Kindle 3's keep breaking

samn9 · 10-27-2011, 02:47 PM

I bought a Kindle 3 last October and the screen broke after a few weeks. Sent it back, got a new one and a case to protect the screen. Just over a month ago the same thing happened - screen freezes and gradually lines start appearing. I got a new one which worked fine for a few weeks, until the other day I noticed the screen had broken again in the same way.

I've dropped my iPhone many times on hard surfaces and it's barely been scratched, yet my Kindle has been handled with much more care and had its own case and it seems to fail anyway. Is this a common problem with Kindles or have I just been unlucky?

My 1 year warranty will probably run out in a couple of days so I'm worried it won't be replaced, or that if it is replaced, the next time something goes wrong I have no option but to buy a different brand of e-reader. Really not happy

ucfgrad93 · 10-27-2011, 03:28 PM

Both my K2 and K3 have been rock solid. Have to agree with PhillipA82, you are probably doing something wrong.

nesler · 10-27-2011, 03:46 PM

What case are you using? When you go somewhere, where do you stow it?

mtsp · 10-27-2011, 03:48 PM

Get a leather case!
I'm a little clumsy and was afraid of breaking it so I got one.
Never had a scratch.

patrickt · 10-27-2011, 04:08 PM

Unlucky or a problem with Kindles in general are not the only two choices. Think really hard and you might come up with a third choice.

pidgeon92 · 10-27-2011, 06:02 PM

It's most likely something in the way you are stowing it. Pressure on the screen; or anything that could slightly twist the unit, like putting in a bag stuffed with other heavy items, can easily break a Kindle. My husband broke his Kindle while it was in his briefcase.

ErinLindsey · 10-27-2011, 10:33 PM

What case is it?

Is it the Amazon non-lighted cover? There was a problem last year with the non-lighted covers. Causing screen freezes and random reboots. Dont think I heard of it causing screen breakage tho...mostly it was causing some sort of short that was making the Kindle malfunction.

Something to do with how the clips attached to the Kindle. The Amazon lighted covers use the same clips and the theory was that the non-lighted cover clips was causing a short or something.

RainingLemur · 10-28-2011, 12:05 AM

Be more careful, get a case, and don't use it as a frisbee.

pj123 · 10-28-2011, 01:02 AM

Get a wood or steel case.

HarryT · 10-28-2011, 01:17 AM

The problem lies in your handling of the Kindle. I've been using eInk devices for some 6 years, and have never broken one. Screens do not spontaneously break.

DMB · 10-28-2011, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The problem lies in your handling of the Kindle. I've been using eInk devices for some 6 years, and have never broken one. Screens do not spontaneously break.

I don't think you can say that with a 100% probability. It may be the most likely explanation, but just as there are tiny numbers of people who win huge prizes in lotteries, so there are people whom lightning strikes twice or who get defective goods more than average.

captkjaneway · 10-28-2011, 03:11 AM

Seems odd that this poor OP, and LawLover here https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=154530 also has experienced screen issues.

Personally mine gets thrown about all over the place, and has been slept on, dropped off the bed and sofa and flown all around Asia with no damage - I guess it's just sods law.

HarryT · 10-28-2011, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMB

I don't think you can say that with a 100% probability. It may be the most likely explanation, but just as there are tiny numbers of people who win huge prizes in lotteries, so there are people whom lightning strikes twice or who get defective goods more than average.

I am 100% certain that this is the explanation. I may, of course, be wrong

.

samn9 · 10-28-2011, 03:18 AM

I have a leather case, it's the non-lighted cover from Amazon.

I did have it in a bag of books - I thought it would be built to handle that, especially with a case on. Oh well.

HarryT · 10-28-2011, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samn9

I did have it in a bag of books - I thought it would be built to handle that, especially with a case on. Oh well.

You need to understand that an eInk screen has a very thin layer of glass, called the "screen substrate", below the outer plastic screen. Any twisting force that's applied to the device will fracture this substrate. It's fine to keep it in a bag of books provided that you make sure that it's firmly sandwiched between two other sturdy books, so that nothing can press on it at an angle.

10-27-2011, 02:47 PM	#1
samn9 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kindle 3	Kindle 3's keep breaking I bought a Kindle 3 last October and the screen broke after a few weeks. Sent it back, got a new one and a case to protect the screen. Just over a month ago the same thing happened - screen freezes and gradually lines start appearing. I got a new one which worked fine for a few weeks, until the other day I noticed the screen had broken again in the same way. I've dropped my iPhone many times on hard surfaces and it's barely been scratched, yet my Kindle has been handled with much more care and had its own case and it seems to fail anyway. Is this a common problem with Kindles or have I just been unlucky? My 1 year warranty will probably run out in a couple of days so I'm worried it won't be replaced, or that if it is replaced, the next time something goes wrong I have no option but to buy a different brand of e-reader. Really not happy

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10-27-2011, 03:28 PM	#2
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,370 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	Both my K2 and K3 have been rock solid. Have to agree with PhillipA82, you are probably doing something wrong.

10-27-2011, 03:46 PM	#3
nesler Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 548458 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: California Device: Too many to list	What case are you using? When you go somewhere, where do you stow it?

10-27-2011, 03:48 PM	#4
mtsp Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: São Paulo, Brasil/Brazil Device: Kindle 3 3G	Get a leather case! I'm a little clumsy and was afraid of breaking it so I got one. Never had a scratch.

10-27-2011, 04:08 PM	#5
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	Unlucky or a problem with Kindles in general are not the only two choices. Think really hard and you might come up with a third choice.

10-27-2011, 06:02 PM	#6
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	It's most likely something in the way you are stowing it. Pressure on the screen; or anything that could slightly twist the unit, like putting in a bag stuffed with other heavy items, can easily break a Kindle. My husband broke his Kindle while it was in his briefcase.

10-27-2011, 10:33 PM	#7
ErinLindsey Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: K-Fire, Kindle 2, Kindle 3, Kobo, iPad3, iPad Mini, HTC Evo	What case is it? Is it the Amazon non-lighted cover? There was a problem last year with the non-lighted covers. Causing screen freezes and random reboots. Dont think I heard of it causing screen breakage tho...mostly it was causing some sort of short that was making the Kindle malfunction. Something to do with how the clips attached to the Kindle. The Amazon lighted covers use the same clips and the theory was that the non-lighted cover clips was causing a short or something.

10-28-2011, 12:05 AM	#8
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Be more careful, get a case, and don't use it as a frisbee.

10-28-2011, 01:02 AM	#9
pj123 Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 1050004 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Lenovo Tablet 3 Pro, Kobo Aura H2O, Ipad	Get a wood or steel case.

10-28-2011, 01:17 AM	#10
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The problem lies in your handling of the Kindle. I've been using eInk devices for some 6 years, and have never broken one. Screens do not spontaneously break.

10-28-2011, 03:11 AM	#12
captkjaneway Cockney Sci-Fi Geek! Posts: 472 Karma: 1463094 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wan Chai, Hong Kong Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Samsung Tab S 8.4", Samsung S6 Edge	Seems odd that this poor OP, and LawLover here https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=154530 also has experienced screen issues. Personally mine gets thrown about all over the place, and has been slept on, dropped off the bed and sofa and flown all around Asia with no damage - I guess it's just sods law.

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10-28-2011, 03:18 AM	#14
samn9 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Kindle 3	I have a leather case, it's the non-lighted cover from Amazon. I did have it in a bag of books - I thought it would be built to handle that, especially with a case on. Oh well.