iMac scratching my disc?

This is a followup to my last post when I was waiting for a "housecall" to replace the slot drive on my iMac.

After almost a month of working with an excellent tech, when he found out that the local tech could not make the call right away, he decided I should get a new computer! I'm getting the 21.5 inch model, since my 20 inch model is no longer available. Not only that, but,I was able to upgrade to the next model with the 1TB HD and faster video card for a nominal sum.

The new iMac is on it's way from China, and should be here in less than 24 hours.

I looked at my 50+ collection of of Mac disks, and everyone of them has the same type of scratches on it!!! Some more than others (the ones I used more often).

I hope the poster above who seems to think this was a "batch" problem with the new iMacs is correct (my computer was about 2 years old). Just to be on the cautious side I may buy an external DVD/CD optical drive to use instead of the slot drive?

Bob T,

Be sure to keep us posted on how the new 21.5" iMac treats your discs.

Skiziks

A suggestion, if I may...

Make an appointment to see the manager.
Don't try to follow the road of 'known or unknown issue", forums etc. Its just you and your imac.
Tell them how many expensive CDs/DVDs computer has scratched
This is a factory fault and you are in total right to ask for an exchange and refund for hassle as well as cost of any CDs/DVDs damaged. Remember, this fault has not developed over time, but a FACTORY FAULT.

And if this does not help, ask for the name of Apple Regional Director name and contact him/her. We pay their salaries and go as far up as possible.

Wish you all the luck.

+The Apple store genius that examined my computer had never heard of scratched discs and duplicated the problem with one of his own on the sales floor. Made no offer to replace mine with a nondefective machine.+
THAT IS SUCH BS! I am on my second mac and the yellow issue is nearly not here, no dead pixels but let me say that Apple Geniuses and all store staff know of this issue. I bought in blank DVDs and the genius associate tested them in another machine and seemed surprised that the disc scratched. He did swap out my Mac for a new i27 but I transferred my CD/DVD removal skills to the new unit and sure enough after many trial runs with blank DVDs, the $99.95 Adobe Elements 8 was scratched because I pulled it out from a seated position and therefore a hair off dead center. I am ordering a new CD from Adobe tomorrow because I want to keep my software in prefect shape Love the iMac but dislike the stupid design flaws. Any $49.95 car CD player will not scratch discs. Grrrr

pub1334,

Well aren't you the knowledgeable one?
What would be the point of me lying about my experiences at the Genius bar in the Apple store in my area in early January. (Twin Cities, St. Paul, Mpls)
Or are you implying that the Genius bar technician lied to me? Because he sure seemed sincere when he duplicated the same issue with a machine on their sales floor and was very apologetic and had no recourse to offer since never having heard of this problem in the past.
Perhaps in the last few weeks circumstances have changed at the Genius bar.
But for you to say that my post was "BS" isa little harsh and is just not true.

Skiziks: WHAT IS GOING ON???
Not you!!! I was referring to Genius Bar associates pretending this is a surprise when Apple knows all of this. BTW, I forgot to be super careful and when I removed the Adobe Elements disc after installation, I scratched the DVD. it still works but I ordered a new one from Adobe for nearly $30 with shipping. So even my new iMac will scratch a CD/DVD. You sure did misread my post.

OK pug1334
Sorry that my interpretation of your post was misconstrued.
Now that we are back on track of discussing how and what to do about our disc scratching problem, what are your plans to resolve the fact that now even your new iMac is scratching discs?
How many times will the Apple store swap computers?
How long can Apple deny we have a serious problem?
Does using feedback to Apple have any merits or produce favorable results?
When can a third party step up with a clear plastic bezel to snap into the slot?
We can't be expected to be super careful every time we or one of our children use discs.

The Apple Store Genius associate spent about 10 minutes on his notebook, went into the back (and I guess spoke with the manager), came out and stated flatly that the disc scratching is "within specs." LOL. He also said I could exchange that first unit but they would not exchange another unit for that same "issue" but if I had other hardware problems, the iMac could be exchanged. OK, what we have here is design over function. It WILL occur unless you are super careful. Last night I wasn't super careful and removed the disc in a normal way from a seated position. It will scratch if the disc is not perfectly parallel to the slot. So, that's it! I wanted to bring the $99.95 Adobe Elements 8 DVD back to the Apple Store for an exchange because their iMac that they sold me did that but it's just not worth my time and effort. The disc still reads but I ordered a new disc, as I stated because it just bothers me to have an expensive software damaged. The cost was a bit under %30.

Now tell me, why the PS3 absolutely never scratches DVDs or CDs. My car CD player the same. It would have been very simple to provide a plastic guide at the slot. Applecare knows very well this issue and I will bet the design will change soon. But even if it doesn't, this is just what it is and if you love the computer, you learn to live with this IMHO.

Unfortunately many of my DVDs got scratched too before I noticed it!
There should be a WARNING SIGN attached to the slot, when buying a new iMac.

coxorange,

here's one address to use if you choose to vent.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html

My advice, don't even bother to exchange for the disc scratching issue. It is an Apple design vs function issue. Until the optical drive exit has a more appropriate slot for the disc to eject, that sharp exit will continue to scratch. ridiculous, isn't it? Just pull the disc out gently and STRAIGHT.

My imac 27 inch does that to.

2cool4games,

Here's an address to use if you choose to vent.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html

Thanks for the link Skiziks....

Gave Apple an earful about this...

It just burns me when something so simple does not work like it should.

Hello

By having making some try with old man CDs, it seems good that it is the border from the crack of the reader that scratches the CDs; being this one there made in the hull(shell) alu, it forgives not.
I noticed that often Cds appears a little of fault at the insertion and at the ejection the track(runway) of the CDs coming to rub sometimes against the shell; he would have been able to widen the access.
By introducing Cd all the bootstrap slightly towards me I do not have scratches anymore.