Is Apple¹s iMac Rotten to the Core? (Press Release)
Trikky
Is Appleąs iMac Rotten to the Core?
Surrey, B.C.
A Canadian iMac user fears that hundreds even thousands of early
model Apple iMacs could be suffering from major defects and that the
manufacturer is doing nothing to assist people once the warranty period has
expired.
Trevor Wilson, of Surrey, B.C. says that there seem to be two main
problems, both indicated by obvious symptoms. In the first case, users will
experience a dead monitor along with a green or orange power button and a
computer that initially sounds as if itąs going through the normal startup
procedure. This problem occurs most frequently after the system goes to
"sleep" or is shutdown or restarted via the "Special" menu. Because of the
colour of the power button when the system suffers from the dead monitor,
this problem already has a name on the Internet. GLOD, or "Green Light of
Death".
The second problem has one major symptom that is somewhat ominous. An
electric "zapping" sound emanating from the rear of the unit, becoming
louder and more frequent until eventually -- during the computerąs start-up
there is one loud zap and the computer shuts itself off.
Both are costly to repair and fatal for your computer.
Just how widespread are these problems? Searching Appleąs own user
discussion forums -- (http://discussions.info.apple.com) designed for Apple
users to ask questions and help others -- at least one hundred posts from
people outlining similar problems were found. "While that may not seem like
many, hundreds of older postings are deleted from the forums every day," Mr.
Wilson said yesterday. "Of course, there are undoubtedly thousands of iMac
owners who donąt even know the forums exist, so who knows what the real
numbers are?"
Though Trevorąs initial attempts to determine the size of this problem
through posts on the Apple Forums were met by what he describes as nothing
short of censorship, it did result in some feedback from other users with
similar problems who didnąt know where to turn. "All these individuals are
having the same problems and theyąre all getting the same answer from Apple,
that these arenąt Śknown problemsą and that Apple isnąt prepared to do
anything. One Email I received even asked me to count the sender into a
class-action suit."
Trevor also found that dealing with Appleąs Customer Relations
department was a challenge in itself. Required to weave his way through
several levels of Apple representatives and still waiting for a response
after several weeks, he had to impose a deadline before Apple offered to do
anything. "The funny thing is," he said Friday "their offer to repair my
unit was what I had suggested weeks agoŠand that they had refused on at
least two occasions".
Unfortunately for other iMac users in the same boat however, it seems
that Apple isnąt prepared to do too much in the way of helping them. In an
Email sent Friday, Gail Bartlett - Customer Relations Manager for Apple
Canada says that the company offers a twelve-month limited warranty,
enough to address issues resulting from manufacturing defects,
As an owner of an iMac suffering from these problems however, Trevor
feels a little differently. "Itąs time for Apple to acknowledge these
defects, and itąs time for Apple to do something about them."
While he is contemplating his next move, Trevor is interested in
hearing from people whose iMacs have suffered from either of the problems
outlined above. He can be reached via Email at faultyimac (at) canada.com.
--
Trikky T; Vancouver, B.C. Canada
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