Did I destroy my Kindle?
May 7, 2012 6:19 AM Subscribe
Did I ruin my Kindle? Can it be fixed?
I've got an older-gen e-ink Kindle, and last night while outside at a soccer game, I absent-mindedly stuck it in my pocket. I guess it was there for about five minutes. When I took it out, it looked fine, was still on the screensaver, nothing wrong. Took it home and thought nothing of it.
But later that night, when I tried to wake it, there was a black bar obscuring about the top inch of the screen. As I put it into sleep and then back out, it spread and got wierder, vertical and horizontal lines all over the place. It also got dimmer and unreadable in places. It's still "working" in that switching it from sleep to wake changes it from the menu to the sleep screen, but it's illegible and getting worse.
I can only assume some moisture got into it while it was in my pocket - it was hot outside and I was sweaty. I don't know anything about the e-ink tech, but I am afraid I may have destroyed it. Is there a way to save it? It was purchased as a refurbished unit from Woot (a long time ago), so warranty is out of the question.
I've got an older-gen e-ink Kindle, and last night while outside at a soccer game, I absent-mindedly stuck it in my pocket. I guess it was there for about five minutes. When I took it out, it looked fine, was still on the screensaver, nothing wrong. Took it home and thought nothing of it.
But later that night, when I tried to wake it, there was a black bar obscuring about the top inch of the screen. As I put it into sleep and then back out, it spread and got wierder, vertical and horizontal lines all over the place. It also got dimmer and unreadable in places. It's still "working" in that switching it from sleep to wake changes it from the menu to the sleep screen, but it's illegible and getting worse.
I can only assume some moisture got into it while it was in my pocket - it was hot outside and I was sweaty. I don't know anything about the e-ink tech, but I am afraid I may have destroyed it. Is there a way to save it? It was purchased as a refurbished unit from Woot (a long time ago), so warranty is out of the question.
Best answer: If it looks anything like this the screen is broken.
Even though you bought it from Woot I'd still try emailing Amazon, they tend to replace them no matter what.
posted by Memo at 6:25 AM on May 7, 2012
Even though you bought it from Woot I'd still try emailing Amazon, they tend to replace them no matter what.
posted by Memo at 6:25 AM on May 7, 2012
Nthing the fact that Amazon offers replacement trade in even for out of warranty Kindles.
posted by radwolf76 at 6:29 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by radwolf76 at 6:29 AM on May 7, 2012
Response by poster: Wow ... based on your feedback, I contacted Amazon support through the website, they called me right away and, miraculously, it's somehow still under warranty. They're second-day-airing me a new one, no questions asked. Amazon is incredible.
Thanks, all!
posted by jbickers at 6:37 AM on May 7, 2012 [12 favorites]
Thanks, all!
posted by jbickers at 6:37 AM on May 7, 2012 [12 favorites]
I'm on my third free replacement Kindle. This time I even got a newer model since the second gen has since been discontinued.
posted by InsanePenguin at 6:41 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by InsanePenguin at 6:41 AM on May 7, 2012
Best answer: FYI, it was probably bending that killed it, rather than moisture, in that short period of time.
posted by randomkeystrike at 6:44 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by randomkeystrike at 6:44 AM on May 7, 2012
Yeah, really, customer service for the Kindle freaking rocks. Glad to hear you're all set!
posted by estlin at 6:46 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by estlin at 6:46 AM on May 7, 2012
Response by poster: Bending ... that makes perfect sense ... thanks, all!
posted by jbickers at 6:51 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by jbickers at 6:51 AM on May 7, 2012
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posted by RichardP at 6:24 AM on May 7, 2012