Most reliable eReader?

[wendym]

If you are looking for a dedicated reader, I would suggest the Kindle but you can't really go wrong with Sony or Nook. A lot of it is personal preference. Check out all three in person and see what feels and looks good.

If you want something that will also double as a tablet computer, then the iPad is the way to go.

[ProfCrash]

I have a K1, K3, and DXG. No screen problems for me. They do happen but it is more likely then not caused by some type of collision that twisted the screen in a bad way that you don't remember happening.

So far of the 12 Kindles throughout my family no one has had a broken screen.

[JayB]

Could these random substrate breaks be caused by thermal issues. Either that or maybe some of the cases are slightly causing pressure points.

I definitely do not understand how the substrate could just crack for no reason.

I've only owned Sony readers but they feel very sturdy and you would have to go out of your way to twist one enough to crack the screen.

[jbcohen]

Actually Sony has one of the higest reliability ratings as told by PC Magazine and PC World. Their Sony Viao S Series laptops are probably some of the most reliabile around, however that means that Sony understands how to make a reliable device but doesn't necessarily mean that they will. The group that works on the Viao S laptops are not necessarily the ones that work on the PRSs and that does not mean that they will communicate on building a better electronic reader.

Another company that is known for reliability is Toshiba. I have heard a lot of great things about the Toshiba Satellite L and P series, however the mid range E series is unknown at this point. Troubble is that Toshiba does not make electronic readers, as of yet.

For reliability I would trust Sony's PRS and possibly the Dell's streak 5 or 7 or possibly HP's Touchpad or Slates.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by ReaderSpouse

My wife is looking for her next eReader. Her last was the Sony PRS-600 which was great but suffered from the notoriously evil and spontaneous "cracked substrate." Now that we've found that eReaders can spontaneously self-destruct, which eReader do you recommend as being most reliable. It doesn't have to be most durable, as we treated the former reader quite well and it died while sitting still on a cushion. Should we move away from e-ink altogether? We were thinking that e-ink substrates might be inherently flawed and therefore we should move to an LED unit -- the issue that then arises is that of battery life. It took us 15 hours to get from New York to Hawaii and the Sony handled that easily. Our guess is that an iPad or color Nook would die along the way. So what say you oh sages of eReaderdom?

The only way that can happen is because without noticing, the screen was put on a lot of thermal or tension stress, even compression. Small impacts can also break it.

Most eink devices are really sturdy and good. But a nice cover is almost a must for added protection.

[hidari]

Had a Toshiba XP for fve years ...gave it to a Mate for free. Still running .... Goin on its 6th year not one problem.

Havea Vista Toshiba....3 years..... no problem... Just don't tell Macheads that other companies also make reliable products

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Actually Sony has one of the higest reliability ratings as told by PC Magazine and PC World. Their Sony Viao S Series laptops are probably some of the most reliabile around, however that means that Sony understands how to make a reliable device but doesn't necessarily mean that they will. The group that works on the Viao S laptops are not necessarily the ones that work on the PRSs and that does not mean that they will communicate on building a better electronic reader.

Another company that is known for reliability is Toshiba. I have heard a lot of great things about the Toshiba Satellite L and P series, however the mid range E series is unknown at this point. Troubble is that Toshiba does not make electronic readers, as of yet.

For reliability I would trust Sony's PRS and possibly the Dell's streak 5 or 7 or possibly HP's Touchpad or Slates.

[jbcohen]

Yeah Toshiba makes excellent stuff, the only trouble is that they are not electronic readers and Toshiba does not make any as yet.

[Ryvyan]

No screen is absolutely guaranteed to not break. I've never understood why others' iPhones' screens shatter but mine has gone through so much (I've sat on it, dropped it more times than any gadget should go through, etc.) with only has one deep scratch (and a few tiny ones) across it.

I'm trying not to curse the fate of my phone, but sometimes it just has to knock onto something at one specific spot GENTLY and I would have to say goodbye to my screen.

I don't have an ereader yet, but so many people have fallen asleep reading on it so I'd assume many have suffered the fate of being dropped on floor, etc.

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by JayB

Could these random substrate breaks be caused by thermal issues. Either that or maybe some of the cases are slightly causing pressure points.

Thermal is definitely a possibility, but you would need very extreme temperature fluctuations in a very short period of time.

[Zetmolm]

Some time ago Onyx introduced metal frames around the E Ink screen in their latest generation of 6" readers (Boox A60 and X60 and all their variants), to give them additional protection. They actually demoed that it worked by dropping the devices on the floors of exhibition halls.

[CRussel]

Four Kindles here, oldest a K2i that's about a year old now. Never a problem with screen cracks (all have Kindle brand cases). But the most important thing? If it cracks, I'll call up Amazon Customer Service and I'd be willing to bet they'll replace it no questions asked. Their CS has been simply awesome for the Kindle.

[paola]

Originally Posted by CRussel

If it cracks, I'll call up Amazon Customer Service and I'd be willing to bet they'll replace it no questions asked. Their CS has been simply awesome for the Kindle.

yes, that seems to be putting Amazon in a class of its own!