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alwimy · Oct 13, 2003, 06:00 AM

I've had white spots on my 15" AluBook at the time of purchase on 17th Sept. from the retail AppleStore at ShortHills, Newark, NJ. I am unable to swap the unit as I have since travelled home to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

I have however had my screen (the entire top case too) at one of the local Apple retailers/service center on the advice of AppleCare support reps. I have the extended warranty.

However, the spots recurred in the EXACT same places as the original spots.

This leads me to conclude:

1. It is a defect NOT related to the screen/top case assembly but the bottom case.
2. It is likely to be related to heat generated from the bottom which is affecting the display - there are no friction marks/dents to indicate that this is due to mechanical stress from contact. Hence I think it is heat.
3. This problem will NOT be solved by another top case replacement - which is what Apple is likely to do.

Since the majority of AluBook owners do not have this white spots, I would imagine that those of us who do have a bum machine. I want to swap my AluBook for one that does not have this defect. I'd even pay for an upgrade to the 17" much as I prefer the form factor of the 15".

However, they REFUSE to swap my AluBook. They say that since I bought it in the US, it must be returned to the US if I want an exchange.

pb_soon · Oct 13, 2003, 08:55 AM

Interesting thought. I assume your suggestion is based on when the notebook is closed? If so, maybe those of us who have white spots can tell us whether they are closing the lid of their PB before shutting down (e.g. sleep mode) or whether when they are closing the lid after a shutdown, do they feel that the unit is hot?

alwimy · Oct 13, 2003, 09:23 AM

I've always put my powerbooks to sleep rather than shut down. It has never caused problems before. If it does now, it shouldn't!

And yes, the machine does get warm but so did my Titaniums (667Mhz and 800Mhz). It never damaged the screen before.

I've put up pictures of my PowerBook at http://homepage.mac.com/alwi/PhotoAlbum10.html

janmc · Oct 13, 2003, 09:51 AM

this may seem obvious, but are you sure they changed it?

alwimy · Oct 13, 2003, 09:55 AM

When I got my PowerBook back the screen was perfect. No spots, no dead pixels.

The spots returned after 4 days. By the fifth day they were as obvious as when I first sent it in.

acadian · Oct 13, 2003, 10:05 AM

Curious, others have posted that this issue may be related to heat issues on the lower case. I'm wondering if the issue will arise if you were to use a screen protector, a thicker one like those advertised at Radtech. If it does not, then that might certainly indicate a heat transfer issue.

Wiskedjak · Oct 13, 2003, 10:27 AM

I'm relatively certain that this is a physical issue and not one of heat transferred from the main shell.

Having seen a few of these White Spotted 15's, the spots deffinately behave as pressure points. If you press on the back of the display in the vicinity of a spot, but not on a spot, it will behave as though you were pressing a point on the front of the LCD.

peternj · Oct 13, 2003, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by Wiskedjak:
I'm relatively certain that this is a physical issue and not one of heat transferred from the main shell.

Having seen a few of these White Spotted 15's, the spots definitely behave as pressure points. If you press on the back of the display in the vicinity of a spot, but not on a spot, it will behave as though you were pressing a point on the front of the LCD.

Sounds like the LCD is somehow stuck in places to the lid.

I have been less than impressed with the workmanship on my 12 inch, and 17 inch.

But these white spots would drive me nuts. Apple should just replace the machines with brand new ones.

Peter

ibook_steve · Oct 13, 2003, 12:24 PM

Where is the sleep magnet located in the 15"? It could be caused by that.

Steve

Wiskedjak · Oct 13, 2003, 12:39 PM

Many of these spots are in the lower area of the display, well away from the magnet.

In fact, while I'm typing this, I'm noticing two white spots in the bottom right and left corners of the display on my late 2001 iBook.

machem · Oct 13, 2003, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by ibook_steve:
Where is the sleep magnet located in the 15"? It could be caused by that.

Steve

Sleep magnets are on one of the edges, generally (I can't test mine right now).

Magnetic fields don't cause spots such as these white ones now showing up in 15" AlBooks.

acedloring · Oct 13, 2003, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by alwimy:
I've always put my powerbooks to sleep rather than shut down. It has never caused problems before. If it does now, it shouldn't!

And yes, the machine does get warm but so did my Titaniums (667Mhz and 800Mhz). It never damaged the screen before.

I've put up pictures of my PowerBook at http://homepage.mac.com/alwi/PhotoAlbum10.html

Interesting. I have the same problem. Sent the powerbook in for repair after seeing white spots, they replaced the screen and 1 day after I got it backed the dreaded white spots were there. Mine are in the EXACT same spots and configuration as yours. This leads me to believe this is a manufacturing defect rather than one related to heat.

TAZ · Oct 13, 2003, 04:54 PM

Has anyone ever taken one of the screens apart, or atleast pulled the metal hull off of one. It seems from pics and my own machine that the majority of the spots appear to be in similar areas. Is there a wire harness running back there, or a something that can be placing pressure on the back of the LCD and causing the spots. Maybe the piece of tape that was used to secure a wire or something of the like.

Sakino · Oct 13, 2003, 05:40 PM

Mine look very similar to that, and now that its an on going problem with most units I wonder what apple is going to do?
Obviously apple cannot let this go on and on and on. IMO they should halt the 15 inch powerbook line, and even recall the 15 inch powerbooks to solve this problem.
I am in the same boat as the rest of you guys, they seem to be forming over time and getting larger. I been waiting with apple tech support to grant me a replacement, or even my money back. They said when the Engineers get back to them, they will call me. I called yesterday and there was still nothing in my case, and yes I did talk with a supervisor. He was going to check up on it and get back to tonight or tomorrow.
If they give me the option to replace, i might just ask for a 12 inch powerbook. I really don't know though, because I have always wanted a 15inch powerbook and it turned out my first apple was a disaster.

machem · Oct 13, 2003, 06:15 PM

Repair status shows mine in a "hold" awaiting parts.

Hopefully that is a good thing --- standarized fix? Who knows.

mdewberry · Oct 14, 2003, 08:40 AM

Originally posted by machem:
Repair status shows mine in a "hold" awaiting parts.

Hopefully that is a good thing --- standarized fix? Who knows.

My 15"Albook has been at AppleCare a week with the white spots (and keyboard issues). The Customer Relations person called me last night with an update. They are still waiting on one part, and it could be a few more days. I am hoping, hoping, hoping that they have resolved the white spot issue, and are waiting on a new proven, tested LCD screen.

bcaslis · Oct 14, 2003, 08:48 AM

I'm on my second 15", the first was replaced for white spots. I really don't think it's heat. I sleep and use the second one just like the first and I don't see any white spots on it.

I agree that the spots look and behave like pressure points. I think the problem with some repairs is that the screen was replaced, but the top lid was not replaced/repaired. If you put a new screen in the top lid and the lid had point on it making contact with the back of the screen slightly, it makes perfect sense that the spots reappear. I'm sure the problem is either this or a defect in the screens themselves.

nobitacu · Oct 14, 2003, 08:48 AM

Maybe someone should just make a new gen. of LCD technology.

something that would make the resolution even better than ever, very very sharp image that is enought to cut our eyes (ok, maybe not that sharp), and with a power usage of half of what we use right now with full brightness. That would make me very happy.

Ming

dtkirkpa · Oct 14, 2003, 01:39 PM

Hello,

My wife's 500Mhz Pismo PB had (still has) the same white blotches. My Pismo, which was purchased at the exact same time, did not have them. They didn't bother her, and so we never did anything about them. I noticed the resemblance as soon as the first 'white spot' pictures started appearing.

This rules out the magnetic lock as a cause, and anything else that is present in the Albook but not in the Pismo.

The blotches didn't affect her screen longevity, either. My Pismo's screen started to develop the 'pink wash on wake' issue early this year (I eventually replaced it with the new 12in Albook) but her screen is still fine.