PRS-600 eink is flawed under the sun

goaspy · 05-22-2010, 01:14 PM

I just discovered a technology flaw I think, but I don't have a different reader to test: under bright sun, the page is not displayed properly

Half of the screen was covered, and half exposed to the sun. The difference is notable.

It doesn't seem to cause side effects, a refresh without sun exposure works fine, but I don't feel comfortable using it too much under the sun, and the contrast is poor.

It is after all one of the key selling points, it should be "great under the sun".

Can anyone test this on other readers?

Cheers.

PS: I hope this isn't a duplicate thread on the subject, I only did a quick search and couldn't find one.

Scott_T · 05-22-2010, 02:11 PM

Not only is it faded its also some foreign language!

luqmaninbmore · 05-22-2010, 02:20 PM

This is a known defect with some screens. You should have your device exchanged. My device does not do this (I've tested it quite a bit).

Mike_73 · 05-22-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

This is a known defect with some screens. You should have your device exchanged. My device does not do this (I've tested it quite a bit).

What? The foreign language????

Sorry, I couldn't stand to make that joke

happy_terd · 05-22-2010, 03:28 PM

I hear a lot of bad stuff about taking the ready outside. Scares me...think I will stay indoors with mine.

DoctorOhh · 05-23-2010, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goaspy

PS: I hope this isn't a duplicate thread on the subject, I only did a quick search and couldn't find one.

Eink isn't flawed your reader is, contact Sony to get it replaced.

This topic has been reported often here. PRS-600 Screen Washed Out is one of the bigger threads on the topic.

I also find it hard to search within this forum. I usually go to Google and format my search accordingly.

site:mobileread.com fade eink

Prefixing your search with site:mobileread.com will limit the search to MobileRead and usually provides me better results for these forums.

neilmarr · 05-23-2010, 03:45 AM

My Sony has this problem, but replacing it would be too much trouble because it was bought in the UK and I'm in the south of France. There's an easy fix, though. When I'm reading in direct sunlight, I simply shade the screen with the flap of my flip-top cover. It makes the device no less comfortable to hold single-handed and does the trick just fine. Neil

GraceKrispy · 05-23-2010, 04:31 PM

I live in Hawaiʻi, and I read quite often out in the sun. It reads great in the sun, one of my favorite places to read, actually. I agree- itʻs a flaw known to some readers, not to eink in general.

DoctorOhh · 05-23-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceKrispy

I live in Hawaiʻi, and I read quite often out in the sun. It reads great in the sun, one of my favorite places to read, actually. I agree- itʻs a flaw known to some readers, not to eink in general.

I also have no problem in the sun. The flaw isn't with some readers it is with some defective screens installed in some readers.

goaspy · 05-24-2010, 05:21 AM

I have to live with it, I have the reader from ebay, delivered in Romania from UK. I'm in UK for another three weeks but I don't have an invoice, I don't think I can get it replaced by Sony.
It's not that bad though, compared with some extreme cases from the thread mentioned above.

shootingMaNs · 05-31-2010, 04:44 PM

So is this really a flaw that Sony will exchange for? I had mine outside today, and the screen faded. I tried the Sony Support Live Chat, and the guy I chatted with said it was normal for eInk displays. I'm kind of disappointed, I was looking forward to using my 600 on the beach this year.

DoctorOhh · 06-01-2010, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shootingMaNs

So is this really a flaw that Sony will exchange for? I had mine outside today, and the screen faded. I tried the Sony Support Live Chat, and the guy I chatted with said it was normal for eInk displays. I'm kind of disappointed, I was looking forward to using my 600 on the beach this year.

This is not normal and Sony will exchange the device, read this thread for other stories.

From Sony's site (click on features tab):

Quote:

Paper-like display for easy reading

The Reader Touch Edition™ utilizes E Ink® Vizplex™ screen technology to deliver an amazing, paper-like display that’s more like ink on paper and fully readable in direct sunlight.

Call Sony or try chat again, if this was normal then they wouldn't be touting the ability for the PRS-600 to be fully readable in direct sunlight.

The chat person needs to be properly trained. If you get the same run around move your complaint up the chain to a supervisor.

My PRS-505 does not fade at all.

shootingMaNs · 06-01-2010, 08:46 AM

Thanks, dwanthny. I'll give it another try today.

mally · 06-01-2010, 01:53 PM

I have also experianced the same problem. After retreating into the shade, mine took about 10 mins to "reset".

HarryT · 06-01-2010, 11:47 PM

All e-ink screens will fade to some extent or other in full sunlight; the faulty ones are those which fade to illegibility. Personally, I wouldn't have said that the photograph at the top of this thread was a problem case - the screen still appears to be perfectly readable. Obviously, though, that's very much a matter of personal perception and, if the original poster considers it to be a problem, he should certainly contact Sony.

05-22-2010, 01:14 PM	#1
goaspy Connoisseur Posts: 77 Karma: 9324 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony PRS-650, Kindle 3	eink is flawed under the sun I just discovered a technology flaw I think, but I don't have a different reader to test: under bright sun, the page is not displayed properly Half of the screen was covered, and half exposed to the sun. The difference is notable. It doesn't seem to cause side effects, a refresh without sun exposure works fine, but I don't feel comfortable using it too much under the sun, and the contrast is poor. It is after all one of the key selling points, it should be "great under the sun". Can anyone test this on other readers? Cheers. PS: I hope this isn't a duplicate thread on the subject, I only did a quick search and couldn't find one. Last edited by goaspy; 05-22-2010 at 02:58 PM.

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05-22-2010, 02:11 PM	#2
Scott_T Groupie Posts: 154 Karma: 876 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS-500, Reb1100(dead)	Not only is it faded its also some foreign language!

05-22-2010, 02:20 PM	#3
luqmaninbmore Da'i Posts: 1,144 Karma: 1217499 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet	This is a known defect with some screens. You should have your device exchanged. My device does not do this (I've tested it quite a bit).

05-22-2010, 03:28 PM	#5
happy_terd Banned Posts: 13,045 Karma: 10105011 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Finally made it to Walmart. Device: PRS 420	I hear a lot of bad stuff about taking the ready outside. Scares me...think I will stay indoors with mine.

05-23-2010, 03:45 AM	#7
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	My Sony has this problem, but replacing it would be too much trouble because it was bought in the UK and I'm in the south of France. There's an easy fix, though. When I'm reading in direct sunlight, I simply shade the screen with the flap of my flip-top cover. It makes the device no less comfortable to hold single-handed and does the trick just fine. Neil

05-23-2010, 04:31 PM	#8
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	I live in Hawaiʻi, and I read quite often out in the sun. It reads great in the sun, one of my favorite places to read, actually. I agree- itʻs a flaw known to some readers, not to eink in general.

05-24-2010, 05:21 AM	#10
goaspy Connoisseur Posts: 77 Karma: 9324 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Sony PRS-650, Kindle 3	I have to live with it, I have the reader from ebay, delivered in Romania from UK. I'm in UK for another three weeks but I don't have an invoice, I don't think I can get it replaced by Sony. It's not that bad though, compared with some extreme cases from the thread mentioned above.

05-31-2010, 04:44 PM	#11
shootingMaNs later... Posts: 199 Karma: 2832520 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Endicott, NY Device: Sony PRS-600, iRiver Story HD, Nook Color Kobo Libra H2O	So is this really a flaw that Sony will exchange for? I had mine outside today, and the screen faded. I tried the Sony Support Live Chat, and the guy I chatted with said it was normal for eInk displays. I'm kind of disappointed, I was looking forward to using my 600 on the beach this year.

06-01-2010, 08:46 AM	#13
shootingMaNs later... Posts: 199 Karma: 2832520 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Endicott, NY Device: Sony PRS-600, iRiver Story HD, Nook Color Kobo Libra H2O	Thanks, dwanthny. I'll give it another try today.

06-01-2010, 01:53 PM	#14
mally Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: currently in Oxford Device: sony e-reader touch	I have also experianced the same problem. After retreating into the shade, mine took about 10 mins to "reset".

06-01-2010, 11:47 PM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	All e-ink screens will fade to some extent or other in full sunlight; the faulty ones are those which fade to illegibility. Personally, I wouldn't have said that the photograph at the top of this thread was a problem case - the screen still appears to be perfectly readable. Obviously, though, that's very much a matter of personal perception and, if the original poster considers it to be a problem, he should certainly contact Sony.

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