Users report issues with Apple's new Core i7-based iMac - Page 4

Originally Posted by astaroth

Count me in... I am currently writing from a "lower left corner damaged glass" iMac i7. Replacement should arrive by a couple of weeks. The origin must be a factory/material defect or it wouldn't explain why it is always the left bottom side. The possible transport mishandling might be accentuated by the fact that there is - on purpose - no Fragile sign and the box shape, now even larger, makes this a difficult to handle box and thus prone to last inches drops on the ground. and the packging given the edge glass of the new imac, is imho a bit too minimalistic. Some extra softer foam in the corners "might" have prevented this. For the record it's a very small dent, I'd say around 1 inch away from the corner and it runs form edge to edge and forms a sort of triangle.

Originally Posted by HeartSleeve

The Apple forum associated with their website has many horror stories of wildly distorted color bands, flickering and black screen occurring with the new i7 imac specifically with the 27" display. Has anyone here who has already taken delivery had any such problems, OTHER than with the cracked screen noted in the OP? I have held off ordering since that forum seemed to think the problem was native to a single batch with 946 in the serial #.

Originally Posted by get2thept

27 inch i7. Booted up fine but fans were running at full speed - sounded like a vacuum cleaner running. No cracked screen though and except for the fan issue - seemed to work fine. Packaging seemed adequate as well. Screen is awesome. Return with Apple went ok at first - arranged for return shipping and the day after Fedex picked it up my account showed the replacement - but not shipping until Dec!

This is where it gets a little weird. I called Apple and they said my machine was actually already awaiting shipment (yay!) that it was given priority status and they would provide upgraded shipping - they even refunded my original shipping charges since I had paid for the 2-3 day shipping on the original. Very happy camper at this point. However...

It's been nearly a week and the status is still sitting at a ship date of Dec 2. I spoke with a rep again last night and he said it was NOT put on priority status and that it was in the queue like all the other orders. He did offer to "upgrade" my shipping to 2-3 days - odd since that should have been in the system already.

Bottom line - Apple doesn't appear to be doing anything special to get my replacement iMac to me and I'll just have to wait until Dec even though I originally placed the order on Oct 27.

Originally Posted by solipsism

.... Also, the number of DOA i7 iMacs seems higher than normal at this point in the product cycle.

Originally Posted by Zep

because MS based systems dont have access to i5s either right?

you're paying for the apple ecosystem, not really the hardware since its essentially universal now.

Originally Posted by Bageljoey



It did seem a little odd to end this article with the now ubiquitous Mac Pricing Guide...

Originally Posted by al_bundy

i'm waiting for the youtube videos of chinese workers breaking new imacs and putting them in the box and laughing

Originally Posted by rain

However, any and all professionals who have to spend hours at a time on a computer will develop headache's and severe eyestrain from the iMirror. [emphasis added]

Originally Posted by HeartSleeve

Has anyone here who has already taken delivery had any such problems, OTHER than with the cracked screen noted in the OP?

Originally Posted by Cranky


Never said that Apple had exclusive access to the i5.

As far as the hardware being universal have a look at this (http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac-...27-Inch/1236/1) and tell me how much of the "universal' iMac hardware you can put in a tower. Of course you can just leave the hardware alone then wipe out the Snow Leopard OS and install windows if you hate Apple so much. Then in two years, give or take, you will have an expensive crap MicroSuck machine that needs to have the o.s. reloaded just to restore it's optimum usability. The potential for longevity is much greater with the iMac and the Snow Leopard o.s.

Originally Posted by Cranky

You are so right. As I have said before buying online scares me because of the way UPS & FedEx handle shipment of all types.

Originally Posted by Mazda 3s

So Apple is without ANY blame if the packaging is subpar? The fact that UPS and FedEx are known to play rough with packages should give them even more reason to use sturdy packaging for such a heavy and large item.

Originally Posted by solipsism

You can compare your machine to the ones tested by MacWorld for specific apps at the link below, but you need to call Apple and get a replacement. The number is in your Macs Address Book. The backlighting and audio distortion are not normal. You have spent a lot of money for a machine and its not up to par. You bought a 2st gen ore i7 iMac, they will be very helpful. Just explain the issues you have above.

http://www.macworld.com/article/1439...re17_imac.html

Originally Posted by Zep

plasma is different than LCD.

plasma cannot shift more than 15 degrees of vertical or the plasma inside can leak out or least damage the stuff inside (if i remember that part correctly)

Originally Posted by johnmcboston

Did you not do the 'target disc' account transfer bit? I'm hoping that's still working...

Originally Posted by Zep

man you're retarded.

when did i say i hated apple? i didnt. you made it seem like MS has crap even tho the hardware is essentially the same as the stuff that went into the iMac. i dont hate apple, they make good products. i hate people who spew crap out their mouth (ie: you). i should ship you some toilet paper so you can clean up.

wow you posted a teardown. the basic hardware is the same as a PC. the CPU, the HD, the RAM (this maybe a custom size, i cant find it while glancing at the pictures). there is a custom motherboard and heatsink. the rest is crap i could get off newegg.com

Originally Posted by bugsnw

.... If these few iMacs all break in the lower-left corner, there is probably some extra stress at that point that is affecting the glass...

Originally Posted by Cranky

Get your memory checked. You are way wrong on this one. Here is a link to one of many places showing your error.

http://www.dtvcity.com/plasmatv/plasmatv-leak.html

Originally Posted by bassetbob

Mx Desk Mount LCD arm - Amazon, $109.99

Mounted it to Steamcase #5 and its ready to take either my 22" monitor or the iMac. I think I'll go iMac first, then get another one for the monitor. I'll be at the upper limit (30lbs) for the arm with the iMac. I'll report back if it has issues.

Also: Have not experienced any fan issues. Just played "Too many dicks on the dance floor" and it was all smiles

Originally Posted by Cranky

Trying to prove your manhood by resorting to name calling? Grow up little one!

Originally Posted by BenRoethig

How you do think they get from the ship to the Apple store?

Originally Posted by teckstud

I could care less if you're foolish enough to want a high gloss computer screen. GO for it.

We just want our option for matte back. It will happen- the 17" then the 15' MBP unexpectedly got it. You shall see- in due time.

Originally Posted by Zep

changing the subject cause you got caught in being wrong? least i'll admit when im wrong.

for the next time you spew a bunch of crap out of your mouth.

Originally Posted by Zep

fair enough. its just what i remember hearing from a few people.

Originally Posted by Cranky


Never said that Apple had exclusive access to the i5.

As far as the hardware being universal have a look at this (http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iMac-...27-Inch/1236/1) and tell me how much of the "universal' iMac hardware you can put in a tower. Of course you can just leave the hardware alone then wipe out the Snow Leopard OS and install windows if you hate Apple so much. Then in two years, give or take, you will have an expensive crap MicroSuck machine that needs to have the o.s. reloaded just to restore it's optimum usability. The potential for longevity is much greater with the iMac and the Snow Leopard o.s.

Originally Posted by nikon133

How hardware is packed inside the unit doesn't change the fact that same processors, graphics, chipsets, memory chips... are used across whole industry today.

Worrying part is that Apples are sliding down the reliability charts, even their laptops - at present being behind Asus and Toshiba units. More worrying part is that other brands have low-cost cheap units - expected to be more defect-prone - watering down their reliability across the range, while Apple basically has high-cost end of market but still fails to top reliability charts, even without cheap crap in their range.

Only this year, Apple had problems with screens, graphics chips, super-drives, hard drives... and some of them, much as I am aware of, haven't really been sorted, even with all the firmware and other updates Apple has released.

I would expect that part of those problems is coming from Apple's ever-going attempts to differentiate their products from mainstream by choosing non standard form factors and questionable extras. As results, we have malfunctioning optical drives, overheating graphics/whole systems, conflicts between HDDs inbuilt shock sensors and Apple built ones...

Maybe it is only me, but I'd prefer Mac in decent tower box with standard, replaceable parts. Apple could still separate themselves with nice, smaller version of Mac Pro box. No one is expecting Apple to be cheap, so they should be able to find enough space within the price to build really good looking and good functioning box... \

Of other things... no, you don't have to clean reinstall Windows every two years. Not as a general rule. Being IT provider for a few big companies (for NZ standards, at least), I can say with good confidence that number of major software issues causing BSODs, instability or noticeable performance loss (without underlying hardware issues) is remarkably low. Of course, individual can crap software installation in a few minutes if completely out of mind, but on average users we come across go through the lifetime of a PC - 3 to 5 years - without reinstalling OS short of hardware faults.

Rest seems to be part of effective, if questionable marketing from Apple...

Originally Posted by ghostface147

One of our local Best Buy's has one of those cracked iMacs on display. I wonder what moronic manager decided that it's best to show a damaged iMac instead of a nice, clean one.

Originally Posted by Judgegavel

FWIW I just don't get all the complaints about it having the glossy screen. Glossy looks much better in a perfect viewing environment where you control the lighting, which is exactly what you should have for your desktop, if you need it matte your in the minority, or have a poorly planed desktop space. Laptops on the other hand are completely hindered by the glossy screen and need a matte option, in fact the only time I can see having one glossy is if your were using it mostly as your desktop.

Originally Posted by sippincider

Would it really be that hard for Apple to offer matte (REAL matte, not just a film) as a BTO option?

I'd pay a $100 premium right here & now if it was available.

It'd be an all-around win. Consumers would get choice, Apple would have a nicely profitable option, and every iMac discussion wouldn't turn into a gloss-vs-matte debate.

Originally Posted by Cranky

What about an after market true matte finish screen? Do you think it would be possible with out screwing your warranty? I'm asking because I really don't know if it would be possible.

Originally Posted by teckstud

If they were matte this never would have happened.

Originally Posted by teckstud

God I'm sorry to hear that. Those sound like they've been assembled on the Land of the Misfit Toys. \

Originally Posted by utsava

No, they say, wow look at those deep blacks and really nice contrast. I don't care what the matte-fans say, glossy screens look WAY nicer to me and everyone I talk to.... and 95% of the public does not care about your color accurate publishing work.

Originally Posted by sippincider

Depends what it takes to get that sheet of glass off. If it involves surgical prying or disassembly, then it'd very likely screw your warranty.

Good non-reflective glass IS available, and IMO it'd be an easy BTO option of Apple wanted to implement it. Unless (until?) Apple does something, I can see a nice little business in converting new iMacs to matte. It'd be interesting to see how Apple would work with converters regarding warranty. You'd think it'd be no different than shops that "outfit" new vehicles.

Anyway, we really don't want to go back to the days of tape-on antiglare screens....

Originally Posted by ghostface147

One of our local Best Buy's has one of those cracked iMacs on display. I wonder what moronic manager decided that it's best to show a damaged iMac instead of a nice, clean one.

Originally Posted by HeartSleeve

The Apple forum associated with their website has many horror stories of wildly distorted color bands, flickering and black screen occurring with the new i7 imac specifically with the 27" display. Has anyone here who has already taken delivery had any such problems, OTHER than with the cracked screen noted in the OP? I have held off ordering since that forum seemed to think the problem was native to a single batch with 946 in the serial #.

Originally Posted by astaroth

Count me in... I am currently writing from a "lower left corner damaged glass" iMac i7. Replacement should arrive by a couple of weeks. The origin must be a factory/material defect or it wouldn't explain why it is always the left bottom side. The possible transport mishandling might be accentuated by the fact that there is - on purpose - no Fragile sign and the box shape, now even larger, makes this a difficult to handle box and thus prone to last inches drops on the ground. and the packging given the edge glass of the new imac, is imho a bit too minimalistic. Some extra softer foam in the corners "might" have prevented this. For the record it's a very small dent, I'd say around 1 inch away from the corner and it runs form edge to edge and forms a sort of triangle.

Originally Posted by jlandd

Actually, it's not about color accurate publishing work. It's about using the monitor in a professional environment that is a decent representation of how what you see will look like on another screen or when you print it out. Having a monitor that "pops" so much is only good for the wow factor. It has little to do with specialized publishing and everything to do with doing work on your Mac that goes off to someone else. Or if you want to print it and have it resemble that picture you so carefully tweaked. So bye bye photographers, amateurs and hobbyists as well as pros.

See, you're right that most of the public doesn't care about this, but the arts professionals, where Apple has a much different ratio, do care. It has to be accurate, or be able to be made accurate. Go to any photography site and see what they say about calibrating monitors. Apple will lose this market if they don't offer, along with "Way" nicer looking screens, screens that a professional can use. Six months ago I was figuring to add an iMac before the end of the year, but now it'll likely be a decent Dell monitor and...?

Originally Posted by nvidia2008

Sadly the arts professionals you talk about is the market Apple is less and less focused on.

Amateur photographers and video enthusiasts will love the pop and high-res. Being amateurs and enthusiasts, they may be swayed by how good it looks on their own screen, and may not be as professionally concerned about printing it out correctly, etc. etc. Being amateur or hobbyists maybe they mostly post their stuff online, or just burn a DVD to share with others.

Photo pros could probably get the Core i5 or i7 though since it is a great value option compared to the Mac Pro, then probably attach a "proofing" monitor to it for final tweaks.

Video editing pros, for some jobs could also use the iMac, if they work in a somewhat darkened room, have a tighter budget, and do not require color treatments/ calibration for their editing work.

I'm not saying this is the right way, or definitely the current way things are going, but it could be a new trend forming.