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crispin14 · Jun 1, 2006, 01:43 AM

I downloaded a dead pixel finder and was able to identify a dead pixel on my brand new macbook! I also downloaded a dead pixel fixer program that flashes different colors at an epileptic rate in order to wake the dead pixel. That fixed the pixel, but only for about 5 minutes. After that I tried gently poking the pixel, which again worked, but only for about 1 minute this time. Finally I tried both methods at the same time and was able to wake the pixel without it going out again.

I've only had the macbook for 2 days now and I purchased Apple Care. My laptop is perfect to me. No whining, mooing, and the heat isn't that bad. Should I return this laptop or not?

If i decide to keep the laptop, I wan to be sure that the pixel won't go out on me again.

PJJames · Jun 1, 2006, 01:54 AM

I had a dead pixel dead center in the middle of my screen, took it back, they gave me a new one no questions asked. Now this is my 7th Macbook in about a week and a half, haha, but nevertheless, they took care of it.

joel_v · Jun 1, 2006, 04:24 AM

wow 7. thats crazy. are u working with an apple store or a reseller.? cause the resellers are normally stingy.

i just got a black macbook, but i ordered a white one. now im going to go and exchange for a white one. *goes off to get a white one*

crispin14 · Jun 1, 2006, 04:53 AM

daaamn, thats awesome

i wish i ordered a white macbook and got a black macbook by accident

Mastrap · Jun 1, 2006, 05:37 AM

If you have to download a dead pixel finder in order to find a dead pixel, i.e. you cannot see it under normal circumstances, what's the point in getting upset about this?

PJJames · Jun 1, 2006, 05:48 AM

It's about wanting a perfect product. I know that if I put up with the dead pixel issue I had, a year down the road I would have been kicking myslef knowing I could have just walked into the store and been rewarded with a new one.

crispin14 · Jun 1, 2006, 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

If you have to download a dead pixel finder in order to find a dead pixel, i.e. you cannot see it under normal circumstances, what's the point in getting upset about this?

What are you trying to say by asking me that question?

I'm sorry for being overly critically with my new MacBook's screen that I saw fit to download a dead pixel finder after seeing a dead pixel while watching a movie. I downloaded the dead pixel finder to confirm that there actually is a dead pixel and to check to see if there were any additional dead pixels. Next time I see a dead pixel I will humbly ignore it in hopes of one day achieving the level of character that you have so courageously displayed. I applaud you sir and hope you can forgive my moment of seflishness.

I have decided to exchange my MacBook because the dead pixel keeps coming back.

snoopy199 · Jun 1, 2006, 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by ael719

I downloaded a dead pixel finder and was able to identify a dead pixel on my brand new macbook!

I've only had the macbook for 2 days now and I purchased Apple Care. My laptop is perfect to me. No whining, mooing, and the heat isn't that bad. Should I return this laptop or not?

How noticable is the dead pixel, if you needed a program to locate it I suspect its not all that noticable. That being the case and if everything else is kosher on the MB I'd say don't sweat the small stuff. Yes you can exchange it for another but will you get one that moos?

Applecare and the warranty will not cover the dead pixel, and I wouldn't even bother trying to fight that battle. Like every other company apple has a dead pixel policy, they just don't publish it but I can use my dark side of the force to tell you that one pixel is under that threshold.

I can empathize with you and understand your desire to have a perfect computer especially for the money you laid out at getting one. On the laptops I've had some had dead pixels and to be perfectly honest they were barely noticable and after a while I didn't even see it any more.

Life is too short don't sweat the small stuff

-D

cmoney · Jun 1, 2006, 08:24 AM

If you don't notice the dead pixel on a regular basis, I may hold off on exchanging it, but only because right now, it seems there's terrible inconsistency in the quality of Macbooks. It's a shame really but someone shouldn't need to go through 7 exchanges to get one that's right! It's so random that you may be exchanging your nearly perfect unit for one with all the problems documented on these boards since release!

I know in my own experience, I'm on my second Macbook. The first one out of the box had: warped wrist rest (1mm lift on left side), some arrow keys didn't always work, trackpad sometimes got stuck pushed down. The last two were already starting to hurt my hand after 1 day of use so even though it had not much whining, no mooing or dead pixels, it went back. The Apple store 5th ave at first tried to get me to repair it but I was adamant on the exchange since it was like that out of the box. I got the exchange and now I've got a near perfect one, except this one seemingly moos! Ugh, not sure I wanna go back and try another unit all over again, considering I don't hear it unless the room is dead silent and there's nothing else wrong with it.

Anyway, all that to say...exchanging it's a gamble right now! It seems there's a very high exchange rate on these units. At least that's how I interpret the goings-on on these and other MacBook boards. I've never had a PowerBook with this many potential issues or this kind of variance in quality control. (I've had 5 PowerBooks and 2 iBooks before this one, never had a problem except small whine on the TiBook.)

SpaceMonkey · Jun 1, 2006, 08:44 AM

Apple will not replace your MacBook because of 1 dead pixel. Every product with an LCD in it has a risk of arriving with a few dead pixels. This is a non-issue.

eray · Jun 1, 2006, 09:28 AM

I had a stuck pixel that was always red and this was within the first week of owning it. I took it into an Apple Store and they exchanged with no questions asked. I didn't even have to show them where the pixel was or anything. After paying over $1000 for a new laptop I would not put up with a dead or stuck pixel in the first month of owning it. I know that there is a chance with LCDs of getting bad pixels, but for something like a laptop I don't put up with it on the initial purchase.

HarriganC · Jun 1, 2006, 10:16 AM

Seven MacBooks that is absolutey out of control, I am sure every machine had "significant" problems, it is for reasons like that, that consumers run into problems exchanging products, because some take advantage. Seriously, I guess it could be possible that all 7 were defiective, but I have a feeling you may be a "hypochondriac."

PJJames · Jun 1, 2006, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by HarriganC

Seven MacBooks that is absolutey out of control, I am sure every machine had "significant" problems, it is for reasons like that, that consumers run into problems exchanging products, because some take advantage. Seriously, I guess it could be possible that all 7 were defiective, but I have a feeling you may be a "hypochondriac."

Well buddy, I'll got through it with you!
Machine 1 - The clicker in the track pad was pushed hard to the right and up high on the left there for it was practically impossible to for to use it properly.
Machine 2 - Three dead pixels, a cluster actually, dead center of the screen.
Machine 3 - Dvd player didn't work and I know it didn't because I tried 8 different DVD's.
Machine 4 - At this point I decided to go with a Macbook Pro, it was dropping th Airport and whining like crazy in which case they told me to turn one of the processors off...I thought that was unacceptable so I decided to go back to a black Macbook.
Machine 5 - The bezel of the screen right by the iSight was detaching when I opened the hood exposing the LCD....they guess because of the stong magnet.
Machine 6 - Once again, trackpad was lifeless....it wouldnt click. I litterally had to push hard dead center to get it to see my comand. The left and right side didn't work at all.
Machine 7 - I am so far very very pleased with it.

Keep in mind, the genius bar guys all recognized these problems right away and rewarded me with new machines no questions asked. I'm not a hypochondriac, I may be a little picky in some cases, but when I spend a large amount of money on a computer in which I rely on to work, due to the fact that without perfect machines...business could and would be affected....I want it to a great machine "for me". Maybe you could deal with a DOA clicker or three dead pixels, but I can't and that's me.

So, for the guy with the dead pixel....take yours back, get a new one...if it bugs you. You paid your hard earned money for this computer and it's not gonna make you very happy in 3 months if those dead pixels are still there. If it doesn't get under you skin, live with it...

Socially Awkward Solo · Jun 1, 2006, 03:45 PM

From what I have heard in the past Apple almost never replaces a computer because of dead pixels unless it is really bad.

You're a lucky man.

Eug Wanker · Jun 1, 2006, 03:54 PM

Yeah, if you have just one or two stuck pixels, it's extremely unlikely Apple will replace it.

I had 5 obvious stuck subpixels on my 20" iMac, and a couple more not as obvious ones. They were reluctant to replace it because of that, but with the pixel tester I found many more, so Apple replaced the screen.

Luckily, my MacBook is free of stuck/dead pixels.

DeathMan · Jun 1, 2006, 04:18 PM

I could see if it were a cluster dead center, but one pixel that you had to run a thing to find, I don't think thats getting replaced, unless you just happen to have a very loving store manager there to exchange it. I had 2 on my original icebook, but they were in different areas, and I never even noticed them.

You sound like you've got bad computer luck, man.

snoopy199 · Jun 1, 2006, 04:40 PM

Apple won't but then apple charges a restocking fee for returned macs.
Go to your local apple store and more often then not they'll swap it out in the name of customer service.

The same goes for returning a mac.

Socially Awkward Solo · Jun 1, 2006, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by darth-vader000

Apple won't but then apple charges a restocking fee for returned macs.
Go to your local apple store and more often then not they'll swap it out in the name of customer service.

The same goes for returning a mac.

I dunno they sold me the wrong amount of RAM in the Mini and when I ask for an exchange the first words out of their mouth was 15% restocking fee. I almost belted them over the head with it.

snoopy199 · Jun 1, 2006, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by Socially Awkward Solo

I dunno they sold me the wrong amount of RAM in the Mini and when I ask for an exchange the first words out of their mouth was 15% restocking fee. I almost belted them over the head with it.

Its probably on a per store basis. I bought an ipod and returned it after a week of use because I wanted a different one. My local apple store took it back no questions asked and did not charge me a restocking fee.

When I purchased the macbook, the sales manager promsied the same thing, if I wasn't satisified with it, he'd take it back no questions asked and not restocking fee.

Except for the heat I'm very pleased with the MB - if it were cooler running I'd consider it a perfect laptop. I'm tempted now to delve into the guts of the MB and reapply the thermal grease.

From reports that I've read if applied correctly I may see a reduction by as much as 10c

Simon · Jun 2, 2006, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by darth-vader000

From reports that I've read if applied correctly I may see a reduction by as much as 10c

Or as little as 2C. Will you notice 10C? Possibly. Will you notice 2C? Never.

snoopy199 · Jun 2, 2006, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by Simon

Or as little as 2C. Will you notice 10C? Possibly. Will you notice 2C? Never.

I agree I read the story on macdevcenter and the author only realized a possible 2c difference I say possible because he failed to record what his MBP was running before the surgery and used a buddies MBP as the control.

Its really impossible to determine what his savings were nonetheless a small decrease is very possible.

As for noticiing a 2c difference, probably not but every little bit helps. Its really is the risk worth the reward. While my MB isn't running as hot as others, I am planning on slapping a 7200rpm drive in there and if I can bring the operating temps down from the 60s to the 50s, I'd be very happy.