09-11-2007, 07:54 AM

Well, amazingly my flickering screen returned only 4 weeks after getting it repaired. This time it is even worse that before. Previously is would flicker if on the lowest brightest on one side of the screen, and occasionally on full brightest. Now it literally flickers between full and lowest setting no matter what brightest I have it on.

Also my wife's Macbook, which is just coming up to a year old, is also flickering but only very slightly.

I'm less than impressed, this means I am going to have to take it back an do without it for another 4 days and I have my GMAT at the end of the month.

I don't know if people agree, but statistically speaking, once you have a problem with an electronic device, it has a much higher chance of failure in future than a device that has had no previous failures, especially new devices.

09-11-2007, 09:28 AM

Zoolook, too bad about the flicker. Mine has been flicker free since having its inverter surgerry about a month ago.

As far as electronics with problems being prone to more problems, there's probably something to that. If the inverter was replaced and it has now gone bad, I'd suspect a problem with whatever is feeding electricity to the inverter rather than an inherent problem with the inverter itself.

In any case, good luck to you and your wife.

09-11-2007, 12:25 PM

Thanks for that.

I read somewhere that this might be more to do with the power regulation on the mainboard that eventually just burns out the inverter, but I am not sure where that was or how anyone could know that.

We both have AppleCare, so I am going to make it clear that if this happens a third time, I'll be expecting to be shown some good will. Some upgrade, or a complete replacement (maybe a C2D?).

I just bought a new iPOD Classic as well, so I think I'm a pretty good customer.

09-17-2007, 10:52 AM

Well I took it back to the store again, and this time I had to sign a waiver saying I'd backed everything up (which I did, but just realised my XP backup is two weeks old!), so I assume they're going to do some major surgery.

Last time I had this issue, it flickered right from startup, and then occasionally settled down, say if I was watching a movie. This time, it won't flicker at startup, but starts after about 10 - 15 minutes. It is much worse at lower screen brightness settings.

I am a little converned about the reliability of this machine.

09-17-2007, 11:30 AM

My gf's macbook had the same issue.

I took it to our company's Apple repair dept and we first tried swapping the mainboard. It came back, so next we replaced the inverter board and the display cable.

It seems as though the display cable did the trick, it's pretty flimsy IMO.

09-17-2007, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Zoolook

Well I took it back to the store again, and this time I had to sign a waiver saying I'd backed everything up (which I did, but just realised my XP backup is two weeks old!), so I assume they're going to do some major surgery.

Last time I had this issue, it flickered right from startup, and then occasionally settled down, say if I was watching a movie. This time, it won't flicker at startup, but starts after about 10 - 15 minutes. It is much worse at lower screen brightness settings.

I am a little converned about the reliability of this machine.

Mine just started flickering again. I'm at college now though so I cant just take it back in. Let me know what they do and if they show you any "hospitality".

09-21-2007, 12:56 AM

my macbook is now more than a year old and out of warranty, i have this problem now.....what should I do?

09-21-2007, 10:28 AM

Well they've had it a week, and I have heard nothing... I am tempted to call, even though they say please don't.

^^^^

If it's out of warranty, you'll have to pay to get it fixed. I'd be interested in what they quote you, considering this is a well known defect with these machines.

09-21-2007, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Z mann R2

my macbook is now more than a year old and out of warranty, i have this problem now.....what should I do?

Here's my suggestion.

Bring it in to the Genius bar at an Apple Store, and expect to pay for the repair. Technically you're out of warranty, so they're not obligated to cover it.

Explain to them that it is out of warranty, but that it's a problem you know many others have had, as it seems to be either a manufacturing or design problem. Ask them kindly if they will cover all or part of the repair. They'll need to see your MacBook actually flicker before they'll do anything at their cost, even if it was under warranty, so at some point you'll need to bring it into the store.

Again, technically they don't need to cover any of the repair cost. Given that it is a problem with MacBooks however, there's a good chance they'll cover part or all of it. Good luck!

09-21-2007, 01:23 PM

hey thanks a lot mathogre!!! I'll schedule an appt. real soon!

09-21-2007, 03:03 PM

i got my flicker fixed a little over a month ago and about a week ago it started again, looks like i gotta call apple care
this is messed up