Imac display issue, like wires behind screen casting shadows

First off, i have been coming here for the great info for awhile, but never needed to post. I'm hoping some one might lend me some good advice on a display issue. I have what looks like a shadow of a wire behind the display of my late 2009 iMac. I have recently noticed it, and it's kinda bugging me. It's not like a persistent burn in from an image. But it is persistently reminding me it's there. Could this be some hardware. It looks like a water mark on the screen running up and down squiggly line about 1/4 thick, 8 inches long. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Can you take a picture and post it? Does it show up in screenshots?

chas_m said:

Can you take a picture and post it? Does it show up in screenshots?

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sure thing, here's an attached pic, thanks. taken from my iPod, in aperture.

What Chas was asking is if it still shows up in a Screen Shot. To do a Screen Shot in OSX you hold down Command+Shift+3. It will save to the desktop. Do you see the same pattern in the Screen Shot?

dtravis7 said:

What Chas was asking is if it still shows up in a Screen Shot. To do a Screen Shot in OSX you hold down Command+Shift+3. It will save to the desktop. Do you see the same pattern in the Screen Shot?

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sorry it's not in the screenshot, viewing on my monitor, which is probably faulty.

I don't see it.

not on the screenshot, probably hardware

Dysfunction said:

I don't see it.

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yes not in screenshot

ocarus said:

not on the screenshot, probably hardware

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Not the video card then, it's the panel.

Dysfunction said:

Not the video card then, it's the panel.

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such a shame, I love this thing. It's like having a hot gf with a birthmark on her cheek. Still not going to dump her. But I like to sell it and upgrade, like my ex wife.

ocarus said:

such a shame, I love this thing. It's like having a hot gf with a birthmark on her cheek. Still not going to dump her. But I like to sell it and upgrade, like my ex wife.

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My NEC 2690 exhibited similar artifacts and it was internal separations of some sort. NEC replaced the monitor.

Sorry to see you have a similar problem.

thanks for the input. I think it is a hardware issue. iMac is a good idea, but this form factor inherently was doomed for failure over the longterm. It's only been 2 years. Next I think I getting a macbook pro.

My iMac G5 iSight LCD is still like new after 6+ years use and most of it 24 a day. Your issue with the panel is at least to all the forums I have read, rare.

dtravis7 said:

My iMac G5 iSight LCD is still like new after 6+ years use and most of it 24 a day. Your issue with the panel is at least to all the forums I have read, rare.

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true, only thing that has changed is that I bought a set of alexis M1active studio monitors, which have been to the left and right of my monitor (maybe the are unshielded, but haven't heard that being an issue sine the early 90's) in the past 2 months. That being said, I noticed the the yellowing in the bottom right hand corner way before this and had settled on that issue, but it is a known fact for these models. I have sensitive eyes, ears. still love the mac.

So do I my friend and my display is perfect. So is the one on my 20" 2007 iMac.

There was one iMac that had some panel issues. Most were fixed by Apple for free if I remember right. Yours is probably that model.

dtravis7 said:

So do I my friend and my display is perfect. So is the one on my 20" 2007 iMac.

There was one iMac that had some panel issues. Most were fixed by Apple for free if I remember right. Yours is probably that model.

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but I'm most definitely out of warranty,

ocarus said:

thanks for the input. I think it is a hardware issue. iMac is a good idea, but this form factor inherently was doomed for failure over the longterm. It's only been 2 years. Next I think I getting a macbook pro.

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Sorry, what?

The iMac has been around for almost 15 years now, with millions of very happy and loyal fans. "Doomed to failure??"

Also, how would a MacBook Pro that developed that same problem be any different?

Take it into an AASP. Doesn't matter that it's out of warranty. Apple is very likely to fix it.

Totally agree with Chas. TAKE it to APPLE ASAP. There was one issue like I said above that was a defect and had nothing to do with Warranty.

chas_m said:

Sorry, what?

The iMac has been around for almost 15 years now, with millions of very happy and loyal fans. "Doomed to failure??"

Also, how would a MacBook Pro that developed that same problem be any different?

Take it into an AASP. Doesn't matter that it's out of warranty. Apple is very likely to fix it.

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I was meaning it was to good to be true to have everything fit in the form factor and work over time, but if you think they might fix it, I would be impressed.

dtravis7 said:

Totally agree with Chas. TAKE it to APPLE ASAP. There was one issue like I said above that was a defect and had nothing to do with Warranty.

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you really think so after looking at the pic? I would really be happy if so.