I have waited for quite some time now to buy a new iMac and I am just wondering if the very latest iMacs still have the freezing problem?
So: Anyone with an iMac from week 42 or later who still got a freezer?
I am looking to buy the 24" 2.4 GHz version. It they still have problems I might just wait until after MacWorld in January in case there will be an update then.
Power Mac G5 2.0 dual, eMac G4 1.25,
Mac OS X (10.4.10)
Hey.. I just got a new iMac on Friday 11/9. I got the 20" 2.4 Ghz. After one day of use, i started experiencing the Screen Frezzing issue.
Apple knows this is an issue. I got a replacement unit last night and used it hard for over 4 hours and not one lock up. Apple will not give you one no questions asked. Even though the problem isn't easily repeatable, its a known issue. I set up an appointemnt with the Genius Bar at the apple store, went in told them the problem and they just replaced it. This unit screams compared to my last one. What ever is wrong with machines makes them not only frezze up, but things just dont flow easily if your havingt he problem, you'll see a great deal of hesitation.
Also, becuase of stuff I read on the forum, when I updated my mac, I did not install the imac 1.3.1 update. As this if it is a software issue is what was causeing the issue. I think its a hardware issue myself, cause the difference between these two machines is night and day.
I would say just go buy one, if you have the problem, just go exchange it.
Thank you for that reference to the Apple statement, and I stand corrected. Very interesting. In acknowledging the issue, Apple also provides an undertaking that they are working on a software fix that will fix the problem - the operative words being "will fix". I suspect that a considerable number of those 'unfortunate buyers' out here will have placed reliance upon that reassurance, only to be let down when the software fix came and went with little or no effect.
That gives the most distinct impression that Apple didn't know the root of the problem at that time and, by virtue of their silence since that time, Apple still doesn't know the root of the problem. Experience has taught me that if one doesn't know the source of a problem, it is nigh on impossible to solve it.
Going by what I have read, a logic board replacement has fixed the problem for some, and not for others. In the absence of a clear cut solution, and Apple's refusal 'to do the right thing' and offer a replacement, I am not prepared to submit my machine for experimentation.
That brings me to the issue that REALLY irks me - the inconsistency in Apple's replacement policy.
I believe that no country would legislate against a manufacturer if it was prepared to offer its end-user a deal more favourable than that stipulated in its policy. In the case of the States (and possibly elsewhere), I gather that Apple has a policy of replacement of a defective product if returned within 14 days of purchase. Yet, there have been numerous instances where I have read that Apple has been replacing (without an insistence of experimental repair first) these defective machines beyond that 14 day limit - some well beyond it. I believe that you yourself were one such customer?
Here in the Middle East, Apple has advised that replacement can only be against return within 24 hours. That means an unsuspecting customer who buys a BRAND NEW iMAC COMPUTER in the late afternoon (as I did) has to rush home, spend the night stress-testing his BRAND NEW iMAC COMPUTER and then, if it is found to be defective, skip work the following day in order to return it.
Purchased my iMac from the online store on October 23.
It was shipped directly from Shanghai, China. The build was week 43. (H8743)
Have not had any problems. Put it through graphic intensive paces for the first 14 days with nary a problem.
Interesting note: Before I purchased, I talked via the phone to the Apple sales folks. Had many questions. Two of the sales persons said they never heard of the 'freezing' issue. One said....that some of the iMacs in the 'system' could still have the graphic problems and suggested I buy directly from Apple because the problem was corrected on the iMacs currently being manufactured.
I, too, would be interested if any of the imacs manufactured after week 42 or 43 have the freezing issue.
"I gather that Apple has a policy of replacement of a defective product if returned within 14 days of purchase. Yet, there have been numerous instances where I have read that Apple has been replacing (without an insistence of experimental repair first) these defective machines beyond that 14 day limit - some well beyond it. I believe that you yourself were one such customer?"
You are correct that I got mine replaced after 60+ days of ownership. Apple does have a 14 day return policy so if you bought one here in the U.S. you could take it back for a refund or an exchange within that 14 day time period. In my case I did everything possible for a user to do in order to rule out a software issue. If you call Apple, they will make you do all of these things before they consider it a hardware problem. In some ways I can understand that as most problems that people call about probably are software problems. I reinstalled the system software 6 times, I reset the PRAM and NVRAM at least 8 times, I checked the system using the Hardware Test on both regular and extended mode, I reset the SMC countless times, I ran the disk repair utility at least twice with no issues reported, I repaired the disk permissions numerous times, I removed my third party ram and ran my Mac without it, I checked the smart status of the drive. That is all a user can do. When none of those things solved the issue, and it took me about 60 days to do all of that I called Apple. I waited on the phone for about an hour and got a first tier person. I explained patiently what the problem was, and everything I had done to try and correct it. I even wrote down when I did the things I did so I could have given her dates had she asked. We talked for maybe 5 minutes before she turned me over to a product specialist. I waited on the phone agbout 70 minutes to talk to the product specialist. We talked for about 10 minutes and I again explained quietly and patiently everything I had done. After he heard that he said that it had to be hardware as he agreed, there was nothing else as a user that I could do. I had ruled out software. He then said they would send someone to my house to replace the motherboard. That was fine with me. Apple then called me the next day and asked if I would mind sending my Mac to engineering for them to use as a test in return for them sending me a new one. I had a long talk with them about the problem and learned a lot about what they are doing to solve the issue, or to work on it. One thing I was convinced of is that the problem is not as simple as people out here would like to believe. It is indeed both a software and a hardware issue. I think it really surprised the engineers when the software fix they released around the 2nd of Novemeber (1.2 I think) didn't fix it for everyone. I agreed to do so even though it meant more work for me as I would have to restore a new one from a backup and with a newer one a newer version of the OS would be on it which may cause some issues but still I agreed. One of the good things about doing the exchange is that I got the upgrade disk to Leopard included and didn't have to pay anything for it. I was glad to sen mine back and I hope that it will in some small way help Apple solve this issue for folks.
I wish I knew what to say that could help with your issue. I don't know why, other than laws which vary from country to country, the 14 day period would be different in the Middle East unless it has something to do with local custom. Are there no laws wher you live that protect consumers in a situation like this? I know in Europe there are stronger laws than in the U.S. to protect consumers against this type of issue.
All I can suggest to you, as I have tried to explain to everyone out here who has a freezing Mac that the software did not fix, is to try all the things I did and then call them and firmly, yet patiently go through what you did and if you do so, the only option left is for them to either fix it or replace it. The goal is to get a working Mac that you paid for and should have. Some folks don't want to do all that I did. Some folks call and want to talk to the tech about all the people posting about it. Why waste your time. You have to keep them focused on your problem and firmly make them understand that you expect a resolution to the problem. If the person on the phone cannot take care of the issue then firmly demand, but don't yell and scream, to speak to someone who can solve thie problem. All of these folks have a supervisor and while some level one support tech may lack the authority to solve the issue, their supervisor has more authority. You ohave to be firm, but you also can't lose your temper or distract the tech from your problem. That is the goal when you call, to solve your particular problem. Unfortunately, while we all would love to be able to solve everyones freezing problem, we can't. Stay focused and keep them focused.
just my 2 cents - I got my first iMac last week. 24" 2.4GHz. Unfortunately it freezes pretty regularly. B/c I'm new to the Mac, I haven't really installed anything on it, so it is pretty much a Tiger OS upgraded to Leopard.
It does seem to me that the problem occurs more frequently if I enable Spaces. When I had Spaces enabled, it froze about 8 times in 2 hours. With Spaces disabled, I seem to only freeze once every couple of days.
Gents lets rather just speak from expr. let the story tell itself. For me its writing on a wall.
Please dont refer ... or worse provide advice based on 'what you perceive something to be' - ie % affected.
cmdpilot ..
I salute your perspective - I bought a 24" followed on a few weeks later by a 20" ... so - I have the problem on both ... I guess I was struck twice ... hmmm can someone explain it ?
In recent weeks the 24" deteriorated to a point of constant issues - just reading mail - logging in causes it to hang - 18 times + a day. Clean install 10.5 - nothing else - speed picked up after install with no updates. 2 days a dream with nothing to do but surf and browse. 1st freeze today after activating time machine. At present I suspect USB as I received a low power flag on USB line. I had another 3 in fast succession - so at present I have removed all other USB devices (excl. keyboard and mouse) ... I will do all I can - eliminate it piece by piece .. until all thats left is the power socket in the wall !!!!!!!! At that point I am done.
Just a reminder - a support website exits for those that feel so inclined.
Created during in an earlier thread.
If you want to be part of a community that shares the same ailment .. join .
As a Windows user, looking on -- I am one of the folks contributing to the thread views in the forums.
I plan to buy an iMac to replace my aging Dell. At first I held off for Leopard's release. Bu now, I'm waiting until I know that the freezing issue is taken care of.
As much as I'm ready to buy, I don't want to roll the dice on whether I get a machine that freezes. So, I'm just waiting for a while!
(To find out you can check your mac’s serial number. The first 5 characters of your mac's serial no tells you the place it was made (1 and 2), Year (3) and week (4 and 5).)
I got my iMac yesterday, November 15th, and it DOES FREEZE at least every ten to twenty minutes. From the number of posts around the web I doubt that the problem only affects 1% of the users as stated above. It seems to be a hardware problem, since two software updates, the latest from November 2nd, couldn't fix the issue. Being affected by this issue myself I did quite a lot of research on the internet, and by now I doubt that Apple is able to fix this problem at all! I'm very upset so far, being a long time Apple user I'm seriously disappointed.
Wrap up: Buying an iMac is still gambling, it's not sure at all that you purchase a fully functional computer!
- I had my imac run all day . To this poitn I have Office 2004, Adobe CS3 Design Premium, iWorks 08, UseNext, Toast, Firefox, All Apple update, *except iMac 1.3* and its running like a charm. Only hiccup was when i tried to play the demo from iWorks 08, the presentation froze when it went to full screen 2 times. I figure that to be a problem with iworks cause I was able to force quit the app.
I put a graphics stress test and had itune with visualizer in full screen with the option of max speeed unchecked. and ran it for 3 hours no freezing.
My Question, for those that are still frezzing, have all of you installed the imac 1,3 update. Can some one try to just install leopard clean, and install all updates but the imac update and see if that fixes the problem.
