PRS-T1 E-ink display fades with use?

dedgod · 08-31-2013, 12:44 AM

I purchased PRS-T1s for my wife and I nearly two years ago. Since then, I have used mine nearly daily and my wife has stopped using hers a while ago. I have recently compared the same page on both readers and mine has considerably poorer contrast. They both are using the default settings.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Rizla · 09-01-2013, 11:17 AM

I've heard of it. I suggest you use a bold font to improve contrast.

dordale · 09-01-2013, 01:06 PM

Sounds like it's time to swap with your wife LOL!

I have a Sony 650--which I got three years ago. I also have a refurbished 350 that I picked up a little over a year ago. I use both almost daily, and don't notice any fading--of course I don't have anything to really compare them to either.

Shopaholic · 09-01-2013, 02:36 PM

Don't forget too, that even brand new the two screens would not necessarily have been identical in appearance. There are differences between them simply because they're two different units.

dedgod · 09-02-2013, 09:49 AM

I also have a PRS-600 which looks very faded. Some of this is attributable to the touchscreen layer, but now I wonder if fading may be somewhat inherent to these screens.

DrChiper · 09-03-2013, 02:42 AM

The PRS-600 is known to have some screen defects, in particular when you do a screen refresh (choosing next/previous page) in full sunlight. A new refresh outside direct sunlight solves this faded display.

dave45 · 09-05-2013, 04:01 PM

I have a PRS-300 which loses contrast in full sun, but the PRS-T1 I took on holiday to Spain was fine in the sun... until I dropped it and cracked the screen !

Ripplinger · 09-05-2013, 04:04 PM

My oldest 350 is now closer to 3 years old, and the text hasn't faded on it at all. As already said, you will notice screen differences between even identical models, but it's not normal that the text starts to fade with age.

dedgod · 09-28-2013, 01:00 PM

After further observations, I conclude that the screen doesn't fade from use, but it does fade as the battery discharges.

Ripplinger · 09-28-2013, 05:04 PM

I've actually never seen that happen either, and my reader often get down to the last bar, and a few times I was reading on it until it finally shut down on its own for lack of power. Text was as dark as when it had a full battery. I wonder if that can happen though if the battery is starting to die out? Perhaps a battery replacement might get it working like new again?

Plumadona · 09-28-2013, 05:34 PM

Can a T-1 battery be replaced? If so, how?

AnemicOak · 09-28-2013, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plumadona

Can a T-1 battery be replaced? If so, how?

You'd have to disassemble the device to get to the battery and be handy with a soldering iron.

I'm not sure how easy a replacement battery is to get, but AnotherCat supplied the part number in another thread for getting it from Sony.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

The battery is a 3.6Whr Li-Ion one and the Sony Part No. is A-1832-983-A; as far as I know it is not a standard form factor. It should be available from Sony, and maybe from other places, but I have not had any need to look: someone else may have a lead, but otherwise having the part number should give a lead though if not going to Sony.

In case not known how to get into the device (and no responsibility taken by me in the following

) there are a lot of internal clips inside each edge. With the reader face down on a cloth or similar on a flat hard surface use a unclipping tool (or make one from a thin piece of rigid plastic) and start at one top corner and work along the top, then one side starting from the top, other side working from the top, then the bottom.

As you say, 3 wires to solder to board.

Here's a link to the device's service manual...
http://projects.mobileread.com/reade...0989329901.pdf

...and what it looks like disassembled.
http://tech-vaults.blogspot.com/2012...t1-reader.html

Sony will do the replacement for you, but it's around $70 according to the thread mentioned above. For $30 more you can get a brand new T2. :shrugs:

Plumadona · 09-28-2013, 07:09 PM

yikes! Definitely a "don't try this at home, boys and girls" job for me!

Plumadona

gonzule · 10-04-2013, 05:55 PM

i also have a prs-t1 and have only noted some fading while reading under direct sunlight. My head was casting a shadow over half the screen, and when i changed the page i was reading, the half hit b sunlight had a lighter contract than the one under my shadow, but in general, the screen seems the same since the first day i used it.

maybe it could be related to battery and the voltage/current it can hold. try using it plugged and the compare both screens.

08-31-2013, 12:44 AM	#1
dedgod Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 15302 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kindle PW2	E-ink display fades with use? I purchased PRS-T1s for my wife and I nearly two years ago. Since then, I have used mine nearly daily and my wife has stopped using hers a while ago. I have recently compared the same page on both readers and mine has considerably poorer contrast. They both are using the default settings. Has anyone else noticed this?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Death of E-Ink display?	DD1509	News	181	01-06-2010 04:48 PM
Anybody knows the cost of E-Ink Display	jeffreylamster	OpenInkpot	7	04-24-2009 01:49 PM
Firefox on e-ink display!	Penforhire	News	17	01-24-2009 05:06 PM
Is e-ink really a better display than my Treo?	Bob Russell	iRex	7	07-27-2006 08:08 PM
E Ink-Paper like display	cbarnett	News	0	06-27-2004 11:46 PM

09-01-2013, 11:17 AM	#2
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	I've heard of it. I suggest you use a bold font to improve contrast.

09-01-2013, 01:06 PM	#3
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	Sounds like it's time to swap with your wife LOL! I have a Sony 650--which I got three years ago. I also have a refurbished 350 that I picked up a little over a year ago. I use both almost daily, and don't notice any fading--of course I don't have anything to really compare them to either.

09-01-2013, 02:36 PM	#4
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1812695 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	Don't forget too, that even brand new the two screens would not necessarily have been identical in appearance. There are differences between them simply because they're two different units.

09-02-2013, 09:49 AM	#5
dedgod Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 15302 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kindle PW2	I also have a PRS-600 which looks very faded. Some of this is attributable to the touchscreen layer, but now I wonder if fading may be somewhat inherent to these screens.

09-03-2013, 02:42 AM	#6
DrChiper Bookish Posts: 907 Karma: 1803094 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: PC, t1, t2, t3, aura 2 v1, clara HD, Libra 2, Nxtpaper 11	The PRS-600 is known to have some screen defects, in particular when you do a screen refresh (choosing next/previous page) in full sunlight. A new refresh outside direct sunlight solves this faded display.

09-05-2013, 04:01 PM	#7
dave45 Member Posts: 20 Karma: 520 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: sony prs505	I have a PRS-300 which loses contrast in full sun, but the PRS-T1 I took on holiday to Spain was fine in the sun... until I dropped it and cracked the screen !

09-05-2013, 04:04 PM	#8
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	My oldest 350 is now closer to 3 years old, and the text hasn't faded on it at all. As already said, you will notice screen differences between even identical models, but it's not normal that the text starts to fade with age.

09-28-2013, 01:00 PM	#9
dedgod Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 15302 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kindle PW2	After further observations, I conclude that the screen doesn't fade from use, but it does fade as the battery discharges.

09-28-2013, 05:04 PM	#10
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	I've actually never seen that happen either, and my reader often get down to the last bar, and a few times I was reading on it until it finally shut down on its own for lack of power. Text was as dark as when it had a full battery. I wonder if that can happen though if the battery is starting to die out? Perhaps a battery replacement might get it working like new again?

09-28-2013, 05:34 PM	#11
Plumadona Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 615554 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle HD6, Kindle PW2, Sony PRS-T1, Nook NE1	Can a T-1 battery be replaced? If so, how?

09-28-2013, 07:09 PM	#13
Plumadona Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 615554 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle HD6, Kindle PW2, Sony PRS-T1, Nook NE1	yikes! Definitely a "don't try this at home, boys and girls" job for me! Plumadona

10-04-2013, 05:55 PM	#14
gonzule before sleep, read or TV? Posts: 103 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2	i also have a prs-t1 and have only noted some fading while reading under direct sunlight. My head was casting a shadow over half the screen, and when i changed the page i was reading, the half hit b sunlight had a lighter contract than the one under my shadow, but in general, the screen seems the same since the first day i used it. maybe it could be related to battery and the voltage/current it can hold. try using it plugged and the compare both screens.