Second Class Macs are Apple's somewhat compromised
hardware designs. For the most part, they're not really bad - simply
designs that didn't meet their full potential. (On our rating scale,
the more brown apples, the worse the hardware.)
It shouldn't be that hard to make a good monitor. Apple had done it
consistently for well over a decade. But they've also licensed some
poor screens - and come up with one real Road Apple.
The AppleVision 1710 and 1710av use a gorgeous 17" Trinitron tube.
That's the good part.
The bad part starts with ADB. Although some earlier monitors had
included ADB pass-through ports, the 1710 required an ADB connection to the
computer. Well, it almost did. It could run at 640 x 480 without an ADB
connection, but not at any other resolution.
Not only that, but without the AppleVision control panel, it still
wouldn't use any resolution but 640 x 480.
That was inconvenient, but it gets worse.
A good number of these were made with parts more prone to failure
than expected, causing the expensive deflection board assembly to fail.
Two of the more common symptoms of the problem are a screen that
remains black or speakers that make a continuous popping noise.
After about a year of complaints, Apple admitted the extent of the
problem and offered anyone who owned a 1710 in a specified serial
number range a one year warranty extension. This was later extended
through the end of 1998 for the black screen problem.
But the worst aspect of the 1710 fiasco is this: Most people who had
the monitor repaired once ended up sending it in for service several
times. When it rains, it pours.
On the other hand, there are also plenty of 1710 monitors that have
never given their owners a bit of grief. You either got a gem or a Road
Apple.
