Cybook Gen 3: upper half of screen frozen

Lindca2 · 08-14-2010, 09:18 PM

This is a problem I have not yet seen discussed, and I'd like to know what is going on. Over a period of a couple weeks, the upper half of my Cybook Gen 3's screen would freeze while the lower half worked perfectly well. At first, I could correct the problem by either by turning a few pages back and forth or by exiting the book I was reading and reopening it. After a while when the problem occurred, though, I had to turn the unit off completely and restart it to fix it. Finally, the upper half of the screen is--I think--permanently frozen while the lower half of the screen continues to work.

I've tried a variety of things, including recharging, hard resets, etc., but nothing has worked. The upper screen remains blank (white), but sometimes shows horizontal black lines that disappear when I turn the unit off and on again.

What has happened? Is it fixable or even worth fixing if possible? I've had my trusty Gen 3 for over two years and gotten a lot of wonderful use from it--so the unit is waaay out of warranty--but it may be time to retire it completely...

blak4dr · 08-15-2010, 03:27 AM

I fear a broken screen...

Jellby · 08-15-2010, 04:37 AM

If it's (or it has been) intermittent, and if the division between the frozen and normal parts is a straight horizontal line, I don't think it's a broken screen; it sounds more like an electronic problem, chipset, controller, etc.

Juliette · 08-15-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

If it's (or it has been) intermittent, and if the division between the frozen and normal parts is a straight horizontal line, I don't think it's a broken screen; it sounds more like an electronic problem, chipset, controller, etc.

Absolutely. If you want to be more sure, do a search for "broken screen" posts in the forums and compare pictures or post yours, but intermittency is a good sign. Contact assistance, they should tell you where to get the repair

good luck!

HarryT · 08-16-2010, 04:56 AM

If it's an absolutely 50:50 split between the "working" and "non working" half, with a straght line between the two, it sounds like a display controller problem. This should be repaired under warranty, but you will need to return your device to Bookeen.

Jellby · 08-16-2010, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

This should be repaired under warranty, but you will need to return your device to Bookeen.

It would be, if it were still under warranty, but Lindca2 has had the Gen3 for more than two years already (that's what he/she said).

Juliette · 08-16-2010, 07:48 AM

Then it's better to check with Bookeen before sending anything- might be too pricey (I have no idea about how much would a new controller should cost). I do hope for Linca it's not the case...

Lindca2 · 08-17-2010, 01:53 PM

Thanks so much for all your replies. It is, indeed, a fifty/fifty split of the screen, with the lower half still working perfectly. I'll contact Bookeen and see what they have to say about it. If it's not too expensive to fix (after more than two years, it's almost certainly out of warranty), I'll have them do so. If it is, well, I'll have to say goodbye to a an old--but well-used--friend.

JSWolf · 08-17-2010, 02:00 PM

Yes, it is definitely a controller problem.

Godzil · 08-19-2010, 03:47 AM

Any display issue that make some part of the display unresponsive IS a screen issue. Broken glass or not. The only thing that can be due to the electronics, is strange display, like small bars, or garbage display (ie all the screen work, but things are not display correctly.)

Shephen · 10-13-2010, 06:28 AM

I'm getting an identical issue to the OP, wondering if they can provide an update?

Lindca2 · 10-15-2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shephen

I'm getting an identical issue to the OP, wondering if they can provide an update?

I contacted Bookeen and described the problem. They said they'd have to look at the unit to be certain what the problem was, but they estimated the cost of repair to be something like $150. (I don't recall the exact amount, but it was well over $100.) Obviously, it made more sense for me to buy a new reader than fix the Cybook. Unless your Cybook is still under warranty, I suspect it will be the same for you, but it costs you nothing to email them to find out.

notimetoulouse · 11-04-2010, 02:33 PM

I had the same problem, and sent it back for checking - (took 4 weeks for Bookeen to actually reply with return instructions). 5 weeks and 4 prompting emails later I was told it was a controller problem, and as I had owned the cybook for 15 months, it was out of warranty. They asked me to forward 135 euros to fix the problem. The cybook costs 200 euros new! Having used my cybook for 15 months I have effectively rented it for 10 euros per month. Absolutely farcical. I loved it as an ebook, but please everyone, search the forums, there are hundreds and hundreds of cybook users in the same boat. They continue to sell a flawed product. Buy one at your peril. I'm no Amazon affiliate, but at least they replace Kindles overnight.

Godzil · 11-04-2010, 03:18 PM

They no longuer sell Cybook Gen3 ^^

(and Sony or Amazon sell screen replacement for more than Bookeen, and it's less than 135€, if I'm correct, now)

By the way, Ok you own it 15month, but, that the rules, you have 12 month of waranty, if you have a problem after the end of the waranty, they will not take and repair for free! That the same thing for ALL devices (liseuses or MP3player or anything else, like car, washing machine...)

tompe · 11-12-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godzil

They no longuer sell Cybook Gen3 ^^

(and Sony or Amazon sell screen replacement for more than Bookeen, and it's less than 135€, if I'm correct, now)

By the way, Ok you own it 15month, but, that the rules, you have 12 month of waranty, if you have a problem after the end of the waranty, they will not take and repair for free! That the same thing for ALL devices (liseuses or MP3player or anything else, like car, washing machine...)

No, you have three years protection. The company is trying not to have to fulfill this by breaking the EU laws.

08-14-2010, 09:18 PM	#1
Lindca2 Member Posts: 21 Karma: 20 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Nook Wifi, Cybook Gen 3	Cybook Gen 3: upper half of screen frozen This is a problem I have not yet seen discussed, and I'd like to know what is going on. Over a period of a couple weeks, the upper half of my Cybook Gen 3's screen would freeze while the lower half worked perfectly well. At first, I could correct the problem by either by turning a few pages back and forth or by exiting the book I was reading and reopening it. After a while when the problem occurred, though, I had to turn the unit off completely and restart it to fix it. Finally, the upper half of the screen is--I think--permanently frozen while the lower half of the screen continues to work. I've tried a variety of things, including recharging, hard resets, etc., but nothing has worked. The upper screen remains blank (white), but sometimes shows horizontal black lines that disappear when I turn the unit off and on again. What has happened? Is it fixable or even worth fixing if possible? I've had my trusty Gen 3 for over two years and gotten a lot of wonderful use from it--so the unit is waaay out of warranty--but it may be time to retire it completely...

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08-15-2010, 03:27 AM	#2
blak4dr Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 396 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Meuse, France Device: Pocketbook 623, Kobo Glo HD, Aura One,Aura H2O2	I fear a broken screen...

08-15-2010, 04:37 AM	#3
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	If it's (or it has been) intermittent, and if the division between the frozen and normal parts is a straight horizontal line, I don't think it's a broken screen; it sounds more like an electronic problem, chipset, controller, etc.

08-16-2010, 04:56 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If it's an absolutely 50:50 split between the "working" and "non working" half, with a straght line between the two, it sounds like a display controller problem. This should be repaired under warranty, but you will need to return your device to Bookeen.

08-16-2010, 07:48 AM	#7
Juliette I eat books Posts: 601 Karma: 5124 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Milan, Italy Device: Gen3 PRS-505 PRS-600 PB360 PB302 K2 Opus BebookMini OnyxBoox K3 KDXG	Then it's better to check with Bookeen before sending anything- might be too pricey (I have no idea about how much would a new controller should cost). I do hope for Linca it's not the case...

08-17-2010, 01:53 PM	#8
Lindca2 Member Posts: 21 Karma: 20 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Nook Wifi, Cybook Gen 3	Thanks so much for all your replies. It is, indeed, a fifty/fifty split of the screen, with the lower half still working perfectly. I'll contact Bookeen and see what they have to say about it. If it's not too expensive to fix (after more than two years, it's almost certainly out of warranty), I'll have them do so. If it is, well, I'll have to say goodbye to a an old--but well-used--friend.

08-17-2010, 02:00 PM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,957 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Yes, it is definitely a controller problem.

08-19-2010, 03:47 AM	#10
Godzil a pthread?? where? where? Posts: 1,763 Karma: 30462 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Somewhere in EU Device: Newton MessagePad 2100, and only this	Any display issue that make some part of the display unresponsive IS a screen issue. Broken glass or not. The only thing that can be due to the electronics, is strange display, like small bars, or garbage display (ie all the screen work, but things are not display correctly.)

10-13-2010, 06:28 AM	#11
Shephen Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Cybook Gen 3	I'm getting an identical issue to the OP, wondering if they can provide an update?

11-04-2010, 02:33 PM	#13
notimetoulouse Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Cybook Gen 3	I had the same problem, and sent it back for checking - (took 4 weeks for Bookeen to actually reply with return instructions). 5 weeks and 4 prompting emails later I was told it was a controller problem, and as I had owned the cybook for 15 months, it was out of warranty. They asked me to forward 135 euros to fix the problem. The cybook costs 200 euros new! Having used my cybook for 15 months I have effectively rented it for 10 euros per month. Absolutely farcical. I loved it as an ebook, but please everyone, search the forums, there are hundreds and hundreds of cybook users in the same boat. They continue to sell a flawed product. Buy one at your peril. I'm no Amazon affiliate, but at least they replace Kindles overnight.

11-04-2010, 03:18 PM	#14
Godzil a pthread?? where? where? Posts: 1,763 Karma: 30462 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Somewhere in EU Device: Newton MessagePad 2100, and only this	They no longuer sell Cybook Gen3 ^^ (and Sony or Amazon sell screen replacement for more than Bookeen, and it's less than 135€, if I'm correct, now) By the way, Ok you own it 15month, but, that the rules, you have 12 month of waranty, if you have a problem after the end of the waranty, they will not take and repair for free! That the same thing for ALL devices (liseuses or MP3player or anything else, like car, washing machine...)

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