I have a lot of sympathy for all of the people that have experienced broken screens on their Cybooks (and other readers). I read all the posts in this thread yesterday and I felt a bit like an addict with someone threatening to take my drug of choice away
It certainly sounds like these screens can break for no apparent reason. Stress, temperature changes etc may over time end in a broken screen. I don't disagree that the stories here make it sound like some of the screens are very fragile and not really fit for normal use (no, I'm not gonna define normal...)
But that is why I'm writing this post. I've had my Cybook since early January. I carry it everywhere with me in my purse. For those that don't have first hand experience with winter in Norway that means a lot of temperature changes. I even took it trekking for 4 days in the Himalayas this Easter (with a waterproof bag). The most serious problem I've had is that the SD card that came with the Cybook stopped working, changing that out solved my bookmark problems. Like HarryT I always keep my Cybook in its cover. I treat it like I treat all my other electronic gadgets, with care, and so far I have avoided dropping it. (Knock on wood)
I agree it's odd (and scary) with all the breaking screens and I think the manufacturer should do some checking to try to find out if there is something in the construction of the Cybook or the manufacture of the screen that should be changed. But I still think the eInk readers are a great product and most of them are working as expected (currently 87% answers I own or use a Cybook, and the screen is fine, thanks. on the Teleread survey (yes, I know it's not scientific)).
It would be interesting to see the real numbers on how many screens are repaired on the different devices, although I guess that's something they won't tell us.