Greyish Smudge marks behind the glass screen.

Here are some pictures of my smudges as well. Apple really should be doing something about this!!! I'm really disappointed.

This is exactly what's had and have on my 2008 iMac 24". Screen was replaced 3 times under extended apple care. But shortly after expiry getting grey smudges, just the same. Apple states "environmental factors" are to blame, not their design. I have had three other displays at the same location, none displaying (!) the same problem. I have travelled over the world and seen the exact same problem in Apple stores and retailers everywhere, while NOT on all iMacs, all the time. I believe the design is flawed, cramming all the hot components in close proximity to the screen that seems to generate this problem. Ever slimmer designs maintains the problem.

I own a few apple stocks, love the OS and hardware designs in general, but the iMac is flawed. I will never get an iMac again unless the problem has been properly addressed.

MacBook, iPad, and possibly a Mac Pro is on my menu for now....

It does very much have to do with the design of iMacs in general. Apple is placing the screen too close to the hot-running hardware without properly shielding the screen, and it's causing a lot of issues. You won't see these problems as often on Macbooks, because the screens are separated from the hardware.

I've honestly gotten so tired of trying to get media blogs or Apple or anyone else to address this issue, let alone speak of it in anyway. So I eneded up switching to a Macbook Pro with an external IPS monitor instead. We just use the iMac as a backup machine now. But, I'll never buy another one again. It's probably best to stick with a Macbook or a the new Mac Pro and an external monitor. You can find some fairly cheap 24" to 30" IPS displays online too.

But ya, Apple still isn't addressing this issue, and I doubt they ever will.

Sorry about the poor quality of the photo. I have tried to improve it.

Hello Ranjoharbri, I too have had my comments removed due to "unapropriate" wordage! I hope you have success in your endevours and that Apple are listening very closely to all these posts. Maybe some day we can get some kind of satisfaction. Until then, I will not purchase any more Apple product.

At last Apple have posted a final solution to the terrible problems with their iMac screens.
It's taken years, and their engineers have come through and won back some glory.
Well done Apple!

Please click the link - Apple do the rest. 😁http://www.lingdao.fr/outils/nettoyeurecran/cleanscreen.swf

Hilarious!!! Thanks for the laugh. I sometimes feel like that dog just finished "cleaning" my screen like that when I see all of the smudges in it...

Here's a pic of my 27" screen too. It started in the upper left corner 4-5 months after I had the screen replaced. It is now on the right side and making its way across the top third of my screen. Quality.

Ranjoharbi -

Your comments were already censored an hour ago. Hopefully, my comment will survive. You can contact me at justin.evans @ brytewerks.com. I will happily testify on your behalf. I've had my screen replaced FOUR TIMES. I'm a mechanical & systems engineer and work with these products every day; I know exactly what is creating the problem.

Most of the people on here have good intentions but they confuse what they observe with science; the problem is a poorly conceived air filtration system combined with high-humidity environments. Living in Florida, the tropics, summertime in the midwest or using a humidifier is the catalyst because dust particulates in the air contain enough excess moisture that they clump up behind the LCD panel and accumulate into what look like giant stains.

The solution for Apple is simple; a removable HEPA filter in the base of the iMac would filter out particulate down to 3 microns. One simply pops open the HEPA filter's cover, removes it, rinses it our or replaces it and the problem would not occur.

Instead of solving the problem Apple would rather censor this thread. It is the worst kind of incompetence. So, yes, I will gladly testify for you. Email me before this message gets deleted. You know the idiots who censor this thread will delete this very, very soon.

I've been part of this thread for nearly two years. I was one of the original people complaining about the problem (and originally thought it was a heat issue.) Each time my "screen goes bad" I've studied the problem in greater detail. Since I have AppleCare I demand they repair the system in my home and I thoroughly document the repair process. Its amazingly simple; they just remove the glass bezel, carefully remove the LCD panel and then replace both...without dusting the system or addressing the real problem. Inevitably, the dust spots return. I've wiped the dust with my fingers; it is clumpy due to moisture.

Apple loves to point a finger at you the customer. "Well, perhaps it is a lifestyle issue." Sorry, Apple, living in Wisconsin or Florida isn't a legit reason for you to dodge a basic engineering flaw!

People have blamed cigarette smoke, heat, pressing too hard on the LCD panel (which is just dumb; you're pushing against thick glass and can't affect the LCD panel at all with pressure) and a variety of other pet (and scientifically unsound) theories. It is so amazingly simple: its just the unfortunate collision of humidified dust and poor filtration. The reason Apple doesn't fix this is because they don't know how to properly isolate the problem and test. This isn't a conspiracy of geniuses...its a conspiracy of dunces. They aren't out to get us...they just don't know how to fix this. They designed a beautiful computer in a low-humidity environment and have never spent enough time on air filtration.

Email me.

If you have AppleCare your road to getting your system repaired is far, far easier than anyone else. Go to www.apple.com. Go to the repair section of the site. Speak to a human. Inform them you've read through your rights under AppleCare and you are requesting in-house repair. They MUST give this to you no matter how close you live to an Apple Store. They will lie and try to talk you out of doing an in-house repair; it costs them more and you get to watch the repair process. Stand up for yourself and demand the in-house care.

I learned about in-house repairs from this thread. Those comments have long since been redacted. So, its my turn to put them up. DEMAND YOUR RIGHTS. They are keeping a file on your situation so make them include this in the notes for the future: everytime this problem occurs you will insist on in-house repair. And every 2-3 times they must offer you a replacement unit for free. I don't know the exact number because it seems to vary.

Well said Humble Pie. I've had my LCD's replaced at home but one time they insisted I take it to an authorized Apple repair shop. Apple said they wanted it repaired in "a controlled environment". What a bunch of hogwash. When I took my iMac to the repair shop and told them that, they looked at me like I had 2 heads and then cracked a smile. They never heard such a thing. And the thing is this repair shop was a mess and dirty. So much for controlled environment. Never again. They will come to my house and I tell the guys that I'll see them again next time. I also had these guys come back once because when they replaced the glass, dust got on the inside and drove me more nuts then the smudges. I wonder if my previous ramblings of "make Apple fix it in your home" are still here in this thread.

"...the problem is a poorly conceived air filtration system combined with high-humidity environments. Living in Florida, the tropics, summertime in the midwest or using a humidifier is the catalyst because dust particulates in the air contain enough excess moisture that they clump up behind the LCD panel and accumulate into what look like giant stains."

Humble pie - while your assessment seems logical and correct, I believe it does not cover ALL cases. I've had my iMac 24" 2008 at in a controlled and air condoned (24/7 dry) environment. Still had the screen replaced 3 times in as many years under apple care. The last replacement resulted in a much lower max brightness. The point is that while "environmental factors", incl. humidity, could be to blame in some instances, I think that is not the ONLY explanation. There could be a multitude of reasons for our smudged screens, BUT which Apple should have tested and addressed, especially after so many generations of the otherwise stunning iMac.... With the 3 other lcd/led displays in the same location and on the same desktop, I've had zero issues.... A Mac mini will not do (have one hooked up to the TV, though) so eagerly awaiting the new Mac Pro and then pick a first 3rd party display. Now, funny thing is I've seen a number of smudged Cinema displays as well, 2 in apple retailers... Go figure!

Apple, Just fix this please.

After you fix it, offer a trade-in program for anyone with a smudged iMac... Ie, 50% off a new iMac if you bring in an iMac with a smudged screen ....???

Thanks for your support Humble Pie, it's great to know that someone out there actually understands what is causing these problems and knows how to fix it.
I hope Apple are watching and taking on board your advice.

Hopefully sometime in the near future Apple will honour their customers with a full refund or carry out a general recall and modify all the machines affected.
Until then, I'll dream on. 🙂

Hi I too have an iMac 27 and have had 3 screens replaced during my extended Applecare warrantee. I suspected that the problem was dust! Now that I'm off the dole, I'd like to prevent the problem. Do you have any source for the HEPPA filter you mentioned? I would like to try that prophelactic proceedure. Pete