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Apple Acknowledges 15" PowerBook Spots

Posted by pudge on from the that-looks-like-white-out-to-me dept.

zachlipton writes "Computerworld is running an interesting interview with Dave Russell, director of product marketing for portables and wireless at Apple. Russell comments on the white spot issues that have plagued the new 15" PowerBooks (Apple has been very responsive about fixing mine at least) and he has this to say about a G5 PowerBook: 'We certainly want to do that, but it's going to be a while.' Russell also comments on a lot of other ideas related to the PowerBook and iBook lines."

8 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. It's about time by Militant+Libertarian · · Score: 3, Informative

    It seems I read about this problem a month ago on macnn.com. It seems the 15 inchers are the only ones effected.

    --

    I fear nothing but my government. Vote Libertarian.
  2. Easy way to check by awtbfb · · Score: 5, Informative
    1. Close/hide all open windows.
    2. Control-click (or right click) on the desktop and select Change Desktop Background.
    3. Change desktop to "Solid White" in the Solid Colors collection. It's the nearly invisible one to the far right.
    4. Minimize System Preferences window and look for spots. Mine are along the vertical and horizontal centerlines of the screen.
    And yes, my screen will be swapped out shortly under warranty.
    1. Re:Easy way to check by nullard · · Score: 5, Informative
      More simply:
      1. Open TextEdit.
      2. Expand the window to fill the screen.
      3. There is no step 3.
      --


      t'nera semordnilap
    2. Re:Easy way to check by Demolition · · Score: 4, Informative

      Check here and here for actual pictures of the spots, and here for a 1280x854 overlay diagram which maps out the exact locations of the spots.

      D.

  3. Excellent Test for 'the Spots' by teamhasnoi · · Score: 5, Informative
    PiXel Check. Fills your whole screen with Red, Blue, Green, White, and Black. Play with the brightness some and it's the best way I've found to see if my white spots are getting bigger (I'm lucky I guess, mine aren't that noticable...yet. I have two on the lower left.)

    I'll be waiting to see if they get bigger, as I have a screen with no dead/stuck pixels and I don't want to tempt fate and/or be without my powerbook for some unknown amount of time.

  4. Re:I don't have the 3 year AppleCare by zachlipton · · Score: 3, Informative
    They don't happen to everyone, you could be lucky :) In general, they are showing up within a week or so, but they get worse over time. After about a week and a half with mine, they are pretty bad.


    The good news is that even without AppleCare, Apple will still replace or repair your machine for free. Call 800-SOS-APPL and they will do the rest.

  5. Correcting at production? by RedX · · Score: 3, Informative

    Perhaps Apple is changing the production line to correct this problem, which would explain why the BTO 15" PB that I ordered on October 23 had its ship date change from Nov 4 to Nov 28 yesterday.

  6. AppleCard by scot2342 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Sorry to hear about the probs with Apple Care people have been experiencing. I called last Friday (10/31) to complain about the spots. Tuesay (11/4) at noon I had the shipping box AppleCare sent to ship the PowerBook. By Thursday at noon (48 hours later) I had the laptop back. Spots are gone! Everything seems to be in order. I was shocked at the turn around time considering I was quoted 5-7 days when I originally spoke with AppleCare on Halloween.