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Level 2

185 points

24 inch iMac aluminum - Screen irregularities - (Photo!)

Is anyone else seeing this? My 24" iMac Aluminum screen is a full f-stop dimmer on the right side! I am a photographer and so I took a light meter reading of the screen, with desktop image set to light gray solid background.

I took my trusty light meter to the Apple store and checked 2 more 24" iMacs on display... both had the same problem, but not quite as bad as mine. (see photo below)

Local Apple store manager says that if the iMac screen is not "professional" enough for me, they'll be happy to take it back and sell me a pro unit and separate monitor. I say there is something very wrong with these units. I would not be happy with this machine even just for web browsing, email and casual photos, let alone attempting anything even REMOTELY professional!

I advise anyone reading this to do the same test... set the background desktop image to a "solid color" and evaluate before buying! You don't need a light meter, anyone can see it immediately.

24" iMac Aluminum, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Aug 19, 2007 8:51 PM

321 replies

Aug 28, 2007 2:15 PM in response to mattnedgus

There are a number of threads about this issue here and on other boards. There are several posts on MacInTouch that detail the same issues people have shared here. It's one of those things that you don't notice until you notice it. I don't think I would have ever have seen it until I read a post and actually started critically looking at the display. Once you know what to look for it's very obvious. Like others, I have found it is much more obvious when the brightness is turned down a couple of clicks. Many people have shared that they returned to their nearest Apple store only to find that almost all of the demo machines they looked at displayed the same problem to one degree or another.

I am very interested to hear the experience of those who have returned their machines and are waiting on a replacement.

Here are a couple of other threads:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5156917#5156917

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5155015#5155015

Aug 28, 2007 3:46 PM in response to Peter Mars

I came across this forum whilst browsing the Apple Discussions:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=344204&page=2

It sounds like the panel should be a very high quality panel - a H-IPS to be precise. This one, suggested by a poster on the forum:

http://www.necdisplay.com/Products/Product/?product=a46240bd-a846-4de7-b644-bd7f 0b7e6ece

$1500 retail seems pretty expensive for a panel used in this 24" iMac.

If you read the blurb it talks about colorcomp technology and x-light pro backlight/sensor design. If this is indeed the panel used in the 24" iMacs, could these new 'technologies' be the cause of the dark patches posted here?

Message was edited by: mattnedgus

Aug 28, 2007 3:50 PM in response to mattnedgus

I did receive a replacement 24" white Intel iMac last Friday. It had the same problem with uneven screen illumination when I used a grey desktop (lighter on left side than right side). The area with a very slight yellow tinge was perhaps smaller but still present (lower center), and I could not lower the brightness enough for proper calibration. I shipped it back today. The support person did know about display calibration and he also said he had not heard of this problem before. He convinced me to try a third unit. I will let you know what I get. I'm not optimistic, but the alternatives are not good.

cjpops

Level 1

0 points

Aug 29, 2007 5:21 AM in response to Todd Ryckman

I'm picking up my 'third' replacement tommorow night so hopefully its ok.. will let you guys know.

Peter Mars Author

Level 2

185 points

Aug 29, 2007 11:22 PM in response to edwinsail

Edwin, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I had been able to increase the brightness a bit and get less of an differential across the screen, not perfect, but better. I was also able to get a pleasing profile with the profile assistant (built-in calibrator)

In the end... I returned the iMac... the whole thing was just too annoying and stupid.
I now have a Mac Pro and a dell monitor (2407WFP-HC, which is not perfect either, but works and looks much better over all) I also purchased a Huey Pro for calibration... no problems so far.

Only thing I don't like about the Dell 2407 is the viewing angle is easily not as good.

Apple got it half right in my opinion. Excellent machine and amazing design, the monitor is fantasticly clear and sharp with a glossy finish, but they used less expensive B grade panels. I have now compared 10 iMacs at 3 Apple stores and all have the exact same brightness problem... dimmer to the right. So close, yet so far!

One thing I did noticed while comparing various sized Apple monitors and iMac screens at 3 Apple stores is that the only monitor I would consider perfect in terms of color precision and uniform brightness is the 30 inch cinema display. It is truly an amazing accomplishment!

Peter Mars Author

Level 2

185 points

Aug 30, 2007 5:29 PM in response to mattnedgus

I tried really hard to figure this out and decided I just could not live with it. Managers at 3 Apple stores just kind of scratched their heads when I demonstrated this to them on their in-store machines. I have also reported this to AppleCare representatives who had not heard of this. I was walked thru a few procedures for resetting modules and PRam etc... didn't work, the customer rep said they were making notes about this.

So, it is obvious to me that Apple knows about the lousy screen quality, and the glare issues a few are having. They could have sold a million of these if only they hadn't been greedy and short-cut the quality of the screens. Something has got to change very soon, or this will be a large financial disaster. I just might have to sell my 135 shares of AAPL stock before this gets any worse 😟

glyphis

Level 1

100 points

Aug 30, 2007 6:18 PM in response to Peter Mars

Hi Peter

Your problem isn't a new one, and has been documented on these discussion boards with the white iMac 24".

I'm on my 14th replacement machine. 11 of them had a similar brightness & discolouration issue to yours and the other iMac owners on here (2 had hard drives that failed within a couple of weeks). Apple were very good at replacing the machines; I said it wasn't fit for purpose.

My 14th has been ok so far, though I have noticed that the screen is starting to show a gradient from left to right. I can live with it. I've been down the Cinema Display route already... and 3 pink 23" screens later had to downsize to 2x20"s to have any chance of a colour-accurate workflow.

I'm sure there are iMacs out there with good screens... and I'm really shocked and surprised to hear that this problem hasn't been resolved in this revision. I'd recommend getting on to tech support and asking for a replacement unit - it's really not acceptable.

Good luck!
Scott

ralph.s

Level 1

0 points

Sep 3, 2007 9:31 PM in response to glyphis

got my second imac 24 today. And the same: left more blue and brighter als right. Looks like all 24'screens have this issue more or less.

Nemerov

Level 1

20 points

Sep 5, 2007 12:14 AM in response to ralph.s

Same issue here, especially when the screen is cold. After a few hours, the screen is quite homogenous... 🙂
And can I ask you if you all have this issue or is it an exception ?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1094556&tstart=0

ralph.s

Level 1

0 points

Sep 5, 2007 9:19 AM in response to Nemerov

Found something special out! I own a Spyder colorimeter so i can measure the display out. The uneven brightness happens only if brightness settings is on low. With full hardware brightness the screen is nearly homogenous. But this is too bright for me. The solution is "Shades" to dimm the brighness down!

Sep 5, 2007 3:30 PM in response to Peter Mars

I got my replacement today and it's got the exact same issue. I don't get it. How can Apple just keep replacing these machines? Is it cheaper for them to do so than to actually fix the problem?

Has this issue been brought up on any news sites? I think it needs to get some attention really.

Peter Mars Author

Level 2

185 points

Sep 5, 2007 6:02 PM in response to rainydays357

Yes, this is very annoying. I wanted to keep mine soooo bad... but I just couldn't!
As I've said before, I love the brightness and sharpness, it works good for me, but the inconsistent illumination is a deal breaker.

Our local Best Buy starting carrying Apple computers this week and guess what..... the 24" iMac on display has this same problem. That makes 3 Apple stores in my area and now our local Best Buy, all with the same screen problem. Perhaps Apple doesn't consider it a problem, or doesn't think people will notice?

Sep 5, 2007 6:50 PM in response to Peter Mars

Yeah I love the screen otherwise, but this issue makes it look dirty. Especially with solid colors.

This screen is better than the first one I got though. And there's absolutely no backlight bleeding. No dead/stuck pixels either. The machine is working great. It's just that one annoying issue that I'm constantly aware and reminded of.

I've been thinking that I should just settle for it. But at the same time I just can't. I can't pay this much money for something that is essentially broken.
At least if I can trust the people that are saying that they don't have this issue.

If all the screens are like this then I could at least stop the replacing madness and either keep it or return it and get my money back.

Do you think Apple will let me keep this one until my replacement is at least shipped? The 2,5 weeks without a large monitor was very difficult for me and I had to postpone projects and explain it to my clients.

Peter Mars Author

Level 2

185 points

Sep 5, 2007 9:39 PM in response to rainydays357

The choice is an individual one... it's a subjective matter. I personally was losing sleep and wasting far too much time worrying about it, so I took it back within a week. Maybe one day it will be in the cards for me to own one. Just not right now. Not until they improve the light distribution across the monitor panel... some can live with it I'm sure. Good luck with your own decision.

Sep 6, 2007 7:50 AM in response to Peter Mars

My third 24" white iMac arrived and after three days I'm sending it back. This unit was better for uniform screen brightness but far worse for the yellow/brown tinting in the middle of the screen. Also, none of the units I've tried can reduce the display brightness to an acceptable level for screen calibration with a colorimeter without the use of the third-party Shades". I'm giving up on the 24" display until some display changes are made at Apple..

24 inch iMac aluminum - Screen irregularities - (Photo!)