PowerBook G4 display issues

The 17-inch PowerBook G4, when introduced in January 2003, was the first 17-inch notebook computer.

Right from the first generation, the PowerBook G4 (17-inch) boasted these impressive features:


 * Backlit display with ambient sensor
 * FireWire 800 port

These were not seen on any other laptop at the time. The PowerBook G4 also had built-in wireless (AirPort and Bluetooth), as well as a full set of ports, including USB, FireWire 400, Ethernet, modem and PCMCIA card slot ports.

17in G4 PowerBook vertical lines defect
I’m one of the unfortunate hundreds (thousands?) of owners of a 17inch G4 1.67Ghz PowerBook with a defective display. Beginning 12-24 months after purchase, our screens show an ever increasing number of one-pixel-wide vertical lines in several colours. Apple Discussions forum administrators have been using censorship and censuring since Nov 06 to try to stamp out public discussion of this defect, Apple Inc have failed to acknowledge the problem, and AppleCare centres claim this problem is unheard of – and direct callers to an Apple Store for an expensive and prolonged out-of-warranty repair. Meanwhile Dell have a three year free repair program in place for similarly afflicted 17inch displays on their PC notebooks.

In reaction to Apple’s censorship, censuring and silence regarding this obvious manufacturing defect, an end-user defect database initiative has proven that the defective PowerBooks were actually manufactured in the W8 Shanghai factory around Mar-Apr 05:

17inch “Bridget Riley” Powerbooks

http://crosspond.com/apple.php

For more info and five ACTION pages, please see:

Free Repair Campaign for Apple 17inch PowerBooks mini Wiki

http://simurl.com/pb17wiki

Warm regards,

Dalinian 14:05, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

“I think the best thing in cases of censorship or things like this is to get as much media as possible.”

Kathy Acker


 * --For more ideas of what to do (by the way, even if you pay to have it fixed, I've heard if the repair isn't done right the problem re-appears):
 * Visit the "Vertical Lines" Resource Center at http://www.geocities.com/surfithead/pblines.htm
 * Register your PowerBook at www.crosspond.com/apple/welcome
 * Sign this petition: www.petitiononline.com/maclines/petition.html
 * Post in Apple Discussions. Something non-inflammatory like "I have this problem too, is there any new suggestions on what to do about it?" Here's a relevant thread that's been there for a while: discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=967815&tstart=0
 * Call AppleCare, get a case #, and ask them how to file a formal complaint (so Apple has a record of the extent of the problem and is pressured to react).
 * Leave "Management Comments" here: www.apple.com/contact/feedback.html
 * Write to high-profile Mac news & blog sites and ask them to cover this story. Sites such as blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/ www.tuaw.com/ etc
 * There are some other suggestions here: www.crosspond.com/apple/links
 * Call and write Apple corporate HQ and Public Relations: www.apple.com/contact/
 * Note that when people complain to AppleCare in non-U.S. countries, that info is not forwarded to any central location, so Apple never finds out about worldwide complaint patterns that indicate a defect. Ideally non-U.S. residents should be sure to call U.S. HQ and PR so all the complaints hopefully also get to a central location.
 * Take some of the steps documented in various pages at this site: scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Free_Repair_Campaign_for_Apple_17inch_PowerBooks
 * Contact your state Department of Consumer Protection.
 * Contact the Better Business Bureau
 * --Jason C.K. 04:31, 21 August 2008 (UTC)