imac 24

I bought an imac 24 about 2.5 years ago.Just after the warranty expired (just over a year old) the hard drive quit.I had to pay for that repair and wasn't to happy.Now recently I have begun to notice gray kinda streaks in the display.It's not dirt.It's under the glass.More like a smoke kinda look.Quick search on the web revealed others with the same issue.I bought this computer mainly because of some "mac only" software i wanted to use.To be honest i'm very disappointed.I shouldn't be having issues like this already.Probably will never buy another mac.Has anyone else had problems like this? The mac shop in my area has never heard of the screen problem i have.

I'm surprised the Mac shop in your area has never heard of the problem....

Actually, the screen problem you're talking about happens with some iMac machines.... The intake vent on an iMac is at the bottom of the display and the exhaust vent is at the top. The iMac draws cool air in at the bottom and expels warm air at the top.

What sometimes occurs is that a very small separation between the glass and LCD forms. As air is drawn upward, particles of dust are lodged between the glass and LCD. Removal and cleaning of the glass is all that's required to resolve the problem.

Newer iMacs and especially the 2012 models are much more tightly fitted together where that no longer happens.

Agree with chscag, I had a 24in iMac, and it had the same issue. Dust builds up between the glass and LCD.

What to do about it: take to an Apple Specialist or Apple Retail Store. Tell them your story. Bring your reciept (yes I know it's out of warranty). Be polite. See what happens.

Thanks all for the advice/suggestions.I took the glass off and very carefully cleaned the LCD and the glass.I decided to turn it on to see if i could still see the bad areas without the glass and sure enough,it's in the lcd panel itself. Apple shop says lcd is going bad.I was told it would be anywhere from $400 to $800 to replace.My next and last hope is to call Apple directly and see what they say.After the hard drive, I'm not speding anymore on it.

Just an update: I went to apple.com to try and call someone to discuss my issue.While i was looking for support i found the hard drive replacement program. When my drive went bad Apple said they couldn't do anything about it because I was just out of warranty.I'm more than a little upset now. So,i moved on the to lcd issue.Apple wants $20 for an out of warranty support call!!! I don't think so.I have had two major component failures in a roughly 2 year old machine. Sorry to say this but, I'm done with Apple.

I have to point out that had you bought AppleCare at any point in your first year, all of this would have been replaced at no charge.

I'm truly sorry you had a bad experience, but whatever other device you get, your odds are actually (and this is statistically provable) WORSE that you will have the same problems or more. Be sure to get the extended warranty on whatever you get and I will keep my fingers crossed that the experience is much better.

Hello All,
I wanted to post another update.I'm sad to report my 20" IMAC is dead. I replaced the original hard drive ( see earlier posts) and continued using the machine. It was replaced with a 1TB drive after the original 500GB failed.I didn't store much on this machine,couldn't trust it. I lived with the LCD issue although it became worse. Last week the 1TB drive failed. I had it checked and was informed it was shot. I tried another drive that the HD manufaturer had graciously sent me after complaining to them about the original when apple wouldn't help.I had to send them the original and after a few months they sent me a drive. The machine will not boot from any kind of drive,disc,internet,nothing.Just displays a flashing folder with a question mark in it. was told the video card may at fault and will need to be replaced also.The machine now resides on the work bench in my garage waiting to go to the recycler. This was my first and last Apple product. I'll say it again,really disappointed with the whole apple experience. I loved the machine,i really did. But,i'm done.Thanks again to all who tried to help.

Just another quick story about my MAC troubles. Some where along the line my original apple keyboard failed too.Put in new batteries hit the button no light no nothing.Bought a new keyboard and went back to work.While searching around looking for answers to try and fix my computer I ran across a fix for the keyboard.The site showed how to roll up a little ball of tin foil and drop it in the battery bay,put the batteries in and turn it on. I thought to myself you have to be kidding. I dug out my old keyboard.Put new batteries in to verify it was still dead.Did the foil trick.Hit the button and was shocked when it turned on.After looking down in the bay I see why it worked. I don't know,just a another twist in my apple adventures.

Cn you try a little use of the pace bar, one after commas, two after fulls tops? Too hard for my old eyes to scan.

Hello all,
Good news. I couldn't take the computer to the salvage yard,not yet. Made one more call to Apple. A very kind and sympathetic young lady by the name of Niecey listened to my story. Niecey immediately connected me with a senior adviser named Phil. I then told Phil about my troubles. I admit, i wasn't expecting what happened next. Phil said "tell you what , we'er going to fix it". I didn't know what to say,I think i kinda said "what? ' He said " You shouldn't have had problems like that". I was shocked. After chit chatting a bit Phil set me up with Brian at MacHeadquarters (MacHQ) in St. Louis Mo. Brian had me ship my machine to him and in a matter of a few days he had my iMac back to me looking and working better than ever. This was my first and almost my last Apple computer. Thank you Niecey and Phil at Apple and thank you Brian at MacHQ. Truly professional people. We'll see how long she lasts this time. I was assured i wouldn't have that kind of trouble again. As for Apples service? I don't know what the difference was this time but i'm sure glad i called. In my mind I got a lemon , Apple finally made it right. I can't ask for any better than that. Will i buy another Mac or Apple product in the future? After what Niecey,Phil and Brian did for me....absolutely!