No chill: Some Microsoft Surface Pro 4 users need to stick device in freezer to stop scree...
A growing number of Surface Pro 4 owners are experiencing display flicker, and to temporarily rectify the situation, they need to chill the device well below room temperature to get it to work properly for even a short time.
The alternative problem-solving step was discovered after one user noted, and posted a video, about getting a half-hour of flicker-free use after depositing the device in the freezer.
Microsoft has little to say about the matter, and claim that it affects "less than one percent" of all Surface Pro 4 users. A software fix is evidently not possible.
Microsoft also told The Verge in a statement that that they are "monitoring the situation" with the hardware, as well as a site dedicated to the problem.
Users seeking a permanent solution are being asked to dole out $800 for a out-of-warranty exchange, despite a screen repair list price being set at $450.
A class-action suit could be launched as a result of the problem, but it appears that the line may have wider problems beyond just the screen issue requiring freezing.
"We are still considering our options. We've received a number of inquiries over time with other issues beyond the battery issue, beyond flickering," Nicholas Migliaccio, a partner at Migliaccio & Rathod LLP told The Verge. "People have a variety of problems, but if we're looking at problems we're looking at the common ones."
Apple has not been without its own GPU-related problems. Apple is on the tail-end of a repair authorization extension for machines up to and including some 2013 MacBook Pros that could experience forced restarts, crashes, and graphic distortion.
The alternative problem-solving step was discovered after one user noted, and posted a video, about getting a half-hour of flicker-free use after depositing the device in the freezer.
Microsoft has little to say about the matter, and claim that it affects "less than one percent" of all Surface Pro 4 users. A software fix is evidently not possible.
Microsoft also told The Verge in a statement that that they are "monitoring the situation" with the hardware, as well as a site dedicated to the problem.
Users seeking a permanent solution are being asked to dole out $800 for a out-of-warranty exchange, despite a screen repair list price being set at $450.
A class-action suit could be launched as a result of the problem, but it appears that the line may have wider problems beyond just the screen issue requiring freezing.
"We are still considering our options. We've received a number of inquiries over time with other issues beyond the battery issue, beyond flickering," Nicholas Migliaccio, a partner at Migliaccio & Rathod LLP told The Verge. "People have a variety of problems, but if we're looking at problems we're looking at the common ones."
Apple has not been without its own GPU-related problems. Apple is on the tail-end of a repair authorization extension for machines up to and including some 2013 MacBook Pros that could experience forced restarts, crashes, and graphic distortion.
Comments
As an Apple and Microsoft person, I can't say that I like Windows 10, mainly because its always doing stuff I tell it not to do and I will probably avoid the Surface Pro; however, my experience with Apple has been far from perfect. This one reminds me, most notably, of the mid-2012 Macbook Retina screen ghosting on LG panels. After a 2 hour conversation with an Apple specialist discussing the issue, I decided to purchase the computer, in September '12, 15 months after purchase, I ended up paying 368$ for a new panel.
It wasn't reassuring when I looked at 5 display Macbook pros, mid-2012 models, at various stores, and they all had ghosting, all of them. Out of my experience, that is 6/6 were affected. Granted my experience my vary from others but the only other time I have seen and recreated HW issues that easily on multiple, relatively new devices, are the OLED screens on the Samsung phones.
Just saying, Apple has its issues too, not to mention the iPhone 4 antenna and iPhone 6 series bending in pockets.
Freezer, condensation, not a good idea.
I also clearly remember that many that exhibited problems with their MacBooks that were one day past warranty were screwed by Apple. They are much better now, but still.
I'm in the middle of this. If you buy a laptop, it's not excessive to expect your very expensive MacBook to provide years of dependable service. If you buy one, and it craps out the day after your warranty, technically it's not Apple's problem, even though you paid a kings ransom for it. However, if this problem is indicative of something larger that affects a large group of people, a manufacturer should fess up and admit that there was a problem and fix it, even if it's past its warranty - to a degree of course.
Apple is much better at this now partly because it's such a high-profile company that is viewed under a monstrous magnifying glass so it doesn't want bad PR.
Let's see if Microsoft steps up as well. It sucks to spend that kind of money only to have it fail right after the warranty after regular use. That's unacceptable.
Can you imagine if your new car essentially fails to work after immediately after the warranty, and then realize that many more people experience the same thing with that model? There would be an uproar.
The price is crazy for what you get. Most people are smart enough to buy a true business machine like the HP Elitebook x360 g2.
If you’re buying a $2000+ you better be getting an extended warranty.
As others have mentioned, these homemade recipes are not unique to Microsoft. Once I have a few spare hours to yank the screen and twist a few dozen screws I'm planning to remove the discrete graphics card from my 2008 iMac 24" 3.06 GHz and bake it in a last ditch attempt to bring it back to life.
2008 iMac, code name "Frozen Pizza."
Back in the day, my son-in-law had a G4 tower in which the power supply kept crapping out. Apple would fix it under warranty each time, but it still had problems. After the fourth time, my son-in-law told them that if it happened again, he wanted a new machine. It did happen again, but by the time it happened, the G5 had come out and they gave him a brand new G5.
Around 2004, my daughter had her baby on her lap and the kid grabbed her laptop and pushed the screen back, breaking the hinge. It still worked, but they had to put something (like a large book) behind the screen to keep the screen up. She brought it to Apple and they said it wasn't worth fixing - the repair would cost about $1500. But then the video crapped out. She brought it in just to have the video fixed and not the hinge. She got it back and it was completely fixed and she called me up in tears because she thought Apple was going to charge her $1500+, but they charged her zero.
And I forget the details, but we had an issue with an iPod that was out of warranty, but Apple fixed anyway.
I don't think Apple would do any of those things today. The video on my late-2016 MBP had an issue and Apple fixed it for free, but it was still under warranty. I forgot to buy Apple Care on time and if it happens again, I'm totally screwed because it's a $700 repair.
I know Apple makes a lot of money on Apple Care, but I sincerely believe that when someone buys a machine like the current MBP's, that can easily cost $3000+, they should come with at least a two-year warranty if not three years. If Apple commands high prices because their products are higher quality, Apple should stand behind them. I once owned an Acura and the car was so good and Acura had so few repairs to fix under warranty that they upped the warranty from five years to six for free. I did have a problem and got stuck because of a recalled ignitor (I hadn't gotten the notice yet). It was late at night and I had my car towed from New Jersey to my home in New York and then from my home in New York to Acura the next day. Under the warranty, Acura didn't have to pay for all that towing, but they did, no questions asked. Now that was customer service.