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Of all the iMac display problems here, has anyone seen this yet? (PHOTO)

Take a look at what I've been experiencing. I took this photo with my iPhone, so while it may appear that there are gradation issues or other irregularities, my real concern is the top center of the image. I've had my 24in iMac for about 8 months and this issue began about two months after purchasing it, but since I work at home and am on this computer all day, every day, I haven't haven't been able to afford the time to get it fixed. This blotch is NOT on the glass and it almost doesn't make sense to call it a "blotch" since you can clearly see some kind of patterning going on. It's the LCD itself. In the corners you can see some streaking going on which IS on the glass, but the stuff at center top is not. It seems to be getting worse, so I'm going to have to take it in, but I just wanted to know if anyone out there had anything similar going on. I am.....shall we say, nonplussed about this and have been since it started.

User uploaded file

24" iMac Aluminum, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 21, 2009 4:34 PM

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39 replies

Aug 6, 2009 9:34 AM in response to D Scales

I'm having the same problem. My imac is within a year old, airport is super slow compare to Ethernet, my logic board was replaced by apple last month and i'm starting to see three spots on top of my lcd. When i put the mouse over it, it looks as the lcd is fine cause the cursor is on top of the spot.

Look at the purple bar on top; 1. Spot on "History"; 2. top left of "iphoto"; 3. Big spot on right of "iphoto".




User uploaded file

Aug 30, 2009 1:32 AM in response to zero44

Zero, you don't have a display related problem. You only have activated an option called Translucent menu bar. You can turn it off by going into System Preferences, then Desktop & Screen Saver, and under Desktop the last option is Translucent Menu Bar... Uncheck it and all will be just fine...

Sep 8, 2009 7:14 PM in response to djole

I had the exact same problem with my iMac. The only solution Apple give you is to sell it and buy something else....
Not only it had this nasty yellow, brownish sweeps/spots/marks, but it also had serious image persistence! Near the bottom of the screen and at the right side. The hotter the imac gets, the more image persistence you will see, over time.
Apart from these two horrible flaws, dust got between the screen and the glass panel too! But this you could fix yourself by removing the panel and cleaning the inside.
Wait a few more months and you will see one half of the screen turn all yellow!
Wait some more and the far left side and far right side will turn gray. Yay.
We've got 5 colors now.
Everything related to the screen on the aluminium iMac has been designed VERY bad. It's a very fast and quiet computer, though.
Also, the Airport card on this thing gets really really hot. Once iStat measured a temperature of 80 degrees celcius!! And no, I don't live near the equator. Not even close. I'm closer to the North Pole

Oct 10, 2009 7:12 PM in response to D Scales

I just wanted to register that I also have the same screen problem. I just noticed it yesterday and is currently only visible when the Mac is turned off So I searched and to my dismay, found that many others also have this problem.

I now realise I can expect it to continue to get much worse. So I guess I can just try and prevent more damage by turning off my iMac more often.

I can't see any point in replacing the screen as it will only happen again. So what about buying a good quality external monitor and using that instead? Is there a way of turning off the internal monitor so I can use an external one?

Oct 20, 2009 9:55 AM in response to D Scales

Same problem here and I have had the LCD, upper left blower fan, logic board and glass replaced via Applecare And this is a replacement computer for an iMac that had similar problems. Anyway it is back an it has been escalated to engineering via an email of some photos of the problem (the photos are variations of those already posted except largely on the upper left side. I am worried about having components replaced as thus far this has been ultimately futile and appears a design flaw of this particular early 2008 model. The Applecare telephonic people have been exceptionally polite and of course thought it might be environmental. It is more than 18 inches from the wall behind it in a cool apartment with good ventilation and quite distant from a window so I will be frustrated if my environment is scapegoated. My best. Dennis

Oct 21, 2009 8:41 AM in response to D Scales

Well I guess I am not losing it and seeing things. My imac 24" display is doing the SAME THING!! Big blotches at the middle top and sides. Looks like dirt is on the screen when viewing white pages. So annoying and I knew something was wrong. Luckily, I did purchase the 3 year warranty with BestBuy. Planning to drop it off to them for repair while away on vacation. What an inconvience. This imac was not cheap and there should not be problems like this. Will post back what Bestbuy does.

Oct 22, 2009 4:24 AM in response to sandshara

Hello all,

I bought my iMac in April, and recently noticed a lighter area on the lower left part of my screen. It's really noticable on dark backgrounds like films or working on black bg in photoshop. Im tempted to take it back to the Apple store!

Just wondering how the Apple UK customer service compares with others, guess I'll find out soon enough...

Oct 26, 2009 3:22 PM in response to surfer dude

Hi,

I have just looked up this discussion thread as my iMac 24" purchased in June, has just started to show symptoms similar to your own i.e. Light colouring at the bottom of the screen, I have it on both sides and it appears to be moisture as I can clear it by using a fan blower. It is worrying though as the moisture seems to show smears and finger prints on the inside of the screen.

I was wondering if you had any luck with Apple UK?

Oct 28, 2009 9:21 AM in response to Dennis Moriarty

Well Apple did me right! They are replacing my 01/09 24'' (which was a replacement for a year plus old 20'' with similar screen issues addressed without resolution over time. i.e., the problem came back) iMac (which had the "stainy" problem come back each time they attempted reparation: LCD screen times 2, fan, logic board, and glass) with a brand new 27'' iMac with mucho improved characteristics. Everyone was polite but it has always been the Customer Service rep that offered the replacements. The 20'' was replaced under Applecare and this 24'' (even though I have Applecare) is within the year. Too bad about the screen stain (only evident on a white background). But the responsiveness (the repairs were offered in my apartment without argument and the new 27'' is being delivered in advance of my sending back the 24'' so I lose no computing time and have no migration problems) has been superlative. Credit given where due. d

Oct 28, 2009 2:59 PM in response to Dennis Moriarty

So let me get this straight: Are you praising Apple because they replaced your iMac's faulty screen with another iMac with a faulty screen?

So what happens when your current iMac screen fails? You get another replacement and the cycle goes on?

My screen burns started showing up a few weeks after my warranty expired so I'm screwed. If this is a problem particular to the iMac, as it clearly is from all the threads on this discussion board alone, I think the onus is on Apple to recall that faulty model regardless of warranty.

This is very bad publiciy for Apple. I am seeing many complaints all over the web about this from disgruntled Apple users. I hate to say this but I am leaning towards wanting a refund and considering switching to PC because of this.

Oct 28, 2009 3:18 PM in response to D Scales

The picture at the top of this thread is actually dirt inside the LCD. In my opinion it's a design flaw, as the fans blow air through the inside of the panel and the panel is not fully sealed.

I had the same problem and ended up taking the whole machine apart (including LCD). After cleaning it, it did not reappear, but the computer was since then moved to my office.

My appartment (where this occurred) is clean, not dusty, not much outside dust ... the only thing I could think of would be candles or occasional incense sticks that were in the same room.

Of all the iMac display problems here, has anyone seen this yet? (PHOTO)

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