Apple sued for ‘iMac deception’
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Mar 31, 2008 at 5:10pm
Another day, another lawsuit. Apple deceptively marketed its new 20-inch iMac in a way that grossly inflated the capabilities of its monitor, which is vastly inferior to the previous generation it replaced, according to a federal class action lawsuit filed today by Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP, a consumer law firm.
According to the suit, filed in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California in San Jose, Apple is deceiving consumers by concealing that the new 20-inch iMac monitors—unveiled in August 2007—are inferior to the previous generation’s and those of the new 24-inch iMac. In addition, the monitors are incapable of displaying “millions of colors,” despite Apple’s marketing claims, per the lawsuit.
“Apple is duping its customers into thinking they’re buying ‘new and improved’ when in fact they’re getting stuck with ‘new and inferior,’” said Brian Kabateck, managing partner of Kabateck Brown Kellner. “Beneath Apple’s ‘good guy’ image is a corporation that takes advantage of its
customers. Our goal is to help those customers who were deceived and make sure Apple tells the truth in the future.”
He says Apple told consumers that both the 20-inch and 24-inch iMacs displayed “millions of colors at all resolutions.” Indeed, the new 24-inch iMacs display 16,777,216 colors on 8-bit, in-plane switching (IPS) screens, as did the previous generation of 20-inch iMacs. But the new 20-inch iMac monitors doesn’t even come close, displaying 98 percent fewer colors (262,144), Kellner says.
He continues that while Apple describes the display of both the 24-inch and 20-inch iMacs as though they were interchangeable, the monitors in each are of radically different technology. The 20-inch iMacs feature 6-bit twisted nematic film LCD screens, the least expensive of its type, according to the lawsuit. The suit adds that he 20-inch iMac’s TN screens have a narrower viewing angle, less color depth, less color accuracy and are more susceptible to washout across the screen.
“Apple is squeezing more profits for itself by using cheap screens and its customers are unwittingly paying the price,” Kabateck says.
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Rick Auricchio Says:
I’m sure this attorney is doing this pro-bono, right? He doesn’t stand to make any money? Suuuure…
Posted on March 31, 2008
ilene hoffman Says:
I totally support this lawsuit. When I went to buy a 20” iMac I was appalled at the quality of the display. I was prepared to buy one, except it was SO inferior to the 24” display, I ended up paying a LOT more money and buying the bigger monitor—which is way too big for what I wanted.
I believe the new 20” monitor is built by LG, while the old 20” is the same manufacturer of the old and new 24” monitors. The fact that Apple store employees foist the 20” iMac on customers as a suitable monitor for doing any kind of color work or photo editing is a sham.
Anyone notice that the 20” refurbs iMacs are on special at the Apple store? Wonder why? Methinks Apple realizes the product is inferior. I think the 20” iMac is one of the worst products Apple has ever sold.
Posted on April 01, 2008
Evidence? Says:
Take a look at the refurbs at the Apple Store Online. The Previous generation iMac sells for more than the current one. The crappy glossy screen iMac 20” is $999 and the ‘old’ (read better) 20” matte screen is $1099.
Posted on April 01, 2008
Peter Emslie Says:
My two year old iMac (running Tiger) was giving power problems recently, due to what was assessed by the Apple Store technicians to be a faulty motherboard. They claimed it would be damn near impossible to fix it and offered me a brand new 20” iMac (running Leopard) in exchange. Though I was initially delighted to get a new computer out of the deal, I never would have accepted it had I known that the display screen was so bad! I’m now faced with the dilemma of having to return it and hopefully being able to trade up for the 24” by paying the price difference. Failing that, I’m buying a PC!!
Posted on August 03, 2008
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
Confirms My Impression Says:
Apple has gone too far cheapening it’s product lately and that is why I haven’t upgraded my 20” Core Duo iMac. Not only does it have the awful glossy screen, it has a narrower FOV and now i seen to have inferior color rendering.
Mr Jobs needs to be told that if we wanted Mac OS X on crappy HW we could just by an Acer and load up OS X. I expect better from Apple. I hope the Lawyers win this one.
Posted on March 31, 2008