Help! Mysterious Broken Screen!! - Page 9

AL1432 · 07-24-2008, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjnagle

According to the straw poll we did at Teleread, the break rates are 10-15% for all three devices. Cybooks are a little higher, but it's still within the margin of error...we shouldn't jump to conclusions.

I meant it's significant across all three devices, rjnagle. That's unacceptably high. The technology may simply not be ready for prime time, which is not the consumer's fault, and if the manufacturers know this, they should not be offering them for sale as if there were no problem, especially at those prices. The situation would be fairer if they made the fragility issue common knowledge, and people still opted to buy them, but not if the consumer is caught unawares.
Al

ErwinOtten · 07-25-2008, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL1432

I meant it's significant across all three devices, rjnagle. That's unacceptably high. The technology may simply not be ready for prime time, which is not the consumer's fault, and if the manufacturers know this, they should not be offering them for sale as if there were no problem, especially at those prices. The situation would be fairer if they made the fragility issue common knowledge, and people still opted to buy them, but not if the consumer is caught unawares.
Al

hear hear......

I couldn't aprove with you more. A break rate of 10 - 15% is totaly unacceptable.

HarryT · 07-25-2008, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Between 10% and 15% of the displays are breaking -

Where does this figure come from, Derek?

delphidb96 · 07-25-2008, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Where does this figure come from, Derek?

Ummm... From Robert's unofficial surveys.

Derek

HarryT · 07-25-2008, 02:27 AM

I'd tend to be rather wary of such surveys - by their very nature, they tend to be "self-biasing" in that it's the people who DO have problems who rush to fill them in. I suspect - but I'm NOT going to claim it as a "fact"

- that the actual figure is enormously lower than that. Happy customers don't tend to come to sites like this and say "I'm not having any problems"; people come here to bitch and moan when they DO have problems.

I also suspect that the majority of broken screens come from "user abuse" (perhaps through ignorance) rather than being a design flaw in the machine.

ErwinOtten · 07-25-2008, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Don't you think it's a little unwise to state it as a definite fact, then? Such surveys, by their very nature, are "self-biasing" in that it's the people who DO have problems who rush to fill them in. I suspect - but I'm NOT going to claim it as a "fact"

- that the actual figure is enormously lower than that. Happy customers don't tend to come to sites like this and say "I'm not having any problems"; people come here to bitch and moan when they DO have problems.

I've been thinking about that. I believe there are about 8000 units sold (I read it somewhere but can't find it back). How much owners will visit this site? 10%, less?? I can't tell but say 800.
In this thread alone there are already 11 people who claim a broken screen, and ALL claiming it isn't their fault. I really do think this to be an enormous amount.

HarryT · 07-25-2008, 02:49 AM

Let's suppose that your figures are correct then. 11 out of 800 is 1.3% - very different to the 10-15% we've just been discussing. Is a 1% breakage rate an "enormous amount"? I honestly don't have any feel for what a typical figure would be. Do you?

ErwinOtten · 07-25-2008, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Let's suppose that your figures are correct then. 11 out of 800 is 1.3% - very different to the 10-15% we've just been discussing. Is a 1% breakage rate an "enormous amount"? I honestly don't have any feel for what a typical figure would be. Do you?

It's not an enormous amount when the majority of broken screens come from "user abuse", you're right about that. But when the claim is true that it is all spontaneous breaking (maybe because of stress factors during assembly??) then I think it's far too much.

jinibiza · 07-25-2008, 04:12 AM

Having read all the posts since I posted the problem I had with a screen breaking DESPITE my being VERY careful with it, it seems obvious to me that a percentage of the screens have a defect. When I hear that people have been carrying their Cybook around in a purse of briefcase for months, I can hardly believe it. I took great care in sandwiching my Cybook between hard cover notebooks in my briefcase, and it broke within 30 minutes! There was nothing to dig into the screen in my case. I have been carrying around electronic gadgets - Notebook PCs, PDAs, phones, for almost 20 years, and I have NEVER ever had a screen breakage. I am so careful with my stuff. Something is wrong here, and Bookeen must know it.

Ortep · 07-25-2008, 05:19 AM

The same story here. I was reading one evening, no problem at all. The Cybook was in its cover. I switched it off,closed the cover and put it on the table. The next evening I opened the cover, switched it on and I saw the first couple of 'boot screens' Suddenly the screen divided in four equal parts and only the lower left part was working. I saw it happen and there was absolutely *no* pressure on the screen at that time. There was no transportation whatsoever during the day. I was allone in the house, my wife was away and we have no pets.

I really like my Cybook to read, but this is absurd.

To me it sounds as that there somewere in the production process stress is introduced in the screens. That would explain why so may people talk about spontaneous breaking.

[edit]
But I have to say, after I paid for the repair at 11:21 on thursday and I got the replacement at 11:55 on friday. It is a brandnew 512 one.
It is charging now
[/edit]

Argel · 07-25-2008, 01:53 PM

The Sony is being sold in the UK with an optional silicon case. Could that be an alternative?

Think I'll drop into Waterstone's when they're in stock.

delphidb96 · 07-25-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'd tend to be rather wary of such surveys - by their very nature, they tend to be "self-biasing" in that it's the people who DO have problems who rush to fill them in. I suspect - but I'm NOT going to claim it as a "fact"

- that the actual figure is enormously lower than that. Happy customers don't tend to come to sites like this and say "I'm not having any problems"; people come here to bitch and moan when they DO have problems.

I also suspect that the majority of broken screens come from "user abuse" (perhaps through ignorance) rather than being a design flaw in the machine.

Design flaw *AND* user abuse. (And I strongly lean towards "user-abuse" being a major factor in at least 80% of the cases.)

Derek

JSWolf · 07-25-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

Design flaw *AND* user abuse. (And I strongly lean towards "user-abuse" being a major factor in at least 80% of the cases.)

Derek

If it is a design flaw, how can Bookeen know wheich units were damaged because of mishandling or the design flaw? If the screens just go like in Otep's case, is Bookeen going to still charge for repair no matter what then user tells them? If your Gen3's screen just breaks and it's not your fault and you report it and Bookeen decide to charge you to fix it, would would you do?

Ortep · 07-25-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

If the screens just go like in Otep's case, is Bookeen going to still charge for repair no matter what then user tells them? If your Gen3's screen just breaks and it's not your fault and you report it and Bookeen decide to charge you to fix it, would would you do?

Yes they charge for repair. I could have refused. But what will be the result of that? I would have spent 350 for the rent on a reader for 9 months an I be without a reader. So I paid the 120, got a new reader with more memory (I'm gratefull for that, I would have paid for an upgrade to more memory and they managed to get it to my house in under 25 hours) But I still feel a bit blackmailed. This reader actually cost me 470 plus 3 times the transport costs.
I am aware that there was a risk in buying so early. I never complained about the software. I even asked them to hurry up and fix the software later. But there really seems to be a design flaw. And I can imagine that it is triggered by handeling the device. But, lets be fair, the device is one that should be handled. It is for reading books and carrying it with you. Not for putting it on a bookshelf and not touching it.

It is not a mainstream device (yet). Most people buying it are people who know what they do. And most people are over 15 and know that things can break. So it probably is handled witt more care than a mobile phone you got from your company. Or a MP3 player you got from your parents

JSWolf · 07-25-2008, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ortep

Yes they charge for repair. I could have refused. But what will be the result of that? I would have spent 350 for the rent on a reader for 9 months an I be without a reader. So I paid the 120, got a new reader with more memory (I'm gratefull for that, I would have paid for an upgrade to more memory) But I still feel a bit blackmailed. This reader actually cost me 470 plus 3 times the transport costs

Damn! That's a lot to get something fixed that should have been fixed under warranty. I think it's time to call the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and tell them of this. As they think it's not possible for something to happen that quite clearly has happened.

07-25-2008, 05:19 AM	#130
Ortep Fanatic Posts: 527 Karma: 470 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Netherlands Device: Kindle Oasis	The same story here. I was reading one evening, no problem at all. The Cybook was in its cover. I switched it off,closed the cover and put it on the table. The next evening I opened the cover, switched it on and I saw the first couple of 'boot screens' Suddenly the screen divided in four equal parts and only the lower left part was working. I saw it happen and there was absolutely no pressure on the screen at that time. There was no transportation whatsoever during the day. I was allone in the house, my wife was away and we have no pets. I really like my Cybook to read, but this is absurd. To me it sounds as that there somewere in the production process stress is introduced in the screens. That would explain why so may people talk about spontaneous breaking. [edit] But I have to say, after I paid for the repair at 11:21 on thursday and I got the replacement at 11:55 on friday. It is a brandnew 512 one. It is charging now [/edit] Last edited by Ortep; 07-25-2008 at 06:10 AM.

07-25-2008, 01:53 PM	#131
Argel Opinionated [but right] Posts: 281 Karma: 1412 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Device: Cybook Gen3, PRS 505, Kindle Int, Oasis, Paperwhite, Scribe	Alternative protective cover? The Sony is being sold in the UK with an optional silicon case. Could that be an alternative? Think I'll drop into Waterstone's when they're in stock.

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07-25-2008, 02:27 AM	#125
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'd tend to be rather wary of such surveys - by their very nature, they tend to be "self-biasing" in that it's the people who DO have problems who rush to fill them in. I suspect - but I'm NOT going to claim it as a "fact" - that the actual figure is enormously lower than that. Happy customers don't tend to come to sites like this and say "I'm not having any problems"; people come here to bitch and moan when they DO have problems. I also suspect that the majority of broken screens come from "user abuse" (perhaps through ignorance) rather than being a design flaw in the machine.

07-25-2008, 02:49 AM	#127
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Let's suppose that your figures are correct then. 11 out of 800 is 1.3% - very different to the 10-15% we've just been discussing. Is a 1% breakage rate an "enormous amount"? I honestly don't have any feel for what a typical figure would be. Do you?

07-25-2008, 04:12 AM	#129
jinibiza Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Kindle 3/iPad/Iphone	Having read all the posts since I posted the problem I had with a screen breaking DESPITE my being VERY careful with it, it seems obvious to me that a percentage of the screens have a defect. When I hear that people have been carrying their Cybook around in a purse of briefcase for months, I can hardly believe it. I took great care in sandwiching my Cybook between hard cover notebooks in my briefcase, and it broke within 30 minutes! There was nothing to dig into the screen in my case. I have been carrying around electronic gadgets - Notebook PCs, PDAs, phones, for almost 20 years, and I have NEVER ever had a screen breakage. I am so careful with my stuff. Something is wrong here, and Bookeen must know it.

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