OK... I have an early 2013 MBPr 15". It shipped with a Samsung screen. LOVED it until a few days ago when I started noticing dead pixels... white on black background. Did some major research and found the "exploding pixel" issue. I indeed did have microscopic chips out of the screen where the dead spots were. There were 3 noticable spots... one where the keyboard is and 2 where the palmrest is. The two competing theories are 1. tiny grains of dirt/sand damage the screen coating when the laptop is closed and 2. the pixels stick and actually burn through the coating. Both of these theories have their own issues and I'm at a loss for what causes it. (seems improbable that a pixel could burn through the coating, but also seems improbable that debris could cause it since the gasket around the screen holds the closed screen about 2 mm above the palmrest).
Anyway, Apple replaced the screen with an LG, even though I thought LG's were out since I had read about the image retention problem earlier and the tech that diagnosed it seemed to assure me it would be a Samsung replacement screen. When I got the laptop home and fired it up, the blacks were greenish and I could see a ghost image on the green/black screen area (that's when I checked to see if it was an LG)... and also, the "genius" (yeah, right) had left a screw out of the bottom of the machine.
It seems that the black/green problem and the IR problem have subsided in the past hour that it has been on, but I'm AFRAID this problem will return. Never noticed this with the Samsung. Additionally, the right side of the screen is more magenta than the left.
I'm also AFRAID if I get a samsung sceen the dead/exploding pixel issure will return.
I have 2 or so weeks left on the 1 yr free applecare warranty and it looks like I'm going to have to spend around $340 for 2 more years because I am now scared that this laptop will definitely fail again.
Yes, Apple... YOU ARE SCARING ME INTO BUYING APPLECARE. I've had your laptops for around 20 years and this will be my first time buying applecare... and I'm doing it because I truly DON'T TRUST YOU AT ALL anymore.
Thanks for that. I really appreciate it.
And, while I'm at it, it seems like the quality of the "genusies" has gone downhill... the employees at the Apple store I went to all have the appearance of indigents living at the store that happen to work for food. I'm all for different and casual dress, but their sloppy/unwashed appearance makes me trust you even less (that, plus they can't even put all the screws back in my "repaired" laptop).
It would be nice if the QC of these screens were equal. It would be nice if I knew what caused the samsung screen to have dead pixels. It would be nice to have confidence in apple again.
That's my story. I guess I'm off to buy applecare. Just shut up and take my fear money already...