Do all iMac displays suffer from this problem?

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Do all iMac displays suffer from this problem?

I 've been using an older iMac at the library for about a year and have grown to love it enough to want to get my own. I visited the Apple store in Durham, NC to check out the new models (intending to buy one) and was dismayed to discover that all the floor models exhibit the same peculiar display defect. If you change the desktop background to a solid color (particularly white or light grey), the bottom two corners of the screen are discolored--like the LCD screen is really old or "burnt". Later in the month I visited the Apple store in Greensboro and again checked every floor model. They all look the same, with the bottom corners discolored. I'm not exaggerating at all when I say I checked every iMac at both stores (probably about 7-8 total computers). As a control I checked all the laptop screens and the minimac/Mac pro displays. These all looked correct! Only the iMacs have this bottom corner discoloration...and it's a clear difference, not a subtle one.

Could somebody who has bought a recent iMac check the bottom corners of their screens against a white desktop? Do you see this discoloration?

I've read quite a few threads on here describing display defects, but I don't think I've seen this one mentioned. Does anyone have any information about it? The fact that every iMac I tested suffered from this defect is precluding me from buying one--I'm really disappointed. The iMac I've been using in the library is more than 2 years old and the screen looks fantastic--no discoloration at all.

Posted on Apr 20, 2009 10:20 PM

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Answer 1

BJ_pkt Author

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Apr 21, 2009 6:00 PM in response to BJ_pkt

I just visited a 3rd Apple Store and found that all three 24 inch iMacs have the same defect. However, the 20 inch iMacs are completely normal. I didn't mention above that I was referring to 24 inch iMacs (which is the size I wanted). So that's 12 out of 12 24 inch iMacs at three different Apple stores with discolored screens around the edges. I stated above that it was just the bottom corners, but I studied the screen carefully and noticed that the discoloration also exists at the top corners and on the sides a bit. I guess with the larger screen comes this unwanted discoloration (unwanted be me, at least).

I'm quite surprised, as I always thought Apple produced superior monitor screens.

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Answer 2

dogtiger

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Apr 22, 2009 8:43 AM in response to BJ_pkt

I have a refirb 24" iMac purchased 1 month ago.
It has slight yellow discolouring on both left and right sides and prob a little more
in the bottom corners as well.
Not to mention 40 odd stuck pixels on the LHS around the centre.
Only really noticable with a black or very dark bground!!!

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Answer 3

BJ_pkt Author

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Apr 22, 2009 10:00 AM in response to dogtiger

Yes! "Yellow discoloring" is exactly what I observed on these twelve computers, only these were new, not refurbished. It might simply be an inherent property of the 24 inch iMac screen for whatever reason.

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Answer 4

Apr 22, 2009 10:27 AM in response to BJ_pkt

I don't know whether this is it, but all LCD displays, to a greater or lesser extent, give different colouring as you move away from the central viewing position and view them at an angle. With TVs this is noticeable if you move round the room, but when you sit in front of it you are viewing all the screen at much the same angle.

However, when you sit some 20 inches in front of a 24 inch screen the difference in your viewing angle at the centre and corners of the screen is considerable, and this might account for the problem.

The test is, what happens if you shift your viewing position so that you are directly in front of one of the corners? Does it brighten? Do the other corners or the centre get worse? If you view it centrally from say three feet away does the problem diminish?

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Answer 5

BJ_pkt Author

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Apr 22, 2009 2:56 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

I would agree with you here, but the discoloring is unfortunately apparent when viewing the corner directly. I showed it to a couple of the salespeople and they agreed. Note that the 24 inch Apple display unit doesn't exhibit this discoloration.

I see you have a 25 inch iMac...is it the latest version? Do you not see these irregularities?

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Answer 6

Apr 22, 2009 3:22 PM in response to BJ_pkt

I see you have a 25 inch iMac...

24 inch - did you mistype or misread my signature? 🙂

is it the latest version?

It's last year's version, bought in October.

Do you not see these irregularities?

I haven't gone looking for them (and it's off at the moment so I can't do so now): there is a very slight falling off at the sides but it doesn't bother me - I'm not doing heavy-duty photo/colour work.

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Answer 7

BJ_pkt Author

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Apr 22, 2009 4:13 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Sorry, I meant 24 inch.

I don't mean to imply this is a huge defect--more of an annoyance, really. Most users probably don't notice since they will undoubtedly have more complex desktop background than just a uniform light color. I just thought it was strange given that the 24 inch Apple displays used for the Mac Pro and Minimac are normal. Only the display on the 24 inch iMacs are discolored like this for some reason.

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Answer 8

Apr 23, 2009 5:19 AM in response to BJ_pkt

I just did a check on mine using 'Dead Pixel Identifier' (which fills the screen with a single colour). On white, there is a very slight suspicion of yellowing at the corners: you have to work at it to see it. Sitting centrally, 20 inches away, there is a dimming all down the left and right edges of the screen - quite slight - and this disappears when you move to be directly in front of the edge of the screen, as I described above.

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Answer 9

BJ_pkt Author

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Apr 23, 2009 4:49 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Yours doesn't sound quite the same. If I position my line of sight directly over the corner, the yellow region does not disappear. And it's definitely not subtle--but it's not a huge blemish or anything.

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Answer 10

2Simmons

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Apr 25, 2009 9:28 AM in response to BJ_pkt

I have been working on my first Apple Imac since February 2008. Brown dust clouds have just started showing up on the edges of my display. I wish I was as smart as you and checked out several IMac's on display. I live in a smaller city that does not have an Apple store. It appears that my only choice now is to wait and see if the discoloration gets worse. If it keeps coming in closer to the center from the edges, I will post. Right now it is not interfering with my work. This computer has not been over worked. Most of the time this computer is sleeping. The computer is used mostly on the weekends.

I am disappointed that this problem has occurred and that it appears not to be isolated. My first MAC and this is what I get 1 1/2 years after I spent over $2,000+. My bad for not doing better research. Trusted my MAC crazed friends that never ever have any problems with their Macs.

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Answer 11

BJ_pkt Author

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Apr 25, 2009 10:22 AM in response to 2Simmons

Are you referring to dust accumulating under a glass panel or discoloration of the LCD screen itself?

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Answer 12

3eye

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Apr 25, 2009 8:49 PM in response to 2Simmons

2Simmons I feel exactly the same as you......though I did check out displays in the store and it was hard to tell with all the bright lights etc. Its come to a point where I'm getting depressed over this 😟 Sometimes I wish I had purchased a Mac when the OLDER generations were out as the screens then were PERFECT.

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Answer 13

Apr 28, 2009 12:13 PM in response to BJ_pkt

I have a new iMac 24" March 2009. I don't see any yellowing in the corners. I do see a little shadow at sides and corners (light gray). Like the shadow around a new window just lighter. Other wise the screen is flawless.
If there is a way to turn off shadows around the windows I would try that.

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Answer 14

BJ_pkt Author

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Apr 28, 2009 12:33 PM in response to erockwall

Right, the shadowing you describe is the anomaly I speak of (it looks yellowish against a white background). There is no such shadowing on the 20" iMac, nor on the 24" Apple display. Nor is it present on older 24" iMacs. It's only present on newer 24" iMac displays.

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Answer 15

BJ_pkt Author

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May 8, 2009 3:58 AM in response to BJ_pkt

Bump - does this irk anybody else?

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