Colored vertical lines on PB 17" display

There is a lot of documentation on various websites and discussion boards about 17" Powerbooks with displays that break down after about 15 months of use.

I am unfortunate enough to own a 17" powerbook assembled in April 2005 in China - serial number beginning with W8. I believe this is the same time-period and factory location where hundreds (if not thousands) of identical machines were assembled that are now having the same colored-lines-in-the-display defect as my machine.

All these machines assembled at the same time, at the same place, using the same batch of LCD screens, are experiencing the same defect after the same amount of use.
Something stinks, and it smells like a manufacturing problem to me.

Does anyone know if Apple has man'd up and acknowledged the problem yet?

17" Powerbook G4 1.67 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on May 21, 2007 5:36 PM

414 replies

Jun 30, 2010 5:02 AM in response to mike Savage

Does this problem affect the 1.5GHz 17? I have a used on on the way!!

cores310

Level 1

0 points

Jul 12, 2010 10:43 PM in response to mike Savage

My PowerBook G4 Serial W85... has a white vertical line now. When the computer is starting up and it is just a grey screen and an apple logo there is no line, or maybe it is just blending in with the grey. Then it appears and flickers a bit, seems like it goes away, then turns white when the computer is on.

Jul 18, 2010 4:09 AM in response to mike Savage

Our PBG4 17" has a serial number that begins with W8, indicating it was assembled in China sometime in 2005. The LCD screens on these particular computers have a tendency to develop vertical lines. It's a well documented problem, affecting certain G4 PowerBooks and, in some instances, iMacs. Dell recalled all laptops with screens from this manufacturer for the same defect. We took our PowerBook to The Apple Store and, for a flat fee of $310 +tax, Apple replaced the screen as well as the keyboard AND SuperDrive. We're happy with the solution!

AS3

Level 1

0 points

Aug 6, 2010 9:31 AM in response to mike Savage

Yeb, I too have the “Bridget Riley” effect on my 17" Powerbook, serial no beginning W8.

When will apple be shamed into addressing this fault?

Aug 26, 2010 5:32 AM in response to Ross Koning

In January I posted with 3 lines and here at end of August I now have 6. So this is a progressive problem. It would be nice to know if there is something to simply STOP the progression. I don't want to pay to have it replaced. ross

Oct 1, 2010 12:21 PM in response to stannard

I have one of the same with the same issue. I had the monitor changed under Apple Care and the same issue appeared again after 2 months. I passed the computer to my 9 year old and now htere are about 50 vertical lines. Since Apple does not seem to address the numerous complaints I have to believe what is posted on various sites. The postings are objective and seem to come from reasonable people...no rants. It is shameful that a company like Apple does not man up. If Apple doesn't man up how could you ever trust any corporation again.

greg h

Level 2

344 points

Oct 3, 2010 10:45 AM in response to Zafarfakroddin

Mine still has just the one line, apple replaced the display years ago and I'm wondering if that's my problem now. It seems like some other issues have been happening beyond the one vertical line, my keyboard seems messed up at times, as well as getting some high voltage on the case itself (measured about 60vac, enough to feel it along your arm) also the display goes off if I move it. I heard that my voltage issue might be the cable for the display shorting out on the case.

This thread is so long and with no way to locate the "solved" or "useful" posts it's virtually useless...I guess I'm adding to it by burring it further....oh well.

mm88400

Level 1

0 points

Oct 21, 2010 2:36 PM in response to mike Savage

Another powerbook lines up, it is mine.
Same problem, every week new lines appear. At least apple should provide a replacement for some money, not charging up to 500 dollars for a spare display. I did not do anything wrong with it.
After spending so much money, and being a premium customer of apple, this should be treated differently. Did already spend more than 10 000 dollars on mac gadgets computers, displays,....

Hopefully somebody is reading this, my guess would be no..
However, Greetings from Germany.....

MM

jill.s.

Level 1

0 points

Nov 9, 2010 7:46 AM in response to mm88400

I've had this problem for a few years now with my G4 Powerbook (serial number starting W85). Apple offered to fix it for a hefty sum but as I regularly update my Macs, I just left it.

Figured it was just a loose wire and I'd get it fixed eventually.

After the £1000s and £1000s I've spent with Apple (I've bought 3 new machines this year alone), I'm REALLY ANGRY to find out this is an extremely common manufacturing fault. It's DISGUSTING that Apple haven't addressed this problem and, instead, appear to have tried to suppress people talking about it online!

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Colored vertical lines on PB 17" display