Q: MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in?

Sir, if image retention is not an issue for you, we're happy for you.

For the rest of us, it might not be the case. And IR is a very variable phenomenon in extent and magnitude.

Perhaps you should just leave the people with actual problems and/or anticipation of aggravating issues discuss this?

I personally had four yellow LG displays with unacceptable IR, one with a pinkish LG display which had very mild IR (but I didn't feel like waiting for it to develop further), and finally, a perfect Samsung display with a neutral white point and zero issues.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the issue never concerned you or affected you, but for the rest of us, it might? Please abstain from commenting if commenting only to antagonize others.

Peace out.

J.K. ROFLing wrote:

 

If this was even a problem with even 20% of the LG displays, the story would be about the shortage of computers and replacement displays because Apple would have removed the LG displays from the mfg and repair channels. Despite what many on here would have us believe, I would bet the "problem displays" are less than 2% and even as a percentage of LGs, the number probably doesn't hit 5%. And again, it will depend on your definition of "defective", 1 sec, 5 sec or 15 sec of image retention. From what I have seen, Apples test seems to be something like 3 min of image on screen and 1 min retention, which I find fairly reasonable, because I seldom have a screen stationary for 3 min and even when I do, the retained image is usually so faint as to be overshadowed by whatever image I have on at the time. I can't remember the last time I had my display on a plain grey background...

Again...B.S.
The fact that people who've discovered the IR issue have gone through so many rMBP's with returns and still have the problem makes that 2% figure laughable. If it was true, that virtually every person who returned a rMBP for the IR issue would get an IR-free screen on their next one. That ain't happening.

And, for what you find reasonable...I'm speechless. Are you insane? You must have the lowest expectations of any consumer in the world. Actually, speaking from a marketing viewpoint, I wish there were more customers like you in the world.

In any case, the vast majority of the people on this forum are NOT complaining about 1 second of image retention. In my case, it would start after 1 minute and I could see Safari web pages on my Galaxy desktop for at least that long afterwards...but it didn't start out that way.

Well, anything over an image retention of like 5 seconds is unacceptable to me. Sure, it depends on how visible it is, but come on. It's 2012, that shouldn't be an issue.

Apple has always been really nitpicky about the quality of their stuff. Nowadays they seem to care more about keeping Samsung from selling their products in different countries.

Anyway, I'm unsure of my future purchase now. I might get an LG with no problems initially, that's probably likely. But I KNOW I'll have that gnawing feeling in the back of my head. "What if these problems occur after 14 days? After 1 year?"

For 3100 dollars (that's what it costs here in Sweden), I want a high-end premium laptop which LASTS.

In other words, don't p*** in the corn flakes of the complainers with a dose of realism? Nobody said or insinuated that people were creating unique user to inflate the number. The comment was that IF every post was a unique user, the numbers of defective units would still be small. I have NOT said that there were NO problems, there are. Some have indicated a short image would result in a long retention. I said "defective" was in the eye of the beholder, I (personal opinion) don't see a 15 sec retention from an image on the screen (especially a high contrast image) for 3-5 min as a "defective" display. Others see a 1 sec retention as a "defect", fine, I just think that is being too critical. My point to posting to danielwerner was to point out the difference in opinion and that is what a lot of this is about, opinions on what is acceptable and what is not.

But I love the demand for "perfection" in a product...I just wonder how many here could withstand the same amount of scrutiny. Enjoy the name calling...

Danny Swish wrote:

 

"Uh, I'm pretty sure he was talking about how people have posted multiple replies on this thread, not that they've been making separate accounts..."

Well, you never know with that guy. He's made more ridiculous claims than that so I wouldn't put it past him. I don't think he has a point either way though. A person needs only to walk into any Apple store and check it out for themselves. Also, the odds are remote that this problem is isolated when people are returning their rMBP several times and still getting LG displays with IR. At the end of the day: LG --> IR, Samsung --> No IR. There's really no other argument, because everyone is paying the same.

Guys, we're feeding J.K Trolling, it's making him stronger.

Let's just ignore him and we can keep on topic and actually help people who come here to get support.

J.K. ROFLing wrote:

 

"But I love the demand for "perfection" in a product...I just wonder how many here could withstand the same amount of scrutiny".

I paid for that "perfection", just as everyone here did, and I got it with my Samsung display. Apple is capable of making an IR-free rMBP virtually every time, but they're not. So, you go ahead an enjoy your LG rMBP with it's perfectly acceptable level of image retention, but spare the rest of these people who still haven't received what they paid for.

rrahimi wrote:

 

Guys, we're feeding J.K Trolling, it's making him stronger.

 

Let's just ignore him and we can keep on topic and actually help people who come here to get support.

LOL. You're right. I still think it's good to toss back a bit of logic in his direction though, so that the newbies on this thread don't throw in the towel based on his comments.

J.K. ROFLing wrote:

 

Despite what many on here would have us believe, I would bet the "problem displays" are less than 2% and even as a percentage of LGs, the number probably doesn't hit 5%.

The key here is that you said, "I would bet," which means you don't know. You're honest and correct at that. None of us know the failure rates. Despite your being labeled a "troll" I would agree with a few of your points. There is a good chance the failure rate is pretty low. Discussion forums are never the best place to gauge the severity of an issue. It would be like trying to gauge the percentage of the population that has an alcohol problem by profiling an AA meeting. Nevertheless, in looking at the view and posts on this thread versus other threads on Apple's discussion, it is clear this is a more pressing issue than some others. The types of spikes in views and posts this thread is seeing is similar to when a OS X point update breaks users' computers. So this shouldn't be ignored.

it will depend on your definition of "defective", 1 sec, 5 sec or 15 sec of image retention. From what I have seen, Apples test seems to be something like 3 min of image on screen and 1 min retention, which I find fairly reasonable

Perhaps. In my case an image would persist for several minutes and I found that to be distracting and indicative of a defect.

I seldom have a screen stationary for 3 min and even when I do, the retained image is usually so faint as to be overshadowed by whatever image I have on at the time.

Three minutes, really? I have Coda up for hours on end. If I'm not coding I'll have Safari up, usually. Of course I expect some persistence with eight hours of one window being on the screen. But I don't expect it after three minutes of one window--especially when the image persists for several minutes after removal.

Perhaps your usage patterns are such that IR is not (or would not be) a problem for you. That's fantastic. For some of us it actually is an issue. I get the impression that many posters in this thread are interpreting your comments as dismissive to the issue they are experiencing. The truth is, though, it doesn't matter whether the issue is real or perceived. A design/manufactoring defect or caused by usage patterns. Users here are unhappy with their relatively expensive computer--whose marquee feature was the screen--and Apple is being inconsistent in how they handle the issue. This, alone, demands a certain level of acknowledgment and respect.

Canuck1970 wrote:

 

I believe that Apple is still using the LG panels on the production line because they're counting on most people not noticing, and they're using Samsung panels for repair because they know that these customers have figured it out.

+1

Exactly. If this was any other 1000 dollar laptop, I'd understand that the screen probably won't be flawless. But when I pay over 3000 dollars for a laptop from Apple (who are - or were - notorious for their sense of quality) I expect the best.

Especially when I order a retina one, where the screen is the major selling point. I'd expect a PERFECT screen for that money, yes.

ScottPCs wrote:

 

I've just received this morning my 3rd replacement rMBP and guess what... it's another LG screen.

 

For reference it's a week 40 (Chipmunk) / week 41 (Appleserialnumber) and was ordered about a couple of weeks ago. Spec is 2.6 / 16 / 512.

 

I went to great lengths with Applecare to try and ensure that this one would have a Samsung screen but of course I was never guaranteed to get one. The only option now is either to keep this latest replacement or send it back for a full refund. These options were given to me when this latest replacement was organised by UK Applecare.

 

The screen on this replacement has a very cool shade of colour but whites look incredibly white albeit colours look slightly more 'washed out' compared to the one I'm sending back. Uniformity seems very even with no dead pixels or mura anywhere that I can see.

 

Of course the first thing I did was to run the terminal command to identify the screen and then check for IR. As with so many people who have an LG screen, there are no signs at all that IR exists at the moment but that's not to say it may / will develop later on.

 

I'm at a total loss as to what to do now. The trouble is that this was bought through the education store and my circumstances have now changed so it's not a simple case of getting a refund and re-ordering as I wouldn't get the educational discount. My only option on re-ordering is through the normal route which means paying about £200 - £300 more than I did when I first ordered it.

 

What's your advice? Keep this latest replacement or send it back for refund / re-order? Trouble is I'm not guaranteed a Samsung screen even if I did re-order and I can't request a screen 'repair' as there is no IR at present.

 

I'm based in the UK too - I'm guessing that a lot of people on here are based in the US so I'm not sure what that means for me.

 

Sorry to break up the little party we seem to have going on here but can we stay on topic please? There's plenty of people here, including myself, that would genuinely appreciate thoughts both in my situation and that of others.

So far, the closest anyone has come to getting a guaranteed Samsung display is if you received a week 39 machine. Obviously Apple are still using LG screens for, dare I say, the majority of rMBPs being shipped. With that in mind, what are the chances of getting a Samsung screen on a factory shipped order?

I know some of you will tell me simply to book the screen in for repair and get one that way but that's a little difficult when the machine I've just received doesn't yet appear to have the IR problem, despite being an LG. Having run IR tests all day long since I received it this morning, I'd be being extremely picky if I could spot any if at all. Even then I wouldn't be 100% certain that what I was seeing is definitely IR or if it's just a figment of my imagination.

This is my 3rd replacement now and I've seen first hand how bad the IR can be (and I wasn't even looking for it.) Could it be even remotely possible that the latest LG screens can be free of IR or if that isn't possible then someone please explain why?

Opinions are like *** holes, everybody's got one. Your opinion being different than others' does not mean yours is correct or incorrect. You opine that a small bit of IR is a nonissue. That's good for you buddy. Some here find it unacceptable, and that's perfectly fine as well. The thing here is that you need to accept this fact/reality and stop crying that people are being too "overcritical" because every individual has a right to be anything they want to be. You're not their mother.

J.K. ROFLing wrote:

 

fine, I just think that is being too critical. My point to posting to danielwerner was to point out the difference in opinion and that is what a lot of this is about, opinions on what is acceptable and what is not.

Some have reported they have perfect LG displays, but it seems yours is far from perfect.

You have a few options here, one being sending it back for a refund and reorder. However, I would recommend, since you will be losing quite a bit of money if you get it replaced with a new unit, to wait it out until the 14th day. If you think the IR is noticeable to the point where a genius at your nearest apple store think he would help you out, then go for the free replacement. If the IR is not as serious after 13 days, then wait it out a month or so, and see if your IR issue gets worse. Then have the display repaired.

I bought my rMBP the week it came out, and had the display replaced with a Samsung for free. When the genius ordered the screen, he purposely ordered the Samsung model #, but now it seems the LG model # is gone completely.

Best of luck.

scottpcs wrote:

 

Sorry to break up the little party we seem to have going on here but can we stay on topic please? There's plenty of people here, including myself, that would genuinely appreciate thoughts both in my situation and that of others.

 

So far, the closest anyone has come to getting a guaranteed Samsung display is if you received a week 39 machine. Obviously Apple are still using LG screens for, dare I say, the majority of rMBPs being shipped. With that in mind, what are the chances of getting a Samsung screen on a factory shipped order?

 

I know some of you will tell me simply to book the screen in for repair and get one that way but that's a little difficult when the machine I've just received doesn't yet appear to have the IR problem, despite being an LG. Having run IR tests all day long since I received it this morning, I'd be being extremely picky if I could spot any if at all. Even then I wouldn't be 100% certain that what I was seeing is definitely IR or if it's just a figment of my imagination.

 

This is my 3rd replacement now and I've seen first hand how bad the IR can be (and I wasn't even looking for it.) Could it be even remotely possible that the latest LG screens can be free of IR or if that isn't possible then someone please explain why?

I have a question for those of you who currently have LG's with IR.  When I've been at the Apple Store and run the test for IR, I always install the dark gray background first, before I use the checkerboard pattern.   Does it make a difference in the IR if you bring up the dark gray background after you run the checkerboard pattern?