Is the text flicker problem generic for both Jetbook Lite and Jetbook?

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 04/21/2011 03:50:24

So, this is my question. Anyone had a chance to look into that? The reason why I'm asking that is because I've read some discouraging reports on the net and just don't know what to do next. Before I read them I'd thought of getting a Jetbook Lite but now I'm considering simply a Jetbook (the one that comes with no battery compartment). I don't want anything like that to happen with me after I've bought the device so I have to be absolutely certain.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 04/22/2011 13:51:37

That's an interesting question, but you should include the jetBook Mini and the Aluratek Libra Pro, as well.
It looks like it could be as much a screen issue, as anything else. There has been some speculation that
the "refresh rate" might play a part, so the exact conditions where the problem shows up may vary from
device to device. All these devices use the same reflective TFT LCD screen.

I know with my JBL you have to have a specific lighting condition to see the phenomenon. For mine it's
outdoors in the direct South-Central Texas sun. It's not a real problem for any but "Mad dogs and Englishmen"
the rest of us prefer a little shade for our reading under those conditions. For mine, even in the direct sun
you need to tilt the screen in the right way to be bothered by it. Your mileage may vary.

Luck;
Ken

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 04/22/2011 02:47:29

Ken Maltby

Thx for the answer!

So, the text flicker problem IS generic for JB, JBL & JB Mini but the only way for it to show up is to be outdoors, right? But what about indoors? See, I stumbled across a video where a person who was initially ecstatic about his JBL is now deeply disappointed. Here's what he writes:

'I can no longer endorse this e-reader due to a defect.
DEFECT: Text on the screen (particularly near the lower left corner) will FLICKER incessantly. This is usually not noticeable indoors, but is GLARING outdoors under sunlight and under strong lighting. Product is impossible to use outdoors and is annoying as fuck indoors under some lighting conditions. I do not claim that ALL products are defective but the JetBook Lite I purchased and the one I received in exchange under warranty were both defective as above. Discussions in the Ectaco Forum indicate others are having this issue as well. BEWARE!'

The 'some lighting condition' part is particularly befuddling for me and is something I'd like to find out more about.

BTW, here's the link to that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ArMnRAC3v8

And here are a couple more dealing with the text flicker issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrgxh5pXrxQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvmpg12Y2Lk

There is a more active unofficial forum for the "Ectaco jetBook" at MobileRead Forums, and doing a search there
using the term "flicker" gave me only 13 threads where the term was used.
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/search.php?searchid=4995271
It's not that common a problem or not enough of one to cause very much comment, there are 729 threads in
that forum and only 13 have posts that mention the term at all.

As for my JBL I can only see the shimmering text under direct sunlight and not at all indoors, in the shade or
on an overcast day. I don't see it reading under a bright reading lamp. I guess that you could produce the
needed lighting conditions indoors, and it appears that some units are more likely to display the problem
than others. So I can't guarantee that you won't be bothered by such a problem, but I don't encounter it
in normal use myself.

Luck;
Ken