A website has sprung up help fight the corner of disgruntled Apple MacBook users who are suffering from unsightly stains on their laptop screens. The site, called Staingate.org for the obvious reasons, hopes to highlight the plight of hundreds of MacBook users who are suffering from what has been diagnosed as degradation of the screen anti-reflective coating.
MacRumours has narrowed down the bulk of affected MacBooks to Retina models produced from mid-2012 to the present day. On these models it seems like the anti-reflective coating is susceptible to rather easily being scratched or worn – even if you follow Apple's cleaning instructions to remove the inevitable streaks, smudges and dust.
Looking at the gallery of tragedies on Staingate.org a lot of the awful looking screen abrasion appears to have been caused by the middle keys of the keyboard – perhaps this part of the keyboard is ever so slightly higher. The other prime candidates for coating wear are around the edges of the screen and around the webcam area.
Staingate.org is pushing for free repair program – in or out of warranty - for what it calls a US$2000 "defective laptop" model. At the moment reports are mixed about whether Apple will fix the "horrific stains" or not, even if a machine is well under a year old. Some users have reportedly had their screens fixed/repaired or replaced while others have been offered a repair costing US$800 which comes with a paltry 3-month warranty.
Retinal abrasion?
In its pursuit of a clear policy statement from Apple, Staingate was told flatly that such anti-reflective coating wear is "cosmetic damage and it is not covered by the warranty". However some users reason that an anti-reflective coating on a screen is functional rather than cosmetic and if it deteriorates the laptop functionality is impaired.
At the present time nearly 600 people have logged their 'Staingate' affected MacBooks on the website's database of sufferers. There's also a Facebook page where those with stained screens can share and compare their scratches and stains.
