Apple MacBook, MacBook Pro screens subject of class-action lawsuit
By Ryan Block 
posted May 18th 2007 8:01AM
posted May 18th 2007 8:01AM
Looks like Apple is about to face its next date in court: a San Diego filing by private citizens Fred Greaves and Dave Gatley calls for a class-action lawsuit, accusing Cupertino of deceptive advertising with regard to the displays on its MacBook and MacBook Pro machines -- specifically alleging Apple's screens aren't nearly as good as they were advertised to be. Citing observances that MacBook (Pro) displays are too often "grainy" and "sparkly", that Apple uses dithering to achieve higher color depths than is feasible for the equipment, and that apparently customers seeking repair or replacement were rebuffed, even "chastised" by rogue Geniuses, telling users they are "too picky about... the quality of the display." So, will this lawsuit blend? Time -- but mostly lawyers -- will tell. [Warning: PDF link]
I Brought my Macbook 8 months ago and it has been returned to Apple 3 times for repairs.... Kept turn its self off, Heat Shield Problem, Track pad problem, HDD died TWICE and had to be replaced TWICE... Keyboard replaced (TWICE)...... I never had problems with Apples before but this time I think I got a Lemon..... Told Apple I want the MAC changed and was told "NOPE.... Just keep sending it back if you have problems".......
The issue at hand is that the lawsuit claims they've discovered that MacBookPro displays use only six bits per channel, making it only capable of displaying approximately 212,000 colours. However, the advertising campaign claims its displays are capable of producing millions of colours (the usual 16.7 million as evidenced by 8-bits per channel).
The way the advertising is framed is that the displays could produce millions of colours, not "simulate" millions of colours by special hardware / driver tricks. If there is a discrepancy between what Apple ships with its products, and what they advertise, then they are definitely guilty of fraudulent practises. I hope the lawsuit will help uncover whether the truth behind this claim.
As long as the advertising matches the product that's given, then what we have here is just the standard case of high defect rates and problems relating to customer support. That won't likely gain much credibility in court. If Apple *lied* to its consumers, that's another matter entirely...
Read the lawsuit text. It's interesting.
my kid got me into mac's about 15 years ago and i have never been more happy, you cant wear them out, you just get tired of one and buy a new one. i believe in the company so much, in 2000, i brought 15 shares, LOOK AT ME NOW
DAVID
CONFIRMED
i took a 3 year old e-mac to the mac store and in 1 wk they replaced the logic board, N.C. NO CHARGE, 3 YEARS OLD, where else could that happen?
david
There seems to be a undercurrent of problems with mac books screen developing cracks. Apple is sticking by their "damage" view of the issue rather than the manufacturer defect problem. Indeed there may be cases where consumers took a hammer to the laptop, but I know in my case there were no drops or slams when the screen suddenly developed a crack.
I had been a satisfied Apple customer for over 5 years. However I will no longer do business with them because they do not stand behind their products.
I have a Mac and a Dell PC (Windows XP SP2), so I am not a fan-whatever. My 5-month old MacBook Pro 17-inch has an amazing screen, and I have not had ANY issues with the display. The other day I inserted a very old CDR and it would not read it, and it would not eject it. Tech support told me to restart it while holding the mouse button to force-eject, and it worked. That is the only issue I have had. I am quite satisfied with it and would strongly recommend it. About the PC, I like it, and it does the job, but it has been attacked by viruses too many times and Explorer freezes too often. Viruses consumed the original hard drive, so I had to replace that. The Dell Ultrabrite screen is very vivid. Mac is better built, and more stable, but it can be considered expensive. To me, it is worth it, and I enjoy using it more than the Dell PC.
The entire situation with Apple and its so-called "Geniuses" is really offensive. I tried several times to have a dead iBook repaired under warranty, and each time I heard a different excuse. Finally I was accused by a Genius of having dropped the laptop, thereby voiding the warranty. He tried to show me that the screen portion was offset from the body, the result of being dropped. It was not offset -- the screen portion had that much play in it. I'm convinced these folks are schooled in customer DIS-service and are probably rewarded for the number of claims they can dismiss. Never again, Apple.
I just returned from the Apple store where I had a cluster of bad dots on my MBP. They order a new screen in for me last week and I went in today bought Apple care and I have my notebook 1.5hrs later. If that is not service then someone please find me another company that would do that. Just to make sure people don't think I am this die hard Apple person. I am a windows tech by trade that switched to the MBP once they got the Intel chipset. The real reason was the service as they have been amazing in servicing anything that I had problems with. Being in tech you know nothing is perfect but it is how you handle the problem that makes the world of difference.