PRS-300 reading in direct sunlight - text is very faint - Page 2

SolRaven · 09-21-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by admdvs

i tried today to get the text to fade in direct sunsight and couldn't do it.. i think it basically has to do with heat - not sun... it wasn't as warm today, but i read with direct sunlight on it for 15 minutes.

i think if the weather is HOT and you have direct sun.. most screens would suffer.. not just a few.]

Well, I just tried it as well with my 505, 600 & 700. I layed them out on the patio table in direct bright strong south florida sunlight for 10 minutes. Because of the metal, all 3 readers were so hot that I burnt the tip of my finger when I went to pick them up. However, the text looked fine and the only thing that was making it hard to read is that it was too bright to be outside without sunglasses. I was going to try for 15 minutes, but the units were so hot I was worried about hurting any interior components.

DougFNJ · 09-21-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolRaven

Well, I just tried it as well with my 505, 600 & 700. I layed them out on the patio table in direct bright strong south florida sunlight for 10 minutes. Because of the metal, all 3 readers were so hot that I burnt the tip of my finger when I went to pick them up. However, the text looked fine and the only thing that was making it hard to read is that it was too bright to be outside without sunglasses. I was going to try for 15 minutes, but the units were so hot I was worried about hurting any interior components.

Your brave

Karma points for you

JSWolf · 09-21-2009, 03:24 PM

If your units are fading in sunlight with a Vizplex screen, take it back as it's defective. Vizplex is not supposed to fade.

We've been told that LG made a batch of defective screens that have trouble in sunlight.

DougFNJ · 09-21-2009, 03:34 PM

I am guessing this discussion is regarding older models? This isn't happening to the 300/600????

SolRaven · 09-21-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougFNJ

Your brave

Karma points for you

Thanks Doug! Sticking them out in the sun wasn't that brave since all 3 are still under warranty. What was brave is that it's south Florida during rainy season. 30 min. after I brought them in I heard it raining quite hard, but when I stepped outside it was still blazing bright and very warm. Even the rain water was warm. I guess there's a hot water heater up there in the clouds.

WT Sharpe · 09-21-2009, 04:34 PM

Reading outside is no problem for my Kindle 2. It seem to work as well under various lighting conditions as paper, and in direct sunlight it's easier on the eyes than paper.

lev · 10-08-2009, 07:15 AM

well I just became aware of this being a problem!.
I remember reading about fading issue somewhere here in MR and thought it was with all units.

well I have the new 600 and about a week ago reading under the sun I had fading where at times half the page would almost disappear and impossible to read. not always as bad but almost all the time I had some level of fading.
This was only in strong afternoon sunlight. other times during daylight I have no problems. although now that I know this problem, I will check it out tomorrow to see how bad it really gets..

should I contact sony and ask for replacement?

mwheinz · 10-08-2009, 07:22 AM

My PRS-600 does this.

lev · 10-08-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwheinz

My PRS-600 does this.

well at least I'm not the only one

tbh it's not as bad since it only happens under direct strong sunlight which I would not read in such condition anyway. other times I have no problems.
however, if it is due to defect I'm concerned that it may cause other problems down the line and might be better to get it replaced while still under warranty.

SolRaven · 10-21-2009, 03:19 PM

The bad news is that my blue 505's screen got damaged. The good news is I bought a brand new shiny Sangria Red reader the same week! Boy is it gorgeous!! Of course I had to check out the screen in the bright south Florida sun and it passed. I put it on the patio table for 10 min. Unlike a month ago, when it was still summer in south Florida hot, it was very warm, but not warm enough to burn my fingers. But from what I'm hearing, it's not how hot the readers are getting so much as the bright sunlight.

For those of you that it happened to, how long were you reading in the sun before the text started to fade?

lev · 10-22-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolRaven

The bad news is that my blue 505's screen got damaged. The good news is I bought a brand new shiny Sangria Red reader the same week! Boy is it gorgeous!! Of course I had to check out the screen in the bright south Florida sun and it passed. I put it on the patio table for 10 min. Unlike a month ago, when it was still summer in south Florida hot, it was very warm, but not warm enough to burn my fingers. But from what I'm hearing, it's not how hot the readers are getting so much as the bright sunlight.

For those of you that it happened to, how long were you reading in the sun before the text started to fade?

Hi SolRaven,
in my case instantly...if I am reading in the shade and move it under the sun, the next page will fade right away. next second move back into the shade and the problem is gone. so I can definitely say it is not the heat, or long exposure to sun & heat. even in afternoon sun, say around 5 it fades.
I admit here in Guam its a tropical island and the sun is harsh but tried in the afternoon sun and still the same problem...
if I was near a shop that I can replace it I would, but in my situation it means waiting for the unit to be shipped there, and then being sent a new one is going to take at least 3 weeks. for now, I'm going to try and live with it.

SolRaven · 10-23-2009, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lev

Hi SolRaven,
in my case instantly...if I am reading in the shade and move it under the sun, the next page will fade right away. next second move back into the shade and the problem is gone. so I can definitely say it is not the heat, or long exposure to sun & heat. even in afternoon sun, say around 5 it fades.
I admit here in Guam its a tropical island and the sun is harsh but tried in the afternoon sun and still the same problem...
if I was near a shop that I can replace it I would, but in my situation it means waiting for the unit to be shipped there, and then being sent a new one is going to take at least 3 weeks. for now, I'm going to try and live with it.

Wow... I didn't realise it was so instant. I wonder why they do that....

lev · 10-23-2009, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolRaven

Wow... I didn't realise it was so instant. I wonder why they do that....

yes unfortunately it is instant. but just to clarify, it only fades when page turning. otherwise left on the same page I do not notice any fading.

SolRaven · 10-23-2009, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lev

yes unfortunately it is instant. but just to clarify, it only fades when page turning. otherwise left on the same page I do not notice any fading.

Oh... Hmm.... now I'll have to re-test my readers while page turning. I thought it was just a sunlight thing.

acidzebra · 10-23-2009, 05:53 AM

I noticed the same on my holidays in Thailand, 30 degrees celcius and bright sun, after a while of reading outside without cover the pages would start looking "bleached", progressively so with each page turn. Closing the cover for a bit/moving out of the sun and back to black it goes. It doesn't seem to affect operation otherwise, and now back in cold NL it is fine as ever.

I don't really think it is a defect as much as it is a property of current e-ink tech.
FYI: Sony rates the 505 for 5 to 35C (41 to 95F) operating temp.

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09-21-2009, 03:24 PM	#18
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,528 Karma: 145863177 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	If your units are fading in sunlight with a Vizplex screen, take it back as it's defective. Vizplex is not supposed to fade. We've been told that LG made a batch of defective screens that have trouble in sunlight.

09-21-2009, 03:34 PM	#19
DougFNJ Avid Reader Posts: 273 Karma: 1332 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature, 2TB iPad Pro 11”	I am guessing this discussion is regarding older models? This isn't happening to the 300/600????

09-21-2009, 04:34 PM	#21
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	Reading outside is no problem for my Kindle 2. It seem to work as well under various lighting conditions as paper, and in direct sunlight it's easier on the eyes than paper.

10-08-2009, 07:15 AM	#22
lev Zealot Posts: 131 Karma: 274 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: none	well I just became aware of this being a problem!. I remember reading about fading issue somewhere here in MR and thought it was with all units. well I have the new 600 and about a week ago reading under the sun I had fading where at times half the page would almost disappear and impossible to read. not always as bad but almost all the time I had some level of fading. This was only in strong afternoon sunlight. other times during daylight I have no problems. although now that I know this problem, I will check it out tomorrow to see how bad it really gets.. should I contact sony and ask for replacement?

10-08-2009, 07:22 AM	#23
mwheinz award-winning bozo Posts: 258 Karma: 172703 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Philadelphia Device: Kobo Libra 2	My PRS-600 does this.

10-21-2009, 03:19 PM	#25
SolRaven Wizard Posts: 2,214 Karma: 12796976 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The Sunshine State Device: Clara, Voyage, Oasis, Paperwhite & PRS-650	The bad news is that my blue 505's screen got damaged. The good news is I bought a brand new shiny Sangria Red reader the same week! Boy is it gorgeous!! Of course I had to check out the screen in the bright south Florida sun and it passed. I put it on the patio table for 10 min. Unlike a month ago, when it was still summer in south Florida hot, it was very warm, but not warm enough to burn my fingers. But from what I'm hearing, it's not how hot the readers are getting so much as the bright sunlight. For those of you that it happened to, how long were you reading in the sun before the text started to fade?

10-23-2009, 05:53 AM	#30
acidzebra Liseuse Lover Posts: 869 Karma: 1035404 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Device: PRS-505	I noticed the same on my holidays in Thailand, 30 degrees celcius and bright sun, after a while of reading outside without cover the pages would start looking "bleached", progressively so with each page turn. Closing the cover for a bit/moving out of the sun and back to black it goes. It doesn't seem to affect operation otherwise, and now back in cold NL it is fine as ever. I don't really think it is a defect as much as it is a property of current e-ink tech. FYI: Sony rates the 505 for 5 to 35C (41 to 95F) operating temp.

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