Lines Anonymous

Hello, my name is iMac and it's been almost four weeks since I don't show any lines!

1 infinite loop

I'm enjoying since thursday my lines-less iMac. And I'm making a post out of it? YES. I want to encourage iMac owners with this deffect to call. Call now! It's that easy.

Call and don't desist! The loop ends at some point. Don't you really want to enjoy your mac again? :)

No more!

I've got my iMac with its brand new screen sitting on my desk. No more forty-two lines, no more single dead pixel!

Repair is guaranteed for the next tree months. Touch wood nothing EVER happens to it!

What they've done? Just screen replacement. It took my apple store two weeks to have it fixed.

Any questions? I'd be glad to answer!

Still have your screen like trash? call apple. call apple. call apple!!! just don't give up, each operator is very different from the other. You might not get what you want on first call, but be sure apple IS fixing this problem!

Impatient!

The store called today to say my mac is ready to come back home with me! I can't wait to have it tomorrow on my desk under my suspicious eye... I'm SO begging the lines empire is over...


More tomorrow!

An interesting sequence of events

Boy that was strange! Ok, so I phoned Apple. And no, I'm not writing on my usual desk today. After a pointless chat with a lady from Support, I called again, said my magic number W860...U2N, explained the problem very shallow and heard over the phone 'I think I have read about the lines issue somewhere, can you hold on plese?

When 'Save it for a rainy day' was over, she was back to tell me my mac was in between serial numbers with factory defects. She put me with another operator, Jose (thank you Jose!) to whom I had to explain again about the lines (how many lines... colours... nothing too technical) and he said. We'll make an exception. I'm giving you this case number and you take it to repair.

In 15 minutes and 2 phone calls I had my solution! So when i took it to repair we had some nice laughs about the little numbered tags on the frame of the mac and they'll have it checked in some 15 days or so.

I really thought it would take many many phone calls and minutes of explanation to each operator! It felt really good the way it came.

So please, call apple, call call call. And come back to tell how you've done!

Rekindle

I used to be against the idea of having a second screen. Basically because it meant as if i was giving up. Forty-two lines later, it is really annoying to see through them, so i got for my birthday a 21'' acer screen.

So, how does a 21'' screen compare to fixing my iMac?

acer screen costed around 120€, it has two years of warranty and zero dead pixel policy.

iMac bought through apple store comes with a dead pixel. Apple's dead pixel deal is: screw you. Once the warranty is void (just one year) first line appears. Fix is 800€. Warranty for the fixed screen is 3 months. And the screen fits the frame, that's a 17'' screen.

Get it? Zero advantages on PAYING for a fix to a problem not caused by the user! Oh! And should i mention cases where fixed screens show lines again?

I thought by adding a second screen i was giving up. But seeing one next the other.... it's inspiring, rekindling!

Armed with patience.

32nd lin·e

I'm back again, but no big news for me.. Lines pop every two days.

(Looks like a user got to this page by searching "how to erase blue line on right side of screen". Isn't it cute/sad?)


Come, wall·e, clean this mess!

Any success, anyone?

'Hey! What happened to the blog?'

Sorry! On vacation!

Question of the day

Are you using the latest information?

'I sued Apple and I won'

As quoted from a comment on the previous post. iMac user dperetti informs via hardmac.com (Le Macbidouille in english) through these two links (link1) (link2):

[...] about a legal procedure launched by one of our readers [...] He had two iMacs, both affected by the famous problem of vertical lines that affected many readers [...] The judgement was given yesterday. Apple was condemned to refund this reader for two computers. [...]

Continue reading at Apple loses the legal process concerning the vertical lines - Hardmac.com

Second link provides links to pdf files conclusions reached by the judge and

judgement given (personal information removed).

I received this info last week but couldn't post it until today. I'd like to thank dperetti for what he offers to us, and user Varuni for keeping me updated too!

True

[...] this number of lines contest is not getting anybody close to the solution.

Any options?

Trainwreck

(...) right now my only wish is for the lines to come to follow the pattern.

15th line on May 3rd (1 day)
16th line on May 11th (8 days)
17th line on May 15th (4 days).

Farewell, average. The last lines have appeared quite faster these last days, making it everytime more difficult to spot the new ones. That's why i have decided to tag them.



I had sent a letter to Apple hoping for some sort of answer. Aren't they supposed to answer those? I mean, it's not an informal email or a phone call. they have in their hands a complaint! Sent it on the last week of February, that's two months and a half...



Hello?

Ok, update (not really)

Update is... there is no update. My lines count up to fifteen, and right now my only wish is for the lines to come to follow the pattern. Some do skip it. While the 14th was coming and going, fifteenth was confident enough to just pop up the next day.

By the 8th line the average was a line every 15 days.

9th line (27 days), 10th line (12 days), 11th line (3 days) 12th line (12 days), 13th (9 days), 14th line (18 days), 15th line (1 day)

Now it has come down to a line every 13 days if not counting the last line which is too deviated from the average.

What ever happens on a mac every 13 to 15 days to run useless an entire line of pixels?

Sorry about the lack of updates, but there's really... no update at all, it's all gone wrong. I feel the need to write this just for the sake of keeping the blog up to date. Even if i'm not making some weird video, problem is present and REAL.



Oh, and anyone want to make a comment about this? "Apple #1 in tech support, again".

Just sayin'

My, do they multiply fast!

Did you know...?

The Maids of Honour (Las Meninas) by Diego Velázquez is exactly TWELVE iMac lines wide?

Dolly Parton is 1,24 mts shorter than 12 iMac lines! Tallest man according to Guiness Record is 19 cm shorter than 12 lines!

572 signatures on Petition Online, one line each makes 131,56 mts! That's 2,86 times the Statue of liberty!


Anyway



A user with serial CK61***U2R who contacted me has been blessed with his first line. I'm mentioning it since I've only talked about W860***U2N cases like mine. However, note it's not the only range affected. In fact intel iMacs have inherited the issue from G5's, for whom there are plenty of topics on Apple Discussions Board, really too many.

Last but not least i found powerbook17lines. It reads

A growing number of Powerbook 17" owners is reporting problems with the display: several pixel lines covering the entire display starts to appear after a couple of months that the warranty period ends

I wish them luck too

Broken dreams

So, while I wait for Apple to answer my letter, the 9th line decided to appear.

Was it something like this I wished for?

Can you spot a pattern?

Celebrating my 8th line, the 8th video-protest.
So... what's new?

Ups and downs, petitions and posts

Everyday I find a new Apple's discussions board topic locked or erased on the imac lines issue.
To sum up, these are the not quite popular but still active topics available on ADB...

Another article on the iMac "lines" issue

vertical cyan line on my 17" iMac display

pink line after installing 10.4.11

I remember when this blog started there were 268 signatures on the online petition. This number has raised to 397 in some more than a month. Most of them answer yes to Problem appeared while out of warranty?.

Now, this is me speaking, but i'd rather be officially rejected by Apple than completely ignored.

Not a lucky number

The Seventh line is on it's way. I saw it blinking on the screen and made oh-so-many pictures of it, but it's a little shy right now. Anyway it'll come to stay. It doesn't mess with the view since it's just a pixel away to the right of the third line I had.

Have you called apple yet? What are you wating for!

You can as well take a chance through apple's feedback form or give it a try on any of the open discussions at ADB.


I'd like to hear from you on the comments!

Contacting Apple for Support and Service

I phoned today the Spanish technical support at (34) 902 151 992. My apple reseller told me it was my only way to go since i'm out of warranty. Basically after trying to sell me some Apple Care phone assistances for around 49€ valid for 30 days or something, I got the lady to write an "intern note" saying iMacs (intel and G5) serial numbers W860 - U2N all over the internet had this same problem. Like phone service would do anything!!

So please, find out your Apple - Technical Support Number on the list and give Apple a call stating your problem. And make sure they write a note about it!

What's in a video?

I haven't had much time to post lately as i'm studying for exams, but i've got many more ideas for new clips i'll be publishing over the weeks... I'm sure lines will be here when my exams are over.

So what are videos for?
Videos give me the possibility to repeat "my iMac has six lines" with a creative touch. The message is the same as if I wrote it everyday on the blog, the intention is the same aswell, but I get in touch with my creative side. How fun would it be to complain in such a boring repetitive written way? Besides youTube gives traffic to the site.

It's been 8 days since the sixth line and my instinct tells me the 7th will come any time soon.

Do you want to show your iMac lines? Send me the link to your pictures or videos at imaclines [at] gmail [dot] com or send the photos if you prefeer.

Power

iMac Feedback

Along with plenty of links i'll be posting in my spare time, i just read about this section on apple's website. One user wrote on Discussions Board that ADB is answered by other users, never apple. The way to make apple aware is to give them feedback through the Apple - iMac - Feedback form.

Wish to see you all there ;)

Up to date: six

Just five days since the last line I get a new gift. Now it's almost perfect symmetry. A group of two. two in the middle, and another group. That is "IEEI" in morse code. How fun.

With Macworld SF in 4 days, this is just the wrong moment for anything else apple. These and the next few weeks will be centered on the new releases.

Not the best moment to be a whiner.

Reality distortion field

Italian links and a new Topic on ADB

I cannot but smile every time a new post appears on Apple's board with this little tag on top of it.

"Helpful" answers available: 2 . "Solved" answers available: 1

Anyways, on my daily visit to our favourite boards i found and added to the column on the right, the soon to be blocked imac 17" intel 2006 vertical lines on screen.

"Vertical lines on display - early 2006 17'' W860" was directly erased. It just gave me time enough to copy the link and within a few minutes it started displaying a cute error.

Here are some italian links discussing the problems from a user who answered on newly posted "imac 17" intel 2006..."

From ItaliaMac, Righe sul monitor: la Apple sa, ma fa finta di niente. Lines on the monitor, apple knows but as if nothing.

MacityNet has Righe di pixel sul monitor: Apple cosa fa? Line of pixels on the monitor: Apple, what's happening?

Finally, from Hardware UpgradeRighe di pixel sul monitor: Apple non fa niente!!! Rows of pixels on the monitor: Apple is not doing anything!

If anyone knows any new links i'll gladly post them.

A great iMac

Growing

Apple may have locked the last two discussions on their official board without any answer given, but it's only a matter of time until a new affected iMac user shows to ask. Today Vertical lines on display - early 2006 17" W860 appeared on their discussions.

The online petition is growing aswell. It has to date 289 signatures wishing for a response.

I hope this blog encourages iMac users with this problem to sign the petition and be participant in Apple's discussions board - (Your Intel-based iMac Display).

My history and some numbers

So i've been posting some stuff lately linking to many different sites, but never quite talked about this problem.

I'm owner of an iMac, early 2006 model 17'' etc, whose serial number happens to be W860 U2N. Mine is a 1 year 9 months old machine i'm still paying for which happens to have developed quite some disgusting vertical permanent lines on the LCD.

I had my first line on October 26th, that is 1 year 6 months since i bought it, or simply six months since i was uncovered by warranty. Of all possible places it appeared just 5mm to the right of the iSight, that's practically in the middle of the screen.

Second line popped on December 5th, 40 days since the first one. This one divided my right side of the screen in to halves.

On December 21st my mac was in the mood for a new line. 16 days to draw a new one in between the first two.

My last one -but sadly not least one- is dated December 26th. This time it came to mess on my right side of the mac; close to the center but it could have annoyed somewhat less if it showed in between some other lines.

All lines are visible under dark colors and don't show at all when color is white (but they are there even if you can't see them).

So when I was blessed with this lines, i was quoted as so many other people around the links in this page, charges at around 700€. Simply, WOW.

Just how much is that? 700€ is 58% of a new iMac these days.

What's even interesting is this this analisys by iSuppli also quoted on AppleInsider which reveals

Apple Computer Inc.'s first desktop PC to be based on an Intel Corp.-manufactured microprocessor carries a Bill of Materials (BOM) cost of $873, according to preliminary data from iSuppli Corp.'s Teardown Analysis Service.

.

If this speculative Bill of materials were to be true, a 700€ (not messing with dollar-euro currency here) repair would mean an 80% of an original iMac.

But if this is not enough fun for the reader, how about knowing Aluminium iMacs, the current model, has aswell plenty of complaints over Apple Discussions Board and different places such as Macrumors forums?

Fixing my mac would cost let's say 700€.
Apple's mini-DVI to VGA adaptor costs 19€.
Attaching an external monitor would cost at around 200€.

What about that?

Update: 5th line January 6th... 11 days since the last one. Can't say I didn't expect it.

Non believers

Apple discussions rather monologue

Wow, what a great way to solve problems. When one topic locked was not enough, i wake up today to find the second locked too. Such a kind way to tell iMac sufferers to stop insisting.

I've seen it all

Resources in spanish

As it is my native languaje, i did some research. There are various links to offer.

This user asks related to an iMac G5.
It's also been asked here.
There's this blogger version on his screen issue.
Appleblog.es cites Macnn's original story. So does Canal Apple.
There's this sale of an iMac G5 from where i took the picture for this post.

Little something that i've got