Screen upped and died :( - What can I do?

donovanh · 11-30-2007, 03:34 AM

I was in town yesterday shopping, and was carrying around my reader in my jacket. I didn't have a chance to read it while out, but when I got home, I discovered the reader has a developed a long white streak about an inch wide down the left side of the screen, and a smaller one close to the top going horizontally. The streak is a lighter colour than the screen usually is, and doesn't respond with the screen refreshes.

I sat changing pages last night to see if it would fade, but it seems to be slightly worse now.

I bought the Reader approx 1 year ago through ebay, as I'm in the UK. Any idea what my options would be now? I'm going abroad permanently in a couple of months, and I don't think I could manage without a reader.

Thanks in advance, Donovan

stustaff · 11-30-2007, 07:23 AM

Did you get a receipt showing a date? if its less than a year you could ask if someone in the US would return it for you and post it to them?

Or try phoning Sony US and say you bought it whilst on holiday and you are prepared to pay shipping and see what they will offer.

donovanh · 11-30-2007, 10:02 AM

No luck with customer service. They suggested a hard reset, which I have tried, but it has not helped. On top of that, they told me that while I could send it back to them, they cannot ship the replacement outside the USA.

Guess I'll be more hesitant to buy Sony in future!

How's the Cybook Gen3? Have they sorted out the software issues yet? I may give that one a go

Roy White · 12-01-2007, 11:11 AM

An obvious question but one that crops up frequently on this board as the culprit of problems like this is.. Have you plugged it into the wall and charged it overnight?

donovanh · 12-02-2007, 07:16 AM

I've tried charging it for about 6 hours, on the AC.. no difference.

A couple of days ago, I was reading something about heat helping get rid of lines, so I put it into the bed while the electric blanket was on. Unfortunately when I checked it.. it had got mildly warm, but the screen issue was about 3 times worse.

Here are some photos of the current state.

HarryT · 12-02-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donovanh

How's the Cybook Gen3? Have they sorted out the software issues yet? I may give that one a go

There are no major software issues that I'm aware of, other than a trivial, and easily worked-around problem that can crop up while adding fonts to the machine (something you can't do at all on the Sony, of course

). For a "v1.0", the Gen3 is a damned good machine. A software update for it is due mid-December; how nice to see a company which is responsive to customer feedback

.

Fzzt · 12-02-2007, 07:32 PM

From that picture it looks like a crack in the e-ink substrate layer (assuming you can't feel a crack on the surface).
Reminds me of a few PDA's/laptops after being dropped.

bluesnews · 12-03-2007, 03:24 AM

I have the problem with mine. I just got mine on the 21st of November and only with about a week of use I have streaks.

Tried charging it over night but still the same.

I've never took the reader outside of the house and while I was switching pages on Friday night, the reader froze. When I reset, this is what happened...

Sorry for the quality.

Speccy · 12-03-2007, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluesnews

I have the problem with mine. I just got mine on the 21st of November and only with about a week of use I have streaks.

Tried charging it over night but still the same.

I've never took the reader outside of the house and while I was switching pages on Friday night, the reader froze. When I reset, this is what happened...

Sorry for the quality.

Seems more like bad contacts if you didn't throw or knock it

HarryT · 12-03-2007, 04:37 AM

bluesnews - Did you buy it from a local store? If so, you should be able to exchange it without any problem; it's clearly faulty.

donovanh - Sorry to say that I agree with the earlier poster in that yours looks like a fracture in the glass substrate of the screen. A terminal case, I fear. You say that you're in the UK, though; does your house insurance policy cover accidental damage? Most of them do. Getting the cost of the Reader back in return for paying a £50 excess on your policy is probably well worth doing.

donovanh · 12-03-2007, 05:27 AM

Thanks for the replies

Harry.. I think the idea of the house insurance could be a winner! I'll look into that and see what the options are!

I was talking to my girlfriend, and we deduced that there was an occasion a few weeks ago when the reader was knocked off a bedside table onto the floor. I guess that could have been the culprit.

stustaff · 12-03-2007, 06:50 AM

DonovanH im in the Uk and my house insurance covers accidental damage of personal items The vas majority do! i dropped a watch and it broke, it was a £200 item and paid £50 excess the only thing was they dont normally give you cash! but vouchers that can be spent at electronics suppliers such as comet currys etc, make sure you highlight it was bought in the US and is only available there.

bluesnews · 12-03-2007, 09:19 AM

I bought it through JR.com shipped it to Korea. Just called them and they will exchange it but maybe not the shipping depending on how much it costs.

But this means that I won't have a new toy for Christmas.

donovanh · 12-11-2007, 05:24 PM

Quick question... I'm in touch with the original purchaser who bought it from a Borders store. Do Borders stores replace Readers if they fail within the year? Or is Sony my only option?

11-30-2007, 03:34 AM	#1
donovanh Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 40 Join Date: Feb 2007	Screen upped and died :( - What can I do? I was in town yesterday shopping, and was carrying around my reader in my jacket. I didn't have a chance to read it while out, but when I got home, I discovered the reader has a developed a long white streak about an inch wide down the left side of the screen, and a smaller one close to the top going horizontally. The streak is a lighter colour than the screen usually is, and doesn't respond with the screen refreshes. I sat changing pages last night to see if it would fade, but it seems to be slightly worse now. I bought the Reader approx 1 year ago through ebay, as I'm in the UK. Any idea what my options would be now? I'm going abroad permanently in a couple of months, and I don't think I could manage without a reader. Thanks in advance, Donovan

12-03-2007, 03:24 AM	#8
bluesnews Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: sony 505	I have the problem with mine. I just got mine on the 21st of November and only with about a week of use I have streaks. Tried charging it over night but still the same. I've never took the reader outside of the house and while I was switching pages on Friday night, the reader froze. When I reset, this is what happened... Sorry for the quality. Attached Thumbnails

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11-30-2007, 07:23 AM	#2
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,055 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	Did you get a receipt showing a date? if its less than a year you could ask if someone in the US would return it for you and post it to them? Or try phoning Sony US and say you bought it whilst on holiday and you are prepared to pay shipping and see what they will offer.

11-30-2007, 10:02 AM	#3
donovanh Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 40 Join Date: Feb 2007	No luck with customer service. They suggested a hard reset, which I have tried, but it has not helped. On top of that, they told me that while I could send it back to them, they cannot ship the replacement outside the USA. Guess I'll be more hesitant to buy Sony in future! How's the Cybook Gen3? Have they sorted out the software issues yet? I may give that one a go

12-01-2007, 11:11 AM	#4
Roy White Evangelist Posts: 482 Karma: 7696 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Turner, Oregon Device: Sony Reader	An obvious question but one that crops up frequently on this board as the culprit of problems like this is.. Have you plugged it into the wall and charged it overnight?

12-02-2007, 07:16 AM	#5
donovanh Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 40 Join Date: Feb 2007	I've tried charging it for about 6 hours, on the AC.. no difference. A couple of days ago, I was reading something about heat helping get rid of lines, so I put it into the bed while the electric blanket was on. Unfortunately when I checked it.. it had got mildly warm, but the screen issue was about 3 times worse. Here are some photos of the current state.

12-02-2007, 07:32 PM	#7
Fzzt Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Sony 500, Amazon Kindle	From that picture it looks like a crack in the e-ink substrate layer (assuming you can't feel a crack on the surface). Reminds me of a few PDA's/laptops after being dropped.

12-03-2007, 04:37 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	bluesnews - Did you buy it from a local store? If so, you should be able to exchange it without any problem; it's clearly faulty. donovanh - Sorry to say that I agree with the earlier poster in that yours looks like a fracture in the glass substrate of the screen. A terminal case, I fear. You say that you're in the UK, though; does your house insurance policy cover accidental damage? Most of them do. Getting the cost of the Reader back in return for paying a £50 excess on your policy is probably well worth doing.

12-03-2007, 05:27 AM	#11
donovanh Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 40 Join Date: Feb 2007	Thanks for the replies Harry.. I think the idea of the house insurance could be a winner! I'll look into that and see what the options are! I was talking to my girlfriend, and we deduced that there was an occasion a few weeks ago when the reader was knocked off a bedside table onto the floor. I guess that could have been the culprit.

12-03-2007, 06:50 AM	#12
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,055 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	DonovanH im in the Uk and my house insurance covers accidental damage of personal items The vas majority do! i dropped a watch and it broke, it was a £200 item and paid £50 excess the only thing was they dont normally give you cash! but vouchers that can be spent at electronics suppliers such as comet currys etc, make sure you highlight it was bought in the US and is only available there.

12-03-2007, 09:19 AM	#13
bluesnews Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: sony 505	I bought it through JR.com shipped it to Korea. Just called them and they will exchange it but maybe not the shipping depending on how much it costs. But this means that I won't have a new toy for Christmas.

12-11-2007, 05:24 PM	#14
donovanh Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 40 Join Date: Feb 2007	Quick question... I'm in touch with the original purchaser who bought it from a Borders store. Do Borders stores replace Readers if they fail within the year? Or is Sony my only option?

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