DR800 in direct sunlight - Page 2

daffy4u · 02-01-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmm200

Always falling back on the paper book model - I don't read books printed on paper in direct sunlight. I don't use my laptop computer in direct sun either. Why would I expect an EReader to be any different? Find a bit of shade...

Robert

I do read books in direct sunlight because I can (can't do it with pBooks). I shade my eyes but not my reader. For me it works out well.

ziegl027 · 02-01-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdahler

I think the problem with text fading is more optical illusion than anything else. .

Definitely not an optical illusion. I encountered this on a recent trip to Phoenix with my reader. It only happened when I refreshed the page with the screen in sunlight. I could even cover half the screen while the page refreshed, and the result would be that half the page was faded and the other half was great (actually better than in dimmer light). The effect is like a page printed when you're running low on toner.

Got no idea if the DR800 is prone to it, though.

Shaggy · 02-01-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmm200

I don't read books printed on paper in direct sunlight.

You can if you want to though, and some people do.

Quote:

I don't use my laptop computer in direct sun either. Why would I expect an EReader to be any different?

It's one of the differences touted with eInk technology. You don't use a laptop in direct sunlight because you can't. With eInk, you are supposed to be able to (if you want to).

I just find it interesting that none of the device manufacturers, display manufacturers, or patent holders of eInk have given any public information about this.

Shaggy · 02-01-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziegl027

Got no idea if the DR800 is prone to it, though.

It doesn't seem to be manufacturer specific. I would guess that the DR800 will be just as prone to it as any others, meaning that you might have a problem or you might get a screen that works fine.

Thorong La · 07-17-2010, 05:57 AM

Hi, I'm from Germany and a "greenhorn" here as a forum user. I own the SONY PRS-505 and bought the iREX DR800s some days ago, and I love it. But ... in direct sun light the text on the display is fading, when I refresh the page. And I like reading at the beach! Once again, my question: Are there any DR800s(g) users out there with non-fading displays. If there are, it makes sense for me to complain and to change the reader.
With my first PRS-505 I had the same problem. Got a new one from SONY with sun-stable screen.
Informations of iREX users concerning this problem are welcome. Thank you!

Gwaihir · 07-18-2010, 05:09 AM

So.. you can always read in direct sunlight, nor will you actually wear out your reader. But, for best results you'd best flip it upside down for a moment before turning the page. Right?

Thorong La · 07-19-2010, 06:10 AM

Thanks, Gwaihir, for your posting. You are right, before turning a page it is best to flip the reader upside down. Once the display gets some shadow, it works fine. But this is not a solution for continuous reading.
I contacted the seller now, and he will try to exchange the 800s for a sun-stable one. I'll will keep my fingers crossed...
But once again, it would be helpfull for me to know, if there are already DR800s(g) users with sun-stable, non-fading displays!

Gwaihir · 07-19-2010, 01:48 PM

Yeah, of course, I didn't mean to discourage you from trying to exchange it. I'm sort of in a "no iRex for a while" modus already, so I was thinking workarounds.

I had a small field test today when part of my reader's screen caught sunlight during a train trip. I didn't see any effect, so it seems my DR1000 is sun stable

.

joblack · 07-19-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al35

A question to the lucky owners of the DR800 -- did you notice any fading of the text in direct sunlight, as it happens with many other e-ink screens? I'm just wondering if the technology of the screens improved since my Sony 505 (mine fades a lot in the sun), or does the DR800 have the same problem. Thanks!

I have seen the problem two weeks ago. The Iliad v2 was fading away. I got a shock and was mentally prepared to buy a new one. I bought my Iliad almost 3 years ago and I have never seen the problem.

It seems it is only a problem if it's getting really hot and you have strong sunlight (like this record summer). That's most probably the reason I haven't seen it before.

I don't think it's a production problem. The eink parts just loose control if they are getting too hot.

Nerve ranking but I don't think any newer devices haven't got the problem. Try it out but under 'real strong sunlight' and not your 'Canadian summer'. *lol*

Don#t worry after the Iliad cooled down everything was fine again.

And definitely no optical illusion.

Thorong La · 07-20-2010, 04:34 AM

Hello again, Gwaihir, and many thanks for your train experiments. You are a lucky guy with your sun-stable DR1000 screen. But it shows me, that iREX used different batches of eINK displays, at least for different reader types. On the other hand this fact increases my chances to get a stable reader after replacement of my lovely DR800s.

And, of course, joblack, you are right, after cooling down the reader everything becomes fine again. But when I'm reading at the beach it is difficult to find a place without sun and heat. At last, there are definitely eINKs with different quality. My first PRS-505 was bleaching immidiately after coming in contact with sun light (even without great heat). The second PRS-505 (a replacement from SONY) was absolutely heat and sun stable. I'm still reading with it today.

Some times ago wallcraft said: "If you get a fading screen, ask for a new one. The vendors don't advertise that this is a potential problem because most EInk screens are not used outdoors and some owners won't complain about the fading." He is right!

Franky · 07-20-2010, 04:53 AM

i checked my DR800 readers and both have no problems in the sun. it's indeed a great reading. like Shaggy wrote; it's interesting that none of the device manufacturers, display manufacturers, or patent holders of eInk have given any public information about this.

Shaggy · 07-20-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorong La

But once again, it would be helpfull for me to know, if there are already DR800s(g) users with sun-stable, non-fading displays!

I don't think it has anything specifically to do with the DR800. It's a problem with eInk in general. Some displays work find in the sun, others do not. I've never seen any official explanation for what happens, or why it happens. Getting the display swapped out (or exchange the device) should work, as long as the new one doesn't have the same fault.

joblack · 07-20-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorong La

And, of course, joblack, you are right, after cooling down the reader everything becomes fine again. But when I'm reading at the beach it is difficult to find a place without sun and heat. At last, there are definitely eINKs with different quality. My first PRS-505 was bleaching immidiately after coming in contact with sun light (even without great heat). The second PRS-505 (a replacement from SONY) was absolutely heat and sun stable. I'm still reading with it today.

I can't say if the problem existed before. I never have seen the fading before - even in sunlight. Might be a function of time (aging of eink displays).

Nobody knows for sure and only time will tell.

penartur · 07-27-2010, 05:30 AM

My PRS500 had this problem (not only under the sun, but also under a good old non-luminiscent light bulb, which means that the cause is either in a heat or in direct light).
DR800 doesn't seem to have it (and there is no bears on snowy streets now

- it is about 95-105F in the shade last weeks in Moscow)

garywitscher · 07-28-2010, 12:50 AM

I'm not 100% certain, but it seems to me that it's not so much the direct sunlight as it is the temperature of the unit. Often I'll keep my DR800 in my car, and then at some point stop at a park for some reading. During hot days it can get very warm from being in the car. When I take it out to read the text is almost to light to see. As soon as the screen cools down a bit the text darkens to normal. If the sun is shining right on the screen it will heat up again and the text will lighten, all I have to do is point it away from the sun and the text darkens. It seems to me that I can feel the over heated screen if I put my hand on it.

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07-17-2010, 05:57 AM	#20
Thorong La Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: PRS-505, iREX DR800s	Hi, I'm from Germany and a "greenhorn" here as a forum user. I own the SONY PRS-505 and bought the iREX DR800s some days ago, and I love it. But ... in direct sun light the text on the display is fading, when I refresh the page. And I like reading at the beach! Once again, my question: Are there any DR800s(g) users out there with non-fading displays. If there are, it makes sense for me to complain and to change the reader. With my first PRS-505 I had the same problem. Got a new one from SONY with sun-stable screen. Informations of iREX users concerning this problem are welcome. Thank you!

07-18-2010, 05:09 AM	#21
Gwaihir The Windlord Posts: 119 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Netherlands Device: iRex DR1000S, BeBook Club S	So.. you can always read in direct sunlight, nor will you actually wear out your reader. But, for best results you'd best flip it upside down for a moment before turning the page. Right?

07-19-2010, 06:10 AM	#22
Thorong La Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: PRS-505, iREX DR800s	Thanks, Gwaihir, for your posting. You are right, before turning a page it is best to flip the reader upside down. Once the display gets some shadow, it works fine. But this is not a solution for continuous reading. I contacted the seller now, and he will try to exchange the 800s for a sun-stable one. I'll will keep my fingers crossed... But once again, it would be helpfull for me to know, if there are already DR800s(g) users with sun-stable, non-fading displays!

07-19-2010, 01:48 PM	#23
Gwaihir The Windlord Posts: 119 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Netherlands Device: iRex DR1000S, BeBook Club S	Yeah, of course, I didn't mean to discourage you from trying to exchange it. I'm sort of in a "no iRex for a while" modus already, so I was thinking workarounds. I had a small field test today when part of my reader's screen caught sunlight during a train trip. I didn't see any effect, so it seems my DR1000 is sun stable .

07-20-2010, 04:34 AM	#25
Thorong La Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: PRS-505, iREX DR800s	Hello again, Gwaihir, and many thanks for your train experiments. You are a lucky guy with your sun-stable DR1000 screen. But it shows me, that iREX used different batches of eINK displays, at least for different reader types. On the other hand this fact increases my chances to get a stable reader after replacement of my lovely DR800s. And, of course, joblack, you are right, after cooling down the reader everything becomes fine again. But when I'm reading at the beach it is difficult to find a place without sun and heat. At last, there are definitely eINKs with different quality. My first PRS-505 was bleaching immidiately after coming in contact with sun light (even without great heat). The second PRS-505 (a replacement from SONY) was absolutely heat and sun stable. I'm still reading with it today. Some times ago wallcraft said: "If you get a fading screen, ask for a new one. The vendors don't advertise that this is a potential problem because most EInk screens are not used outdoors and some owners won't complain about the fading." He is right!

07-20-2010, 04:53 AM	#26
Franky Nameless Being	i checked my DR800 readers and both have no problems in the sun. it's indeed a great reading. like Shaggy wrote; it's interesting that none of the device manufacturers, display manufacturers, or patent holders of eInk have given any public information about this.

07-27-2010, 05:30 AM	#29
penartur Groupie Posts: 168 Karma: 7182 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Russia, Moscow Device: PRS500 (great UX and BQ), DR800SG (great screen and features)	My PRS500 had this problem (not only under the sun, but also under a good old non-luminiscent light bulb, which means that the cause is either in a heat or in direct light). DR800 doesn't seem to have it (and there is no bears on snowy streets now - it is about 95-105F in the shade last weeks in Moscow)

07-28-2010, 12:50 AM	#30
garywitscher Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 10 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: DR800SG	I'm not 100% certain, but it seems to me that it's not so much the direct sunlight as it is the temperature of the unit. Often I'll keep my DR800 in my car, and then at some point stop at a park for some reading. During hot days it can get very warm from being in the car. When I take it out to read the text is almost to light to see. As soon as the screen cools down a bit the text darkens to normal. If the sun is shining right on the screen it will heat up again and the text will lighten, all I have to do is point it away from the sun and the text darkens. It seems to me that I can feel the over heated screen if I put my hand on it.

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