Kindle PW--About to give up.....

Jbthompson · 11-20-2012, 12:16 PM

Hey everyone. I have been on the long journey to get a good paperwhite. I have had 3 replacements, and the last one i got, while it has a much whiter screen, is still blotchy.

I made my almost weekly call to Amazon yesterday, and was told that it was impossible for their to be blotches on my screen because "the screen is black and white, not color." Should I just wait and see if the december ones are any better? I am really missing my old basic Kindle. What would you recommend I do?

sparklemotion · 11-20-2012, 01:27 PM

I'm sorry you haven't been able to get a good one. Having been there myself, I know how frustrating this is.

I am one that believes most PW's suffer from the color hue issue to varying degrees and if you're sensitive to seeing the hues, you may be better off waiting for the next version of the PW to come out and see how that is.

It sounds like you talked to a rep who was clueless about the problem. I have been lucky to talk to a rep that is familiar with the PW color hue defect, but it was still very difficult for me to get a good one.

I suppose you could try a 4th replacement, but I don't think you'll end up happy at this point. I think it's best to return it for a refund and maybe get the basic kindle for now. Good luck with whatever you decide.

JSWolf · 11-20-2012, 01:32 PM

Problem is, that once you go touch screen, you won't want to go back to non-touch. So for Amazon, there is no other option. And that's what really sucks.

sparklemotion · 11-20-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Problem is, that once you go touch screen, you won't want to go back to non-touch.

This has been very true for me, especially since I highlight a lot. Some people don't mind and even prefer the page turn buttons though, even after using a touch screen.

HarryT · 11-20-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Problem is, that once you go touch screen, you won't want to go back to non-touch. So for Amazon, there is no other option. And that's what really sucks.

Sure there is - buy a Kindle Touch. Easy enough to get hold of.

daffy4u · 11-20-2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sure there is - buy a Kindle Touch. Easy enough to get hold of.

I don't what country Jbthompson is in but as the Kindle Touch is no longer for sale at Amazon US (though there may be refurbished or used devices available). Is it still for sale in the UK and other countries?

JSWolf · 11-20-2012, 05:39 PM

The Kindle Touch is not for sale in the UK. You can get a refurbished Kindle Touch with 3G from Amazon.com for $129. I could not find a wifi only version.

xendula · 11-20-2012, 08:17 PM

I've been in your shoes so many times that I lost count. I kept getting replacements because I couldn't make myself give up on the paperwhite. If you can see yourself waiting for the second version of the PW, do it. I couldn't, as I liked the interface just too much. The PWs I kept are by no means perfect, but one of them has very very light blotches, and in some lighting conditions, I don't see them at all.

mgmueller · 11-20-2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The Kindle Touch is not for sale in the UK. You can get a refurbished Kindle Touch with 3G from Amazon.com for $129. I could not find a wifi only version.

In Amazon Germany you still can buy the Kindle touch.
Probably because they only started shipping Paperwhite a few days ago.

sirmaru · 11-20-2012, 10:41 PM

Return the PW for a full refund claiming it is defective. Then order a new PW.

There seems to be a problem with the replacements.

Jbthompson · 11-20-2012, 11:06 PM

So the newer ones are better? How long do I have to return it?

I love the idea of the paperwhite, I read mostly at night so it's nice.

techiegirl · 11-21-2012, 01:02 AM

I went through 5 Paperwhites before giving up on it all together. I'm now using the K4B for my daytime reading an an iPad mini for nighttime reading.

If you read a lot at night, I don't see a touch will solve your problem. Without the brightness on, the PW is a much better device than the touch.

HarryT · 11-21-2012, 02:20 AM

I strongly suspect that if you're not happy with the PW, you never will be. The PW's screen is a diffraction grating - the effects you're seeing are inherent in it. You need to either accept that this is what it's like (and personally I think it's absolutely fine) or find an alternate solution.

miquele · 11-21-2012, 05:16 AM

I agree with HarryT concerning the color hue issue. What bothers me a bit is the font quality. I have the impression that once I use the dictionary or the menu, the type face is messed up and it looks like some words/lines are printed in bold as compared to others until I page forward. In general, the weight of the type face is less homogeneous what I have seen on my PW than on the K keyboard, but once the dictionary pop-up was used it visibly degrades. Am I the only one noticing this?

NightBird · 11-21-2012, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miquele

I agree with HarryT concerning the color hue issue. What bothers me a bit is the font quality. I have the impression that once I use the dictionary or the menu, the type face is messed up and it looks like some words/lines are printed in bold as compared to others until I page forward. In general, the weight of the type face is less homogeneous what I have seen on my PW than on the K keyboard, but once the dictionary pop-up was used it visibly degrades. Am I the only one noticing this?

I haven't noticed this at all. Have you tried restarting/rebooting? This seems to help people with various issues.

I'm using the Helvetica font and find it to be suitably dark and even.

11-20-2012, 12:16 PM	#1
Jbthompson Member Posts: 10 Karma: 480334 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kindle paperwhite	Kindle PW--About to give up..... Hey everyone. I have been on the long journey to get a good paperwhite. I have had 3 replacements, and the last one i got, while it has a much whiter screen, is still blotchy. I made my almost weekly call to Amazon yesterday, and was told that it was impossible for their to be blotches on my screen because "the screen is black and white, not color." Should I just wait and see if the december ones are any better? I am really missing my old basic Kindle. What would you recommend I do?

11-21-2012, 05:16 AM	#14
miquele Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 498122 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Europe Device: Bookeen Cybook Gen3, Kindle 3, Kindle PW, Kindle Voyage	I agree with HarryT concerning the color hue issue. What bothers me a bit is the font quality. I have the impression that once I use the dictionary or the menu, the type face is messed up and it looks like some words/lines are printed in bold as compared to others until I page forward. In general, the weight of the type face is less homogeneous what I have seen on my PW than on the K keyboard, but once the dictionary pop-up was used it visibly degrades. Am I the only one noticing this? Last edited by miquele; 11-21-2012 at 05:17 AM. Reason: typo

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11-20-2012, 01:27 PM	#2
sparklemotion dangerous when cornered Posts: 1,855 Karma: 22891237 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Device: Kobo H2O, Kindle Paperwhite	I'm sorry you haven't been able to get a good one. Having been there myself, I know how frustrating this is. I am one that believes most PW's suffer from the color hue issue to varying degrees and if you're sensitive to seeing the hues, you may be better off waiting for the next version of the PW to come out and see how that is. It sounds like you talked to a rep who was clueless about the problem. I have been lucky to talk to a rep that is familiar with the PW color hue defect, but it was still very difficult for me to get a good one. I suppose you could try a 4th replacement, but I don't think you'll end up happy at this point. I think it's best to return it for a refund and maybe get the basic kindle for now. Good luck with whatever you decide.

11-20-2012, 01:32 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,972 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Problem is, that once you go touch screen, you won't want to go back to non-touch. So for Amazon, there is no other option. And that's what really sucks.

11-20-2012, 05:39 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,972 Karma: 128903378 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The Kindle Touch is not for sale in the UK. You can get a refurbished Kindle Touch with 3G from Amazon.com for $129. I could not find a wifi only version.

11-20-2012, 08:17 PM	#8
xendula eBookworm Posts: 2,300 Karma: 4525746 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Coast brrrrr Device: Kindle 4B/K ~ Nexus 7 ~ Kindle Paperwhite 1&2 ~ iPad Air	I've been in your shoes so many times that I lost count. I kept getting replacements because I couldn't make myself give up on the paperwhite. If you can see yourself waiting for the second version of the PW, do it. I couldn't, as I liked the interface just too much. The PWs I kept are by no means perfect, but one of them has very very light blotches, and in some lighting conditions, I don't see them at all.

11-20-2012, 10:41 PM	#10
sirmaru Wizard Posts: 2,426 Karma: 6561538 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle PW 2013, HDX 2013, Galaxy S5 2014	Return the PW for a full refund claiming it is defective. Then order a new PW. There seems to be a problem with the replacements.

11-20-2012, 11:06 PM	#11
Jbthompson Member Posts: 10 Karma: 480334 Join Date: Oct 2012 Device: Kindle paperwhite	So the newer ones are better? How long do I have to return it? I love the idea of the paperwhite, I read mostly at night so it's nice.

11-21-2012, 01:02 AM	#12
techiegirl Groupie Posts: 169 Karma: 1014914 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage, iPad Mini, iPhone 6+	I went through 5 Paperwhites before giving up on it all together. I'm now using the K4B for my daytime reading an an iPad mini for nighttime reading. If you read a lot at night, I don't see a touch will solve your problem. Without the brightness on, the PW is a much better device than the touch.

11-21-2012, 02:20 AM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I strongly suspect that if you're not happy with the PW, you never will be. The PW's screen is a diffraction grating - the effects you're seeing are inherent in it. You need to either accept that this is what it's like (and personally I think it's absolutely fine) or find an alternate solution.