Greyish Smudge marks behind the glass screen.

Hi,

The intent is to reduce the temperature of the display in the effected area, as I believe the issue is caused by overheating. The speed you set the fan to will depend on the type of usage and the enviroment the machine is operating in. i started high and worked my way down to the minimum level that still would control the issue. The sound of the fans can be a nuisance.

Good Luck,

Hi,

I have a late 2010 Imac 27" which I bought from new. I was excited by the purchase of my first Mac and was to be used for Photography and video editiing.

I have now got dark smudges encrouching from the top right hand corner... I have read many posts on this subject and am dissapointed that Apple have not taken the responsibility. Has anyone out there had a replacement screen through applecare? I all but hold out hope.

I did recently notice something interesting though.... On the underneath of my wireless keyboard I have the same smudge pattern that has formed. It is obviously dust as you can wipe it clean. My thought was is there a static issue with some of the materials that are being used that is attracting the dust through shabby screen build quality?

Another sad moment last night when My hardrive failed... Grey screen of death! Found an article where apple are offering a straight replacement as they are aware of some Seagate HDD being prone to failure. A trip to the apple store is in order tomorrow. I will be asking about the screen at the same time.

I'll let you know how I get on!

Have had screen replacements on both my 2009 27" iMac and only yesterday took my 2011 27" iMac for screen replacement under Applecare. Tellingly the "Genius" didn't even bother to switch on the machine and check for the issue, just booked it in with instructions for new screen and backlight to be fitted. We have two iMac at work that have suffered the same issue and my Father-in-laws iMac suffres from this as well. All these iMac have been in totally different environments.

Last week I found out about the extended iMac 1TB Seagate Hard Drive Replacement program and booked my 2009 (Nov) iMac in to my local Apple store this morning. While the Genius was booking it in I mentioned I was not happy with the grey smudge marks on my screen, which to be honest are not too bad compared to some people's photos. He ran a diagnostic check and happilly reported to me that they would indeed replace my screen. The Hard drive was in stock but they needed to order in a screen so will probably be near the weekend when it is ready to collect. My hard drive has been on 24/7 and have had no problems with it, but glad to be getting it replaced if there was a chance it might fail.

So all credit to Apple for their service. My iMac was not covered by Applecare and all this work is being done free of charge (Invoice total was over £600 for both items). I will be buying a new iMac as soon as they become available and will got for a full spec 27" including a 3TB Fusion Drive. I think I will take out AppleCare this time, just in case Apple's after service is not so generous in the future.

I collected my 2009 imac 27" from the Liverpool One Apple Store yesterday after living with two different kinds of display smudge for most of the past 3 years. I kept putting it off because of the hassle and because it wasn't having a major impact on the use of the machine despite dust marks covering most of the display. My Applecare is about to expire so I had to get my act together and take it to the Mac 'hozzy'

Anyway, its back now and looks brand new again.

Staff at the Apple Store were excellent and didn't question the issue(s) for a second. I casually queried the possibility of a recurrence of the problems, and the Apple guy diplomatically denied any knowledge of the problem's history or the maintenance side of the business so I didn't persue the point.

The new display has the usual 12 month warranty, so I suppose it will be going back if it develops the dreaded blotches.

I had to smile on Tuesday watching Phil Schiller reveal the new imac.

At one point he talked about the ultra slim profile of the new machine and how the old one had a 2mm air gap behind the glass. The new imac has a new one piece laminated display with no air gaps!

Looks like the next generation of imac owners won't experience the disappointing problems we've all had on this thread.

About time. Long live the imac!

I don't think screen replacements are ever going to work with the 2009-2011 models, but it would be nice if Apple actually decided to offer some sort of trade-in for the newer models.

It seems very convenient that they re-engineered the the screen design to shield it from the hot hardware, which tells me they know exactly what's wrong with the older models but are never going to admit it.

Glad to know that the new model will likely not have this issue that we are all dealing with.

Wanted to update you guys on my screen. Since july or so I was dealing with this same smudge issue, as i read many comments here, i was looking into getting my screen replaced, since I am still under the 1 year warranty.

I work on my computer everyday so it's very hard for me to bring it in and not have it for like a week. I had went away for about 4 days and turned off my imac. When i came back the smudges were almost not visible...strange i thought. I had went again on vacation this time for about 7 days, when i came back the smudges were not visible at all...but on some days they would slithly appear and then go away. I had read somewhere that putting it on the energy saver could help this issue. I had taken it off the energy saver since the beginning of summer since i fount it annoying. Perhaps it had started to stay on too long without any "rest". I have now turned on the energy saver to 5 mnts.

I have not seen ANY smudges at any time since I have done so.

I hardly turn off my computer, only put it to sleep when i go to bed.

All in all, even though i'm likely taking a risk, my warranty is only until this November, I don't think i will bring it in for a replacement... no time for that. If anything i will likely get those suction cups and clean it out myself. That seems to be fairly easy to do.

Well point of all this is to say, put your energy savers on people! Might be annoying at times but at least it will clear your screens. Hopefully this helps someone else out there.

Yes i have noticed that my smudges are worse when my iMac is under heavy load.. then fade when it is not.

The problem with the Energy Saver is you end up looking for another big post here:

iMac wont wake up from Sleep...... i am on that one too.. ever since i got my iMac it goes away and wont come back from Sleep.

I constantly regret buying my iMac. I am planning on selling it and buying a used Mac Pro instead.

Q

Hey, gang:

Update about the LCD "water stain" screen problem on my 2010 27" iMac.

Short story: last November 2011, I called Apple customer service and complained about the defects on my 27" 2010 iMac, bought in October 2010. I didn't bother to buy AppleCare, partly on the basis that Apple supposedly builds durable computers.

After politely but emphatically talking with a service rep, she arranged a one-time free screen replacement at the local Apple Store. Unfortunately, we're 11 months in and the screen defect has returned. There are 3 streaks which look like water stains running down the screen, starting at the right hand side of the LCD.

The only good news I seem to be having the same issue as Nikki. They are not too noticeable under most conditions. The intensity of the stains come and go depending on how warm the computer is. They actually will fade for a bit the iMac is off overnight.

Right now, the stains are AWOL. I recently had the iMac into the Apple Store for the HD recall, so I'm hoping maybe they did something when the machine was open.

Overall, I'm pretty disappointed with Apple, the free screen replacement notwithstanding. I spent a lot of dough on this rig and work in a clean environment. I depend on this iMac for my livelihood as an artist, and having a LCD screen degrade like this under normal use is upsetting. I'm figuring at some point, I'll have to buy an external monitor when the screen defects present themselves 24/7. Like an idiot, I'll probably get a Cinema Display.

My big take away from this is that if you buy an Apple product with a built-in screen, absolutely get the AppleCare. You will need it.

I agree. When Phil demo the new iMac and talked about the 2mm gap that explained everything. I've had 2 screen replaced and going on my third and will be taking back in for repair. Good thing my apple care is valid until March 2014.

But surely the 2mm gap isn't necessarily the issue. The blotches were never on the inside of the glass, rather they seemed to be in the actual LCD matrix. I always assumed it was dust pulled in from the fans which entered the LCD matrix from the rear as the screen was not sealed/isolated from the innards of the machine.

We're talking about multiple issues here. Dust behind the glass is definitely one of them. Heat damage may be another and I'm pretty sure there are others too (condensation etc)

I had the dark blotches in the top right of the screen that may be caused by internal heat.

Mine also had a shed load of dust behind the glass. Probably 60-70% of the screen area.

I know that the dust behind the screen is easily removed but doing so will risk any warranties.

The dark blotches aren't 'cleanable', hence the need for a replacement lcd.

I would be amazed if any of these issues are replicated in the new design, whether it be through superior insulation or removal of air gaps etc. In my view it would be a minimum requirement of the next gen imac.

NO INHERENT DESIGN FLAWS. In big letters on the design engineers wall!

I've sorted the problem once and for all! It was quite simple in the end...

1. I took my iMac back to the reseller I bought it from and demanded a new screen (under Apple Care warranty).

2. I sold the iMac while it still had some warranty left.

3. I bought a Windows PC.

4. I swore to never, ever, ever, ever, EVER buy another Apple product.

One of the most liberating things I've ever done. Ended two years of torture using that piece of cr@p.

Alzinho wrote:

I've sorted the problem once and for all! It was quite simple in the end...

1. I took my iMac back to the reseller I bought it from and demanded a new screen (under Apple Care warranty).

2. I sold the iMac while it still had some warranty left.

3. I bought a Windows PC.

4. I swore to never, ever, ever, ever, EVER buy another Apple product.

One of the most liberating things I've ever done. Ended two years of torture using that piece of cr@p.

I was able to fix this even more simply:

1. I took my iMac to the Apple store and showed them the problem. They immediately offered to replace the screen under AppleCare.

2. I got my iMac back in a week

3. I didn't have to buy a new PC (windows or otherwise)

4. I didn't feel compelled to swear at anyone or anything or blacken my mood in any way

It was a delightful service experience.

So why the hostility/anger/bad karma in your response? Why did you have to endure 2 years of torture? Did you enjoy being tortured? Are you always in the habit of 'demanding' when just asking would work?

Jeff Greenderg wrote:

Alzinho wrote:

I've sorted the problem once and for all! It was quite simple in the end...

1. I took my iMac back to the reseller I bought it from and demanded a new screen (under Apple Care warranty).

2. I sold the iMac while it still had some warranty left.

3. I bought a Windows PC.

4. I swore to never, ever, ever, ever, EVER buy another Apple product.

One of the most liberating things I've ever done. Ended two years of torture using that piece of cr@p.

I was able to fix this even more simply:

1. I took my iMac to the Apple store and showed them the problem. They immediately offered to replace the screen under AppleCare.

2. I got my iMac back in a week

3. I didn't have to buy a new PC (windows or otherwise)

4. I didn't feel compelled to swear at anyone or anything or blacken my mood in any way

It was a delightful service experience.

So why the hostility/anger/bad karma in your response? Why did you have to endure 2 years of torture? Did you enjoy being tortured? Are you always in the habit of 'demanding' when just asking would work?

Just because your experience was good, doesn't mean everyone's was, and Apple outright denies there's an issue.

For example, my iMac is on it's fourth display. I've taken the issue as high as Apple Executive Customer Relations, and ultimately the determination was that iMacs were not designed to be used in places with "high humidity" such as my former residence in Ohio.

I then stated that I had since moved into a brand new building in Chicago, literally hundreds of feet from a flagship Apple Store, and the issue had still recurred. Apple's response? The humidity in Chicago is too high for iMacs, and that I will be denied future LCD replacements unless the issue recurs in an area with lower humidity. Apple is literally selling iMacs mere feet from an area they claim is unsuitable for iMacs! I was also told that both humidifiers and dehumidifiers can cause the issue (which obviously make no sense), though I use neither.

If you read the thread, lots of users have been denied warranty replacements on defective panels. Asking for a replacment, as you've suggested, doesn't always work because Apple actively denies there is a problem. That's the issue.