Finger prints behind the screen

call applecare, see what they say. it's possible they will just try to remove the glass, clean it and put it back on. since it obviously isn't anything you could have possibly done, i don't see how they would refuse to help you out.

i hope it's something they can do in-house. i've read somewhere that the glass covering the screen (at least with the aluminum imacs) is magnetically held into place. they may be able to just pop the glass off, clean it and pop it back on.

good luck!

hi mike,
ha - well, i wasn't going to bring it up. i've been trying to get a fix for the video out / flickering picture some of us...ahh, you can search for that one if ur interested.

anyway - so ya, i also had and HAVE that problem.

same thing as you - went outside with it, noticed smudges behind the screen. it was well within my 14 days and i was already ****** about the external screen flicker - i took it back.

the genius saw the prints...and exchanged my machine for another. we checked it in the store and all seemed okay - but alas, i have a finger print on the left side - near the bezel, bout 3/4's the way up.

i've seen videos on youtube...the disassembly ones - there's one where i see the guy remove the glass. looks like a pain in the *** to get to, i can tell you it would be tough...i've taken my machine apart already to align the lid (ANOTHER issue that was driving me crazy).

so now my machine is still flickering on external displays (thru my kvm). the lid now fits perfect and the finish seem to be cool (no dents) - all except for that **** fingerprint.

it's obvious to me that apple has no quality control on these machines and your chances of getting a "perfect" computer are questionable. return it for one issue only to have another raise it's ugly head.

for those of you who are gong to say..."my screen is perfect"...i'd hold off on that statement. take a flashlight - do this indoors, with your screen off - normal room lighting is fine. shine the flashlight at the screen and look - might be in for a surprise.

then again, ignorance is bliss...i wouldn't check if i were you. 🙂

good luck man,
-dave

Issues like this have always been around with the aluminum iMac. If the screen of the MBP is indeed held on by magnets like the iMac's, instead of being sealed, then it is probably susceptible to other problems that the iMac screens have had, such as a dirty filmy buildup on the back of the screen from airborne pollutants. iMac users have found that the backside of the glass screen repeatedly needs to be removed and cleaned, more often depending on the environment, especially if the user smokes or burns candles in the house.

hi lakeshore.

problem is, it is believed that unlike the imac the glass screen on these new machines is "fused" to the display assembly making it impossible to replace.

that's what the genius told me, but as i mentioned before, i have a screenshot of a video in which the guy removes the screen.

we'll see...
-dave

Message was edited by: Dave Kochanski

Have you go it fixed yet? My lovely new MB Pro turned up today and it's all fine apart from a streak on the back of the glass and a nice big fingerprint, seriously you have got to e BLIND to miss it in direct light! I think Apple has cut costs way too much as they people assembling the screen obviously don't give a rats a** about weather they are made properly or not. I've now read several posts across the web of defect Apple machines, then people getting worse ones as replacements.

hi,
i've not fixed it and i can't replace it as this is already my 2nd machine. i'm in los angeles and the 2 apple stores near me ended up giving me the same story. although they can see the fingerprints, they don't impair the use of the machine - i could return the one i have but i'd have to pay the restocking fee (10%).
i had really bad fingerprints on the one i had prior to this one - and a really off-set lid. the one i have now is perfect except for the one fingerprint in the upper left hand corner. i'm not willing to pay the restocking fee only to find out i get a worse machine (they won't let me check them in the store as each one we'd have to open would incur the restocking fee...sheeesh.)
i have seen a video of a company taking apart the machine - at one point you see him remove the glass from the lcd. apple contends the display is one 'fused' unit. it doesn't seem to be as easy to remove as the imac - although it's totally the same design (based on what i saw).
it's just a normal lcd panel - matte finish - that this piece of glass sits upon. how it's actually attached is a mystery, but it totally looks like a simple fix.
soooo, long reply - sorry.
you're taking your chances returning it, if it really bothers you i'd try tho and get it replaced.
good luck!
-dave

That's bad when they (1) won't let you visually inspect the merchandise before you buy it, and then (2) insist on charging you a 10% restocking fee if you discover a cosmetic defect after you open the box. You should call Apple and complain. You definitely should be entitled to however many replacements it takes to get a machine without a fingerprint on the inside of the glass, or a full %100 refund. This is a $2000+ computer, not a cheap $500 laptop, and for that money, you should insist on a perfect product.

hey lakeshore...

ya, for what it's worth - i totally agree. the idea they'd charge me for each box opened while checking for a 'perfect' machine is nuts, but i chose to pick my battles on this one.

my 3g iphone was the same way. scratched bezels, marks behind the screen. i returned that sucker like 3 times before i got a good one, i just don't have it in me to deal with all that again.

they beat me down and i've resigned to the fact this machine i currently have is a piece of junk. ya i can do everything i need to on it - and it's faster than the piece of junk it's replacing ('06 mbp). wow, what about the fit and finish issues with THAT machine? warped lids, loose hinge...seems the only thing this my new mbp has going for it is it's faster.

that said, i have no 'warm and fuzzy' feeling when using it and i don't want to look too closely at it for fear i'll find something else wrong with it.

i can feel someone out there thinking, "geezzz since when does having a finger print behind the screen make the machine a piece of junk". well, i equate the imperfection as i would a dent or a cracked screen. each time i use this machine there's just something about it...a feeling really, i'm just not all that excited about using it.

so apple, thanks for that. thanks for converting a fan-boy and apple evangelist (me) into just someone who owns a few apple products...meh.

now go vote! 🙂

cya!
-dave

Hey thanks for the reply. Sorry I wasn't subscribed to this thread so didn't know you replied. Anyway I called Apple the same day I got the machine and said it was DOA cause of the streak and finger print. They sent a courier to collect it the other day and I should with a bit of luck receive a new one around the 19th.
I am SO worried as the forums on the net are simply FULL of faulty machines. Does Apple care about quality control anymore? It's disgusting for a product costing as much as this. I think if the next one is faulty I shall send it back and request a full refund and either buy a PC or wait for the next MB Pro revision. Apple seem to be really trying to loose customers and their reputation just when they are starting to gain market share.