Slow Death of Apple Cinema Display... =(

[sunset]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Jan 21 2008, 08:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting thread on the Apple forums about DIY repair of the monitors. The only problem is not knowing (for sure) which of the failures is causing the symptom, though given the fact that the top half of the screen is dim, I'd start with the $44 solution if you're inclined to go that route. If that doesn't work, then I'd think twice about the inverter board - at $129 and a lot of work, you're more than half way to a new monitor. Obviously, by replacing both of these parts, you'd be spending almost as much as you would on a new - and probably better - monitor. Tough decision.

Meanwhile, it can't be easy to edit photos!!

Thanks for sticking with me through this 'trauma', Paddy...    I have checked out your links as to 'what's good' right now and read A LOT of reviews.  So many indicate ghosting and light leaks along the edges of the screen as well as solid blacks, particularly, not being true black, etc.  Guess I've been spoiled with this one--have one tiny 'dead' pixel in the middle of the screen but it's never really bothered me.  Tried 'rubbing it out' which didn't work, of course, so just ignore it.

At one time, thought the Dells were comparable to Apple displays but there are so many model #'s now, it's hard to keep track.  Had heard the the '4-digit' ones were the best but don't know if that holds true any more.  Too much stuff going on in my head...     Don't need anything bigger than a 20" WP.  If I knew that the refurbished iMac came with Tiger, I'd go that route.  Have spoken with the Apple Store a couple of times and they said that at this point only one in 20 does; so much for that thought.  =(

Back to the Apple Discussion group...  I missed any reference to a $44 'fix'.  Will try to find it and see what that might be--sounds like it's in my $$ range...  

Thank you, once again, for your sage advice.

Laurel

[Paddy]

Yes - it's the 4 digit Dells that are the better ones. I've been very happy with mine and never had any issues with ghosting or light streaks. No dead pixels either.

BTW - the components used in LCDs are only made by a few manufacturers; Dell and Apple use (or as of two years ago did) the same flat panel from LG Philips; the backlights are different and of course the enclosure is also different.

Here's a comparison of the Dell I have and the 23" Cinema Display:

http://www.barefeats.com/lcd.html

BTW - the $44 solution for your LCD is replacing the backlights - there are several links to the supplier in the thread, as well as discussion of difficulty etc.

[sunset]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Jan 21 2008, 02:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes - it's the 4 digit Dells that are the better ones. I've been very happy with mine and never had any issues with ghosting or light streaks. No dead pixels either.

BTW - the components used in LCDs are only made by a few manufacturers; Dell and Apple use (or as of two years ago did) the same flat panel from LG Philips; the backlights are different and of course the enclosure is also different.

Here's a comparison of the Dell I have and the 23" Cinema Display:

http://www.barefeats.com/lcd.html

BTW - the $44 solution for your LCD is replacing the backlights - there are several links to the supplier in the thread, as well as discussion of difficulty etc.

Lots of good information, Paddy--thanks.  Will check it out later--time to go bowling, etc.  Need to get away from this for a bit...  

[sunset]

This is a brief explanation of what happened with my monitor for all of you who were so kind to respond, offer great advice, good suggestions & excellent links to information regarding this problem.

After 'living' with it for a couple of weeks I finally decided to take it to our local Apple certified repair center and have their technician open it, check the florescent tubes and replace the ones that were 'out'.  Time spent there got quite lengthy and I won't go into the details but, after he finally found a G5 [originally said he didn't have a machine to hook it up to...  ], when it was attached and booted, the light was no longer flashing and the whole screen was back to normal/evenly lit!!!

I'm sure I stood there with my mouth open and still have no clue why a bumpy car trip to the 'doctor' would 'fix' it but it did--amazing!!!.  I brought it back home, crossing my fingers all the way--not really...  but hoping it would remain in its 'fixed state' after hooking it back up.  

It did and has and I'm delighted, to say the least, and want to thank you all for your support.  Your'e the best!!  

Laurel

[Gregg]

Sort of like an Etch-A-Sketch. The solution to everything is to pick it up and shake it.

[krissel]

Wow, now just don't bump it.  

And let's pray it isn't a case of:

QUOTE

Disconnecting the ADC connector might reset the micro-controller, which may explain why the monitor works for a few days afterwards.

(From one of those Apple forum discussions)

[Gregg]

QUOTE(krissel @ Feb 17 2008, 06:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And let's pray it isn't a case of:

QUOTE

Disconnecting the ADC connector might reset the micro-controller, which may explain why the monitor works for a few days afterwards.

(From one of those Apple forum discussions)

If it works, unplug it as often as you need to! I was doing that with a VCR recently. Unplugging it resets something or 'nother. But, it got to the point where that was necessary at an intolerable frequency.

[sunset]

I love the 'Etch-A-Sketch' solution, Gregg.    Actually that's pretty much what I thought must have happened.  There's no way, short of a natural disaster, [heaven forbid] that this baby's going to get moved again--or bumped.  

I had read that removing and replacing the connector might reset it so that'd been done somewhere in the process of trying to figure out what was going on.  Didn't work, obviously.  =(

Speaking of weird stuff...  anybody know why my cursor 'walks' when I'm not touching the mouse??  Have had it happen before and normally a 'restart' fixes it but not this time.  Like the Energizer Bunny, it just keeps going and going and ..................  Any thoughts??

Laurel

[krissel]

Is this an optical mouse?  Could be the lens needs cleaning. Check out this:

QUOTE

would appear to be solved by the application of alcohol+Qtip to the lense of the optical emitter and reflector. Has run several days w/o reoccurance.

guess there's some kind of refraction taking place around dirt/dust particles,

http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-3...use-motion.html

If that doesn't help, try a different port. Or if it is a battery operated mouse, put in new batteries.

Also be sure you don't have more than one driver or pref pane for the mouse.

[sunset]

Thanks, Kris, for your suggestions and the link.  Read it all and tried the following:

     •  Cleaned the sensor with Q-tip and alcohol
     •  Checked the battery and signal levels; both are good/high
     •  Reseated the batteries
     •  It was plugged into the back of my ACD monitor--moved it to a powered hub

This has happened before and it's still 'walking'.  Will do a restart again tomorrow an see if that helps.

Laurel

[krissel]

Is your house sitting on an earthquake fault line?  

[sunset]

Kris, THAT WAS HILARIOUS!!!     Nope, nowhere near--we live in Wisconsin.

     •  Restarted this a.m., this time 'changed batteries'--no joy!!  This is beginning to drive me crazy because the cursor never disappears and it 'jumps' with every key stroke...  

Whelp... I just unplugged the Apple mouse from the keyboard [which has been there forever], and it seems to be working fine, no cursor on the screen, etc.  Gosh, do we ever learn it all??    

Laurel

[Paddy]

QUOTE

• It was plugged into the back of my ACD monitor--moved it to a powered hub

QUOTE

I just unplugged the Apple mouse from the keyboard [which has been there forever]

Laurel...do you mean that you've had TWO mice plugged in all along and it was the Apple mouse that was causing the "walking"? Or am I just confused? (wouldn't be the first time...)

[sunset]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Feb 18 2008, 03:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE

• It was plugged into the back of my ACD monitor--moved it to a powered hub

QUOTE

I just unplugged the Apple mouse from the keyboard [which has been there forever]

Laurel...do you mean that you've had TWO mice plugged in all along and it was the Apple mouse that was causing the "walking"? Or am I just confused? (wouldn't be the first time...)

No, Paddy, you're not confused...  I've always had the corded one attached to the keyboard [and tucked away in the keyboard 'drawer'] to use at times when the optical mouse decided that it's batteries were dying or communication between the o.m. and its 'transceiver' had gone 'south', which was rare.  Guess you're hinting that that's not a good idea??!!    

L

[Paddy]

Laurel, I don't know whether it's really a good idea or not - I just wanted to make sure I understood what in fact happened! We've had two mice plugged in to one or other of our Macs at times for the same reason as you do and no issues. I suspect that something changed - mouse got moved/bumped during the disconnection of the monitor etc. If the Apple mouse is an optical one, which the newer ones are, all it would take is some dust or a hair (cat hairs are my constant annoyance) in the "eye" and you can get all sorts of funny stuff happening. At any rate, there is no need to keep the Apple mouse plugged in - you can simply plug it in when you need it.

I gave up on wireless mice because I never found one I liked and found the additional weight of the batteries was just enough to cause RS type symptoms. My kids have the ones I tried and rejected - they seem to like 'em!