Q: MacBook Pro screen blinks

Mine is in for repair a 2nd time for an unrelated issue (random freezes) but does have a flickering/blinking in the display when I have it at low brightness--only when on the battery saver (9400M) mode, and it's done this since I can remember getting it. Not happy but not angry, just annoyed. My machine has not lasted too well. In the process of a little over a year, it has had the logic board replaced, the battery and battery door (uneven). I bought Applecare's 3yr warranty and it has covered everything so far but I'm starting to have a little remorse over the quality of this laptop.

You guys should just give it up. At this point, it's pretty much clear that Apple is not going to do a thing about this. Apple is not going to recognize our issues. Perhaps my guess earlier is that it only affects a few people. Not enough of a concern for Apple. Apple seems to be fine losing a handful of customers over this issue, based on their non response or acknowledgement of the issue. I'm off this thread since its really just going nowhere for quite sometime now. I suggest you all move on and buy a new Mac or just switch to a better machine from HP and Windows 7. Which is just as good as the Mac in many ways.

Apple's ignorance on this issue is appalling. It's either 1) we're all seeing things and the problem is in fact non-existent or 2) blinking screens are revolutionising the way people see laptops. It's what customers will be looking for in their future choice of laptops. Wow, thanks Apple for bringing it to me first!

Hey everybody, don't give up. I just recently had my Logic Board changed at no cost to me, and I'm obviously out of the original warranty and do not have apple care (although I will on the next machine). Now with that said, I was very diligent, but also very polite when discussing the issue with a Senior Advisor. Now I do own about 10 Apple products, so that may have added some weight to the decision. All in all, Apple didn't have to make the decision in my favor, but they did, and of course that's one of the many reasons why I purchase their products. By the way, this is not the first time that Apple has provided something if this nature for me. Apple may not be making a world wide recall on the NVIDIA 9400 / Logic Board, but they are aware of the issue.

This reply was not meant to be a 'fanboy' post, but rather to share a success story with you, in fact I'm not 'brand loyal' for any item, but rather for the most well designed product and the service history of the provider. I realize that forums are a place to discuss troubles and find answers, but we should also take the time to share those success stories and offer gratitude when it's due.


thanks for reading
Paulyman

paulyman wrote:
This reply was not meant to be a 'fanboy' post, but rather to share a success story with you, in fact I'm not 'brand loyal' for any item, but rather for the most well designed product and the service history of the provider. I realize that forums are a place to discuss troubles and find answers, but we should also take the time to share those success stories and offer gratitude when it's due.

That's good news, I'm glad to hear they fixed your issue for you. Those little things go a long way don't they?

Anecdotally, I just picked up my MBP pro this afternoon from the Apple store; it had the RAM and HDD replaced under my Apple care warranty. Dropped it off on Monday, picked it up Wednesday afternoon...fresh install with 10.6.4 and all updates installed so all I had to do was migrate from my Time Machine backup. I've had to call Apple "care" (customer service) twice in as many weeks and each time they were very helpful, offered their respective phone #'s with extensions, and made sure everything was documented. I'm not saying Apple is "great" or "wonderful"...far from it, but it's not about that...it's sometimes how marginal or poor other companies treat their customers that make people appreciate the little things.

For those 2 amazed customers. Both of you got your machine fixed. Bravo! But what if in a week from now, your laptop has the same problem again? You go back and they change it again. Good for you.

How happy will you be if you had to go back again because the same problem comes back another time?

Then when you get there the Genius tells you that they got a note telling them to tell the customers (that have the same problem as you) to go back home with your machine and live with it until they try to find a solution to a problem *that started in 2008????*

So now, tell me you will be jumping up and down with a big smile on your face when they tell you that! They do have a great service, but when something like that happens, it makes you wonder if they are ready for the amazing expansion they started a couple of years ago. Look at Toyota, would you say they are as amazing as they we're a couple of years ago?

Did all of this happened to you?

They do have a great service. I had good experiences before. But for *this particular problem* they just messed up bad. The point is that they should of replace the laptop with a new one when they knew that changing the hardware doesn't do it. Until they do so, I have the right to be disappointed for being ignored!

Have a good day!

Message was edited by: Jashby

Message was edited by: Jashby

Yea totally agree with Jashby... I just got back mine from the service centre and this is the second time they're changing the logic board and screen... That means 2 sets of logic boards and screens replaced already! And guess what? I I've been experiencing blinks the entire night..

At least all those posting here know we have a problem which may be hard for Apple to comprehend. The intermittent nature of the blinking is adding to my frustration. I've been using my computer for the past 6 hours (with NIVIDA-9400) without any blinking, even though the CPU measures 170F/75C degrees.

Whereas yesterday the blinking was so bad I switched to the NVIDIA-9600 for some relief.

???

everyone just email sjobs@apple.com, he is known to read and respond to his emails.

Email to M. Jobs sent. The waiting game goes on...

By the way, am I the only one having a problem login in with Safari 5? I have to use another browser. Here's what I'm getting: "An Internal Server Error Has Occurred."

OT - Jashby, try deleting the java cache in the Java Preferences application.

I am wondering, how many of us are having this problem, I mean the approximate number? May be it is not enough for Apple to launch a recall on late 2008 MBP. I am sure people e-mailed Steve Jobs and nothing has changed. If it is not a lot of us, I hope apple will just replace our machines. I definitely don't want to have to go number of time to service. I need my machine, I am using it for work. I made a video of my screen blinking, not sure if it helps. And, I don't think it has something to do with software. I was restoring the machine and I filmed it blinking while doing a restore, so I think that if no software was running and it kept blinking the problem must be with the hardware.

How many of us have this problem on Leopard? How many of us have this problem with Snow Leopard? I'm very curious.

I do wonder how many laptops (late 2008) they sold. It would be nice to find out. By the way, I'm thinking of writing to a couple of Mac's magazine (Macworld, Mac Life, etc.) to mention this unacceptable situation. They usually mention issues with newer products but we never know. The yellowish iMac screen was all over when they got out. It was solved pretty quickly. Anyways, I'll be writting to them tommorow. I'm running out of ideas here.

Don't give up, we'll have our replacement laptop eventually.

doesn't matter
i've got with 10.5 and 10.6

and btw, steve can't respond and sorry for that, can't even read the mails, cause he's very busy with ipad 3g, new appletv and all the other turnover entertainment ****....