Q: MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

The problem is getting them to acknowledge that you have an Image Retention problem...  I was in last week and they did the 'test' on my MBPro.  Two mistakes:

1. My computer was not hooked up to AC Power.

2. The screen dimmed (like it does before sleep) for part of the test.

So - the 'genius' said there was no sign of image retention at the end of the test.  The page was still cached in my browser when I got home.  I re-ran the test 3 times and still saw the pattern.  I took pictures with my iPhone.

On Wednesday, I emailed Tim Cook detailing my two visits to the Apple Store about this issue - and said I didn't believe I should have to demonstrate it again with another appointment I have on Monday.  I attached several pictures to the email.  It's like playing roulette with the genious bar.  I have yet to hear back from anyone in the executive offices.

Here are a couple of the images:

Does the unit have to fail the IR test that Apple is now using?

If we can reproduce IR without the test where does that leave us?

Are we allowed to spell out the replacement part number? I discovered this number today.

So I've just received my third rMBP - first was a Samsung display with a rather large case of LCD mura (white spot) towards the lower center-left of my screen.  The second rMBP I received was one with an LG display that began showing signs of image retention almost immediately. 

I've now just receive my third unit, which also has an LG screen, but has yet to show any signs of image retention.  I've left static images on the screen for about an hour, and ran the testretention.app several times in a row (and have heated the computer up significantly doing CPU and GPU intensive operations) and, so far, nothing.

It's only a few days old, and many here seem to indicate that the problem only develops over time.  But I'd like to know - is there anyone here who's received an LG screen that hasn't had any image retention?  My current unit is from production week 37.

Is there anyone else here that has had a replecement with an LG screen that's had no IR issues?

northtwilight wrote:

 

Does the unit have to fail the IR test that Apple is now using?

 

If we can reproduce IR without the test where does that leave us?

 

Are we allowed to spell out the replacement part number? I discovered this number today.

Well, it's a technical detail, so I don't see why not. Go for it.

By the way, is this the ONLY part number they have for rMBP replacement displays? Also, are you based in Canada like me?

seanswee wrote:

 

So I've just received my third rMBP - first was a Samsung display with a rather large case of LCD mura (white spot) towards the lower center-left of my screen.  The second rMBP I received was one with an LG display that began showing signs of image retention almost immediately. 

 

I've now just receive my third unit, which also has an LG screen, but has yet to show any signs of image retention.  I've left static images on the screen for about an hour, and ran the testretention.app several times in a row (and have heated the computer up significantly doing CPU and GPU intensive operations) and, so far, nothing.

 

It's only a few days old, and many here seem to indicate that the problem only develops over time.  But I'd like to know - is there anyone here who's received an LG screen that hasn't had any image retention?  It's from production week 37.

 

Is there anyone else here that has had a replecement with an LG screen that's had no IR issues?

My (tentative) advice, based on what I've been reading and what I've experienced, is to hold onto your rMBP if there's nothing apparently wrong with it. Perhaps LG has figured this out and they are now making good displays. If not, and you do start seeing IR at some point down the road (like many here have) then it appears that Apple is now replacing defective LG displays with only Samsung displays if the defective LG displays are being replaced because of the image retention issue (not sure about other problems). So, it's up to you. Monitor it every day and, on the 13th day of your 14-day NQA return period, go into a warm room and perform the checkerboard test for an hour. Then...well...again, it's up to you.

metrama wrote:

 

ATTENTION - PLEASE READ

 

DO NOT PLAY THE BUY/RETURN 14-DAY LOTTERY HOPING YOU'LL GET A SAMSUNG DISPLAY

 

Sorry but that's not good advice. Especially with Apple's new marching orders being that they run a silly test in order to tell you that what you and the apple guy can see on your screen, that shouldn't be there, isn't a problem. Next they'll tell you all the cool people have IR, after all, you don't want your screen to look like a PC do you?

Really, Apple is behaving shamefully. When/if this explodes they will definitely be deserving of the hit their reputation takes.

OK.

Yes, I'm in Toronto, though this issue only really developed here in TO and on vacation with my girlfriend in Vancouver. The temperatures in both places during the onset of my original screen retention were very high and I think worsened the issue.

I have an interesting story to go with this, actually.

Here goes.

Taking cues from the earlier post from Canuck1970, where he noted he went to an authorised repair centre, I stopped in to a local reseller / repair shop to see if they would be able to replace the screen with a Samsung model.

The first sales guy I spoke to was the same guy I had mentioned the issue to over the phone, and he was eager to see the defect in action. He signalled to his colleague that 'this was the guy I told you about, with the retina display image distortion'.

So I started to outline that I had bought the computer a couple of months earlier, that the original screen showed severe signs of image retention and the condition was only getting worse on the replacement.

DIGRESSION

He started to motion me over to the service department, when behind me and over to the right, these two young guys stood shoulder to shoulder by the display models, then grabbed three laptops between them, and bolted for the door.

The two clerks that were serving me started after them, yelling, 'Hey, stop, thief!', and they turned north out of the shop. A third dude standing just outside the shop watched calmly as they tore off in one direction, then strolled into the same counter where the first two guys were a minute before, looked over at me, still at the shop register, then decided he was going to go ahead and do it, and grabbed a fourth laptop, and bolted south. As I looked at him, I started rummaging around for the camera on my phone, and of course I couldn't get it started in time to get a shot of his face. But I did get three shots of him dashing off.

The second, older of the two clerks returned to the shop and I told him about the second theft with the third guy, told him about the photos, then he went to call the cops to report it. The one cop showed up a few minutes later, so he took our details and our statements, and I sent him a copy of the photos in email.

While we waited for the cops to show up, the clerks wanted me to speak with the service technician in the basement. He hadn't seen anything, so was pretty much in the dark - almost literally in this case. They told him about the theft.

END OF DIGRESSION

Anyway - we got into the retina image retention issue, and he explained that unfortunately none of the reseller / repair shop's technical staff were certified for the new retina displays, so he couldn't help me. But we talked about it and he wanted to check my serial number. Thinking back to Canuck's email, I asked if he could confirm how many parts he had listed for the retina display itself.

We pieced together that there was an original retina display screen, with one part number (661-6529), and now, there was another retina display screen, with a different part number, 661-7171 . No confirmation as to which is or was which.

After we gave our respective statements, I returned home.

I did some digging on the internet and found this:

http://www.iresq.com/macbook-repair/macbook-pro-with-retina-repair/macbook-pro-r etina-display-repair.html

-- which appears to be for the original screen, whichever that is. I think we can piece together which is which, but I don't have confirmation either way.

Hope this helps.

MS

DomdiDom wrote:

 

metrama wrote:

 

ATTENTION - PLEASE READ

 

DO NOT PLAY THE BUY/RETURN 14-DAY LOTTERY HOPING YOU'LL GET A SAMSUNG DISPLAY

 

Sorry but that's not good advice. Especially with Apple's new marching orders being that they run a silly test in order to tell you that what you and the apple guy can see on your screen, that shouldn't be there, isn't a problem. Next they'll tell you all the cool people have IR, after all, you don't want your screen to look like a PC do you?

 

Really, Apple is behaving shamefully. When/if this explodes they will definitely be deserving of the hit their reputation takes.

I hear what you're saying. It would definitely be nice if Apple would be more consistent with their response to this issue. However, my feeling is that the whole "normal operation" nonsense is simply a ploy to buy them a little more time to get everything in order to make this right. Apple seems to be counting on most people to not stand up for themselves and press the issue. As I've said before though, "the squeaky wheel get's the oil". I was told the same thing, but then told that they'd make an exception for me "just this one time". So, I had my screen replaced yesterday and the new Samsung display seems to look so much better. I'm especially not missing the image retention "feature" either. By the way, for my money, if, besides the LG IR issue, your rMBP is otherwise running well, I think it's much more preferable to replace the screen, rather than the whole machine. I mean, what if your new machine has a Samsung display, but the keys are lose, or you get some other serious issue? Anyway, that's just my 2 cents.

northtwilight wrote:

 

"I'm in Toronto, though this issue only really developed here in TO and on vacation with my girlfriend in Vancouver"

Hi northtwilight,

So, you were here in Vancouver, but now you're back in Toronto? Also, I'm assuming the Apple shop you visited was in Toronto as well, correct? And, it was not an Apple store, right?

northtwilight wrote:

 

"We pieced together that there was an original retina display screen, with one part number (661-6529), and now, there was another retina display screen, with a different part number, 661-7171 . No confirmation as to which is or was which"

OK, I'm not sure about the Apple store, but I'm pretty sure that authorized Apple dealer/repair centres require that you first drop off your machine before they order the replacement screen (which usually arrives the next day). In my case, the shop I talked to bent the rules a bit and ordered the replacement screen for me without having me first drop off my machine. I just had to promise that I'd bring my machine in for the repair within 24 hours of them receiving the new display. I did.

Now, in Canada, all of these Apple dealers order their replacement parts from the same place, from the same inventory. Your post seems to jibe with what my technician told me, that there were 2 part numbers for replacement displays, and it looks like you got them: 661-6529 and 661-7171.

The problem is that we don't know which is which. My gut says that the Samsung replacement screen is part # 661-7171, but I'm not ready to bet the farm on that.

In any case, I'll take a look at my repair work order when I get back into work on Monday and see if the part number is written on there somewhere. If it is, I'll post it here.

Good luck!

metrama wrote:

 

ATTENTION - PLEASE READ

 

DO NOT PLAY THE BUY/RETURN 14-DAY LOTTERY HOPING YOU'LL GET A SAMSUNG DISPLAY

 

It seems, and is almost confirmed, that apple only stocks and ships samsung displays ONLY for repair.

 

...

On what did you base your statement? I got a Samsung display with a BTO order and so did several others...

stecube wrote:

 

metrama wrote:

 

ATTENTION - PLEASE READ

 

DO NOT PLAY THE BUY/RETURN 14-DAY LOTTERY HOPING YOU'LL GET A SAMSUNG DISPLAY

 

It seems, and is almost confirmed, that apple only stocks and ships samsung displays ONLY for repair.

 

...

On what did you base your statement? I got a Samsung display with a BTO order and so did several others...

I think what "metrama" was trying to say is that you could play the LG/Samsung lottery, and you may get a Samsung display, but it's not a sure thing. However, it "is almost confirmed" that if Apple agrees to replace your rMBP's LG display, you will get a Samsung display for sure, because that's all Apple is currently stocking for display replacements due to the IR issue. Again, this is almost confirmed, but not 100% yet. I'm really starting to believe it though, especially after my experience yesterday and that of "northtwilight" (above).

AJGrall,

Is this test then something they run from web browser? I assume it runs on their internal network?

All we KNOW is that Apple introduced a test, a test to create a result that so far from what I've read, creates the exact result Apple wants. "PASSED" Doesn't matter that you can see IR, doesn't matter that the tech can see what you can.

SO as long as Apple CAN say you "passed" their made up controlled test and tell you there's nothing they can do for you, as this a k-rad cool fantastic feature of ips panels from LG, if you're within your 14 days return it until you get a samsung or their's or your head explodes.

In the absence of a clear statement from apple stating otherwise you need to protect your money as diligently as they're protecting their's.

Hi,

To your preamble questions - yes to all. I was here in TO at first, 2 days before Vancouver, when I first noticed the IR on the original retina. My machine is a 2.3/16/256 CTO from one of the larger Apple resellers, wk 1/35 I think, assembled in Shanghai, delivered 11 July. Today's store is another reseller/repair shop. There were assorted informal visits to Toronto Eaton and Vancouver Pacific Centre Apple stores to gauge likely reception if I went to the Genius Bar directly, or rather called AppleCare first.

In the end the reason it seems they replaced it 2 weeks ago was that it predated the Apple test and so was much more anecdotal in nature. I mean, one reason for implementing the test is to actually have a yardstick - prior to it, you had assorted reports from Apple Stores where users were going through displays like plates at a wedding. For cost control purposes, you then can measure how much loss there is, when you have a test.

On my (admittedly, anecdotal) experience every LG display will have IR. The question now is, how much? As well others, like how quickly? If they all develop it, and say eventually 30% of users exchange screens for replacements (assuming < 100% affected users will eventually do so), is the retina still a success?

Just to clear up - 6529 was not only the original, but it is no longer in use at present - as in, no longer supplied to repair returned panels. So it must be the LG screen. No longer supplied does not mean no longer in circulation - the pool of displays out there may still be flooded with LGs -- and Apple in the US may have different or less efficient distribution channels in Canada, I don't know.

7171 is the replacement screen, and it is sounding virtually certain that it is the Samsung display.

northtwilight wrote:

 

"Just to clear up - 6529 was not only the original, but it is no longer in use at present - as in, no longer supplied to repair returned panels. So it must be the LG screen. No longer supplied does not mean no longer in circulation - the pool of displays out there may still be flooded with LGs -- and Apple in the US may have different or less efficient distribution channels in Canada, I don't know.

 

7171 is the replacement screen, and it is sounding virtually certain that it is the Samsung display."

OK, this does agree with what my repair tech said yesterday. There were two replacement display part numbers and now there's only one. So, it does appear, in Canada at least, that if you can convince Apple to approve the screen replacement under warranty, you will likely get a Samsung. That's what I think anyway.