Colored vertical lines on PB 17" display

Hello,

I have noticed a pink vertical line as well today on my Apple PowerBook 17"/ 1,67 Ghz (Model A1107).

So, it seems like this it it? My Apple PowerBook is done?!

As far as I have read on the web, Apple Computer Inc. has already deleted several threads on other websites.

There seems something going totally wrong here.

graphically & sincerely,


" Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China. "

Marc Klein
mediaVinci - The art of invention

Hello,

I received my new Apple PowerBook 17" (Model A1107) at the beginning of May 2005.

In December 2005 my Apple PowerBook died from one moment to the other. It was strange, since I worked for a couple of hours on my G5 workstation while my PowerBook was just standing next to me on my desk.

I wanted to check my emails on my PowerBook and tipped the space bar to wake it up. Suddenly I noticed that my PowerBook completly died. Nothing was working any longer, the screen was entirely black and I could not hear a single whisper from my PowerBook.

The only thing I noticed was the fact that my PowerBook was very hot, hotter than usual, even though I haven't worked on my PowerBook. It was just standing on the desk next to me while I was working on my G5.

So, I resume: I bought a new PowerBook 17" in May, in December already it died completely.

I have sent the PowerBook back to my Apple dealer. I waited 2 months to get my PowerBook repaired by the Apple dealer, respectively Appel Care.

There was a problem with the main board. The Apple dealer needed to replace the entire motherboard twice to get my PowerBook fixed.

And now this, a pink vertical line which appears on my Apple PowerBook and it is only a question of time when other lines will appear on my screen.

I paid, 2600 Euros (approx. $3500 at this time) for this shiny, stylish and most designy Apple PowerBook from Apple Computer. The "Rolls Royce" in computer industry.

Pff ...

And Apple is trying to hide this technical hardware problem by blocking or deleting threads.

Hmm ...


graphically & sincerely,


" Trusted to deliver excellence? "


Marc Klein
mediaVinci - The art of invention

I like to join this club because I have a same problem on my PB 17".

I bought it April, 2005 and it shipped from China (I live in Canada) and the serial number starts with W8, too. In the summer of 2006, the first vertical line came up and now there're 18 vertical lines on my PB 17" screen.
In October, 2006, I brought my PB to the local Apple Store and they said it costs about $2,000 (CDN) to fix the problem because I didn't buy the Apple Care.
This is not good... what kind of monitor gets lines after a year???? Also, I have to pay $2,000 to fix it and I spent $4,100 (after taxes) when I bought it.

Anyway... Hopefully, Apple makes a recall for this problem soon.

Hi, I too have a 17 Powerbook bought in 2005 with W85 but whilst not yet having line problems, my screen has gave up the ghost 6 months ago!! I now have to use an external screen but having no mobility is a real pain as the machine is my business machine and reading this forum does n't indicate that a positive result from this is coming.

Anyway, something pretty odd happen yesterday (29 Nov 2007 UK) I received an email from Apple inviting me to complete an on-line survey regarding my powerbook. It stated that the survey would take approx 20 mins so I sat down and began expecting the usual type of survey which was what it was until that is I was asked my satisfaction rating for the powerbook. Having purchased my PB for around the £2500 mark on 2 years or so ago I obviously am not a happy bunny, which is what I indicated. Guess what, after only 5 questions and approx 2 mins, the next screen stated, thank you for completing the survey, however the survey had now closed. Is this a joke, Apple wind-up time or what?

Has anyone else had this survey mailed?

Regards
Bibz

another 11 days have passed, line #8 appeared.

calculating 10 days it takes for another line to appear my display will have no functioning line at all in about 4 years. actually, that's not sooo bad...

i wonder how the other users here got their defect lines. did they appear all at once or one after the other, with several days in between?

I wrote to the Apple corporate office and was promptly contacted by phone. I argued strenuously on behalf of all of us: At least 300 documented in the forums. "You can't believe everything you read in the forums." If 300 in the forums, must be many more who got repairs under applecare and did not document in the forums. "Granted, they aren't unhappy." How many reported this issue under applecare? "That's internal info, can't reveal." From a user's perspective, it seems to be a large number of machines afflicted. "We have looked into it and we don't consider it widespread." How many constitutes 'widespread'? "That's internal info, can't reveal." Well, if it's not 'widespread' it would be cheap for Apple to repair. "That's what applecare is for." I got nowhere. But he did tell me that repairs would be done, withOUT applecare, for a flat rate of US$300-400. My local Apple store (Las Vegas) quoted $300. Sorry. I tried.

I got a line about 3.5 weeks ago. No lines have appear since and I'm hoping it stays that way. Since I heard that it might be due to a heat related issue on the graphics card, I decided I would try to do things to help keep it cool. I now put my PowerBook on a small, softcover book that is about .75 inches thick, so most of the underside and the back vent can cool more easily. I also set my processor speed to automatic (rather than highest).

I was also doing a lot of video conversion (usually overnight) but I eased up on that for a while. For the past few days, I have gone back to it and so far, things are looking good. If it is true that heat on the graphics card is generating this failure, then if I get more lines, I don't think repairing it will fix the issue even though I happen to think that $300-$400 is a fairly reasonable (we all buy the computers knowing that there is a one-year warranty and I didn't bother with AppleCare). So, if I get more lines, I guess I will be forced to get a new computer (or maybe I'm just looking for an excuse).

Anyway, I hope some of you getting lines can try my suggestions to see if it helps. So far, I can live with the one line... I just hope it stays that way...

This is ridiculous. Mac has always been so reliable and now, once you buy their product, Apple doesn't care about problems that occur. I feel the more we can educate on Mac's support on helping out their customers, the more people will learn not to buy Mac product.

We need to notify all friends and family not to purchase Mac and Apple products. 1 tells 5. 5 tells 25. 25 tells 125 and so on. If Mac chooses not to recall defective product, eventually we can convince the whole world not to buy their crappy machines.

So far all of my friend and family, a total of 17 people, will never buy a Mac computer.

The damage is done. Mac will never help out. There will never be a recall. Just tell everyone!

DON'T BUY A MAC!

Have fun using a Windows machine... I'm sure you'll have much better luck with a Dell running Microsoft Vista.

Ok, I understand your reaction, but I don't agree with you at this point... Don't you think that if you take a few minutes to browse the Dell's forums you'll be able to find users with the same, or a similar problem ?
Apple is not the only constructor that has manufacturing issues... So please don't give an exaggerated answer, and if you want to switch back on windows, well, take a candle, walk through the forest, and find a cave to live in... Vista is not an OS, it's a joke...

So the only way for Apple to fix our problem would be that every user having colored lines on his screen contacts Apple to signal it, and maybe one day Apple will say, ok ther's enought customers having lines on their screen, let's launch the recall campain.

(Excuse my french 😉 )

Dell has the same problem with some of their 17" Notebooks, but in contrast to Apple they offer a free exchange of the display.
I bought a Dell and use Kubuntu now and I'm satisfied.

4 more days, line #9 ...

So is there ANY answer or response from Apple?

I visited an Apple store in Arizona. First, after a 45 minute ride on a rainy Friday I arrive at 4:40 PM. I ask how do I talk to someone. I'm told all the people at the "genius bar" are booked through the day. Come back tomorrow. Oh yes, I'd LOVE to drive 90 minutes roundtrip again to talk to one of their genii

I stop at another store (retailer but not direct Apple) and they tell me my problem is video card. I mention a lot of people are repairing this via new screens not video cards. They don't know. I don't have a high level of confidence they are familiar with this issue.

I asked both places about trade in or some policy. My $2500 2 year old computer has ZERO trade in value.

So I'm stuck with the repair costs of (really, who knows) somewhere from $500 to $700. Well ****, if I'm willing move to a Macbook I give up screen size and metal case (who cares) and gain a brand new much faster computer for around $700 more. At the rate things are moving it seems wasteful to spend the money to fix it.

I am not happy with Apple at this time. I understand that computers age rapidly and the new ones are more whiz bang and all, but 100% depreciation in 2 years due to a manufacturing defect?

And now I read this 191 message thread and NO APPLE REPLY?

Am I the only one that is beginning to think they don't care about their customers?

Hi James
This is a user forum, so you won't hear anything direct from Apple here - about this or any other subject.

My experience with this problem pointed to a failed display panel, but others may have come to different conclusions. In this case, the machine is driving an external monitor now, so the graphics card is working fine. (Try connecting your PB to an external monitor and see if lines appear.)

Replacement displays are available for about $3-400 U.S., and getting one installed will likely push the bill to twice that amount.

Hi Mike,

Thanks. I kind of thought they DID read and respond to this forum. Oh well. I am still very disappointed in Apple. I seem to have a $2500 2 year old computer that has zero value at this time. Kind of a steep drop off.

Jim