MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

No issues here.

2.6/16/256 Samsung screen - week 32.

Lovin every minute of it.

Well then you probably googled something totally irrelevant. This story is all over the internet, just from a quick google search I found articles that are weeks old on the mbp retina display burn in issue on pgmag and apple insider:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2406360,00.asp

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/06/25/retina_display_image_retention_rep orted_by_new_macbook_pro_owners.html

To follow up on my previous story, after two faulty rMBPs with LG screens, I went in to the apple store again for my third replacement. I wanted to do tests there just in case it also had the issue, so I could just swap it out again. Sadly it has an LG screen. But I left a checkered pattern up on the dark grey background for 30 minutes and had absolutely no IR.

THEN this idiot who works at the 'genius' bar started to give me a **** of a hard time. He literally looked over my shoulder and was like, "what are you doing? are you forcing IR onto your computer?" I said no, I'm just testing to see if it has it. And from that point on he tried to convince me that every screen would have IR if you do what I'm doing. I kindly explained that if a screen is built properly, it wouldnt have IR after 15 minutes. He not so kindly retorted that yes, it would. Then he went into the back and brought me a printout from management about 'taking care of your screen'. He basically accused me of breaking the screen. I then asked him if within the 14 days if i noticed IR, would they replace it again? he laughed and said no way, youve already swapped out two, we wont swap out another for 'an issue that isnt real'. As I argued with him about the 'realness' of the issue, more so called geniuses flocked to his side, and it quickly turned into me vs the idiot bar. I told them that apple care told me that I had to go through them, and nobody else could orhestrate a swap if it became faulty. He said yea that sounds about right, tough luck man. It took every ounce of restraint in me to just walk away.

I was happy enough with the computer up until that point. But the arrogance and ignorance of the idiots in that store has forever turned me off to that location. I have been building computers since i was 11 and know my share of technical info, and i was running circles around these guys as far as tech knowledge goes.

UGH so frustrating! so what do I do if my screen gets IR again? I'm literally SOL and apple gets to keep my $4k??

vertigro wrote:

To follow up on my previous story, after two faulty rMBPs with LG screens, I went in to the apple store again for my third replacement. I wanted to do tests there just in case it also had the issue, so I could just swap it out again. Sadly it has an LG screen. But I left a checkered pattern up on the dark grey background for 30 minutes and had absolutely no IR.

THEN this idiot who works at the 'genius' bar started to give me a **** of a hard time. He literally looked over my shoulder and was like, "what are you doing? are you forcing IR onto your computer?" I said no, I'm just testing to see if it has it. And from that point on he tried to convince me that every screen would have IR if you do what I'm doing. I kindly explained that if a screen is built properly, it wouldnt have IR after 15 minutes. He not so kindly retorted that yes, it would. Then he went into the back and brought me a printout from management about 'taking care of your screen'. He basically accused me of breaking the screen. I then asked him if within the 14 days if i noticed IR, would they replace it again? he laughed and said no way, youve already swapped out two, we wont swap out another for 'an issue that isnt real'. As I argued with him about the 'realness' of the issue, more so called geniuses flocked to his side, and it quickly turned into me vs the idiot bar. I told them that apple care told me that I had to go through them, and nobody else could orhestrate a swap if it became faulty. He said yea that sounds about right, tough luck man. It took every ounce of restraint in me to just walk away.

I was happy enough with the computer up until that point. But the arrogance and ignorance of the idiots in that store has forever turned me off to that location. I have been building computers since i was 11 and know my share of technical info, and i was running circles around these guys as far as tech knowledge goes.

UGH so frustrating! so what do I do if my screen gets IR again? I'm literally SOL and apple gets to keep my $4k??

No, you use your brain and tell apple to send you a return label and go to your nearest fedex center to ship your computer back for a replacement instead of dealing with the idiot bar.

I tried. Applecare toldme that they were unable to handle the return because I have to deal directly with the store.

vertigro wrote:

I tried. Applecare toldme that they were unable to handle the return because I have to deal directly with the store.

You bought it from the store?

Then I have no idea. Are you within the 14 days? Tell them apple has a no questions asked 14 day refund policy.

edit: next time buy from the online store.

Vertigro, this is exactly why I dislike the genius bar. I'd almost rather sell the product rather than deal with the idiot bar. I always end up waiting and helping other customers out while I'm there. I'm so bored I often start asking others why they are there to try and help them, and usually I do. It somewhat pleases me that I can help them even though it ****** the idiot bar off. But if they ran on time, I wouldn't be bored.

I'd like a retina MBP, but between the screen faults and the fact apple likes to make its customers beta testers, I'm on a apple product diet for a while. Overpriced, undertested, and simply unbelievable they have this much inconsistency in representative training.

The idea that any and every screen will develop burn in or image retention is simply not true. This is outright lying, or sheer incompetence.

I have six displays at home, a MBA plus Samsung screen, and a rMBP with three other displays (two Dells, one Apple Cinema Display).

I have owned about 30-35 computers since the late 80s, and many more external monitors, at home or at the workplace. This is a ridiculous claim.

For instance, my Apple Cinema Display 27" (version prior to Thunderbolt, so at least 2 years old) is on many hours a day, and I disable my screen saver when I am sticking around. I can display various windowed apps on it for minutes to an hour at a time. Never had one single IR issue with it.

Even the ugly arse Dell displays exhibit no IR at all. And they certainly are inferior in quality to my ACD and rMBP displays!

Apple is producing hardware at an ever increasing rate, and unfortunately I see this as translating into poor quality control.

None of my pre-Intel Apple hardware had display issues, in fact, all of my friends/colleagues' iBooks G3, G4 etc. had *identical* display outputs, in terms of coloration, contrast, etc.

Ever since Apple took over a sizeable share of the market with Intel laptops, phones, and tablets, there are now more and more discrepancies in terms of quality and uniformity to their own 'standards'.

No two iPhone displays I see around me look the same, and it's certainly not because of calibration... My 3rd gen iPad has a great display (I changed it once 2 months ago because of stuck pixels, mind you), but one of my iPhone 4 and my current iPhone 4S are yellowish in a sickly way...

My rMBP has this stupidly easy IR which occurs pretty much 2 to 3 minutes into using clear/white windowed apps then switching to darker/gray backgrounds.

It's embarrasing and ridiculous. It looks nothing like a pro screen on a pro computer. The question is, if the ghosting is so obvious and quick to reproduce, how come it got through with quality control in the first place?

Sounds like someone at LG Corp should get his pink slip.

^agreed.

I was forgiving with the issue even after my third replacement...but what is really unacceptable in my opinion are the apple representatives who talk down to you like you're an idiot and pretend like the issue is all in your head.

If the genius was honest about it and said, Yes its a common issue and were working on fixing it, I would have left with a smile. Instead he had to cross the line.

Makes you wonder, if he wasn't outright lying and actually thought it wasnt an issue, do these guys live under a rock? his job is as an apple tech, and he doesn't even know about this?

I think HE needs a pink slip.

I have been following this thread very closely as I am a new owner of a rMBP with an LG screen 2.6/16/512. There seem to be 3 main owners of the new rMBP fall into.

A. Owners of the MBPr with a Samsung screen are not experiencing any Image Retention Issues

B. Some Owners of the MBPr with an LG screen are experiencing Image Retention Issues to varying degrees

C. Some Owners of the MBPr with an LG screen are not experiencing any Image Retention Issues

Really, it's the users in Category B that have an issue. Folks in category A or C seem to be fine. The question then becomes what percentage of users are in this category B?

Is apple aware of this? Look at the size of this thread. They absolutely are. Issues like this get discussed at the highest levels internally. As long as it is contained (which it is) means they will never come out with a public statement about this. They'll let users return it or replace the screen under warranty.

Are they taking steps to fix it? I'm sure they are but it may be a very complex issue without an identified root cause.

In summary, I think the real cause for concern here is what happens to someone who is past their 14 day return/exchange period and notices a ghosting issue and Apple geniuses disagree that there is an issue? Nobody wants a punk kid to tell them there is no issue. This to me is why people are fighting for Samsung screens and are now holding off their purchase until they see how this all falls out.

My overall hunch is that the folks that fall into category B will start to diminish over time.

Let's see.

vertigro wrote:

I tried. Applecare toldme that they were unable to handle the return because I have to deal directly with the store.

Time to claim it against your CC as faulty goods and be done with it. Move on to something else.

Agreed, Vertigro.

Retifan, I agree with all that you say, but let's face it: Apple employees follow Apple's corporate culture, which goes by the ideology that one does not ask for forgiveness, nor does it ever acknowledge any shortcoming.

It's a very strong atmosphere of secrecy and unapologetic service. I believe it makes them look strong and in control. The alternative would be to look weak and have shortcomings to exploit, in the eyes of competitors, shareholders, and fan base.

Observe and analyze the level of language involved in an Apple Store for the Genius appointments. I have only heard one person apologize personally to me (for the issue of the bad Nvidia 8600M GT video cards in pretty much all of the MacBook Pros from 2008), and that person was the Apple Store manager.

Geniuses only use words in carefully crafted questions and answers which are meant to help you fix a problem, nothing more. They apparently have training for that. They use 'assertive' sentences such as 'let's fix your problem', and 'I hope this will be satisfactory', they won't use Q&As such as 'You have a problem? Oh that's sad!' or 'Once again, let me apologize on behalf of Apple for this unfortunate issue with faulty hardware'...

Having said that, I love Apple products and I ususally receive fast and effective service. I am really only disappointed in two things:

1- quality control (iPhone antennas, laptop display issues, some outstanding software bugs taking a lot of time to fix...)

2- the whole secrecy and unacountability when it comes to certain faulty hardware which would warrant recalls or publicly shared advisories and related solutions (faulty video chipsets, swelling batteries, our poor displays, etc.)

I understand that I am buying from Apple, and their corporate culture is impressive, strong, etc. But I am also buying expensive hardware and expecting the cream of the crop at every purchase.

Peace out

Dr Sly

I agree with Dr Sly, I upped the spec because I wanted top notch hardware, I could buy 4 similar power laptops for the same price, but none with the retina screen, it's that screen that sold the MBPr to me, and so I expect it to live up to Apples hype :)

One thing I can't understand, if apple are aware this is mostly a problem with LG screens, why when they get a return from a customer like me, who is obviously sensitive to the issue, don't they ensure the replacement has a Samsung screen ?

I am currently watching the UPS tracking if my replacement travelling from shanghai via most countries in the EU (it seems a long list LOL) to the Uk, and watching my return MBPr tracking data (via TNT). Both journeys are being paid for by Apple. I can't believe that they want to keep paying transport, yet if they do to me as they seem to do to many others here, and give me another substandard screen, they will be getting that one back too.

What a waste of everyone's time and effort (and Apples money)

Hello,

Well, it looks like I spoke too soon earlier.

To really replicate this problem, set your desktop background to the darkest of the 3 solid gray backgrounds that come with OS X. Then, open up a picture of a black and white checkerboard.

I opened up this one (below) with Preview and blew it up until the Preview app-window filled the screen.

Then, cover your screen with something opaque so that you can see the minimize button for Preview, but not the checkboard pattern itself. This will prevent your retinal-retention from confusing the issue.

After about 15 minutes, minimize the checkerboard image and uncover your screen. You will likely see the image pretty clearly. It stayed on my rMBP for a while (i.e. one reboot to rule out software + 10 to 15 minutes until it faded from view).

Here's the thing though...

I never saw this problem until I read this thread or performed this test. My display has been great so far. So, I really don't plan on returning it, because I don't think it's going to be an issue for me. I do have the 3-year Apple Care though, so if it get's worse, I'll just get them to fix it.

Cheers,

Peter

Picnaut wrote:

Hello,

Well, it looks like I spoke too soon earlier.

To really replicate this problem, set your desktop background to the darkest of the 3 solid gray backgrounds that come with OS X. Then, open up a picture of a black and white checkerboard.

Uncle! I never saw the Image Retention issue on my LG display until I ran your test. Even after 15 minutes it was so light I hardly noticed it and it went away only after 2 minutes. Now I am curous though if any Samsung screen owner experiences the issue running this particular test.