When released earlier this year, the new iMac was the darling of the tech world with the 27-inch Core i7 model hailed as the fastest, best value Mac to date. That is if you can turn yours on.
A growing number of complaints about the 27-inch iMac’s screen issues has forced Apple to hold shipment of the popular desktop until it can figure out what’s going wrong under all the chic brush metal. The computing giant will hold off on shipping new iMacs for 2 weeks, just as people scramble for last-minute Christmas gifts.
Apple changed the shipping status on its online store for both 27-in. iMac models from “Ships: 5-7 days” to “Ships: 2 weeks.”
Problems began with customers finding their iMac was dead-on-arrival, entirely refusing to power on. Other customers received iMacs with cracks in the screen or with flickering graphic problems which could only be paired nicely with trance music.
The most common graphic fault seems to be a 3 inch horizontal bar intermittently appearing across the screen, which would be annoying on every site except the X-Factor’s.
A thread on the Apple support forum is solely dedicated to the flickering screen problem with almost 1,200 separate messages and a view count of over 173,000, making it easily the top-read thread on the iMac forum.
Apple’s support forums lists almost 350 iMac issues which also includes hard drive failures and dog-whistle noises- we hope Apple isn’t trying to say something about its clientèle.
This thorough list of iMac stuff-ups has prompted one annoyed Mac fan to create a site purely to collate all of the iMac problems faced by new owners around the world. The Apple iMac (Fall 2009) Issues site is going strong with the number one complaint being a faulty screen that “tore” or just went black. This issue accounts for 179 cases- over half of the total reported problems.
Have you had a problem with your shiny new iMac? Leave us a comment and let us know.
Buy 27-inch iMac at the Apple Store.
16 thoughts on “Apple Delays 27 Inch iMac Shipments Due to Screen Problems”
My screen was cracked. Saw that didn’t even try to start it up.
Another problem seems to be what is called “yellow tinge” on internet forums. It is kind of a yellowish cast on some place(s) on the screen.
Have you considered that theymay be sold out?
The person who started the blog had a shattered screen and was replaced and hashad no problems since. Those guys who saidthat they had 3 replacements, why not printtheir names so we can verify the truth. How can computerworld report stories without verifying.
Of course they are above reproach. Unlike in the third world who are immediately tagged as payola.
I bought a new 27″ iMac to replace my 20″ iMac. The first one arrived with a cracked screen and was exchanged. The replacement one had so many problems, video buzz, hard drive noise, poor resolution, certain apps would not launch, etc. that I sent it back for a refund within two days of receiving it. Thank God for MacZone’s return policy. They were great. I’m sticking with the 20″ for a while until the problems are solved.
When my 27″ mac arrived, I opened the box and it proceeded to rape my cat and ate my first born male child.
This is a terrible and shameful example of “journalism” – where are the facts to back up your assertion that Apple has delayed shipments? The shipment dates have fluctuated between 7, 10 business days and unsurprisingly have crept up to two weeks in the run up to Christmas – possibly to manage customer expectations for delivery before Christmas. Whilst there are definitely some issues with some customers screens there is no foundation to your conclusion that Apple have “delayed” shipments due to this – 27″ orders are still being despatched from the Shanghai plant on a daily basis. By all means report on the real issues but you really should leave the suppositions out of the story.
I have just bought a new Imac 27′ screen for my studio, after using it for a few hours I noticed the screen began to flicker and sometimes goes on and off…very annoying!
I have only had it a few days and even loaded in many new applications.
I guess I will have to take it back to the shop or will they send someone out??
As I write using my 2nd (both late Dec 09) iMac 27″, because the first was replaced after only two days due to screen black out and flickering, I’m not so pleased to report that the replacement unit is also gone the exact same way. I’ved checked forums and it seems I’m far from alone on this display issue. I’ve purposely kept the replacement unit running on test with no power save options and now the replacement unit has started flickering and blacking out. I’m not impressed although I am impressed with the retailer (not Apple) because they replaced the unit without question. Lets see what happens when I return the replacement – I suspect they may be under strict instruction from Apple in terms faulty display returns.
I did read somewhere that Apple had fixed this issue with a recent op system upgrade but this smacks of a hardware issue not software
Bought my 27″ i5 quad-core imac on Saturday. I am using a 20″ Apple Cinema Display as a secondary monitor, and could not get color to match. Sure enough, upon closer inspection I found the cuplrit; a gradient change in color temperature from top to bottom, with the top of the screen being too cold and blue while the bottom of the screen is too warm and yellow. The display also makes a buzzing sound when turned to full brightness. I’m taking it back to the Apple Store for a replacement. For $2k I expect perfection.
I did opt for the 3 year Apple Care program. My other computer is a 2006 MacBook Pro, and I got my money’s worth from the extended warranty (in all fairness, I also made heavy use of the extended warranty on the Dell laptop I had before that). Here’s to hoping that my replacement iMac proves to be trouble-free, but there’s no use in taking chances.
Hello all,
For those of you who may doubt the validity of some of these claims I can for ine tell you that I have personaly had to return 3 27″Quad Core Imac’s i5, 1st one have the flickering issue and bar in the middle of the screen, second having hard drive issues and the third having dead pixels on the isight and a horrible yellow tinge in the bottom left part of the screen. I have my 4th unit in transit as we speak and I have to say that Apple has been incredibly generous with me. I guess when you spend $2500+ on a machine they want to make sure you are happy. I won;t bash apple since you now what I an choosing to be an early adopter and hey, that is the name of the game when you want the new gadget first.
What more can I say. I have had 3 x 27 Inch Imac’s. The 3rd has gone back to the store as it was vibrating / buzzing.
I have had it all, dead pixels, won’t boot up, 1st 27 Imac went for 14 minutes befoe dying, screen filure – not at all what I had expected from Apple:(
I live in Malaysia and we have NO Apple Store so I have purchased from an Apple Premium Seller and so far thay have been very good, however, the 3rd return is starting to get ugly. They started to tell me because it is older than 7 DAYS I will be liable for the cost of parts – HA HA HA HA is my reply to that. No way sunshine! WOW What a great 1 year warranty that is. Come on and get real.
In a nut shell – I want my money back – I will stick with my old PC for a while yet.
I now own software I have purchased for my new rotten apple that will just sit on the bookshelf until I want to take another risk and put so much money on the line for a new Mac.
Clearly there are some major issues with the new 27 Inch IMac. Come on Apple – Own up to it and do something about it. You are a progressive company – sticking your head in the sand is the last thing I expected and I must say, I am truely disappointed in you. Maybe I expect to much for you as a company, however from my 6 thousand ringgit computer I do expect perfection from startup.
Back to my old tired compaq that after 6 years still works OK – apart from a few keys on the keyboard and the fact that it is as full as a bull – it has never let me down.
Good luck all you new 27 Inch IMac owners – I am sure when it all gets sorted out, it will be agreat machine, but in the meantime – sit back and watch the circus.
Thanks
Hi Everyone – I am now on my second 27 inch imac – first one – grey screen of death and wouldn’t reboot and disk stuck in drive. Returned it and apple replaced it. Two weeks later with the second computer – SAME thing! I am not impressed. I have always been an apple consumer.
Hi, looks like this problem is ongoing… I’ve just bought the evil mac in question from the Glasgow UK store and unpacked it to find a very small but noticeable dint and crack on the bottom left corner of the monitor. Very annoyed, this is my first mac purchase and i have packed it back up ready to return tomorrow! Having done that…i find all of these same reports coming in from the world over. I have to say my confidence in a product which seems to sell “excellence” is seriously damaged. I will not be surprised to find that the company has been consumed by greed and selling poor quality, cheaply manufactured products in pretty packaging for extortionate prices. They have one more chance with me to provide the quality I expect from a premium product and after that…all will be returned and I will never touch another apple product.
I got my imac repaired in Shanghai,very good company,they will give us free help in their homepage:http://shanghai-computer-repair.com
I have had my 27″ imac for 2 mos and got the black screen today. I can hear it running but no display. Hugely disappointed!! My first imac loved the huge display but wondering if apple is going to be worth it. I have to drag it to the mall to get fixed…. Not happy.