Q: Strange vertical stripes

The first time that a guy at Apple Support recognizes the problem ! He might be a rebel...

I don't understand why there hasn't been a huge reaction to this. Any other problem is dealt with swiftly or at least explained officially by apple and what they are planning on doing? Is there anyone from Apple out there who can give us an insight into this?!!

Me too. Getting more frequent as well.

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro4,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.6 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP41.00C1.B03
SMC Version: 1.27f1
Serial Number: W8815284YK0
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

My specs are:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro4,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 800 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP41.00C1.B00
SMC Version: 1.27f1
Serial Number: W8809S3FYJX
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled

I did the battery-out/power hold/PRAM flush and it fixed it again, for about 5 hours. This time I had the iPhone camera ready.

Behold... the pictures:

http://gallery.mac.com/justinhart#100193

hmmm... Looking back up the discussion I'm noticing that my vertical lines are very different than those that others are experiencing.

I'm not sure I'm posting in the right forum.

Yeah they seem very odd. I would just take that back, it looks a lot more serious.

Here's yet another punter with the footlights bug.
I bought my first macbook pro glossy 15", but it had a noticeable yellowing on the bottom of the screen. To check if it was the screens fault I plugged it into an external monitor and the vertical bands appeared on the laptop screen.
I took the laptop to the apple store and they gave me a replacement. At that time I thought the footlights effect was because of my old crt monitor causing interference.
Anyway, I hung round the shopping centre for 3 hours while they did a data transfer of my stuff, and picked up my replacement.
I couldn't believe how poor it was.
The case wasn't assembled properly. There was a sharp overhang all round the plastic rim on the left of the base part, and it was not flush. (All the macbook pros look a bit like this but this was worse.) The computer was noisier than the previous one, and about one boot in 4, the footlights effect would come on. I think that the worse assembled ones have this problem more frequently. The mains led also would switch itself off during charging.
Back to the store again. Fortunately it happened the first time I turned it on. I was told they would swap it immediately.
I couldn't get into a conversation with them. "NO. Never seen that before. Lets swap it for you."
Now if I worked there and really hadn't seen it before, I would give a replacement, but I would also be asking the customer more about it. ie when does it happen? What triggers it? Does it go away?
You know, diagnostic questions. Out of curiosity and to feed back to apple the full picture about a "new" problem.
Anyhow. I have mbp number three now. It's a better put together one than the last. The screen is better quality an more even. Computer runs quieter, but now, on day 3, the footlights are back.
If I replace, am I going to keep getting this. This MBP looks to be a good one other than the return of the lines.
Does anybody not have this problem.

the vertical "stripes" of light that the original poster was mentioning look far too intended to be a problem with the system. it seems to be a question of how to get rid of them really, i was just not paying attention and hit some random keys as i turned around in my seat and upon turning back around found the screen to have these spotlights, as they seem to be. it's really just a question of what that key sequence was and how do i reverse it? i've seen the lighting on other macs, but didn't remember what it was called or how to get rid of it, so i don't think it's too serious a problem (except those actual stripes, you should definitely get that checked out), so the question here is: without having to close and reopen my notebook, how do i rid my screen of these little spotlights on the bottom?

Reminder (for those who haven't heard): shift-control-eject will rid your screen of the stripes. ALSO: I've noticed that while the strips do still appear post 10.5.3, they have (maybe once or twice) appeared when I was connected to AC power AND the dark stripes appear a shade lighter. Maybe they TRIED to address things with 10.5.3 but it hasn't fully solved the problem yet. I'm encouraged that a few of you have said that Apple does know about the issue and is "working on it". Still, it would be great to hear from a moderator that this is indeed true and that it is a software, not hardware or firmware issue. A little more communication to this heavily posted forum seems more than a bit overdue.

I took my laptop to the Genius bar and surprise surprise, the genius had never heard of/seen the issue before and he 'see's a hundred people a week'. I mentioned this thread and the varying responses from Genius bars - some admitting to the issue, some not...but more importantly, that many people were reporting this as a problem. He looked up 'current' problems Apple were looking into and it didn't come up. Also, he said the bug ID listed in this thread (which I gave him) was bogus.

I have numerous problems with this machine and need a new logic board and his recommendation was to replace the screen (leaving only a few original components on a brand new machine...ahem). Of course I need the logic board replaced without question, but like others - I'm worried about replacing the screen only to be faced with a half yellow, blue, whatever screen or as others have experienced, the exact same problem.

Frankly, I'd like a machine which isn't faulty for a whopping $3000.

The bug ID #5751843 is indeed a valid and correct bug number. Perhaps Apple has different bug reporting systems, so telling people that this is part of the Apple Developer Connection may help. I have had a number of email conversations with devbugs@apple.com quoting this issue and it is definitely a valid bug ID.

If you manage to catch the same Genius bar person, tell him/her to email the above address and get himself straightened out...not that it'll necessarily do you any good, since the Genius bar folks aren't exactly all that high on the totem pole.

Are there any other issues known with the new macbook pros? Im a bit concerned and I'm contemplating getting applecare, i really don't want my screen or graphics chip going in a year or so! I wish there was a way to get assurance from apple that they are working on a fix and that it will be soon!

Yeah, I have no doubt that the bug ID is correct. I was just pointing it out as the response was in keeping with pretending that this isn't a known issue. I didn't mention the Apple Developer Connection though and as you say, perhaps he was looking in the wrong place for this particular bug report if there are in fact, multiple systems.

Now on MacRumors, so the genius' should have no excuses...

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/06/17/15-macbook-pro-vertical-striping-issue/