Do the letters wear off on the K3 Graphite?

chas0039 · 05-02-2011, 06:08 PM

I have read a post at Amazon where someone complained of this after 4 months. Has anyone else seen this? It could influence my color choice.

Thanks

Dazrin · 05-02-2011, 06:11 PM

The letters on mine aren't wearing, but the 5-way is showing signs of wear. I know I have seen several complaints about that though. I haven't heard one way or the other on the white ones, maybe the sample size is smaller?

bwaldron · 05-02-2011, 06:29 PM

Many people have seen this on the graphite; it doesn't seem to be a problem on the white. Cracks seem to appear more often on that color as well. None of this is scientific, of course; no way to really know the base rate of the problem based upon complaints on various forums.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chas0039

I have read a post at Amazon where someone complained of this after 4 months. Has anyone else seen this? It could influence my color choice.

chas0039 · 05-02-2011, 07:07 PM

Thanks guys. I don't keep current on Kindle so this helps quite a bit. Too bad, graphite looks sharp, but I don't want that kind of trouble.

Histerius · 05-02-2011, 07:26 PM

Some letter on "Home" and "Back" wear off after one month, just partially, and for some reason the disease didn't spread further and other letters are brand new. So, after initial comments like "#"*!"*!* Amazon!" I concluded it's not a big deal.

patrickt · 05-02-2011, 07:50 PM

Yes, but I don't think they wear off. To begin with the baby poop brown letters don't have enough contrast on the graphite background. I think they fade because I rarely ever use the keyboard.

The number of people complaining or asking about the problem would indicate it's common. Kindle will replace the K3 no questions asked or they will give you credit to buy a NoKey skin. I went with the skin and got a black with white letters and like it a lot.

CWatkinsNash · 05-02-2011, 08:07 PM

Mine (purchased in December) is showing wear on the 5-way and the menu key. I'm actually getting ready to buy a NoKey skin for that reason. I wanted a skin anyway, it's just a matter of choosing one. I can be indecisive about these things.

kindlekitten · 05-02-2011, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chas0039

Thanks guys. I don't keep current on Kindle so this helps quite a bit. Too bad, graphite looks sharp, but I don't want that kind of trouble.

get a skin?

kranu · 05-03-2011, 12:15 AM

Yup, pick a skin that you fancy and enjoy the graphite.

FF2 · 05-03-2011, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yes, but I don't think they wear off. To begin with the baby poop brown letters don't have enough contrast on the graphite background. I think they fade because I rarely ever use the keyboard.

The number of people complaining or asking about the problem would indicate it's common. Kindle will replace the K3 no questions asked or they will give you credit to buy a NoKey skin. I went with the skin and got a black with white letters and like it a lot.

Does Amazon really provide a credit for the Nokey type skin? I also think they contrast for the gray keys is poor at night, even with the Amazon lighted case. The letters could have been larger. I had to change my password because I could not make out the letters.

chas0039 · 05-03-2011, 05:35 PM

Thanks for the ideas, but a skin won't fit with the case I want. If the graphite models are poorly made and unreadable in dim light, I will get the other model. I buy more for function as opposed to form.

carld · 05-03-2011, 05:51 PM

No wear on the letters, but if I look really closely I can see wear beginning on the right-arrow on the 5-way directional pad. I hadn't noticed till I read this thread and really looked.

alansplace · 05-03-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carld

No wear on the letters, but if I look really closely I can see wear beginning on the right-arrow on the 5-way directional pad. I hadn't noticed till I read this thread and really looked.

i've a suggestion, press the arrow bars on the 5-way with your thumbnail.
--
Alan

Mungo · 05-03-2011, 06:39 PM

Thanks for the NoKey tip guys. My old eyes have trouble making out the tiny keyboard so i ordered a high contrast design and they ship to Europe so i'm happy bunny.

abookreader · 05-03-2011, 06:52 PM

I have a "shipped the very first day" Kindle and my Home and Sym buttons show definite wearing. It has never bothered me enough to call and complain, although I've heard that Amazon has replaced for this issue.

I was under the impression that they made a change in the plastic of the buttons somewhere and the issue has largely disappeared. I don't see many people complaining about it much now.

05-02-2011, 06:08 PM	#1
chas0039 Sceptic Posts: 573 Karma: 73436 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Lake Device: rooted Nooks, retired. JetBook Lite, Kindle 3, 4, Kobo Nia, Libra H2O.	Do the letters wear off on the K3 Graphite? I have read a post at Amazon where someone complained of this after 4 months. Has anyone else seen this? It could influence my color choice. Thanks

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05-02-2011, 06:11 PM	#2
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,631 Karma: 73864785 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	The letters on mine aren't wearing, but the 5-way is showing signs of wear. I know I have seen several complaints about that though. I haven't heard one way or the other on the white ones, maybe the sample size is smaller?

05-02-2011, 07:07 PM	#4
chas0039 Sceptic Posts: 573 Karma: 73436 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Lake Device: rooted Nooks, retired. JetBook Lite, Kindle 3, 4, Kobo Nia, Libra H2O.	Thanks guys. I don't keep current on Kindle so this helps quite a bit. Too bad, graphite looks sharp, but I don't want that kind of trouble.

05-02-2011, 07:26 PM	#5
Histerius Zealot Posts: 126 Karma: 7922 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Device: Kindle 3 - Galaxy Tab 10.1	Some letter on "Home" and "Back" wear off after one month, just partially, and for some reason the disease didn't spread further and other letters are brand new. So, after initial comments like "#"!"!* Amazon!" I concluded it's not a big deal.

05-02-2011, 07:50 PM	#6
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	Yes, but I don't think they wear off. To begin with the baby poop brown letters don't have enough contrast on the graphite background. I think they fade because I rarely ever use the keyboard. The number of people complaining or asking about the problem would indicate it's common. Kindle will replace the K3 no questions asked or they will give you credit to buy a NoKey skin. I went with the skin and got a black with white letters and like it a lot.

05-02-2011, 08:07 PM	#7
CWatkinsNash IOC Chief Archivist Posts: 3,950 Karma: 53868218 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL, USA Device: Meebook M7, Paperwhite 2021, Fire HD 8+, Fire HD 10+, Lenovo Tab P12	Mine (purchased in December) is showing wear on the 5-way and the menu key. I'm actually getting ready to buy a NoKey skin for that reason. I wanted a skin anyway, it's just a matter of choosing one. I can be indecisive about these things.

05-03-2011, 12:15 AM	#9
kranu I <3 my Kindle Posts: 528 Karma: 51332 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: United States Device: Kindle 3G + WiFi	Yup, pick a skin that you fancy and enjoy the graphite.

05-03-2011, 05:35 PM	#11
chas0039 Sceptic Posts: 573 Karma: 73436 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Lake Device: rooted Nooks, retired. JetBook Lite, Kindle 3, 4, Kobo Nia, Libra H2O.	Thanks for the ideas, but a skin won't fit with the case I want. If the graphite models are poorly made and unreadable in dim light, I will get the other model. I buy more for function as opposed to form.

05-03-2011, 05:51 PM	#12
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	No wear on the letters, but if I look really closely I can see wear beginning on the right-arrow on the 5-way directional pad. I hadn't noticed till I read this thread and really looked.

05-03-2011, 06:39 PM	#14
Mungo Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kindle3	Thanks for the NoKey tip guys. My old eyes have trouble making out the tiny keyboard so i ordered a high contrast design and they ship to Europe so i'm happy bunny.

05-03-2011, 06:52 PM	#15
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	I have a "shipped the very first day" Kindle and my Home and Sym buttons show definite wearing. It has never bothered me enough to call and complain, although I've heard that Amazon has replaced for this issue. I was under the impression that they made a change in the plastic of the buttons somewhere and the issue has largely disappeared. I don't see many people complaining about it much now.

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