Powerbook vertical line defect
The vertical lines problem is a "well known" hardware manufacturing defect in certain PowerBook G4, one that Apple refuses to acknowledge. Your display will gradually degrade. In some cases, even if you pay to get it fixed, it may go bad again, if the repair isn't done properly. You can post about it in Apple forums, depending upon what you say, though many posts get edited by the forum managers. Some posts and threads have gotten deleted. Many are trying to pressure Apple into offering a repair program. If you'd like to be part of all this:
Register your PowerBook at
http://www.crosspond.com/apple/welcome
Sign this petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/maclines/petition.html
Read the exciting (& infuriating) info here:
http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Apple's_Censorship_&_Censure
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:
http://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:
http://www.apple.com/contact/feedback.html
Write to high-profile Mac news & blog sites and ask them to cover this story. Sites such as
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/
http://www.tuaw.com/
etc
There are some other suggestions here:
http://www.crosspond.com/apple/links
Call and write Apple corporate HQ and Public Relations
http://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:
http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Free_Repair_Campaign_for_Apple_17inch_PowerBooks
Contact your state Department of Consumer Protection.
Contact the Better Business Bureau