Problem with magnets in leather cover

Randy · 10-13-2006, 03:47 PM

Shipped yesterday, got it today. It fits just fine, but I believe that the magnets in the leather cover are installed backwards or upside-down!
The cover flap doesn't stay closed like the stock black one does. I tried it 'inside out', so to speak, and the cover holds closed just fine in that orientation. I think they got the polarity wrong!

I called Sony Customer Service, they switched me to some kind of support line where they gave me an event ID and a new phone number, but they had no similar reports of this problem - so far. If you find the same issue, call 888-476-6972 and report it - they won't do anything (i.e. investigate) until more reports start rolling in. I don't want them to replace my cover with one that has the same problem!

igorsk · 10-13-2006, 04:05 PM

The magnet is in Reader (top right corner), not the cover. I guess they have a small metal insert in the cover.

Randy · 10-13-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

The magnet is in Reader (top right corner), not the cover. I guess they have a small metal insert in the cover.

Quoting from the packaging that the cover came in:
"Product contains small magnets. Please keep away from credit cards. Sony is not responsible for any loss of data or damage to said cards."

And a paper clip is easily attracted to each of the cover magnets, so...

NatCh · 10-13-2006, 04:17 PM

Interesting ... the stock cover doesn't seem to have magnets there, but rather just metal inserts.

Paper-clips don't seem to find them attractive, at least.

igorsk · 10-13-2006, 04:18 PM

Hmm well, I have the stock cover and while metal things stick very easily to the Reader's corner, they don't react to the cover at all. Who knows, maybe they decided to move the magnet to Reader in the middle of production?...

NatCh · 10-13-2006, 04:20 PM

Perhaps the "fashion" covers are a bit stiffer than the stock, and need the extra pull to stay closed?

Randy · 10-13-2006, 04:26 PM

I suppose I should clarify that when I say 'they got the polarity wrong', I mean that the cover magnets may not be 'polarly' installed to be attracted to its mate in the Reader. As we all learned in science class (and from Paula Abdul), opposites attract.

Although, I must admit that I don't feel any kind of repelling force in either orientation either.

Leaping Gnome · 10-13-2006, 05:24 PM

Can you just exchange it for another? What have you got to lose.

yvanleterrible · 10-14-2006, 11:48 AM

Question.
Does a magnet bother e-ink displays like a crt ?

NatCh · 10-14-2006, 02:55 PM

Remember we got arivero to test his broken Librie' screen a while back, yvanleterrible? Over on the iLiad forum somewhere, don't have time to find the link at the moment. Magnets didn't seem to make any difference to the screen -- we were trying to figure out if we could use a magnet to 'write' on the e-ink, no dice.

Booky McGee · 10-24-2006, 04:45 AM

There are actually two magnets in the Reader. Upper right, as well as one right by the 0 button. It is opposite polarity to the upper right magnet.

I have the brown leather cover, and it contains two magnets as well. I would have written off the included soft cover as having no magnets, but it does not stick to the reader while upside-down. Maybe it's a very weak flexible magnetic strip like a refrigerator door seal.

NatCh · 10-24-2006, 11:15 AM

The stock cover has two pieces of steel/iron in it that match up to the magnets in the Reader itself, but they're not magnetic themselves (p-clips don't stick to them, anyway).

My own theory is that the fashion covers are a bit thicker/stiffer, and need their matching set of magnets to have enough hold to stay closed properly.

Teresita3 · 11-02-2006, 06:22 PM

I plan to travel with the Sony Reader. My travel gear includes storage devices, a PDA, and credit cards that do not like magnets, all piled into the same backpack or laptop briefcase. Any precautions needed regarding the magnets in the Reader and/or in the fancy cover?

NatCh · 11-02-2006, 09:07 PM

I'd just try to keep them away from it, actually.

I hollowed out a book for a travel case for mine. works very nicely for physical protection, and as an extra bonus, it's pretty good thief camoflage.

(thanks to antonio_uk for the link to the instructions)

arivero · 11-02-2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Remember we got arivero to test his broken Librie' screen a while back, yvanleterrible? Over on the iLiad forum somewhere, don't have time to find the link at the moment. Magnets didn't seem to make any difference to the screen -- we were trying to figure out if we could use a magnet to 'write' on the e-ink, no dice.

I tried to put the screen for some time in the door of the fridge, and also with some small magnets of the kind you use to paste messages in these doors. No reaction. Pity. I had wanted to write there.

10-13-2006, 03:47 PM	#1
Randy Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2006	Problem with magnets in leather cover Shipped yesterday, got it today. It fits just fine, but I believe that the magnets in the leather cover are installed backwards or upside-down! The cover flap doesn't stay closed like the stock black one does. I tried it 'inside out', so to speak, and the cover holds closed just fine in that orientation. I think they got the polarity wrong! I called Sony Customer Service, they switched me to some kind of support line where they gave me an event ID and a new phone number, but they had no similar reports of this problem - so far. If you find the same issue, call 888-476-6972 and report it - they won't do anything (i.e. investigate) until more reports start rolling in. I don't want them to replace my cover with one that has the same problem!

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10-13-2006, 04:05 PM	#2
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	The magnet is in Reader (top right corner), not the cover. I guess they have a small metal insert in the cover.

10-13-2006, 04:17 PM	#4
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Interesting ... the stock cover doesn't seem to have magnets there, but rather just metal inserts. Paper-clips don't seem to find them attractive, at least.

10-13-2006, 04:18 PM	#5
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Hmm well, I have the stock cover and while metal things stick very easily to the Reader's corner, they don't react to the cover at all. Who knows, maybe they decided to move the magnet to Reader in the middle of production?...

10-13-2006, 04:20 PM	#6
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Perhaps the "fashion" covers are a bit stiffer than the stock, and need the extra pull to stay closed?

10-13-2006, 04:26 PM	#7
Randy Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2006	I suppose I should clarify that when I say 'they got the polarity wrong', I mean that the cover magnets may not be 'polarly' installed to be attracted to its mate in the Reader. As we all learned in science class (and from Paula Abdul), opposites attract. Although, I must admit that I don't feel any kind of repelling force in either orientation either.

10-13-2006, 05:24 PM	#8
Leaping Gnome Evangelist Posts: 490 Karma: 1641 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Device: Sony Reader PRS-500	Can you just exchange it for another? What have you got to lose.

10-14-2006, 11:48 AM	#9
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Question. Does a magnet bother e-ink displays like a crt ?

10-14-2006, 02:55 PM	#10
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Remember we got arivero to test his broken Librie' screen a while back, yvanleterrible? Over on the iLiad forum somewhere, don't have time to find the link at the moment. Magnets didn't seem to make any difference to the screen -- we were trying to figure out if we could use a magnet to 'write' on the e-ink, no dice.

10-24-2006, 04:45 AM	#11
Booky McGee Member Posts: 18 Karma: 15 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: PRS-505	There are actually two magnets in the Reader. Upper right, as well as one right by the 0 button. It is opposite polarity to the upper right magnet. I have the brown leather cover, and it contains two magnets as well. I would have written off the included soft cover as having no magnets, but it does not stick to the reader while upside-down. Maybe it's a very weak flexible magnetic strip like a refrigerator door seal.

10-24-2006, 11:15 AM	#12
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	The stock cover has two pieces of steel/iron in it that match up to the magnets in the Reader itself, but they're not magnetic themselves (p-clips don't stick to them, anyway). My own theory is that the fashion covers are a bit thicker/stiffer, and need their matching set of magnets to have enough hold to stay closed properly.

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11-02-2006, 06:22 PM	#13
Teresita3 Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony Reader	I plan to travel with the Sony Reader. My travel gear includes storage devices, a PDA, and credit cards that do not like magnets, all piled into the same backpack or laptop briefcase. Any precautions needed regarding the magnets in the Reader and/or in the fancy cover?

11-02-2006, 09:07 PM	#14
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I'd just try to keep them away from it, actually. I hollowed out a book for a travel case for mine. works very nicely for physical protection, and as an extra bonus, it's pretty good thief camoflage. (thanks to antonio_uk for the link to the instructions)