swapnonil

Q: Greyish Smudge marks behind the glass screen.

I have a 21.5 iMac bought in November 2009.

There appears to be numerous greyish smudge marks behind the glass screen on the top left hand corner.

It was not apparent to me at first, but after I started using OMMWriter it became easily visible. I also tried placing a neutral white background like TextEdit and it was easily visible even then.

I have cleaned the screen on numerous occasions and it has not had any effect.

What should I do?

These spots are quite disturbing.

iMac 21.5, November 2009, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 15, 2010 10:55 AM

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Q: Greyish Smudge marks behind the glass screen.

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  • by johnpc,

    johnpc johnpc Aug 26, 2012 4:26 PM in response to Jason Nemeth
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2012 4:26 PM in response to Jason Nemeth

    What a bunch of BS, I've had the screen on my 2009 IMac replaced four times (the retail price for the replacements would have been more than a new IMac at over $600 per replacement, but fortunately I had Apple Care). The best explanation I've received is that the IMacs with the glass extending to the edge of the screen without a metal frame are not properly sealed and with time dust will get in behind the glass panel, however, for some reason all that Apple will do is replace the entire LCD panel, when what really is needed is for the panel to get cleaned and then sealed properly, but this apparently voids the warranty and/or Apple Care... again, a bunch of BS, my guess is they've given up on the current IMacs and will solve the problem with the next model, I too am considering getting rid off my Mac and if this new Windows is as good as it seems probably will save a lot of money... Why pay for a Ferrari if you're getting the quality of Yugo??

  • by Vectorkraft,

    Vectorkraft Vectorkraft Aug 26, 2012 4:39 PM in response to johnpc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 26, 2012 4:39 PM in response to johnpc

    I totally agree!

     

    I've given up on iMacs, Apple isn't bothered and I'm tired of users making excuses for the poor design of these products.

     

    I don't go for the dust explanation though, there is a problem inbetween the LCD layers - it simply isn't accessible by the end user (even if you take everything apart like I did).

  • by Jason Nemeth,

    Jason Nemeth Jason Nemeth Aug 31, 2012 6:12 PM in response to Jason Nemeth
    Level 1 (55 points)
    Aug 31, 2012 6:12 PM in response to Jason Nemeth

    Final determination: Illinois is also too humid for iMacs.

     

    Apple is literally selling iMacs from a flagship store less than 900ft from a location that they claim is too humid for iMacs.

  • by rbtwrld,

    rbtwrld rbtwrld Sep 9, 2012 4:50 PM in response to swapnonil
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 9, 2012 4:50 PM in response to swapnonil

    I think that almost all imacs have this issue.

     

    My 27 imac present this problem a lot time ago, I have pay the extended warranty from Best Buy and I have not go to Best Buy because I am waiting for the new imac.

     

    When Apple releases the new imac I am going to go to Best Buy and compain about this issue, they will have to give me an incredible new imac because this issue.

     

    There is no reason to replace right now the LCD if that issue will appear again in the future, it is better to wait and have a new computer with new features than going a lot of time for the same issue.

     

    Some times you need to wait months for a issue to be fix.

     

     

    I think I have with this issue over 12 months or more, but because I know there will be a new imac sooner or later I have waited.

     

    I have read that the new imacs are coming before December, and maybe they will be here in less than 2 months.

  • by ChrisJay,

    ChrisJay ChrisJay Sep 12, 2012 4:13 PM in response to rbtwrld
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 12, 2012 4:13 PM in response to rbtwrld

    Just got my iMac back after 3 weeks. It had a new LCD panel fitted and after 3 days of light use the problem has returned. I really don't know what to do...

  • by EvgenyP,

    EvgenyP EvgenyP Sep 15, 2012 7:59 AM in response to swapnonil
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 7:59 AM in response to swapnonil

    I can't see any comments from apple. I have the same problem on my IMac 21" middle 2010.

  • by Omek,

    Omek Omek Sep 15, 2012 9:39 AM in response to EvgenyP
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 9:39 AM in response to EvgenyP

    There have been no comments from Apple on the grey-smudge issue. Some Apple Store employees have been telling them it's an environmental issue, and that they should keep their iMacs in cleaner rooms, which is ridiculous. But no Apple representatives have posted anything here that might solve this problem.

     

    Most of us have come to conclusion that this is a hardware design problem. No amount of screen and/or iMac replacements are going to fix this issue. The newly designed iMac is rumored to be released sometime this fall or early next year, and I'm sure they've probably ironed out all the problems in the new machine by completely re-designing the hardware. Whether Apple cares about the owners of the 2009-2011 iMacs, that's debatable. If they care, they'll let us trade-in for a new iMac, but I doubt that's going to happen. These iMacs have just been plagued with issues, whether it was hard drive failures, yellow screens, grey-smudges, sound card failures and everything else...I've never seen a Mac with so many problems. I just hope Apple has enough heart not to make all of us eat the cost of $1,500+ machines, although, I think that's what's going to happen.

  • by Vectorkraft,

    Vectorkraft Vectorkraft Sep 15, 2012 9:59 AM in response to Omek
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 9:59 AM in response to Omek

    "I'm sure they've probably ironed out all the problems in the new machine by completely re-designing the hardware."

     

    I don't think they've fixed anything. They're just not interested. I won't buy another Apple machine - too unreliable and too much hassle. This wall of silence from them is just ridiculous.

     

    I don't know if you've ever looked inside one of these computers, but half the components are put in place with cheap looking sticky pads and what amounts to copious amounts of self-adhesive tape - it's all very low rent. Nothing is properly sealed and the airflow is practically non-existent unless you whack up the fan speeds.

     

    You know it's bad when you see machines in your local Apple store with the same smudge problem.

  • by BinaryMango,

    BinaryMango BinaryMango Sep 15, 2012 10:09 AM in response to Vectorkraft
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 10:09 AM in response to Vectorkraft

    I bet 2010 iMac buyers were thinking (hoping) the same thing about Apple fixing the problems from the 2009 models, and I bet 2011 iMac buyers were in the same boat from 2010 models, and 2012 iMac buyers were... you get the idea.

     

    That being said, and recognizing the pattern of the last 4+ years of iMac screen issues... I, too, am hopeful that the rumored "total redesign" of the (presumably) "late-2012 iMac" will finally bring an end to these screen issues. I base that hope largely on the fact that some rumors point to the lack of an optical drive... if they're doing away with that hardware I reeeeeaaally hope it either improves air circulation or they can add/shift other components to alleviate the problems we've been experiencing with our iMacs. Then again, if they are going to make the iMac screens even thinner, maybe that will only lead to bigger heat issues with the "guts" of the machine pressed even closer to the LCD panel.

     

    Fortunately my AppleCare runs through the end of 2013 on my current iMac, maybe that will be enough time to guage buyers' feedback and see if the yet-to-be-released models have the fix we've all been waiting for...

  • by athanapo,

    athanapo athanapo Sep 15, 2012 10:28 AM in response to swapnonil
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 10:28 AM in response to swapnonil

    I have the same problem on my 27-inch, late 2009 iMac. What can i do?

    AAAAAAAAApple where are you?

  • by Omek,

    Omek Omek Sep 15, 2012 11:43 AM in response to BinaryMango
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 11:43 AM in response to BinaryMango

    Well, relatively speaking, the 2009 iMac is the same design as the 2011 version with upgraded internals, so no, I wouldn't expect the screen issues would magically cease. These rumored new iMacs are supposed to be completely re-designed.

     

    You're right though, if they try to make the iMac thinner, these issues might likely crop up again, unless they've created better shielding or air circulation.

     

    All of the iMacs from 2009-2011 seem to have these screen issues sooner or later, so that's an awfully large group of people that might want Apple to provide some sort of trade-in program. If it was just one bad model like just the 2009 version, I'd doubt there would be a chance, but since it covered the span of 3-4 years, I think they might have to do something...just optimistcally speaking I guess.

  • by Vectorkraft,

    Vectorkraft Vectorkraft Sep 15, 2012 2:32 PM in response to Omek
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 2:32 PM in response to Omek

    As long as it says 'Made in China' I think we know what to expect - more of the same. What is strange though is why so many people are willing to give Apple the benefit of the doubt.

     

    How many chances do you give them?

  • by Yashik.san,

    Yashik.san Yashik.san Sep 15, 2012 2:58 PM in response to swapnonil
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 2:58 PM in response to swapnonil

    photo-(64).jpg

    Hi! Is this something that everyone from this topic gets on their screens or mine is different? I get this burn like patterns just in the middle of the screen and it seems everyday more and more ((((((

  • by Omek,

    Omek Omek Sep 15, 2012 3:15 PM in response to Vectorkraft
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 3:15 PM in response to Vectorkraft

    Trust me, if I didn't like the OS so much, I'd probably switch. I don't like the UI design of Windows or Linux. Although, a hackintosh is certainly an option, but upgrading Mac OS X is a lot more of a hassle when using your own hardware.

     

    I do still like the Macbook Pros though and was lucky enough to inherit a 30" Cinema Display. So, I use the iMac as a backup machine, but it was about a $2k machine and had a hard drive failure in the first 2 weeks of owning it. It also has a yellow tinge on the bottom third of the screen and smudge marks appear along the right side of the screen when it's used for heavy graphics processing like Photoshop CS6 or StarCraft II.

     

    These 2009-2011 iMacs that have been the worst designed Macs ever.

  • by judithblades,

    judithblades judithblades Sep 15, 2012 3:13 PM in response to swapnonil
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 15, 2012 3:13 PM in response to swapnonil

    not sure but

    your screen looks like the start of what I have on mine...and now covers the whole upper left hand quater of the screen

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