Thousands of MacBook owners have grouped together to vent their frustrations over screen damage

zdnet. ^ | July 15, 2015

[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...

[IncPen]

Will you post the story when Apple replaces all of the affected machines (or repairs the screens)?

[C. Edmund Wright]

My mac book is ten months old.....so far so good.....

[Yo-Yo]

BFL

[Bryanw92]

>>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.

Probably due to internet porn. Those Macbooks have small screens, ya know.

[mass55th]

The article said the problem started as far back as 2009. Mine was produced in late 2011, and I haven’t experienced it.

[dennisw]

Is chairman TransTim Kook going to pop into peoples houses to replace the screens?

[C. Edmund Wright]

the “seven month” thing threw me. I’ve had maybe 4 of these things back years ago, and never experienced it. I assume this one was produced 2014.

[IncPen]

You didn’t answer the question, which is about you.

Will you post the story when Apple replaces all of the affected machines (or repairs the screens)?

[867V309]

Will you post the story when Apple replaces all of the affected machines (or repairs the screens)?

Have you quit beating your wife?

Same kind of question.

[minnesota_bound]

Buy a Samsung or Surface tablet : )

[molson209]

Made In China , enough said ,LOL

[IncPen]

Same kind of question.

The question was not directed at you, so kindly step aside.

The premise is that Dennis trolls Apple threads with an irrational hatred.

The question to Dennis stands:

Will you post the story when Apple replaces all of the affected machines (or repairs the screens)?

[dennisw]

Tell Tim Kook to stop putting out crappy sub-par products

[IncPen]

Tell Tim Kook to stop putting out crappy sub-par products

You're holding Tim Cook and Apple to a standard you won't apply to yourself.

Either you have integrity, or you don't. One wonders if your irrational hatred is rooted in, perhaps, a personal failing.

Please answer the question...

Will you post the story when Apple replaces all of the affected machines (or repairs the screens)?

[Fightin Whitey]

That darn Kook is always putting out.

[Swordmaker]

StainGate

"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."

Oh, WOW! That's a lot. . . like 0.00000075% of all MacBooks made since 2008 that might have a problem! Apple itself says that they have been contacted by quite a few less than that on this problem. Another question is why does this problem seem to be concentrated mostly in the UK? Very few of the complainants are in the US. . . or elsewhere in the world.

The photos of these notebook screens show over-cleaning damage to the glass surface which looks like damage inflicted by the users using cleaning solvents—such as acetone cleaners—not recommended by anyone to clean any monitor or TV screen. I've seen such monitor screens that have had acetone applied and they look just like this. Apple has made over 40 million laptop computers since 2009 and the number of complaints is infinitesimal compared to the number without problems. There is no correlation to any specific model, run of screens, or OEM manufacturer or supplier of these screens. Ergo, it is not something that is endemic in Apple's design or manufacturing that is causing this. That means it is user caused, whether it is improper handling, environmental, or exposure to some other pollutant, it can NOT be shown to be related to Apple's design or manufacturing. Unless these users can find a commonality, I don't think they have a leg to stand on. I've seen Windows PC laptops with similar issues. . . and probably in about the same percentage of occurrence, and probably due to the same reasons.

Another possibility, looking at the patterns of the "stains," are users who tried to cut down on what used to be called "glaregate" because Apple had stopped making matte screens. . . by putting an anti-glare matte coating on their MacBook's screen, and this is the result. Now they want Apple to replace their failures. — PING!

Apple MacBooks' StainGate Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[martin_fierro]

Mine was produced in late 2011, and I haven’t experienced it.

Same here, no problems (yet).

[KGeorge]

Eegad. That is awful. After 2 non glare screens (a G4 & iBook- I *think* they were non glare) & this glass one (late 2011 also), i can’t imagine this happening. One of my dogs & I are *really* hard on computers. What did these people do to them to cause this? It looks like moisture got under the screen (or between layers or something)

[Vendome]

“Another question is why does this problem seem to be concentrated mostly in the UK?”

Well, they have bad teeth, ergo bad screens.

They don’t take very good care....