E-reader reliability rant

[DJUNGELSKOG]

I'm wondering if it's a general trend or am I just unlucky?

I've owned a bunch of e-readers and none of them has lasted for a long time.

• My first device was a Pocketbook, it's SD card became read-only at some point. I've managed to repair it but eventually it just stopped turning on.
• Then bought a Kindle PW5 only to be greeted with a tree screen of death a couple of months after it's warranty has run out.
• Libra 2 - it was good until I've answered "yes" to a software update prompt which has bricked it. I'm going to do my best to repair it but it's infuriating.
• Pocketbook Verse Pro 1 - a device that was advertised as waterproof has perished after a slight contact with running water.
• Pocketbook Verse Pro 2 - I bought another one second-hand to replace it, it still works but it's internal clock is busted and it's backlight has a very annoying gradient that Verse Pro 1 didn't have.

Is it just me ?

[xyzzy_foo]

The E Ink panel on my BOOX Go 7 has stopped displaying correctly, even though the screen isn't cracked.

I have to at least ask them if I can get it repaired under the one-year warranty, but it's such a hassle. I haven't heard good things about their after-sales support.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by xyzzy_foo

The E Ink panel on my BOOX Go 7 has stopped displaying correctly, even though the screen isn't cracked.

I have to at least ask them if I can get it repaired under the one-year warranty, but it's such a hassle. I haven't heard good things about their after-sales support.

Can you post a picture? A lot of people think the screen doesn't appear "cracked" because they're used to surface lines as in when a phone screen breaks. In e-ink screens it's the substrate that breaks, so lines appear on the screen while the surface appears unbroken.

[DrNefario]

I think all of the ereaders I have ever owned still work to some extent. I stopped using my original Kindle because the battery life became poor. Everything else is still OK, as far as I know, although I haven't used to the Nook for a while so I might have ruined that battery.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by DJUNGELSKOG

I'm wondering if it's a general trend or am I just unlucky?

Unlucky? Because this isn't my experience at all. I have five ancient Kobos, four are still in use and the fifth, a Glo I bought when they first came out, still works; I just don't like it. Admittedly my Aura One's battery life isn't great and sideloading books is a little flaky, but it's had daily use for over ten years and owes me nothing. (Hang in there, little beaver!)

My PW5 gets near daily use and is 3½ years old. Its case is deteriorating but the device is chugging along as it always has. My PW4 is still fine, too.

Retired devices mostly still work. I charge them up when I think of it.

So, either very unlucky or you're hard on your gadgets in a way I'm not. But that said, mine get dropped, dinged and are regularly taken out and about. Perhaps we're both outliers.

[Sirtel]

None of my 11 ereaders stopped working or developed any serious defects before I replaced them. My current Kobos have been in daily use for over 4 years. But then I'm very gentle with my devices (and I don't update them unless I'm convinced the update isn't buggy).

[JSWolf]

I have a nook STR, Sony Reader PRS-650, Spny Reader PRS-T1, Kobo Aura H20, Kobo Libra 2, Amazon Kindle Touch, and Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 3. They all work except for maybe the battery in some.

[DNSB]

I still have all but 2 of the ereaders I have purchased. Several of the older ones are showing battery issues but the screens still display and the touch whether IR or capacitive still works. I also 3-D printed replacement D-pads for my Kobo original and WiFi a couple of years back.

[theducks]

My last 3 (K4nt, Kobo Aura2, Kobo Libra 2) are all working.
I replaced the battery in the Kindle (got to have poor run time)
My first 2 were Astak EZreader. Both developed a tiny screen crater over time, but were very usable. Later, the first on developed a bad USB conn (got to charge only. loaded books on to SDC), the second battery became poor (no easy source), and the the screen started clouding in from the edge. that was over 10Y.
All my readers have covers that close when not being used

[DJUNGELSKOG]

Oh well, I guess it's just my bad luck

[Deskisamess]

My 2012 Paperwhite still works, I still use it to play active content games. We have 2-2013 Paperwhites that work perfectly, a 2022 Paperwhite as well.

One Paperwhite, the first gen, died from a scrambled screen after I gave it away, it was probably 3 years old. The little basic Kindle with the thin page turn buttons had a battery die from lack of use. Pretty sure Amazon replaced that one.

We've had good luck with them, but we aren't hard on stuff.

[kyrilson]

I'd say you're pretty unlucky. I have had ereaders since the Palm Pilot days and have never had an ereader break on me. My Kobo Glo HD from 2015 is the only one I've had to do anything with, and that was replacing the SD card, as the original went bad, but that was just last year, ten years later. Hmm, actually I've also replaced the battery on my Kindle Keyboard, but that was also last year.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by xyzzy_foo

The E Ink panel on my BOOX Go 7 has stopped displaying correctly, even though the screen isn't cracked.

That could be many things, some fixable.
Does the screen look clean while showing the boot logo? While in recovery?
It could be a bad connection on the eink flex PCB, just reseat it.
It could be software, reinstall.
Without a good photo it's not possible to tell.
Start a thread in Onyx.

[DJUNGELSKOG]

Meanwhile my misadventures continue. My Verse Pro #2 no longer holds charge. I’m going to try cannibalizing the Verse Pro #1 battery to repair it. Oh well. Is the universe trying to tell me something?

[DrNefario]

Maybe don't keep buying Pocketbooks if they keep letting you down?