for the grey spots and if all they did was remove it and grey spots are gone???? anyone that can share some light to this mistery???? please help... also, does this puts fear on having to use only apple ram???

I'm a web designer, had my screen replaced 4 times. Last replacement was just before Christmas. I too was questioning whether it was physical bruising (even though I have a super protective case -Brenthaven ProLite III ). I decided to leave the MBP in the office after Christmas. 1 month, guess what started to appear and grow again.

All the display's i've had have been low quality. I'm requesting a brand new machine. It's not good enough when showing artwork to a client and they comment on it. Nor is it good enough receiving a screen that when you run windows, artifacts appear because it's not a true 32bit display.

We have another MBP in the office and it doesn't suffer from blotches, but dancing pixels.

I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said, I just want to add my name to those experiencing this problem. My case is not that bad because my splotches are only visible against a black background and only if I turn my backlighting up, which I never do (I always keep it on the lowest setting.) I don't care enough to try to get it fixed yet, I'm just really hoping it doesn't get worse. I also put my computer to sleep and close it during the day, Which I hope doesn't do anything to it. the splotch is near the middle, and I don't see why it would be there if it's caused by heat.

dear friends,

i have got my MBP since 2006 Nov the first machine had 3 changes of LCDs and then they agreed to change to the machine. 2007 March i got a new machine and since then till now i have got 4 LCD change.

i am now contemplating to buy the extended warranty. I have a small black smudge over the left side of my screen. My experience is that if you wait long enough it will be even worse. I intend to bring to the service center and get it fix and when they fixed it I will ask them if the extended warranty will cover future problems with the screen.

However i sense that they might say its my problem since it has repeated so many time in my hands.

Any advise?

Andy
singapore

I have to provide pictures and send them to apple to assess whether they can issue a new replacement.
The only have on record that I have had my display changed twice. :S

So what is the general consensus on repair? I have the 3yr applecare plan and I just noticed a bunch of them today (I always knew of one and ran a dead pixel program today and noticed a bunch more!). If i call AppleCare are they going to give me grief or just replace it? It doesn't bother me greatly as I use an external monitor as my primary but I paid for thisproduct.

*******, Apple has given me so many problems, first a blown left speaker, then broken dvd burner, now this. And then every time I take it to the genius at the store, they act like I don't know what's going on.

same problem, I just want to add a link to a french forum for the problem : http://forums.macgeneration.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=195832

I hope Apple will recognize the problem

just wanted to add myself as someone seeing gray spots/fingerprints spreading through my glossy display. the mbp was originally purchased in 12/06 and a few months ago i started getting the spots on my screen. i've tried cleaning with all recommended procedures and nothing helped. i was relieved yet frustrated to find this thread (and the others) in the forums.

I have the same problem, three clusters of gray spots that look like they are behind the screen. My MBP is out of warranty. i just wanted to leave a record of yet another user that is having problems. I converted to Apple five years ago, and after several problems (screen, drive, optical drive), with my old powerbook and my new MBP, I am not a fan of apple products anymore. their products might be beautiful, but who cares when they are mechanically faulty!

Apple have serious problems with the quality of their displays in their Pre-LED portables. These dark splotches appear to be extremely common and extremely irritating when you get them. I already had my first edition MBP 17" screen display replaced once because of inaccurate colour patches and now my display has at least four of these dark patches, with three of them in the upper centre of the display, which means I can always see them.

Luckily, I bought the AppleCare extended and I will be my computer in shortly for assessment. The problem is, who's to say even if I get a new display that they won't just reappear in another 6 months anyway (as many people have reported here)? They're not going to replace the display with an LED model.

I've seen these artifacts occur on older PowerBook models too so it's hardly a new issue for Apple but one that they seem to be unwilling to acknowledge or take seriously, which is very frustrating for a premium laptop. I've never seen the patches on any Non-Apple portable that I've seen.

My advice is be persistent...Apple should be aware that their customers expect excellence and they won't tolerate sub-standard quality when paying top-dollar. As to whether the issue is a usability one, I think it is if you're doing any kind of photographic work. You don't want to have to constantly move windows to determine if the dark patch is some dust on your camera sensor or on the LCD.

The lessen here...even though it's really expensive I think getting AppleCare extended warranty is almost imperative for a laptop given the number of things that can go wrong. Such is the case when trying to squeeze so much heat-producing technology into such a small space. Hopefully the LED screens don't suffer the same problems that have plagued the previous generation.

As an update, they have ordered a new display to replace the existing one. The guy in the Apple reseller told me he thought it was mould underneath the display. That's a curious comment to make...I'm not sure what to make of it. If it is the case, why would some people be reporting these patches on relatively new displays (only three months old). I also don't see that there's anything organic underneath the display to sustain the mould. At any rate I didn't question him and was happy just to accept another new display. I've still got another year on my AppleCare extended warranty if this too suffers the same fate.

I'm going to send mine in. I've had these problems for a while, just months after I got my machine (and I'm a long-time tech head that treats his computer like the $3,000 carton of eggs it is) but at the time I needed it for work. I recently got another mac, and this one has begun to act up in a lot of other totally unacceptable ways, so I'm going to send it in and see what happens.

Cheers.

Hello All,

I want to add my experience to the long list thus far. I don't think it is limited to "pre LED". I had purchased a 15" MBP (SR) LED backlit glossy when they first came out. The original display may have had this when I bought it, but I didn't notice until months later. The display was replaced 2 times in between for other issues and was sent back on one occassion due to these SPLOTCHES of dark pixels. The technician(genius) said he couldn't believe the guy replacing this wouldn't have noticed.

Anyway, I finally got my machine back after weeks of repair tag and I made sure with the genius before I left that the display was free of defects. Fast forward a few months and now a small splotch of dark pixels has shown up in the mid/upper left area and is horribly in my face every day.
I have had many macs/displays that have had dead or stuck pixels in the past, but this is different.
It really angers me that this seems to be a degenerative problem and I hope in another few months it doesn't get worse or more numerous.

There is obviously a serious problem with these LCDs and at the risk of sounding cliche and pointless, Apple should address this issue and extend repair service for the replacement of these LCDs or at least Apple should change manufacturers and/or offer it's worn out, tried and true, but tired of the bs, apple customers, something...

P.S.
If you are reading this and haven't checked your screen for pixel problems, don't! Ignorance is truly bliss with this one.