Noticed a bad pixel on my powerbook this morning. This 12” powerbook is only two month old. I have heard about this problem with iBooks, but never suspected that it was also a problem with the powerbook. Since it’s under warranty I took it to out local Apple store where it was purchased. Much to my surprise, they advised that one bad pixel was within the technical specifications. Having paid close to $2K for this system, I politely advised them that this condition was not within my technical specifications. Fortunately when I started the system to show the bad pixel it was gone. Apparently it reset itself. I had previously restarted the system with no effect, but seems like a shutdown, followed by a restart about 1 hour later did the trick.
This is my 6th Apple laptop and the first time I have experience a pixel problem. In addition I have owned several flat panel displays and PC laptops with no such problem. Perhaps I have just been lucky, but never encountered a bad pixel before. I am starting to get concerned about Apples quality. I have always been confident that I could count on Apple providing the highest quality products, and when problem occurred providing a no hassle fix.
Last year I purchase an iPod. Had to return it 4 times for replacement before I got one without a problem. The issues included display problems, battery problems, and hard drive problems.
Is Apple quality degrading form the use of cheap materials and/or cheap labor?
Ramblings of an old computer engineer/developer 