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curstpriest · 10-19-2010, 06:03 AM

Every consumer product has defects. This is the world we live in.
Mabye you just won't notice the defects, but they will ALWAYS be there.

Here are some examples:
1 - Nand flash (the 4gb of storage) has a certain factory allowance for bad blocks.
2 - Most ICs have redundant pathways built into them, and are binned out by grade. You won't get top of the line ICs in a cheap consumer product like a kindle - EVER.
3 - Virtually all compact displays have defects of some sort, be it slow response pixels, dead pixels, stuck pixels, or pixels that refuse to display a certain tones accurately.

You also have to realize that kindles are super low cost devices. The PCB/components are extremely simplistic, and the casing is extremely basic. A smaller design (more compact pcb) would easily add a good 40-50$ to the price tag, and a higher quality case/buttons such as anodized aluminum or buttons with a lacquered coating would probably add another 20-40$.

A large selling point of the unit is the 140-180$ price tag, already people cry about the 40$ or whatever for 4g, another 40$ for a better keypad/case would only case more stirr among the average consumer.

I mean, would the average person consider buying a kindle3 today if it were to cost 250-300$ rather than 150? Probably not.

SO MANY POSTS ABOUT THESE KEYBOARDS AND MINOR FLAWS AND RETURNING THEM OVER THESE TINY DETAILS.

I see at least 5-10 of these posts a WEEK. "My X key is half scratched off, my world has fallen apart."

No doubt you are benefiting from sweatshop labor to get a fairly decent product for an extremely low price - like everything in your life. Deal with it.

If it were domestically made, quality controlled, and available, you probably couldn't afford it and wouldn't be posting at all, or would be happy to even have the technology at hand.

If you have not seen Louis Ck's "cellphones are amazing" bit, I would redirect you there now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZeymuOInys

my 2c.

10-19-2010, 06:03 AM	#4
curstpriest Confused Posts: 402 Karma: 5538 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bay Area Device: Kindle DXG	Every consumer product has defects. This is the world we live in. Mabye you just won't notice the defects, but they will ALWAYS be there. Here are some examples: 1 - Nand flash (the 4gb of storage) has a certain factory allowance for bad blocks. 2 - Most ICs have redundant pathways built into them, and are binned out by grade. You won't get top of the line ICs in a cheap consumer product like a kindle - EVER. 3 - Virtually all compact displays have defects of some sort, be it slow response pixels, dead pixels, stuck pixels, or pixels that refuse to display a certain tones accurately. You also have to realize that kindles are super low cost devices. The PCB/components are extremely simplistic, and the casing is extremely basic. A smaller design (more compact pcb) would easily add a good 40-50$ to the price tag, and a higher quality case/buttons such as anodized aluminum or buttons with a lacquered coating would probably add another 20-40$. A large selling point of the unit is the 140-180$ price tag, already people cry about the 40$ or whatever for 4g, another 40$ for a better keypad/case would only case more stirr among the average consumer. I mean, would the average person consider buying a kindle3 today if it were to cost 250-300$ rather than 150? Probably not. SO MANY POSTS ABOUT THESE KEYBOARDS AND MINOR FLAWS AND RETURNING THEM OVER THESE TINY DETAILS. I see at least 5-10 of these posts a WEEK. "My X key is half scratched off, my world has fallen apart." No doubt you are benefiting from sweatshop labor to get a fairly decent product for an extremely low price - like everything in your life. Deal with it. If it were domestically made, quality controlled, and available, you probably couldn't afford it and wouldn't be posting at all, or would be happy to even have the technology at hand. If you have not seen Louis Ck's "cellphones are amazing" bit, I would redirect you there now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZeymuOInys my 2c. Last edited by curstpriest; 10-19-2010 at 06:06 AM.