Three replacement i7 iMacs so far. Advice?

Question

I purchased an i7 iMac on November 27, 2009 after my 4 or 5 year old iMac G5 simply shut off one day and wouldn't turn back on. The i7's seemed really nice, so instead of repairing my G5, I figured it'd be a good excuse to make the move to Intel.
The first iMac arrived on December 11, 2009. It had an extremely grumbly hard drive that made using the computer for anything that required concentration very difficult - especially as I tend to use it most at night when it's very quiet. It didn't register with me at the time because it was very subtle, but when I would dim the screen to use the computer at night (or when it dimmed itself before sleeping), it would make a very quiet high pitched sound. There were also a few other minor annoyances like what seemed at first to be a cluster of dead pixels on the left of the screen, but after closer examination actually seemed like maybe a bit of lint behind the glass. In any case, I called Apple, mentioned just the hard drive noise that made the computer unusable for me, and was set up for a replacement.
The second iMac arrived on December 28, 2009. This computer had the same loud hard drive problem as the previous computer. The high pitched noise that I had barely noticed on the last computer when the screen was dimmed was significantly louder on this replacement. This computer also had a bunch of dead pixels in the iSight camera. I called Apple, mentioned the hard drive and screen noise, and was set up for a another replacement.
The third iMac arrived on February 4, 2010… a bit later than I had hoped. I received an email the day after this computer was scheduled to ship saying that it would be delayed for a another week or so. When it arrived, the packaging was very sloppy (for instance, the mouse - which had a scratch down the front - was basically coming out of it's protective pouch which was open and stuck to the gesture instruction booklet beneath it). This computer had the same loud hard drive problem as the previous two computers. The screen noise was even louder than the second one had been. It could be heard clearly from across a pretty large room. There were a pretty good number of dead pixels in the iSight camera with this computer as well. Also, the base of this iMac was either dented or had noticeable bumps at the front edge.
Each computer was just getting progressively worse.
I called Apple again, mentioned the hard drive and screen noise, and the dents in the base of the computer. I was cut off midway through explaining the problems. When I called back, I was told that the person that I was talking with before was going to set me up for a refund, and was asked if I would like to continue with that. I told them that I really needed this computer, and I was set up for yet another replacement.
My fourth - and current - iMac arrived on February 18, 2010. This computer was also packaged pretty messily. The hard drive is just as noisy as all of the others. The screen noise is probably closest in volume to the second one, though it seems to come and go (meaning it might be noisy at one point, be a lot quieter 10 minutes later, and be back to being really noisy 10 minutes after that). This computer also has what looks like a chip about an eight of an inch square behind the glass on the lower left of the screen.
I'm basically posting this thread for two reasons.
One is to vent. This has all been very frustrating. I've been an Mac user for many years now. I've purchased several iMac G5's for myself. I purchased an Intel iMac for my mother. I've given my father an iMac. I've bought software from Apple, AirPort Expresses, .Mac subscriptions, lots of music, movies and iPhone apps. I've purchased several iPods for myself and others. In fact, I purchased an iPod touch along with this iMac that I haven't really been able to use fully because I don't have a computer and can't access most of my media. At this rate, a newer model will come out before I ever get to use it. I stretched my budget to go with the i7 iMac because I had planned to buy Logic Studio when I could afford it, and wanted the power that it offered. I've been a very loyal Apple customer, and up until recently I've been very happy with their products and services. In fact, before my most recent iMac G5 died, it was completely silent. I have an even older iMac G5 that is still running that is almost completely silent as well. Much quieter than this new $2,300 computer. I'm pretty heavily invested in software for the Mac, and it would be very difficult to walk away from it. I really don't want to walk away from it because I love the OS… but the quality of the hardware seems to have fallen off greatly.
I guess that leads well into my second reason for posting this which is that I'm hoping to get a little advice. It's seems almost impossible that this would be the case, but after getting four noisy iMacs I'm starting to wonder if they are supposed to be like this. Has anyone gotten an iMac without a ridiculously loud hard drive or screen (or physical defects of some sort)? I'm planning on calling Apple tomorrow to try this all again, but I'm not very optimistic about my chances of getting a quality computer at this point. Am I just remarkably unlucky? Or are these problems so widespread that I'm likely to continue having trouble?
I'm not sure what direction I should actually go. Apple support has suggested a few times that I get a refund and go to my local Apple store to purchase the computer. My problem there is that 1) I purchased the iMac on Black Friday, so the refund wouldn't be enough to cover the price of the computer now, 2) my nearest Apple store is well over an hour away, and 3) my nearest Apple store doesn't carry the i7's. It feels like I'm stuck requesting replacements that also have problems, and each time I send one back I'm without a computer. I've been without a permanent computer since November. I'd really like to have the i7, but are the i5's less prone to the noise problems I've been having? If so, maybe I should just do that?
I also think that I'm not particularly good at talking with support. I don't get very far. If anyone has had similar problems, and has had a satisfactory outcome, could you fill me in on what to say to support?
Anyway, I'm really sorry that this turned out to be so long and meandering. If anyone has any advice as to what to do though, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks everyone.
Message was edited by: discni
Message was edited by: discni
Message was edited by: discni

Answer 1

Hey... thanks for the replies everyone, and best of luck to everyone who is also having issues if you haven't gotten them sorted yet.
I ended up going for another replacement because I need this computer pretty badly. They threw in a free 4GB iPod shuffle this time, which was nice. The computer was delivered on March 8.
The good news:
The hard drive and screen are silent. Just a tiny bit of occasional hard drive noise when the computer is very busy, but nothing like the constant noise I was having before. I had almost convinced myself, against my own better judgement, that I couldn't possibly be so unlucky and that, somehow, the noises that the previous computers were making were just normal. This computer completely validates the noise issues though. It's much quieter.
The bad news:
1. There are maybe 9 or so dead pixels along the bottom third of the screen. Disappointing, but not such a big deal, I suppose.
2. There is what sounds like a louder, constant whirring fan (maybe?) noise that wasn't present with any of the other computers. It's loud enough to be obvious in comparison to the others I've had, but subtle enough to not be very annoying. Not a big deal either really, but...
3. When I turned the computer on and started the setup process, I didn't have the option to use my wireless network like I had with the other computers. It just wasn't present at all. It took maybe 15 minutes or so of me thinking that something might be wrong with my AirPort Express before I just skipped it and moved on. After I got everything set up, I went to configure the AirPort settings myself... and there doesn't seem to be a wireless card in the computer at all. No AirPort options under 'Network' in System Preferences. My AirPort Express doesn't show up in AirPort Utility. If I open System Profiler and select 'Network', there is no AirPort listed under 'Active Services'.
So... I've just been sitting around bummed out for a few days now. It seems I'll be calling Apple again in the next day or so. I guess I'll be updating this thread again whenever that happens.
Thanks again for the replies everyone.