It dissolves grease and removes dust like magic, but is lethal to delicate coatings.
Posted on 07/16/2015 12:58:27 PM PDT by dennisw
Thousands of MacBook owners have grouped together to vent their frustrations over screen damage affecting Apple's displays.
MacBook users outraged over 'Staingate' display damage
"We are a group of Apple customers that paid more than 2000 USD/EUR for a Macbook that is showing horrific stains in the screen," writes the group on its website, Staingate.org.
"The stains can start as early as 7 months after the purchase. There is no clear pattern as to how it starts: some experience it in small spots around the edge, on other screens it appears in the middle as large patches."
Apple claims that this is "cosmetic damage" and as such it is not covered by the warranty, leaving owners facing repair costs that can total up to $800.
The worst affected MacBooks appear to be those sold in 2013 but it seems that the problem dates back to 2009.
The group says it has been contacted by more than 3,000 people so far, and US law firm Whitfield Bryson & Mason has contacted the organization's Facebook group offering to help. The law firm has already begun collecting data.
On the face of it the damage appears to be afflicting the antireflective coating applied to the display. Something - and that something could range from user abuse to a manufacturing defect - seems to have caused the coating to decay, leaving behind what appears to be an ugly stain. Retirement Lessons: Saving More Today Leads To More Certainty Later Find out why. Watch as Glenn O'Brien, Head of Distribution of Pension Risk Transfer at Prudential Retirement, explains. Sponsored by Prudential
In all my experience of using, abusing, damaging, and repairing devices, I've never seen a screen suffer that sort of damage. If you've come across this problem, let me know in the comments section below.
Seven 'must-have' MacBook Pro accessories...
To me, not so much. I've replaced screens in laptops. People discard laptops dirt cheap for stupid problems. Often it's just a backlight tube that's out, so once that's replaced the screen lights up and all is fine. Other times the glass is cracked making for a weird display or none; so I swap out the LCD panel. One time I got an Apple Cinema Display for cheap, like $20 (normally like $800). Cleaned it up, it worked. Then transporting it something heavy fell on it, resulting in a display like this article. Tossed it out, darn. Try separating the glass layer, then pressing it back and you'll get weird effects. I'm talking mostly old displays, haven't worked with any new displays out in the last few years.
I'd like to add a light-hearted personal observation to this otherwise unfortunate thread.
There are certainly some hate-filled, anti-Apple trolls who enjoy nothing better than ranting against Apple. But it's a free country still, and there's no law against them doing so. There are of course rules of FreeRepublic, and rules of good manners, but not everyone reads and obeys JimRob's admonitions, and not everyone was lucky to have a Mother who taught them manners. Hence the trolls, most of whom are humorless maroons, who can and should be ignored.
But I've observed that while Dennis does exhibit an irrational hatred of all things Apple, he does so in a manner that is so over the top, so outrageous, that it is actually funny to read.
There have been Dennis posts that I would swear are satire rather than slur. And there have been Dennis posts that show that he has a great sense of humor, blended in with the irrational hatred. For example his constant advice to sell Apple stock because it's tanking... that's pure genius. I daresay Dennis has become famous for his willingness to slam anything about Apple, in much the same way that Lazamataz is famous for his willingness to hit anything with two legs (and actually I think the legs are optional).
Whether Dennis posts the eventual news article that appears when Apple addresses this screen problem is irrelevant. None of us believe he will, so what of that?
The important thing is that Dennis, unlike the vast majority of his less generously endowed comrades in Apple-hate, generally posts with something of a sense of humor.
We should celebrate his doing so, and encourage his less gifted troll-buddies to get a clue and a sense of humor as well.
Light-hearted, fellas. Just sayin'... :-)
If you are making a touch screen of any sort, especially one to be crammed into pockets or worn on wrists, it would obviously behoove you to make it as finger-proof as possible.
But this laptop screen is not a touch screen. So, maybe they cut the wrong corner. Or not.
Lucky for you that you are competent and confident to work on them.
I actually like the iBook better than this one (MBP), just all around. I’m going to get it fixed next time I get up to Austin.
It dissolves grease and removes dust like magic, but is lethal to delicate coatings.
As I've pointed out earlier, cynwoody, since there are something on the order of 40 million of the various models of MacBooks out there since 2008, and there is no model that's been discerned to be singled out, and fewer than 3000 of 40 million have developed this problem, I really doubt that any corners were cut at all.
Touchpad. . . and therein lies the fly in your ointment, disproving your thesis, because on all MacBooks, the Touchpad is recessed slightly below the frame. . . And the keys are a bit raised. Yet these impressions show keys, frame and touch pads. Whatever is doing it is not by contact from frame and touchpad, keys I might give you, but even there, I've not seen them touching the screen. I'm leaning more toward something that evaporates from those components that's been applied by the users.
thanks....you get it!
Just the good ol’ boys, Never meanin’ no harm, Beats all you’ve ever saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born. Straight ...
These Apple fanbots are the worst. They are more dedicated than Miley Cyrus fans
Oh, wait . . .
It would be interesting to know exactly what substances cause the problem. Apple must have done the research.
Also interesting is that products like the ShaggyMax MacBook Pro / Retina Screen Protector get 4.8 stars on Amazon. It's a black cloth you slip between keyboard and screen before closing your Mac. From the Product Description:
15" MacBook Pro / Retina ShaggyMax Keyboard Cover / Lcd Screen Protector Protect your MacBook Pro from nasty scuffs, marks, & imprints. The ShaggyMax lays on the keyboard surface and cushions / protects the screen while the lid is closed. This screen protector was designed specifically for the MacBook Pro. The slimmer material is compatible with the magnetic latch, and low-profile. Utilizing our SumiTexTM microfiber, the ShaggyMax Laptop Screen Protector boasts superior cleaning and protection properties, which will keep the MacBook Pro's lcd screen & glass trackpad looking great. Sensible screen insurance. Fits all 15.4" MacBook Pro including MacBook Pro with Retina screen. Specifications Material: SumiTexTM Size: 13.75in x 8.875in (34.93cm x 22.54cm) Thickness: 0.6mm Made in the USA
Quoth five-star reviewer SassySassy1, it's "Perfect for protecting the screen from keyboard (finger) residue. The bonus is that you can clean the screen with this as well."
I'm not surprised that you fail to see the irony in this statement.
The vendor/optometrist said it was my fault -- for cleaning them with the B & L alcohol wipes that they sold me -- as "Eyeglass Cleaners"!
You can go to any fabric store and buy a microfiber remnant from their bargain bin in any color you want and cut it to size. . . same result. LOL!
Yes, you should have known to not listen to the X SPURTS!
Now that would make me yell at them and pull them down from their pedestal. I'm always cleaning my eyeglasses because of streaking. I find that plain water and paper towels work best. Those eyeglass cleaners sometimes create more problems than they're worth.
dennis - your anti-Apple vitriol is a worn-out, stale, crusty pile of crap. Get over it.
By the way - take nearly any LCD, scrub it with acetone or other harsh chemicals - you might also try leaving the lcd panel in the direct summer sun. Not many more possibilities for this kind of damage. And thousands out of several million is a better record than pretty much every PC maker out there. But facts mean nothing to those with illogical, hate-filled obsessions.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.