hi im a maltese mac user who unfortunatly bought a G4 laptop two
yrs ago..Recently i faced the same problem exactly as described above. The dealer in Malta told me that gaurantee was over due so
i have to pay the sum of Lm200 to buy another screen . Of course im against this more over now that i know that is a defect from the manufacturer....whts my next step now? :(

same here i don't know what to do about this it cost too much to fix and they shoulf find us a solution.

I would really appreciate any advice on how to go about making a stand with Mac about this problem of screen failure. My problem sounds exactly as described and am in the grey area of it works fine for some time and then the colour issues come. The last time I switched on the screen came up and then sank down to the bottom 10cm of my screen area and bounced up in many colour bars. I therefore have no idea how long my screen will last and need my computer as a free lance artist.... so how do I get Mac to do something before I end up with no screen at all?

Second question is I have an older Studio display monitor - I don't have an adaptor to make it work with the PowerBook G4 right now, but if this problem moves to it's ultimate 'no screen' on the G4 will I be able to access the hard drive via this other monitor? What is the adaptor I'll need? Any advice from out there?

I have this PowerBook G4 vertical line problem too. I've heard that in some cases, even if you pay to get it fixed, it may go bad again, if the repair isn't done properly.

If you're looking for ways to pressure Apple to own-up to their problem:

Register your PowerBook at
http://www.crosspond.com/apple/welcome

Sign this petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/maclines/petition.html

Read the exciting (& infuriating) info here:
http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Apple's_Censorship_&_Censure

Post in Apple Discussions. Something non-inflammatory like "I have this problem too, is there any new suggestions on what to do about it?" Here's a relevant thread that's been there for a while:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=967815&tstart=0

Call AppleCare, get a case #, and ask them how to file a formal complaint (so Apple has a record of the extent of the problem and is pressured to react).

Leave "Management Comments" here:
http://www.apple.com/contact/feedback.html

Write to high-profile Mac news & blog sites and ask them to cover this story. Sites such as
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/
http://www.tuaw.com/
etc

There are some other suggestions here:
http://www.crosspond.com/apple/links

Call and write Apple corporate HQ and Public Relations
http://www.apple.com/contact/

Note that when people complain to AppleCare in non-U.S. countries, that info is not forwarded to any central location, so Apple never finds out about worldwide complaint patterns that indicate a defect. Ideally non-U.S. residents should be sure to call U.S. HQ and PR so all the complaints hopefully also get to a central location.

Take some of the steps documented in various pages at this site:
http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Free_Repair_Campaign_for_Apple_17inch_PowerBooks

Contact your state Department of Consumer Protection.

Contact the Better Business Bureau

Same problem here. I've got a blue vertical line on the left hand side and then the whole screen goes nuts. I'm really not sure if it's a monitor problem or a software issue at this point. Haven't been able to use it for several months, but started it a couple times tonight, and it just started working again. Completely unreliable. I wound up having to by a new g5 in the middle of finals. This displeased me greatly.
How to fix? Any tutorials out there? I refuse to pay someone an arm and a kidney to resolve the issue.
Any word from the powers that be at Apple??
This computer was WAY too expensive for this kind of FUBAR...y'heard?

My machine has an intermittent screen failure issue, whereby the image and brightness are fine, but then the screen darkens as if in save mode. Sometimes it comes up and stays, sometimes it doesn't come up at all. I am now using it with an external monitor!!

It feels like a hardware issue, as I have noticed the screen will fall over 100% of the time if moved when working properly. I thought it may be the connectors from the chassis to the screen, but I am loathed to pull it apart and take a look myself. Fortunately I have just budgeted for a new machine, but will still try and get the PowerBook fixed if not too costly.

Apple should address this issue in my opinion.

Rob Steele, I think I have the same problem you do. Can you explain what you mean by "if moved when working properly"?

My Powerbook G4 15" Titanium 1GHz does fine and dandy when it's sitting on a table in a fixed place and nothing makes it move and nothing moves its power cord, but when you lift the laptop to move it somewhere or you just shift its position on the table the screen dims to the point that you cannot see anything unless you use a flashlight. Also, I suspect that when I accidentally brush the power cord (whose connector sits very loosely in the power socket) and move it, this happens as well. The screen will not come back up for anything UNLESS you sleep it (pressing power button and typing S for sleep) and wake it back up. I don't like to shut the screen because I think even moving the screen can cause it to dim again. Plus, my screen is functioning on only one hinge because it fell one time and one of my hinges broke, so I rarely move my laptop from the table and I leave the screen open all the time.

Anyone know what needs to be fixed so that this complete dimming stops happening? I'm willing to do the surgery if I know what needs to be fixed. (I have already replaced my hard drive successfully).

Hey Bellizima,

I suspect that you would be a lot better off if you fix the loose power socket problem. I had a similar issue with my PB G4 Titanium, and after a lot of troubleshooting, I finally figured out that the power brick was going bad (it ran very, very hot). It was barely able to supply enough current to power the computer, and, as you know, the display backlight takes a big percentage of the power needed by the computer. So, every once in a while the display would just go black. If I slept and woke up the computer, it would come back on. Replacing the power brick solved my problem. Anyway, I think maybe your laptop is not getting enough current because of the loose power jack. Try that.......

i have stop using my powerbook 17in since the video flickers everynow and then. Mine was purchased in 2004. What has apple to say so far about this peculiar problem in their chinese built product. Is the video screen under recall.

I got a powerbook g4 second hand. The screen would flicker and at times get all jumbled up. restarting sometimes helped. After exhaustive internet searching, I took a gamble that the major components were ok, and tried the suggestion on one hit about changing out the video cable. Got a cable from powerbookmedic. Put it in, which is tedious. They even have a step by step guide. Well, it seems to be working. It has been two weeks and not one flicker or jumbled screen. Good luck.

Yes, my fellow Mac PB 17 victims of the "death of a thousand lines", or the "Bridget Riley" syndrome: we're numbered in the thousands.
As this is such a massive, and expensive, problem for Apple, they are using every damnable corporate tactic possible to avoid dealing with it. When it comes to disposing of my PB, I know where I'd like to shove it... Lots of luck, Mark in Seattle

Yes My PB is afflicted with the accursed vertical lines, and Apple is doing nothing -not even making the cable available, requiring replacement of the whole screen.

Like the recent PC commercials say, 'why pay for aesthetics? Here's a laptop for $1,049
that does what I need it to do. I could buy two and a half of them for what I paid for the damnable PB ($2500+)!!!!!!!!!!!

Same exact thing happened to me. Screw you Apple. I've spent over $20,000 with you over the years. I'm going back to PC. I can't afford to buy anything else from you. You just charge too damn much.

you think PC's are better? macs cost more initially, but for pcs you need all this new hardware and stuff.

This is really sad. I got the G4 as a hand-me-down a couple of weeks ago, and it looked like it had been dropped down a few flights of stairs, and then hit with a sledge hammer. It has dents everywhere, it always has at least one line, it can't hold a charge, and on top of all that, I put a dvd in the drive to watch during dinner and it only recognizes it as a blank dvd and it won't come out of the drive. oh and it will only show me the mac face and a question mark.

I have Titanium PB G4 15 " purchased 2003
replaced lcd after an 'incident' resulted in dimming as mentioned above (this was august 2004)
For last 4 months or so, seems positional, gradual crazy lines/colour changes develop to the point of no visibility - when the 'storm' starts, I have to very quickly put it to sleep before I can't find SLEEP anymore...let it rest and it seems to recover. I think it is better in some positions than others. For the first 2 weeks of June it seems fine ?? then last couple of days it is wonky again. Maybe I'll gamble on the video cable but the new prices on the laptops look promising...
Any comments - also any comments on the aluminum vs titanium.
Overall given the use, I think this laptop has been a fantastic investment (rather like my toyota...)
EM from Hamilton

Wow, I wish I had looked this up sooner.
My powerbook g4 has this same issue. The worst part is that I went to the apple store and had it fixed just before my warranty was up on my apple care.
Unfortunately, the same problem has come back six months later, just slightly different.
I think that is ridiculous considering the man at the store told me he thought it could be a screen display issue. They can't even fix what they say they are going to fix right.

I got the same problem, but only goes in the bottom of the screen.
Actually rigth now is not giving problems, but also im not moving the screen.
I wish to know if is very dificult to fix it, maybe only i got to open it and clean it.
any idea?

I have the same issue, vertical lines covering the entire bottom inch and a half of my screen. It comes and goes but when it comes it doesn't go away very quickly. Typing on the computer, touching the trackpad, or moving or touching the screen all cause it. I was going to buy a new 17 inch this year but I am not so sure as this machine has been a lemon with two exploding battery packs, and two dead hard drives. I want this fixed regardless, but as cheaply and correctly as possible.

And I thought my PBG4 (A1138) was the only with this weird display issues! I didn't associate the "vertical line" with this problem until now.

I bought it used about a year ago when my trusty PBG3 Series inverter board died.

After countless attempts to troubleshoot it, I believe this is caused by a lack of electro-magnetic shielding (I can feel some sort of a current when softly sliding my fingers above the trackpad outwards). I have entirely disassembled the PB and put it back together, assuming it was a lose cable or board, it wasn't and this didn't solve the problem.

The display can be fine for weeks at a time, if I don't move the laptop other than to open or close it. If I do not lift it completely vertical or simply by sliding it to move it to one side, the problem reoccur most of the time. Obviously, being a laptop it is moved most of the time. The problem may also reappear randomly just by the resting my right hand too close to the bottom right corner.

Tonight, I discovered an apparent solution, after two days of display weirdness that simply wouldn't go away despite many sleep-wake cycles, reboots, PRAM, NVRAM and PMU resets, etc.

I closed the PB and turned it upside down, reopened it, after sitting it right-side up again, and the problem was gone, at least temporarily. The current around the trackpad I mentioned above is barely perceptible and the display is perfect.

Same problem. This topic and the anoying Itunes shut out any other company Apple dont like is enough for me to say f. u Steve Jobs! I have an Android mobile and you can stick your Ipad where the sun is never shining... hope it fits.
But back to the problemS, vertical lines Ok enough stories about this by now but how about the current around the trackpad Luis Melgoza mentioned. Anyone has some expirience where this is coming from? 2nd did anyone dare to repair the screenproblem themselves?

I have had the same issue with my old 17" G4 PB. It started out as one vertical line, and eventually the entire screen was full of them. Of course Apple support refused to do anything to assist, and would not even admit that Apple had any fault in it. I took it in to MacDoc's in UT and they scared me away with the proposed cost of the repair. Sad... such a waste of a nearly $3000 piece of hardware. I had to retire it early as the screen is no longer legible.
This is yet another reason why I am repulsed by Apple. Aside from being rabid control freaks, they never make anything easy to fix. Heck, my Dell laptop is totally modular and everything can be swapped in minutes. I've had it since 2005 and it is still going strong, and it only cost 1/3 the price of the MBP. Fixing this overpriced MacBook Pro on the other hand is more like doing surgery. Fool me once...