intel iMac 24" smudge/grey/dark spots and area BEHIND the LCD...

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Level 1

9 points

intel iMac 24" smudge/grey/dark spots and area BEHIND the LCD...

Got a BTO 24" iMac in July 08, which is running reasonably well. A few months back I noticed what I first thoughts was dust spots on my dSLR sensor showing on the iMac screen, the realized it was on the screen itself, thought it was from the desktop (Earthdesk) burn-ins or similar. Now after carefully viewing the screen it seems to be smudge or burn in marks BEHIND the LCD but in front of the back light. It is located in the middle top part of the screen, slightly darker covering a irregular areas, but rather large stretching over 2 areas approx. 2x4 inches each. Not changing with heat, but is persistent, always there. The iMac is not running very hot at all normally, this was the reason for the BTO and not taking the standard 3.06 GHz. In comparison the 2.8 runs with almost 50% less heat. Tried to take pictures of the spots, but the screen+sensor creates a terrible moiré pattern, will try again with my other camera.
* Has anyone seen this and have any tips how to deal with it?
* What is the best way to test the screen in osX (yes, I am a switcher...)?
* Can I attach pictures to posts in this forum?
Bought in from Apple USA, now residing in UAE...

iMac alu 24", Mac OS X (10.5.6), intel 2.8, nVidia 8800 BTO...

Posted on Apr 17, 2009 11:10 AM

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Answer 1

2Simmons

Level 1

0 points

Apr 24, 2009 7:28 AM in response to theSandyBear

I am also having this same problem. I purchased our 24" IMac in February of 2008. Our spots are like brown dust clouds. They are located in two different areas. Lower left hand corner and the lower right hand edge. Have you received any solution to this problem?

I have also switched. This issue concerns me considering the short time I have owned this machine and the $ spent.

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Answer 2

theSandyBear Author

Level 1

9 points

May 6, 2009 6:39 AM in response to 2Simmons

Nothing yet. I have asked the local authorized service center by email, but so far no reply. Assume they do not want to touch this subject, and hope it will go away... I will carry this iMac into their center before the warranty expires, though. In my opinion this smudge is not acceptable for a machine that cost nearly 2000 USD.
I think it looks like finger prints on the backlight panel and maybe the assembly worker sneezed to produce a dotted pattern that is present, but what do I know? Just getting more and more annoyed with it.
Good luck with yours...

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Answer 3

theSandyBear Author

Level 1

9 points

May 7, 2009 12:35 PM in response to theSandyBear

Here is a "enhanced" picture of the problem. Shown area is on the middle top of screen. Is this acceptable? Personally I don't think so, what do you think?
http://sv.tinypic.com/r/2z3tdeo/5

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Answer 4

theSandyBear Author

Level 1

9 points

May 7, 2009 3:00 PM in response to theSandyBear

Looks like more 24" screens are affected:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1915086&tstart=15
Any success stories?

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Answer 5

May 7, 2009 3:38 PM in response to theSandyBear

Looks like I've got the same problem... just noticed it - did my first Time Machine Back up last night and 10.56 update.
Mine looks like a coffee or oil stain, upper right hand edge, in line with the top of the disc-drive slot. I think my previous desktop shot was masking it, but now on Safari 4, it really shows up. It gets brighter and darker with the screen control, so it's not a glass stain, it's on the panel.

Mine is 11 and a half months old... maybe I should get AppleCare in case I get caught in a trap of not reporting in time...

....can't believe I didn't see it before...maybe cos it's on the edge.
I sure as **** devalues my experience of using it.

What d'you reckon?

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Answer 6

Majied

Level 1

0 points

May 18, 2009 11:29 AM in response to theSandyBear

I have an identical iMac with the same problem. I bought mine while in the US, and now I reside in Jordan. I had this problem for a while now. The part the concerns me is that it seems to be expanding.

Any help on how to tackle this, or even get it fix, is highly appreciated.

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Answer 7

theSandyBear Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 9, 2009 4:49 PM in response to Majied

Still no updates to the problem. My only addition is that I got apple care as I'm not able to bring it in before the 12 months warranty expires...
Anyone with the issue solved or take care of?

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Answer 8

Jul 23, 2009 7:43 AM in response to theSandyBear

I, too, have a similar problem. My 24" iMac monitor looks like it has coffee stains (but the size of fingerprints) all over it, but under my monitor glass. Mine was purchased new in April 2009. I turn off my computer every day, leave the house on 72°, have air-conditioning, but also have a dehumidifier in the office during storm season here in Arizona. I know it's not from moisture getting under the glass.

The biggest problem is the need to take in to an Applecare store for servicing - without a replacement. I am going to need to wait until September (hoping it doesn't get worse) as I have a project due at the end of August.

Has Apple said anything about these monitors yet?

Should I also call Apple? Will the more people that call help them finally come to a conclusion that these monitors are flawed?

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Answer 9

Shimodax

Level 1

60 points

Sep 9, 2009 3:08 AM in response to theSandyBear

See here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2150293&tstart=0

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Answer 10

hm1960

Level 1

0 points

Nov 19, 2009 10:01 PM in response to Shimodax

I have the same problem looks like grayish dirt or smudge like difficult to see mostly visible when you make the screen bold white.Nothing to do with cleaning from outside.some people say it is screen burn marks from the heat generated by the computer and it makes some sense when I touched it carefully that area is more hot than the rest of the screen.Nobody knows so far how to fix it, most likely apple people know about it but keep quite and seem ignoring it for not to make big fleo out of it.

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Answer 11

Nov 19, 2009 11:21 PM in response to hm1960

I had this problem and had the LCD changed amongst other things only to have it continually resurface over time. That was on a 20'' which Apple replaced with a 24'' within a year of the original 20'' iMac. Guess what:it happened again on the replacement: so: the logic board, the glass, two different LCDs, and finally the upper left (which was where the majority of my stainy-browny-dirty blemish was). Each step was taken after each preceding step failed and all repairs were in my apartment. They really did try. The 24'' replacement was issued 01/09. They replaced this 24'' with a new 27'' 3.06 a couple of weeks ago and boy does it look a lot clearer/cleaner. If you have the blemish-it is within a year of purchase or you have Applecare they will begin reparation. And I can tell you empirically that if such reparations fail while your still covered eventually they will replace the computer. Good luck.

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Answer 12

Nov 19, 2009 11:22 PM in response to Dennis Moriarty

In my above post I meant to state "upper left fan".

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Answer 13

Eliam

Level 1

0 points

Jan 23, 2010 8:07 AM in response to Dennis Moriarty

Hi Dennis,

May I ask whether your 3.06 GHz 24" iMac had the standard 256MB graphic card or 512MB? I have the 512 (custom config). I still have a yr & a half left on my AppleCare & I'm going through the whole repair process. So I'm just wondering what they'll eventually replace mine with.

Thanks!

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Answer 14

theSandyBear Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 1, 2010 9:55 AM in response to theSandyBear

Thanks all for the feedback. I still have not had apple repair or replace my iMac yet, but just to make sure I don't loose out on the repair, I did get the 3 year apple care plan. The grey smudge has not changed since the first few months, but over the last year I have been looking carefully at all alu iMacs I could see, and have to say that I can see this problems with up to almost 20% of all the ones I have viewed. The pattern is varying, some have the sort of dotted appearance, like mine, but more frequent seems to a rather large grey "fan" like area. The common thing is more the location, top area of the screen normally centered or at least away from the corner(s). To me it seems like a severe quality issue, that there is no easy fix for. Even heard about similar/same issues on the brand new 27" iMac as well. I think this is the last time I will buy a combined all-in-one iMac, from now on it will be separate Mac and Monitor...

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Answer 15

dinky2

Level 1

26 points

Feb 28, 2010 6:13 AM in response to theSandyBear

I too seem to be having the "smudge" problem on my iMac 24". It is just over a year old. It looks like collected dust and some stains look like moist, but it isn't. As in your case, it clearly is inside the screen and not between the screen and the glass panel or so.
Apparently there have been problems with iMac screens over the last couple of years, because I see post dating back to 2007. Worrying that nothing seems to have been done about this. I trust my screen will be replaced under the Apple Care contract, but it will still be a pita because it will take several days to fix it.

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