Q: MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

Yes, I did take notice of the fact that the article specifically refers to iPad screens. That's why I used the word "policy" in my post. It's important to have a more broad based perspective beyond the specifics of the article. The article, if true, confirms that Apple is allowing their litigation with Samsung to affect their supply chain decisions. This was all speculation before. Samsung's PR has been putting out info like this to mitigate concerns that this would happen

http://techaun.blogspot.com/2012/08/samsung-keeps-production-of-components.html

Nobody is saying that they will cut off Samsung completely but it seems the intent is there to limit the usage of Samsung components. That may affect the ratio of LG vs Samsungs displays in the rMBP.

Dave Z wrote:

 

quintex wrote:

 

This article talks about a new Apple policy to reduce the purchase of Samsung displays.

 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/24/apple_samsung_display_iphone/

 

Christopher Wall posted that link earlier today. Again, that Register article seems to be addressing iPad screens.

 

Stats from market-watcher DisplaySearch [...] revealed that orders for 9.7in fondleslab displays fell by more than 50 per cent in August

[Emphasis, mine.] Unless my rMBP has an iPad screen, I don't see the connection. And it is standard practice for companies to diversify their parts supply partners. It makes perfect sense from just about every possible angle. Really the only angle that wouldn't make sense is if the parts suppliers used different technologies to build the same part and it resulted in different qualities. But that wouldn't happen, would it?

 

Seriously though, enough with this article, it's not talking about the rMBP and it would be completely expected that Apple wants to rely less on Samsung. But let's not kid ourselves, Samsung makes some good products and despite a $1B lawsuit, Samsung still brings in BILLIONS from Apple through parts. At this point they still need each other. That will likely change in the future, but it's not the case right now.

quintex wrote:

 

Yes, I did take notice of the fact that the article specifically refers to iPad screens. That's why I used the word "policy" in my post. It's important to have a more broad based perspective beyond the specifics of the article. The article, if true, confirms that Apple is allowing their litigation with Samsung to affect their supply chain decisions.

Of course Apple's business relationship with Samsung is affecting their business relationship with Samsung. But it's also entirely possible that Apple has met the initial demand from the third-generation iPad and no longer needs to keep the same volume of orders coming in for the screens. My point is: without the complete picture, we are not in any position to draw conclusions, everything is conjecture.

Bringing this back to the thread's topic, no one has been able to determine with any reasonable accuracy whether one person will receive a Samsung display or an LG.

We figured this out a long time ago. LG uses AH-IPS display which has IR problem, Samsung uses PLS no IR problem. It really is that simple. EVERY LG WILL HAVE IR because it uses IPS technology, even Apple admits -- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5455

I second that. Testing LGs is a wasted effort unless there's been a change in maufacturing. They will all have this "feature".

And by "feature" you mean the ability to continue reading that web page or e-mail after you accidentally closed the window.

Yes. Picture in Picture, Retina Edition.

It also gives you layers preview. You don't even have to open up your photo editing software! Native Display Layered Preview, Retina Edition.

Best of all? These features are mandatory!

I last posted to this forum on page 77. I am curious, as I am waiting on my 3rd MacBook Pro, whether anyone else is suffering through just plain abysmal customer service from Apple? Between the Apple business store, AppleCare and the local Apple stores I am convinced that an Apple genius in the real IT world is like the mop boy in an adult theater.

I began trying to get a rMacBook Pro on 15 July. That took approximately 2 weeks because I cashed in some points on my brokerage account and got 13 Apple gift cards for $100 each and attempted to order a computer through the online store. They were not able to accept that number of gift cards, but they were very happy to open a credit account with Barclays to cover the other $1700 of this purchase. I then went to the local Apple store and converted 13 gift cards into one and asked if I could order this BTO model there. The Apple Store unfortunately could not find the Barclays account, so I went back to the online store. When I tried to place my order with the online store a 2nd time and they told me the Barclays authorization had expired but they got someone on from Barclays Bank and did a balance transfer from my brokerage account so that I could finally place the order. When I got my 1st MacBook Pro I was really impressed. Video that would take an hour to recompile on my 2008 MacBook Pro took only 10 or 15 min., the instant on instant off feature was a dream. I did go through hours and hours of drama porting my files from my old MacBook to my new computer and I honestly will say that AppleCare gave me some of the worst advice I've received in many years. When I began to notice image retention I naturally checked the support community and discovered this thread. After some delay in getting Apple onboard I returned my 1st computer within the 14 day trial. For some bizarre reason the business store could not figure out how to do a return for replacement so it went back as a return for refund. Now things really get fun. After a week or so in the care of the post office Apple got my 1st computer back and then refunded part of the money to my credit card. They told me that since I purchased $1300 worth of the computer on an Apple gift card that they would be sending me a new gift card. I waited about a week and did nothing appeared. Now naturally concerned that there is this very valuable gift card floating around I called back and was told that the refund instead of being put on a new gift card was put back on the old gift card. In an ensuing mad scramble I finally found the old gift card in the bottom of my desk wastebasket. I beat the maid by only a few hours.

The 2nd attempt to order a  rMacBook Pro was a continuation of this comedy of errors. It got so bad that one of the executives of the business store reduced the price of the computer by $300. The build order went in, I got the e-mail notifying me when to expect delivery and received my 2nd rMacBook Pro on time. Having read about 100 more pages in this thread about image retention and various tests I loaded a couple of high-definition movies into iTunes and turned the display up to maximum brightness and maximum detail and then just let the computer run 24 hours a day for a few days. I was not going to go through all of the drama of porting my system again if this computer was going to show image retention. Not only did it show image retention but the whites were very yellow. On a side-by-side comparison with my old MacBook screen, a JPEG painted in Apple white looked white on the 2008 Samsung display and a sort of dirty beige on the LG of the new rMacBook. I took this box down to the Apple Store and compared it side-by-side with a bunch of other rMacBooks on display. When I got it side-by-side with the Samsung there was absolutely no comparison. The white tones were accurate, the screen was brighter and to my eye the colors were better on the Samsung display. I spent some time with the geniuses at Apple care trying to adjust the whites but as the image retention was getting worse and worse so I made the decision to return this computer as well. This time the nice people on the other end of phone did arrange for a return for replacement. I shipped this computer back, got confirmation that the post office had it in transit and received a note from Apple that my new computer would be delivered sometime between September 23 and September 25. I kept checking my account information on the Apple.com site and everything said that it was “still processing”…. nothing said there was a ship date.

I finally called Apple's this afternoon to determine the status of the 3rd computer after about 2 hours on the telephone it seems that they have received my old computer but no new computer had been ordered for replacement. I am simply astounded at how crappy customer service is in the Apple online store. I conservatively estimate that I have spent at least 40 hours on the telephone trying to buy a computer from Apple. At every step of the way, in every possible way, they have screwed up and these screw ups are not regarding bad construction, screen problems, scratches, mura or anything having to do with the actual box. I'm actually amazed that a retail operation that has this crappy level of service can be in business and make money. Note to self: (examine opportunities to be crappy to customers to see if they can be obscenely profitable).

Now, I just have to wait to see if someone can actually figure out what is going on with my order. I have just been told it might be here by the end of the week or early next week….expedited, they say. I really think it just might be simpler to get out the soldering iron, order a chip from Intel, order screen from Samsung, find some plastic box that works and build my own. It certainly would save time. The nuns in school said that one should "offer up their suffering to God" so I hope I can get a Samsung display in exchange.

To ANYONE who experiences problems within 14 days ...

Do *not* use the Apple test.  Do *not* mention image retention as the reason for your return.  Just go back, say, "I've changed my mind, and I no longer want the computer--I just can't afford it."  Or whatever makes sense for your situation.

Apple employees (both Apple Online and Apple Store) have a reason code called, "Customer remorse" as a valid reason to return the product within 14 days.  You don't have to have any other reason or be talked into keeping your computer just because it passes some test.

If you are BEYOND your 14 day return policy, then you will want to try heating up your computer as hot as you can get it--before going in to Apple Store--then keeping it hot while waiting for your 'genius'--then show them the IR in the test, to get them to replace it.  If they still say they can't see it--show it to them other ways.

It does seem like nowadays, most screen replacements are Samsungs.

Most Apple Store (and Online) employees are quite reasonable and will try to help you out, if you stay civil.

Again, if you're within your 14 day window, just return it!  (Personally, I'm waiting to see if the 13" models are any better--or for the Haswell chips in the Spring, at this point--I've wasted way too many hours of my time on this so far.)

Can anyone confirm that it is possible to get a samsung from the lid replacement? Because i'm thinking of going in for another service. I had the screen replaced before, and it was IR free for 2 weeks. Now my battery life is 4 hour on wifi, it's an isolate issue and wasn't caused by the repair.

Dave Z wrote:

 

That's great! My appointment is coming up later this week. Wish me luck!

Good luck Dave!!!

By the way, has anyone in the last week received a replacement screen that was NOT made by Samsung?

UltraMax wrote:

 

Can anyone confirm that it is possible to get a samsung from the lid replacement? Because i'm thinking of going in for another service. I had the screen replaced before, and it was IR free for 2 weeks. Now my battery life is 4 hour on wifi, it's an isolate issue and wasn't caused by the repair.

I don't think that the lid can be separated from the screen. That's why Aplpe ships them to repair depots in one piece, hinges and all. So, if you're replacing the lid, you will likely get a new LCD panel was well (at least I think so).

Today was just the best. Went in to a different Apple Store. Showed the genius my screen. "Oh wow, that [stinks]*! Don't worry though we'll get you fixed up." Goes to the back, comes back after a very long time. "Actually, this is expected behavior, so..."

I was within my 14 days, so I told him I wanted to swap it. I watched him enter "buyer's remorse" as the reason. Then he gave me a new one. He told me that I likely would not be able to swap another one out again, as this was now my third rMBP (my original, plus now two replacements). He then shared a little annecdote, pulling his iPhone 5 up from his belt, "I just got my new phone, and it has a dead pixel and one little scratch on the back that I didn't do. I could try to exchange it, but I'd have to wait for the next cycle, and sometimes it's better to just live with it. I mean, I love my phone!" Not sure what he meant by next cycle, but this speaks volumes to Apple's new approach to quality control, and why they'll get away with it (for a while).

Anyway, the new one is an LG (of course), and I officially give up. I just can't deal with this anymore. It's taken too much of my time and mental energy as it is.

*I had typed a word that I didn't think was a "bad" word that rhymes with "ducks" and is what he said. But Apple put little ****s over it, so I guess that's not allowed. Defective screens for $2500+, no problem. saying a word that starts with "s" and rhymes with "ducks," huge problem. Makes sense.

So I got a more sympathetic person at the Genius Bar today...

I simply showed him the pictures I dad of the failed test among other things - and he said it was good enough for him.  He order a replacement #661-7171.  Samsung I hope??

Wow - lots of typos from my iPhone... ;)

So I recently received a refund for my rMBP after 2 repairs on my screen and they wouldn't fix it a 3rd time because of "minor" backlight bleeding, although I find it clearly visible in any light condition. Now I'm ordering another but this time through the online Apple store for a BTO since 8GB Ram didn't fit my needs.  I'm hoping my 1st online purchase will be perfect with a Samsung screen so I'll avoid playing the exchanging game repeatedly (which I did for 8 units).

Also, for those who receive replacement screens, make sure you inspect it throughly for backlight bleeding, pinkish tints, yellow tints, and etc over a white background because most of the screen I tested experienced non-unformed hues.

If apple is reading this, I hope they realize that they are losing customers over this.  I was poised to purchase a retina display model but will not do so given this issue.  Claims of this being the best Mac ever designed are clearly challenged by Apple's willingness to accept this IR issue with LG screens as "expected behavior."  Surprising really, that a company that supposedly prides itself on design and engineering excellence would not deal with this issue head on.  This subtle and evasive tact is disappointing.