iMac display problem (vertical lines on the right-hand side of the screen)

Class-Action Lawsuit Over iMac Display Problems

“Apple remained silent knowing its iMac display screens would malfunction while consumers purchased iMacs, made warranty claims arising from the vertical lines on display screens, and made out of warranty repairs related to vertical lines,” alleges the lawsuit filed New Year’s Eve by Aram Hovsepian, who bought an iMac in October, 2006 and began noticing the display problem March of 2008.

The lawsuit alleges Apple violated California’s Unfair Business Practices Act and the state’s Consumers Legal Remedy Act.

The lawsuit comes amid speculation Apple may unveil an updated line of iMacs at the upcoming Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Calif.

When you pay $1500 for a computer, it should not break down after a year.

I’d love to participate in this class action too — for those of you not in the know, the machines with the lines basically all come from the same manufacturing plant (in Shanghai), during the same time period (2005-06). You can see the plant code and the year/week of manufacture by looking at the first part of the serial number: W8605…, for example, was produced at plant W8, during 2006 in the 5th week. Something went wrong at that plant, and Apple is pretending that it’s an isolated issue for each user. The deeper problem is that even if you consider it your own fault for not buying Applecare and concede the fact that sometimes durable consumer goods break down after just one year, you still run the risk of losing even your new screen, since Apple doesn’t fix the underlying problem for your $600; they just put a new screen in, and often that one gets the lines too. So basically the whole computer is unusable except for the parts other than the screen, which can presumably be salvaged. I really want to see this class action succeed. I love OSX and was at the Apple Store immediately after the Intel switch happened — buying my first computer after getting my first job and living on my own, I couldn’t wait to finally get back into the world of Mac. I waited for the rumored switch to Intel processors because I wanted my machine to be future-proof. Oh, how wrong I was.

I have the same problem

I purchased my iMac 24″ Intel Core 2 Duo back in May of 2008 fully loaded with 4GB of ram and 3.06 GHz processor speed.

Just today, I noticed what I thought was dirt on the left hand side of my screen. When I tried to wipe it off, I noticed it wasn’t dirt but a pattern of veins running up and down the left side of the display. I also noticed that the image that’s been on my desktop for about three months now doesn’t appear to be as crisp… almost washed out. Anyway, I did a hardware test and everything appears to have checked out OK. I’m also seeing a gridlike pattern of squares on the left hand side. There is obviously something going on here.

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac8,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 3.06 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: IM81.00C1.B00
SMC Version: 1.30f1
Serial Number:

We have the same problem: 30-40 colourful vertical lines across our mac.

Serial number checks with bad manufacturing plant: W8641AP1VUX

i.e., week 41 of 2006, plant W8

Here are the details of our mac:

Hardware Overview:

Machine Name: iMac
Machine Model: iMac5,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM51.0090.B03
SMC Version: 1.8f2
Serial Number: W8641AP1VUX

My 17" intel based iMac has the same problem. The vertical line(s) now fully consume about one fifth of the right side of the display.

Serial Number: W863853KVUX

I would love to hear more about this class action suit.

I am experiencing a strange (possibly related) problem. The photo I have chosen for my desktop background is appearing in the thousands as tiny photos that cover the screen except where icons appear.... could this be related?!

Dan

Same problem about 3cm from right hand side screen vertical line- cyan. Assume it will progress in number/size.

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac5,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: IM51.0090.B09
SMC Version (system): 1.8f2
Serial Number (system): W87025VSVUX

I am up to 9 lines on my IMAC. The serial number is W87013UX ... and no I did not get the extended warranty because I made the "ASSumption" that Apple made expensive quality products or at least would back them up.

I too am interested in participating in a class action suite if Apple fails to back up their product.

First Time Apple Buyer
Toronto Canada

Case Number: 5:2008cv05788
Filed: December 31, 2008
Court: California Northern District Court



I don't think it is approved as a class action yet--may be better to sue on your own case in small claims if Apple will not resolve with you.