Do 20" iMacs have the same Video Humming as 24" models ?

Question

I'm at the end of my tether, now on my 5th replacement of the 24" due to different problems:
1. Loud Humming noise when video dimmed, and sometimes all of the time. x 4
2. Broken SuperDrive x 2
3. Scratches and black marks on the case x 2
4. Vibrating Case x 2
Most of the 24" models I have had swapped out made the "Humming Noise" related to the brightness setting of the screen - to varying degrees.
I'm sat here close to Midnight, no other noises in the house except for Huuuuuuummmmmm
I've done a search on the forums, and can't find any mention of these sort of problems on 20", so thought I would ask as I am considering getting one of those instead.
On a similar vein, does anyone know of problems with the 24" Cinema Display (noise related) as this is my second option (Cinema Display + Mac Mini.)
Thanks

Answer 1

Hi Simon
I share your frustration! I think I responded to your previous post about the black marks you had on your iMac - I had similar on my first 24". I'm currently awaiting delivery of the 6th replacement machine - again, a variety of problems experienced - all of them having the display-dim-hum to varying degrees (one sounded like it was broadcasting a TV testcard signal like in the old days). I think when I posted last, I was awaiting number 5, which arrived... and wouldn't even start - DOA. (Could the saga get much worse, I asked myself!)...
Amsys collected the iMac, and when they tried to boot it, it worked. They called me to say they were sending it back to me. I told them I would not accept it because it must have an intermittent fault given that I tried for a day to make the thing switch on. He admitted that he had not even investigated any further to see if there indeed was a fault, and agreed that under the circumstances that a replacement should be ordered.
When I called Apple to report the DOA on the 10th, they told me they were ordering me a new one right away... I waited patiently, but as I didn't receive any confirmation by email, I called a week later and was told that, in fact, they hadn't ordered a replacement. I was put through to Senior Tech Support, who told me that because the iMac had booted for Amsys, that my only course of action was to go to Amsys and retrieve the iMac, since they were not prepared to do anything for me unless I had the iMac in front of me.
I was in total disbelief. I explained again that this was replacement number 5, and asked to speak to someone senior. He told me that he was the 'best person to speak to' and that he had 'the power to do anything'. His words.
He then said, look, hear me out and see what you think... He said the best thing to do was to go collect the iMac (and I don't have a clue where Amsys are based), then sit it on my desk, and wait for it to break again... and when it does, he guaranteed that he would replace it with a new machine, with all the possible upgrades it could take. "How does that sound?" he said.
"Unacceptable," I replied.
I said you're asking me to go out of my way to retrieve a product I sent back to you because it didn't work... to then use it for business purposes knowing full well that it has a fault... and wait for it to break again - risk losing data, downtime, and income...
I tried to believe my ears, but couldn't. I managed to keep calm whilst I explained again that Amsys had told me that they would be ordering a replacement. He said he would ring to check.
He came back to me, and - lo and behold - admitted that indeed, a replacement had been ordered.
That was the 15th Jan... and after calling every day to chase this, I only managed to get a tracking number 2 days ago - turns out it took a week to build it (where previous replacements have been built in 24-36 hours on 'Priority')... I think if you get a DOA, you go to the bottom of the list - something I've experienced in the past.
Just as an aside, when I last called Apple to chase this, I was put through to India, and I asked to be given a number for UK/Ireland Customer Support... the representative was unwilling at first, then conceded, and gave me an 0845 number. I called it... and went straight through to Churchill Insurance!!!
I called Apple back... and this time went through to Greece. I hung up.
Third time... India again... and the representative was indeed able to help, and found me a tracking number (and that's when I learned that I'd been sent to the bottom of the queue).
So, iMac 24" number 6 will be delivered on Monday.
Lord knows how this will continue to unfold... and if it will ever be resolved! I think I've had my fill.
As for the 23" Cinema Displays - I had 3 of those before the pink colour cast was eliminated, and then there was yellow and blue banding, so I resorted to 20" displays - which have been excellent, and I have 2 hooked up to my trusty G5. I don't know whether the problems with the 23" have been resolved, so wouldn't like to advise on that one. However, back to the screen-dim-hum, the Cinema Displays run perfectly silently in my experience.
At present, with the iMac situation, I'm seriously thinking about going for a Mac Pro and getting a separate display; though I wouldn't try another 23", I'd probably save up some more and go for a 30" and brace myself for dancing pixels.
Let's see what Monday's delivery brings.
All the best, and keep us posted as to how things pan out.
Scott
G5 Dual 2.0, 20 ACD (3 bad 23s was enough), AlBook 1.25, TiBook 550   Mac OS X (10.4.3)