Colored vertical lines on PB 17" display

The first line on my screen appeared last January and now I'm counting 25. In addition there is a 2 inch wide field extending from top to bottom that is vibrating. The total effect of all this is getting pretty irritating.
After reading all the inputs regarding this issue I'm just now becoming aware of the widespread nature and also somewhat disappointed with Apple's response to a fundamental quality issue that they seem to want to ignore.
I also have a 7 year old Toshiba laptop which is operating like on day one, although I don't like the vulnerability to virus infection and the constant downloading of anti-virus updates. So I thought I get away from all extraneaous distractions and now this.
If Apple refuses to fess up to the problem and take reponsibility for their mistake than this would be the last time I ever buy an Apple Computer. This is a clear case of a manufacturing problem that can only be resolved by Apple doing the right thing.

Apart from 80-90 lines I also have two 2 inch wide fields which are vibrating. I guess the next effect will be a completely dark display. 😟

Hello Cogwheel38

cogwheel38 wrote:

I also have a 7 year old Toshiba laptop which is operating like on day one, although I don't like the vulnerability to virus infection and the constant downloading of anti-virus updates. So I thought I get away from all extraneaous distractions and now this.

I agree completely with you, I was so unlucky with PB17" G4, you know, "the vertical lines of death", but while using PB17", I have to accept I had very good luck because I found in the street, near my house in Tokyo a laptop HP, without hard disk, without power adaptor. So as I agree with you I don't want that operating system, maybe the same as your toshiba, I was lucky because I had no hard disk. So I started with a live CD of a linux Slackware, and after that I decided to install ubuntu. All you who don't want to use windXXX , please consider the open source possibility on PC's. The best think is you will learn about your conputer, more than any other OS. of course you need time, but not so much as I though the first day. People in linux forums will help you at any time to install and fix bugs.

I will use my PBG4 untill I cannot use it more because is old, is a good computer, also if I prefer it without that lines , If Apple want to change I will apreciate, and I am fighting for that because I don't want to be stolen. I hope the lines don't start growing too much, but I know linux is the future.

sorry for my english.

Hi Mike,

I am having the same issues. I understand that things break down, but to get a system with a defect that will cost me $2000 to get fixed is a bit over the top.

I love my Powerbook, but i reckon that this is a little unacceptable. Especially with so many complaints. Now i am also readng the wildest stories on Wiki on this topic.

I also have a W85 serial number.

I will complain to Apple too.

I will happily accept that this is an unfortuante mistake, and if Apple fixes this without charging, then i think that they are coming towards us in a good way. Beyond this issue. My Powerbook has always worked fast and heaps good.

Hello everyone,
i'm french but i hope my message will be easy to read for you...

I'm now a new member of the VL Club with my 15 vertical lines after 24 month of use 😟
By this fact, I'm probably also a future ex-customer of Apple products, after at least 15 years of loyalty, and at least the equivalent amount in thousand of dollars spend in their products.

I bought my PowerBook G4 1.67 GHx 17" in brand new condition, in june 2005.
My serial number is also starting with W85xxxxx.
A serial number verification on the net gave me this information :
- Factory: W8 (Shanghai China)
- Production year: 2005
- Production week: 17 (April)

Honora (Susan) told us on that forum that her thread about vertical lines was deleted... like many other threads and posts...Interesting... I saved this web page, just in case. Maybe it will be something good for my blog as a proof of my post on this forum.

There is a lot of graphic designers, web workers, bloggers, reporters, and many others Apple customers that are able to spread the web with very good publicity for Apple, and I cannot explain myself why they are playing their reputation for about 300 customers.

Hope they will fill our requests soon...

Folks

I found the part. You can't buy just the inverter cable but you also have to buy the airport antenna and cable as it is part of an assembly.

http://www.welovemacs.com/mrc0071.html

The price was $79.00

Also, wegener media www.wegenermedia.com manufacturers new cable assemblies but it is over $200 bucks. This is much less than the $700 for the entire display assembly!!

Hi All,
Add me to the list - Got one line down the middle after about 20 months - then two now on about 2 years I've got 4 which has now made it difficult to use.
Do Apple monitor these forums - it seems to me that this is so obviously a machine supplied with a flawed design element, which I thought in consumer law (UK anyway) meant that the manufacturer had to correct?
I've bought and used macs and been a big fan for about 15 years now - but if they are trying to avoid their responsibilities over this issue its dissapointing, not what I expect from "brand Apple"
Cheers
Glenn

From Wired magazine, 11/1/07, by Bryan Gardiner:
"How Will Apple Spend Its Cash?
With $15.4 billion in cash reserves... The cash coffers are overflowing at Apple these days."
I know what they can do with a bit of that cash: They can fix our defective laptops!

MM

I would make a bet that when you reinstalled that cable that it got pinched. It is a major pain, I just got mine and am going to put some extra electrical tape around the cable to protect it at the place where it gets pinched.

Anyway,

As Apple seems to wanna charge me $2K to get this fixed. I have decided to let the Technical university take the screen apart, and we will publish the findings regarding the screen on the internet.

I'll lose me Apple, but this is becoming unworkable. So, i will have to get a new PC laptop :'-(
No way am i paying $7K for another apple ($5K for the laptop and an additional $2K for the additional LCD screen).

Hi...
I've had two vertical 1" thick white lines appear exactly one year after I bought my Powerbook and a few white blurry spots as well ... same old serial number... W8 (assembled in China)...been searching high and low to report the problem to Mac through their website (I live in India). Got a lot of info from all the previous posts... thanks all!
Guess I shoul call them up...sent a letter in to the general feedback page too... here in India they tell me I will have to pay Rs.45,000 ($1125), almost half the price of my laptop!
I was always such a diehard Mac fan, it's really disappointing for all this to happen and not have them respond positively yet. Maybe this week they will!
Such a pity coz I use my machine all the time for my design work.

I just got my first blue line last night. APPLE, YOU CAN'T IGNORE US FOREVER!

http://counterbeing.com/mattSmith/DSCN3471.jpg

I'm from MAnila Phil. and I'm an unfortunate owner of a defective 17" powerbook as well. The defect appeared on the left side of my LCD and is now developing another line on the right side of my LCD. Wow how exciting, new lines develop every few weeks.

Why hasn't MAC made any move to resolve this problem? This is sure a manufacturing problem. We're not cheap for not getting apple care, but we at least expect quality products from MAC. Especially if we buy the top of the line products from Mac.

I just hope they mace appropriate action on this Problem.

5 weeks after line number 4 i got a 5th line.

now, what does this tell me?

- the lines appear apparently after random time intervalls

- they are not related to booting or shutdown, they all appeared while the powerbook was already running for some time (in my case at least).

- 2 of the 5 defective lines started as slowly blinking lines which then later stayed permanent. for the other 3 lines i can't tell, as i normally work on two screens (extended desktop) where the external display is my primary one where i concentrate on. i suddenly noticed that the new defective lines where there.

- while the new lines were blinking i couldn't force them to go away or stay when opening/closing the screen, the blinking intervall couldn't be influenced, which makes me doubt the defect is related to a physical influence "from outside".

- the powerbook was not dropped before, or hit, or had to suffer any other kind of physical force. if that would have been the case the lines should have appeared all at the same time anyway, i assume, at least not in intervalls of weeks between each new (single) line.



this leaves only one conclusion: bad quality, as if the display (or cables) are aging much too fast. i wonder when line number 6 is due....

Hi Dennis- Maybe, but not likely. I'm pretty careful, and not about to waste a $50 cable. Lots of sharp edges, tho, and Airport antenna was cut clean when I first opened that display.

Since replacing that cable (and inverter board), I've found a pressure-sensitive spot on back of display panel that restores video momentarily. Not sure I'm dealing with the exact same vertical line problem as all you other folks, so I put some photos online (link in another post here, somewhere). In this case, screen looks more like a barcode as opposed to stray lines.