[FreeQuark]

Does anyone know how the dead pixel problem varies from manufacturer to manufacturer? For example, should one expect fewer dead pixels on Apple's $3000 Cinema Display than on the cheaper SGI or other displays? One would think so given the high pricetag, but since the Cinema Display is huge, there is obviously a higher probability of dead pixels.

BTW, why don't manufacturers provide information on the rates of dead pixels? SGI and a few other companies put out an *acceptability* standard (8 pixels in the case of the SGI 1600SW), but none of them provide any statistical information about how many dead pixels buyers should expect (e.g., 20% of displays have 0 dead pixels, 40% have 3 dead pixels, and so on). As far as I know, Apple doesn't even provide an acceptability standard, which means I suppose that you could be stuck with a Cinema Display with 100 dead pixels. Given that buyers are generally forced to buy their LCD monitors sight unseen (especially if they buy through Apple or catalog retailers), I don't think it's fair that dead pixel rates aren't made available. Of course, maybe most users don't care about a few dead pixels, but that's not generally true of people who are involved in high end graphics applications.

[AirSluf]

Any manufacturers public statement on how many suck pixels are acceptable would only cause FUD. "What do you mean you are going to sell me a defective product!" Essentially statistics would be proclaiming "My product isn't as defective as yours" in the eyes of a perfectionist (or most consumers) which leads to lawyers all too often in our society. Sooo...

If a display has too many stuck pixels for someones personal threshold generally the problem is handled with the warranty folks who have internal guidance on where the automatic fix/exchange threshold is. After that it becomes a negotiation.

Ancedotally, I have heard of displays being considered OK by Apple with 4 or 5 stuck, while other folks managed to get swapped out for one. I have no idea what the specific differences were in each case, but I would wager the more effect you could have on future business, the more the scale tips in your favor.

[elzinat]

Here's an Apple has a TIL article on "Active Matrix LCD Display: Pixel Anomalies." (LCD Display hehe ) http://til.info.apple.com/techinfo.nsf/artnum/n22194
Basically they explain that we should be happy to have a few pixel anomalies (aka dead pixels) because to insist on not having any would double the cost of LCDs. Here is their bit about "acceptable number of dead pixels:"

If you suspect your display contains a high number of pixel anomalies, call Apple technical support, or take your Apple product to an Apple Authorized Service Provider for closer examination. Note: You may be charged for this evaluation.

It would seem logical that they are intentionally vague, because they do not want it to sound like it is a serious problem affecting many pixels in every monitor (because that would hurt sales), nor do they want to actually say it isn't (because some stupid person would sue them).
Here's another line from the article:
[That there are pixel anomalies] is true of all computer products using LCD technology, not just Apple products.

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be happy!
-mac freak

[screamingFit]

As a side note, the company I work for just bought 100 Dell laptops with 14.1 displays - not sure of the manufacturer of the display. Out of that 100, we had one with 2 stuck pixels - the rest were fine. It is annoying, at least to me, when looking at a display with stuck pixels - esp. red. Called up Dell and had the "...it's within our acceptable spec..." reply. Explained of the recent amount of money we put in their coffers and another laptop was offered up in exchange.

-s'fit

[FreeQuark]

The Apple bulletin states:

<< Because the manufacturing yield of perfect active matrix panels is very low, displays may have some subpixels that are either always on or always off. >>

This makes it sound like dead pixels are fairly common.

[elzinat]

yesterday my dad got a new Cinema Display, and complained to me that a single pixel is always bright. I explained to him about "pixel anomalies," and he was quite surprised that I should know anything about it, as I don't have an LCD. I confused him further by telling him "it's in the job description" (he doesn't about MacNN ). Just thought I'd share that story, 'cuz I found it mildly amusing
<--elzinat, hoping to one day have a display compatible with pixel anomalies

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be happy!
-mac freak

[Judge_Fire]

Dark 'Dead Pixels' and 'Stuck Pixels', one's that are always on, can sometimes be alleviated by gently rubbing them with a soft, non- scratching textile, for a period of 10 s - 1 min.

Please note that even if this has on several occasions worked for me, it might also damage your display further.

Some info here: http://www.lowendmac.com/misc/2k0323.html


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Judge_Fire