MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - PRS-600 Screen Washed Out

Xochipilli2012 · 03-02-2010, 02:54 AM

Hey there LJ,

Well...apart from what has been mentioned on MobileRead, there isn't a whole lot about eInk fading out there in Google land. And from the threads I've read here, including a few where you have posted about your 505, some people are much more affected than others.

Perhaps it's the "luck of the draw" that my PRS-600 becomes unusable in bright sunlight (unless I do as you and others have suggested, turn the device away from the sun while turning pages). And honestly, I'm just about ready to do that. But when I hear so many people say "My PRS-600 doesn't have that problem" then I feel there may be some value in pursuing a solution.

The way I've chosen to do this is to work with Sony customer service. Their first recommendation was to reset the device. Including a "hard" reset if necessary. Well, I tried that and it made no difference. What the did not do was tell me that "This is just the nature of E Ink. It fades in bright sunlight." Now, they may know this to be as "true" as you do. But it doesn't seem to be "true enough" to warrant making a disclaimer about the problem. If this was truly "the nature of E Ink" then it would be more universally known--you know, like how difficult it is to use an LCD screen in bright sunlight. No one is surprised by that because it's a well-established fact. But E Ink's ability to be used in direct sunlight is one of its "selling points".

Therefore, it doesn't seem unreasonable to pursue an E Ink screen that works in the sun, as some apparently do.

Now--Sony happens to be the manufacturer of the PRS-600. And they apparently make devices in this line that do not have this problem, or at least not to the degree that I and others have encountered. Therefore, with respect, I suggest that this is, indeed, a "Sony problem." I'm not going to go to LG and demand they fix my screen (assuming they were the supplier for it--I don't actually know in my case.) I'm going to work with Sony.

And so far, they appear amenable to work with me. They will send me a replacement. If it performs well, I will send them my original unit and enjoy a better functioning device. If it does not, I will keep my current unit and send the replacement back--and ponder whether it is worth pursuing any further.

Others may be experiencing similar questions: Should I bother to try replacing this, in the hope of having a better result? or... Should I just make do with what I have? These are fair questions. I can only hope that by being so public about my own process, someone else will have the information they need to make their own decision.

If you are correct that this is just the nature of E Ink...then I think it behooves us all to get the word out so that people's expectations will be better managed. The words "can be used in direct sunlight" should no longer appear in reviews and marketing copy, if this is, indeed, true.

And I gotta say, I'm a little envious of your 505. From what I hear and have seen in pictures, that is a rocking little machine.

Peace.

03-02-2010, 02:54 AM	#41
Xochipilli2012 Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 38 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Seattle Device: Red PRS-600, Slate Blue Astak EZReader Pocket Pro	Hey there LJ, Well...apart from what has been mentioned on MobileRead, there isn't a whole lot about eInk fading out there in Google land. And from the threads I've read here, including a few where you have posted about your 505, some people are much more affected than others. Perhaps it's the "luck of the draw" that my PRS-600 becomes unusable in bright sunlight (unless I do as you and others have suggested, turn the device away from the sun while turning pages). And honestly, I'm just about ready to do that. But when I hear so many people say "My PRS-600 doesn't have that problem" then I feel there may be some value in pursuing a solution. The way I've chosen to do this is to work with Sony customer service. Their first recommendation was to reset the device. Including a "hard" reset if necessary. Well, I tried that and it made no difference. What the did not do was tell me that "This is just the nature of E Ink. It fades in bright sunlight." Now, they may know this to be as "true" as you do. But it doesn't seem to be "true enough" to warrant making a disclaimer about the problem. If this was truly "the nature of E Ink" then it would be more universally known--you know, like how difficult it is to use an LCD screen in bright sunlight. No one is surprised by that because it's a well-established fact. But E Ink's ability to be used in direct sunlight is one of its "selling points". Therefore, it doesn't seem unreasonable to pursue an E Ink screen that works in the sun, as some apparently do. Now--Sony happens to be the manufacturer of the PRS-600. And they apparently make devices in this line that do not have this problem, or at least not to the degree that I and others have encountered. Therefore, with respect, I suggest that this is, indeed, a "Sony problem." I'm not going to go to LG and demand they fix my screen (assuming they were the supplier for it--I don't actually know in my case.) I'm going to work with Sony. And so far, they appear amenable to work with me. They will send me a replacement. If it performs well, I will send them my original unit and enjoy a better functioning device. If it does not, I will keep my current unit and send the replacement back--and ponder whether it is worth pursuing any further. Others may be experiencing similar questions: Should I bother to try replacing this, in the hope of having a better result? or... Should I just make do with what I have? These are fair questions. I can only hope that by being so public about my own process, someone else will have the information they need to make their own decision. If you are correct that this is just the nature of E Ink...then I think it behooves us all to get the word out so that people's expectations will be better managed. The words "can be used in direct sunlight" should no longer appear in reviews and marketing copy, if this is, indeed, true. And I gotta say, I'm a little envious of your 505. From what I hear and have seen in pictures, that is a rocking little machine. Peace.