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 Diazruanova,

    Diazruanova Diazruanova Jul 16, 2008 2:28 PM in response to mob89
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jul 16, 2008 2:28 PM in response to mob89
    mob89 wrote:
    I too have an iMac G5 (intel based) with a serial that starts with W8. I'm so glad I got Applecare, I've only occasionally purchased the additional insurance when purchasing technology, but this is the only time I've had to use it. I'm just hoping that getting it fixed will not be too painful.

    With all the posts here about it it seems like a defect to me.


    It is a defect, a lack of quality control and there should be a recall (like in cars) and an extension on the warranty to fix the thousands (yes, thousands) of users that are being affected and please do not rest assured that because you have Applecare plan, once you get back your repaired monitor, it is not going to fail again very soon, as many of those that have had their iMacs repaired can testify: the problem comes back just after one or two months after repairment.

  • by woodcut,

    woodcut woodcut Jul 17, 2008 4:00 AM in response to Diazruanova
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 17, 2008 4:00 AM in response to Diazruanova
    The line showed up on my iMac about 2 hours ago. I'm disabled, and I can't afford a new screen.
    It's a major hassle to get to Apple repair, downtown SAN FRANCISCO.
    Apple should give us vouchers for new, long-lasting screens.
    ====
    What the heck is happening to Apple - it's failing us in many ways lately!

  • by woodcut,

    woodcut woodcut Jul 17, 2008 4:47 AM in response to woodcut
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 17, 2008 4:47 AM in response to woodcut
    My cursor was flickering and moving all over the screen, right before the line appeared.
    I wrote to APPLE FEEDBACK & sent a pic to the above FlickR address.
    Thank you * ale_tog@hotmail.com * for posting the pics.

  • by NANNA1313,

    NANNA1313 NANNA1313 Jul 18, 2008 4:04 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 18, 2008 4:04 PM in response to gidnitacs
    WELL MY NAME IS ANA AND I BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN 5 MONTHS SO FAR MY COMPUTER HAS 35 LINES AND I WENT TO THE STORE AND THEY SAY IT WOULD COST 700 DOLLARS TO FIX IT AND HONESTLY I THINK IT REDICULOUS I HOPE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
    SERIAL NUMBER:W86*******

  • by pomonapomme,

    pomonapomme pomonapomme Jul 20, 2008 12:06 AM in response to mob89
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jul 20, 2008 12:06 AM in response to mob89
    Thanks for leading me to this thread which is a real eye-opener. I wish you luck with your replacement under Applecare.

    My 2005 iMac G5 (W8542xxxx) had a severe lines-on-screen problem last year. Applecare were very good. They sent a guy to replace the screen. But the new screen almost immediately developed the same problem. So they sent a guy to replace that screen.

    Now about a year later I have lines starting to appear on screen number three. I am still just a couple of weeks within my Applecare contract. So I am hoping to manage another replacement. But, even if I get a replacement, how long can I logically expect a new screen last? Maybe I'll hit lucky with a fourth screen and I'll finally get a good one!

  • by KathleennF,

    KathleennF KathleennF Jul 21, 2008 11:28 AM in response to NANNA1313
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 21, 2008 11:28 AM in response to NANNA1313
    OK- I have been following this discussion for a few months. My computer is the same serial number and I also bought it in Dec 2005. It started with a few lines, mostly on the right side, and gradually developed more and more. I have been trying to figure out whether it was worth the cost and aggravation to get it fixed. Now there is a new twist - about 1/3 of the screen has completely disappeared - on the left side! Unbelievable. I am a loyal Apple customer for many years but this might be the last time...

  • by technorbert,

    technorbert technorbert Jul 21, 2008 4:01 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 21, 2008 4:01 PM in response to gidnitacs
    i just went a bit deeper into the machine -> pictures say more than words:

    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1623521

  • by olafb,

    olafb olafb Jul 29, 2008 12:44 PM in response to sting.kl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2008 12:44 PM in response to sting.kl
    Hello, My mac is showing exactly the same problem since today: a vertical yellow line. started when the imac was 24 months old. its a spring 2006 model, 1,83Ghz dual core 17 inch iMac G5.

    I hope I will receive the same service.

    Groeten,
    Olaf. the netherlands

  • by eroica3,

    eroica3 eroica3 Jul 29, 2008 2:27 PM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2008 2:27 PM in response to gidnitacs
    I'm adding my name to the list of people with this problem. I have the pre-iSight iMac, serial #W853xxxx. I got my first line just after 2 years, I've now got 6, all in the right third of the screen.

    I'm pretty disgusted. This iMac has been babied: it has sat on the tabletop since I brought it home. I expected at least 5 years from it, like I have with the others.

  • by woodcut,

    woodcut woodcut Aug 1, 2008 8:56 PM in response to woodcut
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 1, 2008 8:56 PM in response to woodcut
    Line Fixed!
    My posts above show my iMac got a line last week. I took it to the Genious Bar here in San Francisco, and it was fixed in 10 days. Free, because I still am under 3 year Apple Plan.
    I have to say, some of the info in these Forums are simply not true, so be careful.

  • by tainad,

    tainad tainad Aug 6, 2008 7:38 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 6, 2008 7:38 AM in response to gidnitacs
    I just wrote apples feedback page. Thanks for that post. I hope everyone with this problem is writing in.

    Message was edited by: tainad

  • by cmcguigan,

    cmcguigan cmcguigan Aug 21, 2008 6:24 PM in response to tainad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 21, 2008 6:24 PM in response to tainad
    This has just happened to me, 1 line so far, really annoying. Its a g5 17 inch imac, just over 2 years old, serial# W8549xxxxxx.

    I have also just left feedback for apple.
    I am a longtime apple customer and this *****.

    So my options for a new computer are what? A newer imac, so something like this happens again? I can't believe I'm saying this, but when these lines get unbearable, I'm not getting another mac.

  • by Javier Tozzola,

    Javier Tozzola Javier Tozzola Aug 25, 2008 8:25 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 25, 2008 8:25 AM in response to gidnitacs
    *Escribo en Español, Por favor alguien que traduzca al inglés correctamente:*
    Como habrán observado más arriba yo tengo el mismo desperfecto de las líneas verticales desde hace unos meses atrás.

    Aquí en Argentina,he llevado mi iMac 17"/G5/iSight/1.9/ comprada en Diciembre de 2005 a un Apple Store (MacStation.com.ar) y me han enviado un presupuesto para la reparación de un valor de u$s 736,00. Ahora bien, cuando pregunto a que se debe la falla no me lo saben indicar, según el técnico provablemente se deba a un golpe!!!! Imposible, está arriba del mismo escritorio desde hace 2 años y nunca fue golpeada. Por una caida en la tensión eléctrica?? Tampoco, siempre tuvo su estabilizador de tensión.

    Entonces a que se puede deber la falla???? Haciendo memoria, la primer linea vertical apareció en coincidencia con el uso de la unidad optica (CD/DVD) al leer un disco que costaba montar!!! y la segunda, al grabar un DVD!!! Fijense, las líneas coinciden que están sobre la posición de la unidad optica!!! Se deberá a un tema de alta temperatura de la unidad optica??? Además coincide con una actualización del Leopard 10.5 que por lo menos a mi G5 le mantenía por más tiempo el cooler (ventilador) encendido como si se sobrecalentara (creo que era la versión 10.5.1 o 10.5.2) (esto se compuso más tarde con una actualización de software que no recuerdo exactamente que versión era).

    A mi entender es una falla de de Hardware, provablemente debido a alta temperatura de la unidad optica, que se da en determinadas situaciones de uso.

    Por eso amigos, los invito a compartir vuestra experiencia y saber si mi situación coincide con la de Uds.



    Saludos!!!! Javier

  • by Javier Tozzola,

    Javier Tozzola Javier Tozzola Aug 25, 2008 8:44 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 25, 2008 8:44 AM in response to gidnitacs
    *Google Traductor!!!*

    As you will read before, I have the same breakdown of the vertical lines some months ago.

    Here in Argentina, I led my iMac 17 "/ G5/iSight/1.9 / purchased in December 2005 at an Apple Store (MacStation.com.ar) and I recibe a budget for the repair or with a value of u$s 736. But when I ask to be the fault I do not know what state, according to the technical perhaps is due to a blow! Impossible, is above the same desk from two years ago and was never beaten. a drop in voltage? Nor, always had its voltage stabilizer.

    So that may be due to failure? Making memory, the first vertical line appeared in coincidence with the use of optical drive (CD / DVD) to read a disc that cost mount! and second line, to burn a DVD! Look, the lines that match are on the position of the optical drive! In Front!! Should be subject to a high temperature of the optical drive? In addition coincides with an update of 10.5 Leopard that at least my G5 kept him any longer the cooler (fan) lit as if they overheat (I think that was the version 10.5.1 or 10.5.2) (this was composed later with a software update that I do not remember exactly which version was).

    As I understand it is a failure of hardware, due to high temperature of the optical unit, which occurs in certain situations of use.

    So friends, I invite you to share your experience and know if my situation different from you.


    Greetings! Javier

  • by gbsaxplayer,

    gbsaxplayer gbsaxplayer Aug 30, 2008 8:00 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2008 8:00 AM in response to gidnitacs
    Also have same problem with iMac G5 multiple lines appearing over the last few months. Product made in Shanghai factory 2005 (week 45). Lived in 2006 in Norway no problem, moved to Houston 2007 and lines started to appear.
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