Apple New mac book with stuck pixel :(

Lost my Mac virginity today however my experience wasn't the best. As soon as I turned my new macbook on I noticed a stuck pixel about an inch down from the middle of the screen. It is very annoying. Googling found others with similar problems and told me that contacting apple it's pretty pointless since it's it's just one pixel.

I am going to leave some pixel fixing java applet running for a number of hours before decidng if I should have a rant at apple. If they do let me return it I will be paranoid that the new one will have even more dead pixels! After all these years owning numerous laptops and tft monitors that my first experience with apple happens to be my first experience with a dodgy pixel.

Anyone else had similar experiences?

 

break the hard drive, call em, get a swap. i recommend a magnet.

(seriously, i have never done this and personally would have ethical issues with doing such a thing. but hey, if it doesn't bother your conscience, i say go for it.)

 

return it under the 7 day distance selling regs if you bought it online

 

he opened it. doesn't count. although they SHOULD take it - i bought a PB 12" from the apple store regents street TELLING THEM i would be returning it in 2 weeks. all was good. (i needed a mac urgently while i awaited my MBP order to be fulfilled - long story)

felt kinda bad coming in a week later to see the very one i bought sitting on the clearance table at a £200 discount. oh well.

 

Haha, nice story.

 

if you are careful and i mean careful. rub the spot on the screen very softly. I've recovered a few this way.

 

why not simply send it back...

i had a stuck pixel on my Dell Lappy, sent it back, and i got a new lappy of the same spec.

also had a Viewsonic with a couple dead ones, and they swapped them over for me, and paid the postage back to me..

 

Apple should replace it free of charge under their warranty, take it to the nearest retail store and have them look at it, they should either send it for repair, or trade it for you

 

I agree, definitely don't settle for a busted pixel on day one!

 

Why should they have to? LCD's are all sold with a dead pixel limit not 'we guarentee no dead pixels..'

 

If I buy a screen or laptop, I expect zero dead pixels. There's no reason for there to be a dead pixel in the middle of the screen on day one. Other industries are somewhat different. If you buy a new car and get a flat tire a few days later, you're stuck replacing it on your own. But if you drive off the lot and the car completely breaks down in your driveway, it'll be covered by the auto dealer. If you purchase a brand new couch, you don't expect to have it delivered with a tear in the center of the middle cushion.

 

because apple's policy for merchandise is to repair/replace any defects in their products for 1 year (or extended with applecare) of purchase

reason why i've had 2 faulty back light inverters, both fans, and a super drive replaced since i bought my MBP in may

christ, they replaced a video iPod with a dead pixel, I'd expect that same for a laptop

unlike LCD manufacturers, apple doesn't have an X# of dead pixel policy

 

Although i agree that they shouldn't come with dead pixels from day one the fact is they do and as most companies have a dead pixel policy (usually stating 3 dead pixels for a replacement) theres nothing you can do to get it replaced.

Apple have an internal policy but don't seem to tell the users what is is (nice of them) most other companies are more up front about it.

Best bet i'd say is to try and get it replaced in an apple store and if they won't then try pixel repair techniques (or just try and break a load more pixels then send it back)

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

I know faulty pixels are common but having one in the centre of the screen is really annoying. It's like a constant itch I cannot scratch.

I think I will contact apple tomorrow and tell them them it breeches the Sales of Goods Act 1979. Quote from Dti website.

My girl friend was wanting to use the MacBook for editing photos when we are away from home. Which is a lot of the time. So I could say it's not fit for purpose in that regard.

Only problem is I don't know how to contact them. I am quite useless on the phone due to anxiety probs. Perhaps maybe email? I'm not sure.. anyone got advice on the best way to contact them to get this sorted?

 

instead of writing an email ranting about breaking the law and going off on one. just write a polite email saying you bought it only a few days ago and your upset that something of that price and market segment can be broken already, and that you feel it would be in good will for them to replace it. as they dont have to..

also if you do just send a ranting email you'll probably get no reply as the person who opens it will think "what a burk" and put it in the spam. politeness counts for everything

 

take it to the store, they'll try some stuff to fix it in store, and in lieu of that, will send it in for repair, or if they have the parts on hand, repair it in store

either way, in store is the best way to handle it, emails generally tell you to go to the store for stuff like that anyway

 

yes dont go off on "sales act 1972....

when i get that it really pisses me off big time (pc world)

so yes be polite and you "will" get your way. if they want to keep a customer they will sort you out

 

not if you know the SECRET GET IT REPLACED IMMEDIATELY email address!!!111oneoneelevenexclamationmarklol

 

I got it online from the NUS site.

 

OK, little update...

Taking M4RTINS and Pie's advice I did a polite call to apple and told them my problems. The 1st guy I phone hanged up on me for some strange reason before I even told him the problem, but the second guy was really cool. Basically told him how it was. I told him the pixel was in the centre and was being really distracting. He told me to do a couple of tests to see if it wasnt a software problem. I knew it had nothing to do with that but I'd thought id be nice and polite and follow his instructions, the dead pixel was still there. After the test he said I could get a repair or replacement (guess which I chose?) and put me through to some other dude to take address details.