[delphidb96]

And state that the leather softcover case is NO protection against broken screens. After the disaster I experienced early on with my first Cybook Gen3, I found a nice case and used it. Later, when I bought my EB-100, I bought two Cybook leather softcover cases - and I used them on my Cybook Gen3 and my EB-100 RELIGIOUSLY! I relegated my Cybook to my mother who only reads for an hour or so in the evening and doesn't carry the Cybook around. The EB-100 became my *main* reading device. I carried it - in it's softcover case - everywhere I went. And I used my EB-100 for 8-10 hours per day. When carrying it, I would hold it like a book, spine of the case nestled in the valley between my fingers and thumb, thumb and fingers grasping the center of the case - just like I'd carry a similar-sized book.

And I never took it out of the case for reading; I'd just flip the cover back and cradle it in my right hand so that the navigation control fell under my thumb.

Yesterday, I picked the EB-100 up with my left hand, flipped it open, pressed the on/off switch with my right and transferred it to my right hand as it booted up. When the library came up, I selected the book I wanted and adjusted my grip a bit - and the screen snapped. I was watching as it happened. I could see the cracks spring across the screen.

I don't have a death-grip. In fact, I tend to hold it a bit loosely, cradling more than gripping. But clearly the constant pressure I put on it - in it's case - while carrying it around throughout the day, put enough long-term stress on it to cause the screen to break.

I'm thinking that we're going to be seeing more screen breakage as other devices endure the accumulated stress from shorter-duration reading and portage. Probably won't happen for a year or so, but I think it'll happen with a higher percentage than what we've already seen.

I think this is because the Netronix case is much thinner and less supportive than other designs.

Only time will tell.

Derek