ibook (dual USB) display problems

[leesa]

I received my iBook (600/dual USB/combo/12.1) this week and immediately upon turning it on I noticed the display was unevenly lit. It goes from dark at the top to light at the bottom, no matter what angle I look at it. The colors are washed out (no contrast control!) and don't improve no matter how I calibrate it. How am I supposed to do design work on a screen that displays everything unevenly and inaccurately???

I have read the Discussion Groups at Apple.com and it seems that a lot of people have the same problem:
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?128@135.RcDratn3n1X^198790@.ef7fbd8
(you must have an Apple ID to view this link)

Common sense tells me to take it to an Authorized Tech and have them look at it (which I plan to) BUT from what I've read form others with this problem Apple seems to think that its "acceptable for lower-end notebooks". One poster in the discussion group said that Apple actually sugested that he should contact a lawyer if he wanted to in regards to their refusal to correct or comment on the issue!!Also, Apple refuses to address the issue (in spite of how common it is) in their Support/Knowledge Base area.

Apple has advertized this computer as "you digital hub", but nowhere do they state: except for graphics professionals.

After the amout of time (much longer than Apple promised) and the amout of money it took to get this thing, I am disappointed in Apple for the first time in over 9 years of being an avid and loyal customer.

So, if they don't even read the discussion groups on their own site, why should I hope they'll read this? Optimistic, I guess. I don't really know where to go from here, guess I'll call Apple but I worry about the reponse I'm likely to get. Anyone with similar problems/fixes/explanations please post a reply. Thanks,

leesa

 

[kenny]

I'd say that before you do anything else, talk to Apple and give them the opportunity to make this right for you. It's hard to read all the horror stories and remain optimistic. But, I'd bet fhat for every one of those stories, there's at least a dozen other success stories. Mine is one of those.

I'd managed to snap the latch in the base of my iBook (not the swing-down bit in the lid/display). I called on Wednesday, I had the box that Apple sends you for repair returns on Thursday. I shipped the book Thursday night, and Apple had the book on Friday morning. The repair was done over the weekend (there was evidence in the logs that it was booted at least once on Sunday), and I had my book back on Monday morning. I had the foresight to get and AppleCare contract when I bought the book, so my out-of-pocket cost was exactly zero. Needless to say I'm very happy.

Now, I know, not every issue is handled as quickly nor as easily. But do give Apple a chance to address this.

 

[leesa]

Talked to Apple yesterday and the tech walked me through booting in OS9 from the CD, I suppose to see if it was a software problem. It wasn't.
He says that the problem isn't normal and that I need to send it in. They will most likely replace the entire iBook. Unfortunately this means waiting to get it from Taiwan again, which took a very long time before, but I have high hopes that things will go quickly.
My only worry is that I will get the iBook back with additional/different problems than before. In some ways I feel lucky that its just the screen that's defective, in light of the kinds of problems most users complain about (broken latch, cracked case, ripped screen, broken ports, etc.) But again, I'm optimistic.
I still love Apple (I even feel guilty about complaining in the first place!) and I want to believe they will continue to give me the best machines you can buy (though a Silicon Graphics would be really nice to have around).

Everybody pray to the computer gods for me and wish me luck!

Leesa