The Lifespan of an e-ink e-reader - Page 4

MGlitch · 06-10-2022, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Cell phones before the iPhone had an easily replaceable battery. Cell phones after the iPhone eventually stopped having an easily replaceable battery. SO you'd buy a cell phone and it would last for a long time because you could replace the battery. Apple decided that once the battery got bad enough the phone would have to be replaced. This meant forced obsolescence. And we've been living with battery powered devices that cannot easily have the battery replaced even though there is nothing wrong other then it needs a new battery.

And yet we have evidence here, at least for ereaders, that people are using devices that are fairly old and have measurable upgrades available from a variety of vendors in a variety of options. Smart phones are similar though you will probably go through more charges in the same period of time, there are folks happily using the iPhone 4 today. So maybe the replaceable battery hysteria is just that hysteria.

JSWolf · 06-10-2022, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGlitch

And yet we have evidence here, at least for ereaders, that people are using devices that are fairly old and have measurable upgrades available from a variety of vendors in a variety of options. Smart phones are similar though you will probably go through more charges in the same period of time, there are folks happily using the iPhone 4 today. So maybe the replaceable battery hysteria is just that hysteria.

It's a lot easier to find someplace to get an iPhone battery replaced then it is to get a Kindle/Kobo/Pocketbook/etc. battery replaced.

MGlitch · 06-10-2022, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's a lot easier to find someplace to get an iPhone battery replaced then it is to get a Kindle/Kobo/Pocketbook/etc. battery replaced.

It’s a lot less needed on those devices too. It’s also not terribly more difficult if you can show whoever a tear down of the device since the batteries are not generally custom.

People are using ereaders nearly a decade old with acceptable to them battery life.

Of course people complain when a device that charges to full in 2 hours only lasts them a week, so I suspect we’ll never hear the end of whining about batteries.

Apache · 06-10-2022, 08:13 PM

I replaced the battery in a Nook Color a couple of years ago.
Apache

drofgnal · 06-11-2022, 06:11 AM

I typically replace a kindle before its useful life is over and either donate the old one or pass on to a family member.

jgaiser · 06-21-2022, 01:08 PM

My first Kindle was a Kindle GDX. Amazon says I registered it July 22, 2010. Don't use it much anymore, but it still accepts a charge.

It's been ages since I've been on Mobileread, and it's nice to see so many familiar faces.

Joliet Jake · 06-21-2022, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luffy

I'd like to know how long did your immediate preceding e-reader last while functioning passably.

Whether Kindle, Kobo, or other, it would be useful if I got an inkling about the lifespan of e-readers. That is because so far, only two devices have died on me; my Kindle Keyboard, and my Kobo Glo.

So if you give a brief info about your experiences with your reading and your devices, that would help me figure out roughly how much time my PW4 has got left.

My first device died when I abandoned it (couldn't stand the lack of buttons). The next two were old and used before I got them, and even battery replacement only gave them a year of life.

My Kobo Forma was going to be my forever device, but after four years it developed USB problems (it could charge just fine but couldn't communicate with my computer). I couldn't get to the bottom of it so I bought a USB-C using e-reader. No problems there but I've only had that one for a few months.

I know someone who uses a decade old Sony device. (I think Sony left the e-reader market entirely.) E-readers are comparatively simple vs smartphones and computers, but the screen can die, the memory can die, the buttons can die (if you use them), the USB can die and the battery can die. In my limited experience, the battery is the biggest issue.

ZodWallop · 06-21-2022, 09:04 PM

I wouldn't buy a Kindle, but reading through people's issues with old readers shows the upside of wireless charging. Many devices 'fail' because the USB port gets screwed up.

Quoth · 06-22-2022, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I wouldn't buy a Kindle, but reading through people's issues with old readers shows the upside of wireless charging. Many devices 'fail' because the USB port gets screwed up.

I've never had a faulty USB port on a gadget / peripheral in 20+ years. Maybe some people are rough or some gadgets should fail QA at the factory. Wireless charging is wasteful, usually can't use it while holding the device and creates radio interference, even though it's inductive.

You still need USB to transfer the data!

I've had faulty cables. About €2 to replace. I got a nice 3m long one last week for when power socket is too far away.

Apache · 06-22-2022, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

I've never had a faulty USB port on a gadget / peripheral in 20+ years. Maybe some people are rough or some gadgets should fail QA at the factory. Wireless charging is wasteful, usually can't use it while holding the device and creates radio interference, even though it's inductive.

You still need USB to transfer the data!

I've had faulty cables. About €2 to replace. I got a nice 3m long one last week for when power socket is too far away.

Some devices have been known to have a faulty usb port. The nook Color was one.
Apache

Sirtel · 06-22-2022, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

I've never had a faulty USB port on a gadget / peripheral in 20+ years.

Me neither, on anything actually. But then I'm fairly careful with my electronics.

gmw · 06-22-2022, 08:50 AM

Not everyone works in a nice clean office environment. Farm work can be dusty and dirty and open USB ports quickly fill with gunk. Even just driving in rural Australia can be hazardous to your USB ports - bulldust gets in everywhere.

In my own nice (relatively-)clean office I have cans of compressed air especially for cleaning out ports and the like, but I've not met many farmers carrying them in the toolbox (although maybe they should).

USB is not (necessarily) required for data transfer.

I'm not really a fan of wireless charging either, the inefficiencies offend me, but I can see the appeal.

DiapDealer · 06-22-2022, 09:05 AM

Whether cord or port, I've definitely had devices that got a bit finicky about charging. Things had to be just so. And while I'm not one who spends a lot of time precisely inserting/removing the charging cord on all of my devices, neither am I rip-ram about it.

I like wireless charging that works (without a lot of fidgety placement issues to get things going). The inefficiencies don't trouble me. It's not like it actually contributes any meaningful waste to the rest of the inefficient technologies in play at home/work.

ZodWallop · 06-22-2022, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quoth

I've never had a faulty USB port on a gadget / peripheral in 20+ years. Maybe some people are rough or some gadgets should fail QA at the factory.

Maybe not every issue is specifically about you and your habits.

Quote:

You still need USB to transfer the data!

Sure. But by default using the USB port for one purpose instead of two will reduce the amount of use/abuse it gets.

Quoth · 06-22-2022, 04:47 PM

Yes, I like the charging and data separate! A decent 3mm power jackplug! Then you can do stuff with I/O while charging.

The huge number of different connectors and revisions suggests USB is not a good design. It's actually poor on many levels.

My son has a tablet that will slow charge on USB, but has the old 5V coax plug (with a USB-A plug for PSU) for fast charging.

06-22-2022, 09:05 AM	#58
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,553 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Whether cord or port, I've definitely had devices that got a bit finicky about charging. Things had to be just so. And while I'm not one who spends a lot of time precisely inserting/removing the charging cord on all of my devices, neither am I rip-ram about it. I like wireless charging that works (without a lot of fidgety placement issues to get things going). The inefficiencies don't trouble me. It's not like it actually contributes any meaningful waste to the rest of the inefficient technologies in play at home/work. Last edited by DiapDealer; 06-22-2022 at 09:12 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Lifespan of the E-ink monitor（screen）	digitalnut	Alternative Devices	15	09-10-2018 06:25 AM
Looking E-reader(e-ink or color e-ink) with good screen	Neru	Which one should I buy?	3	06-30-2016 11:49 AM
Lifespan of the Kindle	S Livingston	Amazon Kindle	83	01-01-2012 03:07 PM
E-ink screen lifespan?	301verbs	News	21	05-22-2009 11:54 AM
Reader Lifespan (Longevity)	bob_ninja	Sony Reader	63	01-02-2007 11:59 PM

06-10-2022, 08:13 PM	#49
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,140 Karma: 90000000 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I replaced the battery in a Nook Color a couple of years ago. Apache

06-11-2022, 06:11 AM	#50
drofgnal Wizard Posts: 1,230 Karma: 7838248 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max	I typically replace a kindle before its useful life is over and either donate the old one or pass on to a family member.

06-21-2022, 01:08 PM	#51
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,281 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	My first Kindle was a Kindle GDX. Amazon says I registered it July 22, 2010. Don't use it much anymore, but it still accepts a charge. It's been ages since I've been on Mobileread, and it's nice to see so many familiar faces.

06-21-2022, 09:04 PM	#53
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 10,994 Karma: 108312789 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara HD; Nook ST w/Glowlight, (2015) Glowlight Plus, Paperwhite 3	I wouldn't buy a Kindle, but reading through people's issues with old readers shows the upside of wireless charging. Many devices 'fail' because the USB port gets screwed up.

06-22-2022, 08:50 AM	#57
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Not everyone works in a nice clean office environment. Farm work can be dusty and dirty and open USB ports quickly fill with gunk. Even just driving in rural Australia can be hazardous to your USB ports - bulldust gets in everywhere. In my own nice (relatively-)clean office I have cans of compressed air especially for cleaning out ports and the like, but I've not met many farmers carrying them in the toolbox (although maybe they should). USB is not (necessarily) required for data transfer. I'm not really a fan of wireless charging either, the inefficiencies offend me, but I can see the appeal.

06-22-2022, 04:47 PM	#60
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,169 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	Yes, I like the charging and data separate! A decent 3mm power jackplug! Then you can do stuff with I/O while charging. The huge number of different connectors and revisions suggests USB is not a good design. It's actually poor on many levels. My son has a tablet that will slow charge on USB, but has the old 5V coax plug (with a USB-A plug for PSU) for fast charging.

Advert

Advert