Aura HD Kobo Customer Service--**** you!

[robko]

I'm actually starting to wonder if cases don't cause the issue in some circumstances. I don't use a case myself (and actually a few of my e-ink devices have survived drops that put a dent in the housing ) so I can't speak from experience. But I wonder if when bending the cover around it puts strain on the device or even depending on the strength of the holding elastic etc could be subtly bending the device. It would be interesting to see what percentage of people with broken substrates are using a cover. My perception would be that it seems high, but I have no stats to support that or even what percentage of users use a case which would affect the numbers.
@Major General - no one is accusing you of abusing your device. However, most people are used to phones/tablets etc which are pretty rugged, whereas e-ink devices can be damaged by seemingly innocent usage/handling that would never affect these other types of devices. And as twowheels said, it often may just stress the screen and slight temperature variations over time can finally cause a failure (which is why it seems like it self-destructed). If you haven't done so yet check, I really recommend checking out the pics in teardown threads to see what exactly it is that is broken in your device (you'll probably be surprised). One thread here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...light=Teardown

[TechniSol]

I'm sorry to hear about your predicament, but as others have said, the curved or diagonal lines in the image confirm that it was a physical impact of some sort that caused the damage.

If you have any sort of pet that could have plopped down on it, if there is any chance it could have been knocked off the shelf and replaced, if anyone might have sat on it or put pressure on it, if it was in a book bag or other bag or satchel, etc with heavier books, then you have to consider the possibility. These things are a lot more delicate than you'd think with that thin glass substrate at the back of the display.

As others have suggested, you might try finding a replacement e-ink display. It should be a lot less than a new reader. Displays for the Kobo Touch go for around $50 on EBay.

I doubt you'll get far with Kobo on this issue, they seem to be very difficult about damaged screens.

[Danger]

Originally Posted by robko

I...But I wonder if when bending the cover around it puts strain on the device or even depending on the strength of the holding elastic etc could be subtly bending the device. It would be interesting to see what percentage of people with broken substrates are using a cover. My perception would be that it seems high...

1st Kobo, a 2nd Gen Wifi: leaned on the screen accidently when getting into the truck, no cover.

2nd Kobo, a Touch this time with cover: put it in my jacket pocket, forgot I had my keys also in my pocket, keys got between the cover and the KT screen

3rd Kobo, a Glo got dropped and landed screen down, no cover.

My current Kobo, a Glo, has the Sleepcover... I absolutely love it. Has been dropped several times and survived each encounter... so far.

[robko]

Originally Posted by Danger

1st Kobo, a 2nd Gen Wifi: leaned on the screen accidently when getting into the truck, no cover.

2nd Kobo, a Touch this time with cover: put it in my jacket pocket, forgot I had my keys also in my pocket, keys got between the cover and the KT screen

3rd Kobo, a Glo got dropped and landed screen down, no cover.

My current Kobo, a Glo, has the Sleepcover... I absolutely love it. Has been dropped several times and survived each encounter... so far.

Ouch ! I was actually thinking more instances where there was no obvious cause for the breakage and it was in a case but thanks for the case studies .

[sysKin]

Um, guys, when I damaged my kobo's ext4 filesystem (playing with some linux tools) I got some very similar junk on screen. It almost looked like physical damage from underneath except there wasn't any. I broke the filesystem and I simply had to recover the microSD image from my backup.

I can't explain why it looks like that, but it really does!

[Canuck_in_Japan]

I can't imagine a situation where a case would lead to problems. That said, my readers go naked. I've dropped my Sony 650 a couple of times from about chair seat height with no problems. My naked Aura HD fell once onto concrete when it was in my cargo pocket which was open and my legs were high in the air. It got a small almost invisible scuff on the corner but no damage to the screen. I guess I've been lucky.

[Buber]

I was looking on ebay.. seems that there are no replacement screens fro HD....

[MacEachaidh]

I wonder how strong the housing on an Aura HD is, how subject to flexing it might be under its own weight.

I know with mine, on several occasions now, when I've picked it up one-handed — generally at the bottom left corner (index finger spread out diagonally up the back of the case, thumb pressing down in front on the very bottom of the corner) — I have felt the case flex slightly and the screen react spontaneously as if I'd touched it — a couple of times it's been in sleep mode and woken itself up as I picked it up, though no fingers went near the slider at the top; other times, it's already been awake and it's either switched itself off (not just gone into sleep mode, but completely off, though the settings have disabled that as an auto-function) or the dictionary tags have suddenly appeared around a word or phrase, but somewhere up the screen where I couldn't possibly have touched it in picking it up.

To date I've not been too bothered by it, thinking the Aura generally feels less robust than my Kobo Touch anyway, so maybe it's in the construction. But now I'm wondering if a flex like that could be enough to crack the substrate?

[jackastor]

Allready answered and attested to so duplication of another users answer would be pointless.

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by Buber

I was looking on ebay.. seems that there are no replacement screens fro HD....

If you go to the eink home you may be able to request from them a replacement part number you can order.

regards

Jack

[jackastor]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

I can't imagine a situation where a case would lead to problems. That said, my readers go naked. I've dropped my Sony 650 a couple of times from about chair seat height with no problems. My naked Aura HD fell once onto concrete when it was in my cargo pocket which was open and my legs were high in the air. It got a small almost invisible scuff on the corner but no damage to the screen. I guess I've been lucky.

I know I am going to regret asking this... why were your legs in the air?

regards

JAck

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Danger

2nd Kobo, a Touch this time with cover: put it in my jacket pocket, forgot I had my keys also in my pocket, keys got between the cover and the KT screen

I have said from the first day I've read of people buying a 5" Reader to put in their pocket(s) that putting an eInk Reader in a pocket is a Reader waiting to be broken. Perfect example here.

[filmo]

My kobo readers have lived a charmed life. Took original Kobo touch to amusment park Atlanta 6 Flags with it in loose fit jeans front pocket. Rode every roller coaster and everything else I could get on with no damage to reader. It was in silicone rubber covering back and sides with stiff 22 gage steel covering frount. I now have Kobo Mini that often rides naked in frount pants pocket, shirt pocket or jacket pocket and not damaged yet. I am aware it is there and carfull. Would like to buy a spare for another $40. This way the mini is most always available for reading. My wife likes to listen to audo books on her comute. I don't like them perfering radio music or news if I can't read.

[TechniSol]

If nothing else we have confirmed that Danger has earned his, her, or its Nick honestly, and that Kobo ereaders live in complete and totally justified fear of him, her, and or it! Imagine the tales of Danger Kobo Aura HDs must scare their Kobo Minis with prior to entering sleep mode!

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by jackastor

Allready answered and attested to so duplication of another users answer would be pointless.

Was that a reply to my post, Jack, or did our posts just coincide?