Blue Pocket Pro finish already coming off

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by Violetteskye

My new pocket pro will be sent out today. Both Amy and Robert are positive that the current color models ae fine so I said I would be happy to take another pink one. I understand that mistakes happen. I think the important thing is that they are more than willing to correct the situation. Amy at Astak has been very prompt in responding to all my emails. I also reached her on the phone with no trouble at all. I will report back to let you know how the new batch of pink holds up

The problem with the first shipment was a weird insist by Chinese Customs that the units be oversprayed before they could be shipped. The factory did it, rushed them out, the paint did not set properly (dry to the touch but not dry underneath) and we got wrinkling.

There is no overspray on the second shipment. Nothing to wrinkle! ALL of the new ones, just like Griffonwing posted, are fine!!

Now... I want to add a note of thanks here. With any other group of people besides this fine group, I would have been tarred and feathered and banished to Arkansas. Instead, nobody freaked out but let us make it right. The result is that the Pocket PRO has blossomed, impressed every reviewer, and is selling at a much stronger than ever rate! So, I want to thank each and every one of you! Special thanks to my friend in Arkansas who told it like it was and maintained calm.

[Jane A]

I got home today and my replacement was sitting on my front step! Yay! I didn't even know they had shipped it, so it was a happy surprise.
The paint looks perfect and it's on the charger as I type.

[Faenad]

Originally Posted by RichyRich

Perhaps it is a bit of over worrying. Here's the picture of the new unit.

Can someone post a similar picture of the red reader and of the fuchsia reader?

For these colors, is the paint only an extra layer over white plastic (verifiable by checking the underneath of the battery door) or is it tainted plastic?

[griffonwing]

I always tell it like it is.. even if i have to lie to do it

But in this case, i never had to. My reader came in today, and the current coating is as tight and flawless as I had ever hoped to expect. I've already had several people very interested in it.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by Robertb

The problem with the first shipment was a weird insist by Chinese Customs that the units be oversprayed before they could be shipped. The factory did it, rushed them out, the paint did not set properly (dry to the touch but not dry underneath) and we got wrinkling.

There is no overspray on the second shipment. Nothing to wrinkle! ALL of the new ones, just like Griffonwing posted, are fine!!

Now... I want to add a note of thanks here. With any other group of people besides this fine group, I would have been tarred and feathered and banished to Arkansas. Instead, nobody freaked out but let us make it right. The result is that the Pocket PRO has blossomed, impressed every reviewer, and is selling at a much stronger than ever rate! So, I want to thank each and every one of you! Special thanks to my friend in Arkansas who told it like it was and maintained calm.

Originally Posted by griffonwing

I always tell it like it is.. even if i have to lie to do it

But in this case, i never had to. My reader came in today, and the current coating is as tight and flawless as I had ever hoped to expect. I've already had several people very interested in it.

try reading the words from the horse's mouth over...there is NOT sprayed on coating....but there was nothing wrong with the original case and these are obviously no different. Still no truthful explanation of why a colored plastic was required to be sealed as a work around to get through customs but this new round of cases is just fine as color molded plastic w/o a sprayed on fix that would have scratched or worn through no matter what...

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

try reading the words from the horse's mouth over...there is NOT sprayed on coating....but there was nothing wrong with the original case and these are obviously no different. Still no truthful explanation of why a colored plastic was required to be sealed as a work around to get through customs but this new round of cases is just fine as color molded plastic w/o a sprayed on fix that would have scratched or worn through no matter what...

Actually, there IS a coating. The case feels the same as it did before. I am certain that If I took a knife to my reader, I would scrape off the soft rubber coating, but I would rather be wrong in my assumption than to ruin my reader to prove myself right.

However, it's just not over-sprayed. Meaning, there wasn't a second coating. And you are correct, there WAS nothing wrong with the case on the first shipment, just the rubber coating over it. It never had time to set after what I am assuming is the second coat of paint.

Also, I don't think the case needed the rubber coating to pass inspection. From what I have read, the black and white units also have the rubber coating.

Bob. Is that what you mean by 'over-spray'? A second layer of the rubber coating? I've always been curious as to what that actually referred to.

Ooooh. brainfart! Perhaps the overspray was the second coating of actual PAINT.. underneath the rubber sealant. Thats why the rubber coating didnt set.. it was sprayed on top of uncured paint!

Hrmmm..

[robvarga]

Originally Posted by Faenad

Can someone post a similar picture of the red reader and of the fuchsia reader?

For these colors, is the paint only an extra layer over white plastic (verifiable by checking the underneath of the battery door) or is it tainted plastic?

+1.

I really would like to get an answer to that question regarding the maroon (red) version of the new series, whether it is white/grey plastic with maroon coating, or some red plastic (with or without additional coating).

Unfortunately I can't say anything else, but that RobertB seems to purposefully avoid answering that question (I posted that question several times in different posts), even though the only effect his answer would have is that I would choose the blue version instead of the maroon one if the maroon is white/grey underneath.

Best regards,

Robert

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by robvarga

+1.

I really would like to get an answer to that question regarding the maroon (red) version of the new series, whether it is white/grey plastic with maroon coating, or some red plastic (with or without additional coating).

Unfortunately I can't say anything else, but that RobertB seems to purposefully avoid answering that question (I posted that question several times in different posts), even though the only effect his answer would have is that I would choose the blue version instead of the maroon one if the maroon is white/grey underneath.

Best regards,

Robert

It may be that RobertB jsut doesn't know for sure. Also, he'll tell you only what he is told, even if it may not be true.

Also, Let's say, simply for argument's sake" that the maroon is actually a painted gray plastic. It's then coated in a maroon rubber coating. So you have Maroon rubber over Maroon paint over gray plastic. The only time you will ever even see the gray is when you change/replace the battery.

Again, not saying that the maroon is painted gray. That image of the painted maroon may have simply been a mixup at the manufacturers as a rushed quick-fix. We can't really be sure.

[ekaser]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

Also, Let's say, simply for argument's sake" that the maroon is actually a painted gray plastic. It's then coated in a maroon rubber coating. So you have Maroon rubber over Maroon paint over gray plastic. The only time you will ever even see the gray is when you change/replace the battery.

And, let's keep in mind, the battery door is not NECESSARILY made from the same plastic as the rest of the body. Each plastic part is a separate molding, and could EASILY contain different colored plastic, if they know they're going to be painting them anyway.

[robvarga]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

It may be that RobertB jsut doesn't know for sure. Also, he'll tell you only what he is told, even if it may not be true.

Also, Let's say, simply for argument's sake" that the maroon is actually a painted gray plastic. It's then coated in a maroon rubber coating. So you have Maroon rubber over Maroon paint over gray plastic. The only time you will ever even see the gray is when you change/replace the battery.

Again, not saying that the maroon is painted gray. That image of the painted maroon may have simply been a mixup at the manufacturers as a rushed quick-fix. We can't really be sure.

I also may see the grey when actually something scratches the device... or when some time later the paint does start to let go...

And actually from what I managed to see from the pictures of the maroon of the first batch, that first batch was actually maroon rubber over grey plastic, with no maroon paint in between the two.

I guess you see where I am trying to get to: I want to buy a device which is not grey under the rubber paint so that even when it is scratched I don't see grey spots.

I know that the blue is probably not grey underneath. I know that the first batch maroon was grey... I guess it is quite understandable that I would welcome some more information on this... e.g. from second batch maroon owners showing pictures of the inside of their battery cover...

Best regards,

Robert

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by robvarga

I also may see the grey when actually something scratches the device... or when some time later the paint does start to let go...

And actually from what I managed to see from the pictures of the maroon of the first batch, that first batch was actually maroon rubber over grey plastic, with no maroon paint in between the two.

I guess you see where I am trying to get to: I want to buy a device which is not grey under the rubber paint so that even when it is scratched I don't see grey spots.

I know that the blue is probably not grey underneath. I know that the first batch maroon was grey... I guess it is quite understandable that I would welcome some more information on this... e.g. from second batch maroon owners showing pictures of the inside of their battery cover...

Best regards,

Robert

I assuming you are referring to post 83 in this thread. I do see some maroon paint on the back of the battery cover. Then again, this was the rushed batch.

I also would love to hear some verification as to which coloured units, if any, are simply painted grey plastic. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who has a wrinkle-free maroon device that is willing to scratch the rubber coating in order to verify. This is something that Astak itself will have to carry out on one of their maroon units.

It might even behoove Astak to take one of each colour, and scrape them down, even going so far as to cut through a section so as to discern not only the paint colour, but also if the plastic itself is coloured or just painted.

Whether they will or not, I can't answer. They might can chalk it up to "quality testing" so as to be reimbursed/resupplied by Jinke.

[Chiron]

Ok, just send a mail at support@astak.com about the paint problem, because it got really big, now just to wiat for reply (got it into my hands September 25, i hope im on time [first batch of PP]).

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by griffonwing

I assuming you are referring to post 83 in this thread. I do see some maroon paint on the back of the battery cover. Then again, this was the rushed batch.

I also would love to hear some verification as to which coloured units, if any, are simply painted grey plastic. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who has a wrinkle-free maroon device that is willing to scratch the rubber coating in order to verify. This is something that Astak itself will have to carry out on one of their maroon units.

It might even behoove Astak to take one of each colour, and scrape them down, even going so far as to cut through a section so as to discern not only the paint colour, but also if the plastic itself is coloured or just painted.

Whether they will or not, I can't answer. They might can chalk it up to "quality testing" so as to be reimbursed/resupplied by Jinke.

You don't need to scratch anything, just take the battery door off. If you take the battery out you can see what color plastic the case is made of because they don't paint in there. You can see it in my pic with the battery in if you look closely although it'd be easier to see with the battery out.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by RichyRich

Well, after a few days with the exchanged Pocket Pro, I started getting some bubbling in the upper right and left hand corners, but I'm not sending this one back. Perhaps I should have waited for the 2nd shipment before sending the first Pocket Pro back. I decided to clean the front up myself and try a few things to clean off the paint, so I disassembled the Pocket Pro to avoid messing up the screen and took some pictures in the process. I've tried some non Acetone nail polish remover but it hasn't had quite the effect I had hoped for. I also tried some nail polish strengthner to seal off the tips of the areas where I had removed the paint and it did seal it off, but it did bubble the edges as well.

**WARNING: Disassembling your Pocekt Pro will void your warranty, so do so at your own risk!!**
Be sure you have properly statically discharged yourself and wash your hands thoroughly if you are going to disassemble your Pocket Pro.

The screw holes on the back are covered by rubber grommets. I used a small precision flat tip screw driver to pry them out. Here's a picture of the back without the rubber grommets.



After Removing the 4 screws, battery cover, and battery, with the front laying face down on the desk, I pried the cover, starting from the lower right and worked my way up the right side first, then went top right to top left.

Here are pictures of the inside.

Circuit Board


Eink Screen - Notice that there's still an image despite no battery


Inside of back casing


Inside of front casing


Now, to get the circuit board out, you ill need to remove the 2 screws on the left side and gently pry the black plastic away from the top notches on the from inside of the front casing. The Eink screen is held in place in two sections and by the ribbon cable that is attached to the circuit board, so be sure to gently keep it together with the black plastic holding the circuit board as you lift it out.

As you can see by the picture of the inside front casing, the keys are all held in place by plastic welds, so they are non removable, so it would be best to take care around all the buttons.

When you reassemble the unit, be sure to insert the reassembled front into the headphone hole first on the back casing, making sure the jog dial will slide into the proper space as well and possibly even gently pry up the top of the unit near the power button to make sure it contacts it properly.

**WARNING: Disassembling your Pocekt Pro will void your warranty, so do so at your own risk!!**

Image #4 shows all that needs be said about the color of the case...

[griffonwing]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

Image #4 shows all that needs be said about the color of the case...

For the blue, yes. However, assumptions can't be made for the maroon, pink, or purple. The maroon was the main one in question.