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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."

10 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. Capturing the elusive Spotted PowerBook by danielsfca2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    > the company is aware of the white blemishes on some new 15-in. screens, but hasn't yet "captured" enough of the computers to figure out why the spots are appearing.

    Funny choice of words. I can't help but picture a herd of beautiful wild PowerBooks, running free across the plain.

    (it's a Daria reference.)

  2. At least by blackmonday · · Score: 4, Insightful

    At least he didn't say the new powerbook had the lovely dalmatian finish of the early iMac.

    And, don't expect anyone to say the G5 powerbook is coming soon. Nobody would buy the current models if that was remotely the case.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Re: "G5 PowerBooks coming soon..." by 0x69 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Two independent lines of logic strongly suggest that the G5 PowerBook ain't coming any time soon:

    - Apple just updated the PowerBooks. History says that they are very unlikely to update 'em again quick. (See MacRumor.com's Buyer's Guide page for dates of past revisions.)

    - There is no G5 Xserve yet. If Apple can't get a G5 working within the Xserve's size/power/noise limits (with sales doubtless in the pits as folks wait for G5), then they're likely a *long* way from doing G5 within the PowerBook's (far tighter) limits.

    --
    It's easy to make up & spread cool- and credible-sounding stuff. Finding & checking hard facts is hard work.
  6. Blonde Mac Users by Ohreally_factor · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought it was just white out!

    --
    It's not offtopic, dumbass. It's orthogonal.
  7. Just about had enough by djupedal · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm tired of this...

    My iBook screen has no white, red or blue spots and the battery lasts for 4.5 hours... My external FW800 drive on my G4 didn't get corrupted when I updated to Panther... The ethernet port in my G4 holds a connection... My G4 doesn't shutdown when I use my cellphone... None of my OS X apps mysteriously quit and I don't have any issues with deep sleep. My iPod battery lasts for days on end and all of the music I purchased from ITMS is still in my iTunes library...

    When am I going to be like everyone else and have an issue with an Apple product?

    It's just not right, I tell you.

  8. Just upgrade... by Eslyjah · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...to Panther. Jaguars have spots.