Chosen Solution
Here’s what I’m seeing on my MacBook screen: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1478968/Mobile%2… The colors flash a bit or if they’re steady then changing the angle of the screen can affect them. Playing with the angle of the screen or tapping the screen gently can also sometimes make it go away. Apple said they wouldn’t cover it for me (EU laws require a 2 year warranty basically), because of this bent corner on the lid: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1478968/Mobile%2… A comparison: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1478968/Mobile%2… This pushes the screen away from the body while the lid is closed. So my question is weather this is an issue with the actual display or more likely with the display cable? I know ifixit doesn’t sell the cables separately, but I’m sure I could obtain one for much less then the whole display assembly goes for.
This problem is a fairly common issue with the a1278. I have been dealing with it on and off for the past year. It is related to the LVDS cable being either loose or gradually failing. It is a somewhat challenging fix but the part costs less than $50. Applying pressure to either the logic board or the screen, depending upon where the cable is loose, merely re-seats the contacts temporarily. It is really a poorly engineered component and Apple should be ashamed this was allowed to pass. I am waiting for ifixit to stock the cable as I do not trust sourcing the cable from some of the discount dealers that are out there.
Before you do anything else hook up to an external monitor if possible and see what video looks like there. If its good then yes I would try the cable first as it cost less. However if the video is the same you are looking at a logic board problem. Is there any chance a different store would cover the problem under warranty? Ralph
Basically it turned out to be an issue with the displays logic board. Applying some pressure to it fixed the problem. See here: http://appledefects.com/wiki/index.php?t….
I looked at the photo and I have exactly the same identical problem. I went to the Apple Genius Bar at the store and they said I would have to replace the entire screen and their price with labor was almost $600.00. My laptop is close to 3 years old. Would I spend $600 or buy the new MacBook Pro. Is there anything you find out? A cheaper solution? I know the screen is fine, it has to be the display cable, but I don’t see such a part for this Macbook Unibody Silver A1278. How do I put pressure on the displays logic board? I would appreciate the tools I’d need, etc. Thank you.
I’ve got the exact same problem here, only there are two parallel flickering stripes with the same width as yours. The lid’s also being slightly pushed away on one side in the very same way yours is. And the MB is 18 months old, warranty has expired and the mac store guy only suggested trying to sound pitiful on the Apple hotline, which will probably not work. Maybe our problem is related to the following one, sounds very much alike? display shows purple strips
