Brand new Reader, bad screen display

ksmms · 02-15-2010, 12:28 PM

I upgraded my old PRS-500 to the 600 Touch edition which I purchased online from Sony Style, and planned to return the 500 for the $75 rebate. The 600 arrived on Friday. I have a barrel charger which I used to charge it overnight, the successfully authorized the device on Saturday. I had already purchased one book for the 600 and had no trouble moving that book from the Reader software to the Touch. All was well. I thought I was set.

Then yesterday I got the Touch out and was learning how to use it, exploring the options, calibration, etc. As a PDA user for years, I know how to use a stylus so I'm not a newbie. As I was changing the orientation, the display got completely garbled and now looks like an incomplete etch-a-sketch with ghost lines and a few odd marks. Soft and hard resets did not solve the problem. The power switch doesn't always work now, but it's hard to tell if the device is on or not because of the bad display, and the lights don't always come on. When I power on/off, the welcome screen flashes clearly for about one second, and then the display returns to a mangled mess.

I chatted with online Sony help, and they suggested I return the device. I've got the return merchandise authorization and will return it tomorrow.

After reading through the forums, I cannot figure out how this happened, and my only thought is that this is a bum device. I didn't drop it or damage it in any way. In fact, I've hardly had a chance to do anything with it.

I have it back on the charger at the moment and the red light has come on, but the display is still crapped out.

Other than returning the device for a replacement, have any of you seen or heard of this issue?

SCION · 02-15-2010, 12:33 PM

After you reset the device did you actually slide the power switch to turn it on?

digitaldolf · 02-15-2010, 12:35 PM

No, I have read through a lot of forum messages from different forums and read a lot of reviews before buying the PRS-600 but didn't come across this problem. Seems like you just bought a faulty reader. Send it back and hopefully you have your new, fault free one soon. Good luck.

ksmms · 02-15-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCION

After you reset the device did you actually slide the power switch to turn it on?

Soft reset, I used a paperclip inserted into the reset button, and then turned the power switch. Hard reset, I followed the directions posted here and on the Sony site.

ksmms · 02-15-2010, 12:53 PM

I'm wondering if this has a bad battery.

SCION · 02-15-2010, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksmms

Soft reset, I used a paperclip inserted into the reset button, and then turned the power switch. Hard reset, I followed the directions posted here and on the Sony site.

OK...I know some people do the reset and don't slide the power switch after. I'm sorry you're experiencing this frustration.

ksmms · 02-15-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCION

OK...I know some people do the reset and don't slide the power switch after. I'm sorry you're experiencing this frustration.

Thanks for double-checking with me.

lovelyloey · 02-15-2010, 08:38 PM

Wow the etch-a-sketch thing sounds dangerously like a broken e-ink matrix. I hope they can fix it, or replace it for you.

ksmms · 02-19-2010, 10:36 AM

It's brand new, right out of the box, I would think they would replace it. I didn't spend $300 for nothing.

It's odd. The thing won't turn off, sometimes the proper screen shot appears for a second and then immediately craps out.

Returning it today. I'll post what happens.

conundrum · 02-27-2010, 01:40 PM

hmm.

EDIT:- the fuzziness on page turns in landscape mode is a feature not a fault. Still if anyone does find a way to turn it off (or at least use a different way to show a page jump) I'd appreciate it.

other than this no problems apart from the usual ghosting when battery flat...

Also, this symptom sounds like one of the screws holding the battery in was a fraction too long and pressed on the exposed back of the screen (don't ask how i found that out!!)

-A

Gatecra5her · 02-28-2010, 10:41 AM

I hope you can get a replacement. The error sounds identical to mine and when I sent it back they accused me of throwing it about! See my post on here about uk Sony warranty. The fact that yours shows a good picture for even a moment may indicate a software or some kind of cable issue.

@Conundrum - I noticed that too on my 600, I think it shows where the pages overlap, so the writing at the bottom of one page will show at the top of the next page but fuzzy, I hope you understand because I haven't explained it very well!

conundrum · 03-04-2010, 02:12 PM

oh, thanks for that

btw this doesen't sound like a broken screen, as it would be a permanent imprint.

did you try plugging it into a PC and reflashing? just a thought.
-A

JSWolf · 03-04-2010, 02:34 PM

So have you now a new working 600?

Gatecra5her · 03-04-2010, 09:17 PM

I never tried flashing no

couldn't even reset as there was no information on screen. How did you know about the screw pressing on the screen? I may ask Sony if that's the case with mine - though they just smile and regurgitate autopilot responses! Useless.

conundrum · 03-08-2010, 04:18 PM

um, it happened to my PRS-505

i found out that was why it broke, turns out if you remove the battery there is a gap in the screen surround where a screw nearly touches the screen..

02-15-2010, 12:28 PM	#1
ksmms Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony Reader PRS-600	Brand new Reader, bad screen display I upgraded my old PRS-500 to the 600 Touch edition which I purchased online from Sony Style, and planned to return the 500 for the $75 rebate. The 600 arrived on Friday. I have a barrel charger which I used to charge it overnight, the successfully authorized the device on Saturday. I had already purchased one book for the 600 and had no trouble moving that book from the Reader software to the Touch. All was well. I thought I was set. Then yesterday I got the Touch out and was learning how to use it, exploring the options, calibration, etc. As a PDA user for years, I know how to use a stylus so I'm not a newbie. As I was changing the orientation, the display got completely garbled and now looks like an incomplete etch-a-sketch with ghost lines and a few odd marks. Soft and hard resets did not solve the problem. The power switch doesn't always work now, but it's hard to tell if the device is on or not because of the bad display, and the lights don't always come on. When I power on/off, the welcome screen flashes clearly for about one second, and then the display returns to a mangled mess. I chatted with online Sony help, and they suggested I return the device. I've got the return merchandise authorization and will return it tomorrow. After reading through the forums, I cannot figure out how this happened, and my only thought is that this is a bum device. I didn't drop it or damage it in any way. In fact, I've hardly had a chance to do anything with it. I have it back on the charger at the moment and the red light has come on, but the display is still crapped out. Other than returning the device for a replacement, have any of you seen or heard of this issue?

02-27-2010, 01:40 PM	#10
conundrum Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 22 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: guernsey Device: prs-600	re. broken prs600 hmm. EDIT:- the fuzziness on page turns in landscape mode is a feature not a fault. Still if anyone does find a way to turn it off (or at least use a different way to show a page jump) I'd appreciate it. other than this no problems apart from the usual ghosting when battery flat... Also, this symptom sounds like one of the screws holding the battery in was a fraction too long and pressed on the exposed back of the screen (don't ask how i found that out!!) -A Last edited by conundrum; 02-28-2010 at 02:08 PM.

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02-15-2010, 12:33 PM	#2
SCION Séduisant Posts: 4,706 Karma: 2107018 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Texas, USA Device: Boox Note Air2+; Kobo Libra2; Kindle Scribe, Oasis3; iPad Mini6	After you reset the device did you actually slide the power switch to turn it on?

02-15-2010, 12:35 PM	#3
digitaldolf Member Posts: 11 Karma: 784 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ireland Device: Sony touch PRS-600	No, I have read through a lot of forum messages from different forums and read a lot of reviews before buying the PRS-600 but didn't come across this problem. Seems like you just bought a faulty reader. Send it back and hopefully you have your new, fault free one soon. Good luck.

02-15-2010, 12:53 PM	#5
ksmms Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony Reader PRS-600	I'm wondering if this has a bad battery.

02-15-2010, 08:38 PM	#8
lovelyloey Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 40 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Singapore Device: Sony PRS 600	Wow the etch-a-sketch thing sounds dangerously like a broken e-ink matrix. I hope they can fix it, or replace it for you.

02-19-2010, 10:36 AM	#9
ksmms Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony Reader PRS-600	It's brand new, right out of the box, I would think they would replace it. I didn't spend $300 for nothing. It's odd. The thing won't turn off, sometimes the proper screen shot appears for a second and then immediately craps out. Returning it today. I'll post what happens.

02-28-2010, 10:41 AM	#11
Gatecra5her Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 36 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: England, UK Device: Sony PRS-600	I hope you can get a replacement. The error sounds identical to mine and when I sent it back they accused me of throwing it about! See my post on here about uk Sony warranty. The fact that yours shows a good picture for even a moment may indicate a software or some kind of cable issue. @Conundrum - I noticed that too on my 600, I think it shows where the pages overlap, so the writing at the bottom of one page will show at the top of the next page but fuzzy, I hope you understand because I haven't explained it very well!

03-04-2010, 02:12 PM	#12
conundrum Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 22 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: guernsey Device: prs-600	oh, thanks for that btw this doesen't sound like a broken screen, as it would be a permanent imprint. did you try plugging it into a PC and reflashing? just a thought. -A

03-04-2010, 02:34 PM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,291 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	So have you now a new working 600?

03-04-2010, 09:17 PM	#14
Gatecra5her Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 36 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: England, UK Device: Sony PRS-600	I never tried flashing no couldn't even reset as there was no information on screen. How did you know about the screw pressing on the screen? I may ask Sony if that's the case with mine - though they just smile and regurgitate autopilot responses! Useless.

03-08-2010, 04:18 PM	#15
conundrum Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 22 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: guernsey Device: prs-600	um, it happened to my PRS-505 i found out that was why it broke, turns out if you remove the battery there is a gap in the screen surround where a screw nearly touches the screen..

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