Surface Pro 4, Screen Flickering, Shaking

I agree with the observation that Microsoft should have made an announcement about this flaw so customers would have had sufficient time to respond to the recall offer before the expiration date. The "flicker-gate" issue was discovered while my Surface Pro 4 was still within the 3 year recall window, but I did not learn about it until after the 3 year recall window had expired.

My Surface Pro was an expensive gift to me from a family member. Simply buying another one is an expensive proposition -- not to mention a hassle since most of the files and apps would have to re-installed on any new device.

My screen is flickering and shaking right now, as I type this. I'm a heavy user of PCs and have been since the early 1980s. I may have to bite the bullet and buy another notebook PC. However, I'm reluctant to buy another Microsoft PC, even if the current models have the old bugs, like screen flicker, repaired. How do I know another bug will be discovered that Microsoft will keep a secret until my warranty expires?!?!  This is unacceptable!

(My example - very hard to follow with my eyes, and it gets even more flickery and annoying as my session continues:)

(Example found on the web - impossible to read:)

I can only assume that since it's been so many hundreds of complaints in this thread without any response from Microsoft on an actual Microsoft message board, that Microsoft doesn't care about customer service, quality, or repeat business, so I guess I'll go elsewhere for a replacement for my POS surface. Admitting that there is a manufacturing defect and then having a cut off for a recall- without sending out a message to any who might be affected- is absolutely the end for me.

There will be a zero chance that I'll ever buy a Microsoft product again. Great business practices.

Hello Brian my son has a Sp4 That is flickering for about 1 week (I have videos) 

We bought the computer on 18.09.2016 just pass 3 years now but we consider you could address this case being that a product fault 

Can you please tell us what to do? He is studying in Milan and is totally dependent on this machine 

A few weeks ago I bought a surface 6 (more recent) for my other son

I appreciate you consider a replacement 

Regards

Hey Everyone,

Creating the best products and experiences for our customers is our top priority.

We have heard your feedback and after careful examination, have determined that a small percentage of Surface Pro 4 devices are exhibiting a screen flicker that cannot be addressed with a firmware or driver update.

To support customers affected by this issue, we will replace eligible Surface Pro 4 devices for up to three years from the date of purchase, free of charge. If you believe your device is experiencing this issue, please visit our Surface Pro 4 screen flicker article for more details.

Bryan [MSFT]

Could you explain the reasons why Microsoft believes a design fault should lead to a full replacement of the product if the fault manifests within the first 3 years, while for products older than 3 year is suddenly not Microsoft's responsibility to fix their mistakes?

Microsoft have advertised the Surface Pro as a premium product and have asked a premium price for it. How is that possible that you claim that a premium product a bit over 3 years have lived its life and can fail completely any moment?

Where is Microsoft's own trust in its own products? One can reach very easy some conclusions when it sees that in your trade-in program for a working Surface 4 Pro you are offering the amazing amount of 75 EUR (!!!), while to replace a faulty one (even if it is faulty because of your own design issues), you are asking your customers for 485 EUR ...

For products that are advertised and sold as premium products one expects that the quality control is so good that their systems will degrade much slower than 3 1/2 years (I have an 8-years old Mac Mini that still works perfectly fine, we have an HP laptop that is in our family since more than 9 years that needed only its battery replaced).

Considering that I have contacted the German Support  and they came with an incredible story that if a design fault, that is directly linked to the heat that the tablets develops during functioning, manifests during the first three years of life, is Microsoft's problem while after 3 years it becomes the customer's fault, I can only say that you are very successful in blaming your customers for your own faults. 

My own conclusion is that when it comes to HW, Microsoft is unfortunately far behind their competitors (not only Apple but also other Taiwanese or Chinese manufacturers) in far to many aspects: quality control, device heat control mechanisms and the after-sales support and on top of that, it does not make any efforts to keep its premium customers happy.

(Did I forgot to mention that we purchased also a Surface Pro 6 just before the 4 failed? Well, considering your behavior, the 6 will be the last Microsoft system we purchase)