Kindle PW front light...

freezer2k · 09-01-2013, 07:59 AM

Hi guys,

I bought a Paperwhite on Friday in the local Saturn store (big electronics chain in Germany).

It had a little backlight bleeding. It seemed like the one they had in display was better. So I went back on Saturday and thought they can give me a better replacement.

I've read this post before, hoping newer kindles won't be affected (so much) by the uneven lighting issue: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...2&postcount=11

The salesman there gave me a new one. Only at home I noticed the seals were already broken.
And not enough, this unit has way worse lighting

That much, that I would be happy to have the initial unit back.

This ones lighting is rather brownish in the upper area, and a mix out of white/white-brown in the lower area. I attached a photo. It's not so easy to capture this on photo, but you can see it in the lower-right corner.

My main reason for the PW was the light! If it wasn't for the light, I would have stayed with my Kindle2 for a while.

I'm torn what to do now,
Return it once again, hope that they will provide me with a better unit. I doubt they will unpack many units to find me a good one, since the packaging is sealed and they lose value that way.

Get a Kobo? I like the look and feel of the Kindle better and I think the software is also better. But having a good front light might be an acceptable trade-off for me.

Return it and get the money back? Maybe the PW2 has fixed this. I could live a while with my Kindle2. Although I would really enjoy reading with a front light on my balcony!

mewmartigan · 09-01-2013, 08:11 AM

I would return it and wait for the next Kindle Paperwhite. The fact that you can no longer buy the WiFi Paperwhite on Amazon is probably a good indication that a new one is coming in a few weeks.

I will assume, based on complains of blotching and such that the new Paperwhite will have improved lighting...more even, less blotching, a year of tech refinement, etc. Although to be fair, I think the current Paperwhite is just fine.

freezer2k · 09-01-2013, 08:25 AM

Hm.. in Germany you can still buy the WiFi-only version at Amazon.

Dr. Drib · 09-01-2013, 01:57 PM

I think your paperwhite looks just fine.

Mine looks the same way, and I'm quite happy with it.

The decision to return it, of course, is yours.

Don

freezer2k · 09-01-2013, 02:26 PM

ya..not sure if i can get used to the uneven lighting...

What makes me also want to return it, is that the first unit was much better in comparison...

So i _know_ it can be done better...

mewmartigan · 09-01-2013, 04:27 PM

Sorry, i missed the germany part.

the lighting looks okay, maybe give it a few days and see how you feel.

Josieb1 · 09-01-2013, 06:12 PM

The unevenness at the bottom is normal, and the rest of the screen looks fine to me, the thing I would return it for though is the little spec of bright light along the bottom left. You could return it and ask for a sealed unit, or just your money back. Hopefully a new paper white is due soon.

vxf · 09-01-2013, 06:53 PM

Looks fine. Stop obsessing and get on reading!

No, more seriously... only you can tell if it bothers you. But I found out that minor defects are not very noticeable, once you start actually using the device...

HarryT · 09-02-2013, 11:59 AM

One thing it is important to stress is that EVERY Paperwhite screen will look awful if you turn the lighting up to maximum. What matter is what it looks like at the lighting level you're going to actually use it at (which, for me, is about 10-12 in daylight; 4 in a dark room).

I do have to agree that your screen looks normal. You'll only see the shadow cones from the lights at the bottom if you have the lighting on high.

freezer2k · 09-02-2013, 12:55 PM

it looks weird at every light level.

Partially white, partially brown....
As I said, it's hard to catch on photo.

I'll try to get a sealed unit, the first one was better for sure.

freezer2k · 09-02-2013, 03:41 PM

ok,

just returned it.
The salesman there was really nice this time. He got me a new, sealed one, and we took a look at it together. The lighting is definitely more homogenous. It looks especially much better when brightness is reduced.

It also doesn't have this bright light spot. It seems to have 3-4 tiny pixels that light up, but they aren't visible at moderate light-levels.

I think i can really live with this unit

Chi Cygni · 09-02-2013, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

One thing it is important to stress is that EVERY Paperwhite screen will look awful if you turn the lighting up to maximum.

Oh no, I respectfully disagree. Mine turned up to maximum looks absolutely perfect and truly paper-white. I was lucky to get wonderful screen, which when turned down for night reading has comforting slight yellow tint. It has even light with no faults regardless of setting and no light bleed on the left either. I love my PW. Perhaps it was good to buy it so late when problems were ironed out, or so it seems. I hope it will serve me well for as long as possible (touch wood)

freezer2k · 09-02-2013, 04:29 PM

hm..

maybe Saturn got a old charge for cheap?

SampleAndy · 09-02-2013, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

One thing it is important to stress is that EVERY Paperwhite screen will look awful if you turn the lighting up to maximum...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi Cygni

Oh no, I respectfully disagree. Mine turned up to maximum looks absolutely perfect and truly paper-white.
...
I hope it will serve me well for as long as possible (touch wood)

I couldn't agree more. At 24, the screen is even and white, and at 0, it looks like a slightly yellowed K4. The only time I change the lighting is when the light gets stuck off. Otherwise, it is always set at 7. I hesitated buying for a long time because of all the problems that were being reported here, and I bought mine from Best Buy so that I could see what I was getting before I paid for it. I have some issues with the software, but the visibility and the touch response are all I could ask for!

Illyria · 09-02-2013, 06:32 PM

I have FINALLY, after almost a year of being undecided, ordered a PW from Amazon today.

The main reason is that both of the two frontlit readers I already own, while having perfectly uniform light, are much too bright even at their lowest setting for my sensitive eyes and I simply cannot read with them in the evening, let alone at night in bed. I got the Cybook because of the night mode feature but even the bright white letters on the black background hurt my eyes. Since the Paperwhite can be dimmed much lower I have such high expectations in this regard.

Now I'm just really really hoping that I will get a good unit without blotches, colors etc. The many problems I have heard about were the reason I got the Kobo Glo and Cybook in the first place. Wish me luck!!!

09-01-2013, 07:59 AM	#1
freezer2k Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 154 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 2 intl.	Kindle PW front light... Hi guys, I bought a Paperwhite on Friday in the local Saturn store (big electronics chain in Germany). It had a little backlight bleeding. It seemed like the one they had in display was better. So I went back on Saturday and thought they can give me a better replacement. I've read this post before, hoping newer kindles won't be affected (so much) by the uneven lighting issue: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...2&postcount=11 The salesman there gave me a new one. Only at home I noticed the seals were already broken. And not enough, this unit has way worse lighting That much, that I would be happy to have the initial unit back. This ones lighting is rather brownish in the upper area, and a mix out of white/white-brown in the lower area. I attached a photo. It's not so easy to capture this on photo, but you can see it in the lower-right corner. My main reason for the PW was the light! If it wasn't for the light, I would have stayed with my Kindle2 for a while. I'm torn what to do now, Return it once again, hope that they will provide me with a better unit. I doubt they will unpack many units to find me a good one, since the packaging is sealed and they lose value that way. Get a Kobo? I like the look and feel of the Kindle better and I think the software is also better. But having a good front light might be an acceptable trade-off for me. Return it and get the money back? Maybe the PW2 has fixed this. I could live a while with my Kindle2. Although I would really enjoy reading with a front light on my balcony! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by freezer2k; 09-01-2013 at 08:05 AM.

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09-01-2013, 08:11 AM	#2
mewmartigan Guru Posts: 852 Karma: 8242060 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Oasis (2019)	I would return it and wait for the next Kindle Paperwhite. The fact that you can no longer buy the WiFi Paperwhite on Amazon is probably a good indication that a new one is coming in a few weeks. I will assume, based on complains of blotching and such that the new Paperwhite will have improved lighting...more even, less blotching, a year of tech refinement, etc. Although to be fair, I think the current Paperwhite is just fine.

09-01-2013, 08:25 AM	#3
freezer2k Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 154 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 2 intl.	Hm.. in Germany you can still buy the WiFi-only version at Amazon.

09-01-2013, 01:57 PM	#4
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,743 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	I think your paperwhite looks just fine. Mine looks the same way, and I'm quite happy with it. The decision to return it, of course, is yours. Don

09-01-2013, 02:26 PM	#5
freezer2k Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 154 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 2 intl.	ya..not sure if i can get used to the uneven lighting... What makes me also want to return it, is that the first unit was much better in comparison... So i _know_ it can be done better...

09-01-2013, 04:27 PM	#6
mewmartigan Guru Posts: 852 Karma: 8242060 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Oasis (2019)	Sorry, i missed the germany part. the lighting looks okay, maybe give it a few days and see how you feel.

09-01-2013, 06:12 PM	#7
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,009 Karma: 18018738 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kobo Forma, Libra2, Clara 2e, Kindle PW SE & Kindle 2022	The unevenness at the bottom is normal, and the rest of the screen looks fine to me, the thing I would return it for though is the little spec of bright light along the bottom left. You could return it and ask for a sealed unit, or just your money back. Hopefully a new paper white is due soon.

09-01-2013, 06:53 PM	#8
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	Looks fine. Stop obsessing and get on reading! No, more seriously... only you can tell if it bothers you. But I found out that minor defects are not very noticeable, once you start actually using the device...

09-02-2013, 11:59 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	One thing it is important to stress is that EVERY Paperwhite screen will look awful if you turn the lighting up to maximum. What matter is what it looks like at the lighting level you're going to actually use it at (which, for me, is about 10-12 in daylight; 4 in a dark room). I do have to agree that your screen looks normal. You'll only see the shadow cones from the lights at the bottom if you have the lighting on high.

09-02-2013, 12:55 PM	#10
freezer2k Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 154 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 2 intl.	it looks weird at every light level. Partially white, partially brown.... As I said, it's hard to catch on photo. I'll try to get a sealed unit, the first one was better for sure.

09-02-2013, 03:41 PM	#11
freezer2k Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 154 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 2 intl.	ok, just returned it. The salesman there was really nice this time. He got me a new, sealed one, and we took a look at it together. The lighting is definitely more homogenous. It looks especially much better when brightness is reduced. It also doesn't have this bright light spot. It seems to have 3-4 tiny pixels that light up, but they aren't visible at moderate light-levels. I think i can really live with this unit

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09-02-2013, 04:29 PM	#13
freezer2k Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 154 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 2 intl.	hm.. maybe Saturn got a old charge for cheap?

09-02-2013, 06:32 PM	#15
Illyria Connoisseur Posts: 69 Karma: 525196 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Germany Device: KK, K5, K7, KPW3	I have FINALLY, after almost a year of being undecided, ordered a PW from Amazon today. The main reason is that both of the two frontlit readers I already own, while having perfectly uniform light, are much too bright even at their lowest setting for my sensitive eyes and I simply cannot read with them in the evening, let alone at night in bed. I got the Cybook because of the night mode feature but even the bright white letters on the black background hurt my eyes. Since the Paperwhite can be dimmed much lower I have such high expectations in this regard. Now I'm just really really hoping that I will get a good unit without blotches, colors etc. The many problems I have heard about were the reason I got the Kobo Glo and Cybook in the first place. Wish me luck!!!