AfterDawn: News

Amazon sued over broken Kindle screen

Amazon.com Inc. is being sued by Seattle resident Matthew Geise over an alleged design flaw affecting the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX. The suit alleges the problem is really sourced with the separately-sold protector cover. It claims the covers designed and sold by Amazon for the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX put pressure on the hinge and cause the screen to crack. The suit is seeking class-action status.

"Mr. Geise understood that the Kindle Cover he purchased for the Kindle was, in fact, compatible with the Kindle and would not damage the Kindle as a result of ordinary use. Amazon never disclosed to Plaintiff that using the Kindle Cover with the Kindle would damage the Kindle," according to the complaint.



The complain cites an array of consumer complaint postings on the Internet about the same problem. "Because of the relatively small size of the typical damages, and the modest resources of most consumers, it is unlikely that most Class Members could afford to seek recovery against Amazon on their own. A class action is therefore the only viable, economical and rational means for members of the Class to recover from Amazon for the damages it has caused," the complaint reads.

The lawsuit seeks replacement and funds to repair the broken Kindles as well as additional damages. Amazon does not comment on active litigation but a spokesman said that, "anyone who has an issue with the cover attachment mechanism to return the cover and device for a free replacement so we can investigate further."

Written by: James Delahunty @ 15 Jul 2009 22:04

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• 20 comments

• EnigmaCM

  I am all up for technology, getting a fair deal, given relative information on a design flaw if their was one but anyone who buys a Kindle need to just get an actual book. Sorry but if you need to spend over 300 dollars to read a book you still have to purchase digitally is mildly retarded. Why no pick up a cheap Palm, get a reader program for it and download some books for it on the cheap, some even are free?

  16.7.2009 03:03 #1

• blueboy09

  A word to the wise: be careful about 3rd party add-ons to a product. Considering the amount of complaints that Amazon got from their users, they should've acted more quickly for a better replacement for a screen protector. Now they are facing a CAL and angry customers who want justice. Isn't the people of America wonderful or what? Makes me want to go buy a book now.=) - BLUEBOY

  16.7.2009 03:50 #2

• beanos66

  Quote:"anyone who has an issue with the cover attachment mechanism to return the cover and device for a free replacement so we can investigate further."
  so the law suit is just so this gfb can claim "...additional damages"

  16.7.2009 04:12 #3

• emugamer

  Originally posted by EnigmaCM: I am all up for technology, getting a fair deal, given relative information on a design flaw if their was one but anyone who buys a Kindle need to just get an actual book. Sorry but if you need to spend over 300 dollars to read a book you still have to purchase digitally is mildly retarded. Why no pick up a cheap Palm, get a reader program for it and download some books for it on the cheap, some even are free?Have you even used one? It's great for trips. Especially great of you commute by public transportation. Is it mildly retarded to spend $250 on an mp3 player because you still have to buy the music? Would you rather take a box of CD's with you everywhere you go, or an MP3 player?

  16.7.2009 11:29 #4

• 21Q

  Quote:Originally posted by EnigmaCM: I am all up for technology, getting a fair deal, given relative information on a design flaw if their was one but anyone who buys a Kindle need to just get an actual book. Sorry but if you need to spend over 300 dollars to read a book you still have to purchase digitally is mildly retarded. Why no pick up a cheap Palm, get a reader program for it and download some books for it on the cheap, some even are free?Have you even used one? It's great for trips. Especially great of you commute by public transportation. Is it mildly retarded to spend $250 on an mp3 player because you still have to buy the music? Would you rather take a box of CD's with you everywhere you go, or an MP3 player?Not a great example. You need to buy a CD Player no? and single mp3s are cheaper than whole cds. Get a better example and maybe I'll buy one of these. Between cell phones, mp3s, and other very common devices, this product isn't worth it. I mean, Yeah you can put a couple of books on it, but seriously in the time you finish one book you drop it and get another, don't have to lug around tons of books.

  16.7.2009 12:02 #5

• emugamer

  Quote:Quote:Originally posted by EnigmaCM: I am all up for technology, getting a fair deal, given relative information on a design flaw if their was one but anyone who buys a Kindle need to just get an actual book. Sorry but if you need to spend over 300 dollars to read a book you still have to purchase digitally is mildly retarded. Why no pick up a cheap Palm, get a reader program for it and download some books for it on the cheap, some even are free?Have you even used one? It's great for trips. Especially great of you commute by public transportation. Is it mildly retarded to spend $250 on an mp3 player because you still have to buy the music? Would you rather take a box of CD's with you everywhere you go, or an MP3 player?Not a great example. You need to buy a CD Player no? and single mp3s are cheaper than whole cds. Get a better example and maybe I'll buy one of these. Between cell phones, mp3s, and other very common devices, this product isn't worth it. I mean, Yeah you can put a couple of books on it, but seriously in the time you finish one book you drop it and get another, don't have to lug around tons of books.Not trying to convince anyone to get one of these. The example I gave is good enough assuming that most of the population probably already has a CD player already. When I go to a friends home, I don't carry a CD player there, because he already has one. I don't carry a CD player in my car because it already has one. And I'd rather carry an mp3 player than my CD collection when I go to my car or a friends house. Anyway, no matter what anyone says, or how "good" the example is, you probably already thought about this device and determined that any use you would get out of it is not worth the price. Fair enough. But at least ackowledge that you can put more than "a couple of books on it" and that there are many other uses besides books. And for the record, there are hundreds of ways that you could buy a CD cheaper than paying for an MP3. I don't get your point there.
  
  I've been thinking of getting one of these. My friend has the Kindle 1 and I was messing around with it. The more I messed around with it, the more I realized all of the good uses I could put it to - really de-clutter my space. A lot of reviewers point out the improvements from the first one. I'm still conflicted about the high price, but I do see how I would get good use out of it.

  16.7.2009 12:56 #6

• 21Q

  I'll avoid quoting to save some space. I see your point. I haven't messed with it, so not at a true position to say it's worth or not. Everyones got their own opinions and value to things, so who am I to say.
  
  Back on topic. I think partially the users fault. Besides the first people who bought that case, any oters who bought would have seen the bad reviews. Research should go into buying a protctive case. In any case it's still a defective product so a Class action should be taken.

  16.7.2009 13:54 #7

• blueboy09

  I understand the validity of the posts here, but the accessory is whats important here, IMO. The issue here is not so much the Kindle itself, cause there are some benefits to it, but would there be any alternative to a protective screen that would work, and don' t say a book which i did cause that doesn't count. Any takers here? - BLUEBOY

  16.7.2009 16:16 #8

• emugamer

  Looks like it depends on what is being protected. The screen or the entire front of the device. If just the screen, why not stick to a clear plastic cover? They've been selling those for years for practically all electronic devices that require you to rub your finger or a stylus on a screen. Unless the cover he bought was his way of "skinning" the device with as custom design. Now I'm curious....gonna look at what cover he may be referring to.....if it's still on Amazon :P
  
  I agree though about 3rd party accessories. At times, I've done really well with console 3rd party accessories, but there were a couple of times I was royally screwed.

  16.7.2009 16:28 #9

• EnigmaCM

  Granted everyone has an opinion on the Kindle,I prefer not to use one since i have a Palm pilot that does this and more already. Of course, they are not the same thing given one has a bigger screen than the other but my Palm can play MP3, view movies, view pictures, read ebooks which are cheap, some are even free, download free newspaper subcriptions and other news via Avantgo, can surf the web via wifi, I can play games on it, keep everything i need organized with a few applications that are either built in or are freeware or which I can buy if I wanted. Plus it fits in my pocket, the case i have for it is streamlined and soft and protects the screen very well and I can expand its memory. This is my reason as to why even get a kindle...for a fraction of its cost, I can get a Palm on the cheap but to each his own
  
  Emugamer, I know what you mean, i did in fact try one and I did not like it. Like I said, your opinion and mine are different. I was stating personally i would not buy one since the Palm I have does this and much more. And yes your example of the MP3 player is bad since if you already have the music on cd, you can convert it over to MP3 format and not buy the same music over

  16.7.2009 17:34 #10

• EnigmaCM

  Originally posted by blueboy09: I understand the validity of the posts here, but the accessory is whats important here, IMO. The issue here is not so much the Kindle itself, cause there are some benefits to it, but would there be any alternative to a protective screen that would work, and don' t say a book which i did cause that doesn't count. Any takers here? - BLUEBOYIf I where to buy a Kindle and wanted something to protect it, I would use the full body protection offered by Zagg http://www.zagg.com/invisibleshield/other/amazon expensive yes but well worth it

  16.7.2009 17:40 #11

• emugamer

  Originally posted by EnigmaCM: Emugamer, I know what you mean, i did in fact try one and I did not like it. Like I said, your opinion and mine are different. I was stating personally i would not buy one since the Palm I have does this and much more. And yes your example of the MP3 player is bad since if you already have the music on cd, you can convert it over to MP3 format and not buy the same music overI respect everyone's opinion. I was just suggesting that there are people who are not mildly retarded that can find many uses for this device. It's one thing to state your opinion. It's another thing when you group everyone with the opposing opinion in a sub-category just because you don't personally understand their pov. As for my example, it had nothing to do with the price of an mp3. I'll end it there as I don't want to go off topic again. If you get it, then great. If not, then it's not really that important.

  16.7.2009 18:13 #12

• Gnawnivek

  Originally posted by EnigmaCM: I am all up for technology, getting a fair deal, given relative information on a design flaw if their was one but anyone who buys a Kindle need to just get an actual book. Sorry but if you need to spend over 300 dollars to read a book you still have to purchase digitally is mildly retarded. Why no pick up a cheap Palm, get a reader program for it and download some books for it on the cheap, some even are free?Obviously you never used the Kindle... Two words, battery life :) I turned my Kindle's wireless off (don't need that most of the time anyway) and i don't have to charge the damn thing for weeks!

  17.7.2009 09:36 #13

• EnigmaCM

  Originally posted by Gnawnivek:
  Obviously you never used the Kindle... Two words, battery life :) I turned my Kindle's wireless off (don't need that most of the time anyway) and i don't have to charge the damn thing for weeks!
  I have used a Kindle and know of the battery life but since hardly read due to lack of time, that would be of little interest or a way of swaying me over into liking it. Sure my Palm uses only 2 hours of battery life but that is all I need to and from work everyday since i also have a PSP and a DSi I can use to entertain myself besides my phone so to me adding a Kindle to my arsenal IS a waste, again, my opinion. I am pretty sure your reasons for owning one differ way different then mine from getting one

  18.7.2009 08:22 #14

• Gnawnivek

  Originally posted by EnigmaCM: Originally posted by Gnawnivek:
  Obviously you never used the Kindle... Two words, battery life :) I turned my Kindle's wireless off (don't need that most of the time anyway) and i don't have to charge the damn thing for weeks!
  I have used a Kindle and know of the battery life but since hardly read due to lack of time, that would be of little interest or a way of swaying me over into liking it. Sure my Palm uses only 2 hours of battery life but that is all I need to and from work everyday since i also have a PSP and a DSi I can use to entertain myself besides my phone so to me adding a Kindle to my arsenal IS a waste, again, my opinion. I am pretty sure your reasons for owning one differ way different then mine from getting oneThat's the thing, you don't read much :) so, telling people that an cheap mobile device will do the trick is not completely correct. I'm an avid reader so I know what's like to read one hour on the mobile or iPhone/touch vs. Kindle... As to real book vs. Kindle, there are a lot of pros going with Kindle. For one, no waiting on lines. For two, build in dictionary :) Three, don't need to carry multiple books (think of the Twilight saga). Four, free samples... Five, achieved footnotes (you can e-mail them too). Six, e-ink, same as reading the real book and very good battery life. Seven, you can obtain the free reading materials for mobile devices too.. Eight, Manga! Manga! Manga! There are apps let you convert manga pages for Kindle. I didn't include the on-line stuff and audio, since I don't really care about those anyway. Real books are cool, but I just don't have rooms in the basement anymore :(. Libaries are cool too, but too many disappointing trips.
  
  
  

  So many dvds, not enough times...

  18.7.2009 17:35 #15

• EnigmaCM

  Originally posted by Gnawnivek: Originally posted by EnigmaCM: Originally posted by Gnawnivek:
  Obviously you never used the Kindle... Two words, battery life :) I turned my Kindle's wireless off (don't need that most of the time anyway) and i don't have to charge the damn thing for weeks!
  I have used a Kindle and know of the battery life but since hardly read due to lack of time, that would be of little interest or a way of swaying me over into liking it. Sure my Palm uses only 2 hours of battery life but that is all I need to and from work everyday since i also have a PSP and a DSi I can use to entertain myself besides my phone so to me adding a Kindle to my arsenal IS a waste, again, my opinion. I am pretty sure your reasons for owning one differ way different then mine from getting oneThat's the thing, you don't read much :) so, telling people that an cheap mobile device will do the trick is not completely correct. I'm an avid reader so I know what's like to read one hour on the mobile or iPhone/touch vs. Kindle... As to real book vs. Kindle, there are a lot of pros going with Kindle. For one, no waiting on lines. For two, build in dictionary :) Three, don't need to carry multiple books (think of the Twilight saga). Four, free samples... Five, achieved footnotes (you can e-mail them too). Six, e-ink, same as reading the real book and very good battery life. Seven, you can obtain the free reading materials for mobile devices too.. Eight, Manga! Manga! Manga! There are apps let you convert manga pages for Kindle. I didn't include the on-line stuff and audio, since I don't really care about those anyway. Real books are cool, but I just don't have rooms in the basement anymore :(. Libaries are cool too, but too many disappointing trips.
  Touche'

  20.7.2009 01:06 #16

• Tarsellis

  I don't want one, and I don't see the appeal. It's too small, too fragile, doesn't include wireless, and books won't work on it in a couple generations. Sorry, but for now I'll stick to, . . wait for it . . books! Those don't go obsolete and suffer from DRM, and I know I will still be able to read them in 3-10 years.
  
  Until they finally put out what the technology is already there for, these book readers will never catch on. Magazine sized, flexible, static image (an electrophoretic display that doesn't changed without a new charge being applied), with built in wireless and automatically updating news content in addition to a universally inputable text format (docx, pdf, rtf, html, ascii, etc).

  20.7.2009 11:38 #17

• Gnawnivek

  Originally posted by Tarsellis: I don't want one, and I don't see the appeal.
  That's okay, not every likes pizza or hamburgers :)
  
  Originally posted by Tarsellis:
  It's too small, too fragile,
  
  Well, it's bigger than the PDAs and iPhone/touch :) It's the size of a paperback, manga size page, which is good enough for reading. Every expensive gadget is fragile, so i'm with you on that.
  
  Originally posted by Tarsellis:
  doesn't include wireless, and books won't work on it in a couple generations.
  
  Hmmm, Kindle can be connected to the net (via Whispernet, free with the device). I just turn mines off to conserve battery. Er, books bought on the Kindle works for the life of the device, same as games bought from Xbox Live work for the life of the console (PS3, Wii too).
  
  Originally posted by Tarsellis:
  Sorry, but for now I'll stick to, . . wait for it . . books! Those don't go obsolete and suffer from DRM, and I know I will still be able to read them in 3-10 years.
  
  So true :) but seriously, i have no idea where's my copy of the Lord of the Rings :( (it's somewhere in the basement or friends borrowed them and never returned them). Problem with real book are space and time consuming process of sorting them (if you don't do that, try to retrieve a book for discussion/prove a point/reference). Trust me, i love real books, they are wonderful (the hardcover ones, i have no respect for paperbacks). I love to read them, collect them, display them... As you can see, i wasted amber amount of time sorting, dusting, finding the physical books while there are tons of good books out there waiting to be read :)
  
  I'm not promoting the Kindle or anything (no, i don't get free books for saying positive things, i wish). I'm just saying, a product is only worthy if you use it. Again, if you don't read much (duh), why even bother saying Kindle is not necessary, you might just well as say real books are pointless. People say that to read books on the Kindle, you need a $300 (for me it was $359), agree... But think about it for a second, to store real books, you need a house :) It's hard to imagine homeless people with a Kindle, but hey, at least they still got the books, lol.
  
  
  Originally posted by Tarsellis:
  Until they finally put out what the technology is already there for, these book readers will never catch on. Magazine sized, flexible, static image (an electrophoretic display that doesn't changed without a new charge being applied), with built in wireless and automatically updating news content in addition to a universally inputable text format (docx, pdf, rtf, html, ascii, etc).Remember our first computer? Does it do all the things the new technology can? Of course not... You can wait or just go with the moment. I still remember my first walkman, it's definitely no match to iPods, but hey, i was able to listen to my own music on the go years back! Oh no, i don't think waiting till today for portable music is a viable option to enjoy life :) Of course, if i waited till today, i certainly enjoy better technology, no questions about that. But the question is, if i've waited this long, why not a little bit longer? You know, wait till wireless headphones, wait till portable devices are implanted in your body :)

  20.7.2009 12:17 #18

• Tarsellis

  Gnawnivek, good points all. And I suppose you're probably right, paperback size is OK, and we do need to have small like that, along with a a larger size.
  
  I haven't tried the Kindle, so some of my criticism probably doesn't hold a lot of weight, but I do expect it would cause a good amount of eye strain. The electrophoretic technology which I think might be a better book replacement doesn't have the contrast and back-lighting issues, and has less power consumption (only uses power to change the display), so I believe in that more. I love sitting on the couch ALL day with a good book, finishing many a good novel in a day or a weekend. While I read a lot of stuff on my monitor or laptop, it does cause eye strain (especially with flickering florescent lights, stock up on incandescent bulbs while you can boys!), and doesn't match the tactile sense and scribbling abilities you get with a book.
  
  As you said though, I remember my old walkman, and my old Tandy, 8088s, and my first 386, and none of them compare with my mp3 player or modern laptop or desktop. We've gotta start somewhere, and hopefully the Kindle will help to bring in a market and innovation for these types of devices.
  
  I still say though, books, pencil, and paper, will NEVER go away. We all still have the interface necessary to I/O with our paper tech magazines and that old LOTR boxed set of novels lost in a box somewhere. But, how many of use still have the interface to use those fun but simple games on our 8 inch and 5.25 in floppies?

  20.7.2009 12:33 #19

• Gnawnivek

  Originally posted by Tarsellis:
  but I do expect it would cause a good amount of eye strain. The electrophoretic technology which I think might be a better book replacement doesn't have the contrast and back-lighting issues, and has less power consumption (only uses power to change the display), so I believe in that more. I love sitting on the couch ALL day with a good book, finishing many a good novel in a day or a weekend. While I read a lot of stuff on my monitor or laptop, it does cause eye strain (especially with flickering florescent lights, stock up on incandescent bulbs while you can boys!), and doesn't match the tactile sense and scribbling abilities you get with a book.
  That's why i went ahead and got the Kindle (could have bought the Sony one too, but no wireless delivery and books cost more too). The Sony one has pros too, but the Kindle came out better at the end (for my needs). Reading on the Kindle (or any other reader with e-ink) is same as reading the real book (it doesn't strain your eyes like computer screens). People read from iPods/laptops don't see this as a big bonus! I actually has a friend ask me if you can read the Kindle in the dark... Well, can you read a book in the dark? No! So, you can't read the Kindle in the dark, duh. The Sony model has build-in back light, which allows you do read in the dark. Anyway, that's not the point... The point is, i'm tired of reading from lit up screens, in the office all day and at home watching TV, playing games... Think of e-ink as etch and stitch (Kindle) and all other LCD screens as brite-lite, can you visualize the difference? Does that explain battery life to you too :) ?
  
  Originally posted by Tarsellis:
  I still say though, books, pencil, and paper, will NEVER go away. We all still have the interface necessary to I/O with our paper tech magazines and that old LOTR boxed set of novels lost in a box somewhere. But, how many of use still have the interface to use those fun but simple games on our 8 inch and 5.25 in floppies?
  You got a good point with those floppy disk games, lol! I think i lost them all :)
  
  Anyway, books, pencils and paper will not go away, but e-ink will change the way how we read (and write). I'm not trying to sell the technology, but it's the closest thing to books and inks (w/o the pages and inky ink, lol). See, whenever you turn a page on and eBook reader, the page is refreshed by "etch and stitch" method (the particles are charged to make the display). Now, picture the displaying device as a piece of paper... Viola, Harry Potter magic! The blank parchment all sudden writing words, wow, how did it do it? Magic! Well, we're years away from paper thin e-ink display "monitors" but the Kindle is pretty thin already considering what it can do :)

  20.7.2009 13:14 #20