Frozen Kindle (keyboard/3G version)

[Baas Babelaas]

Out of the blue my Kindle's screen froze up. About 70% of the screen show the same screensaver of John Steinbeck. The other 20% shows whited out lines, and the bottom 10% shows what it should.

I did everything Amazon said - charge up the battery, do the 20 second hold on the Power button to turn of, then back on again. No luck.

Any ideas? I didn't buy it from Amazon, rather an online store (I'm in Xiamen). It's genuine though, and registered in the US.

I heard Amazon is pretty good about fixing this kind of problem, as they's like to have the repeat business on books bought.

I haven't contacted them. Was wondering if any Kindle owners out there encountered this problem and had a solution.

Worst comes to worst I either send it to Amazon for repairs (courier fees) or toss it and get another one. This is the first time my Kindle has gone funky on me after two years.

[housecat]

Contact the place you bought it and see if they'll swap it out, or contact Amazon. I bought mine from Amazon, but I had no problem returning it, and in fact they were so quick about it that my new one was here by the day I took my old one to the post office to send it back.

[Baas Babelaas]

Amazon just told me they would replace my Kindle with a new one at a cost of $85 + $20 shipping to and from China.

Works out to $105 (NT3140)

I could get a new Kindle 4 Touch for NT2200 or the Fire for NT6100.

Tempting to go for one of the new (above) models. Or I could get a smartphone with a 4 inch scree and read off of that.

What ya's reckon? I'm already pining for my Kndle - I need some kind of e-book reader..

[superking]

Or I could get a smartphone with a 4 inch scree and read off of that.

You'll need rechargeable eyes to go with that, fella.

[housecat]

Amazon just told me they would replace my Kindle with a new one at a cost of $85 + $20 shipping to and from China.

Works out to $105 (NT3140)

I could get a new Kindle 4 Touch for NT2200 or the Fire for NT6100.

Tempting to go for one of the new (above) models. Or I could get a smartphone with a 4 inch scree and read off of that.

What ya's reckon? I'm already pining for my Kndle - I need some kind of e-book reader..

When I bought my Kindle, last year, the keybord modle was still the only one that would work here in Taiwan. I don't understand why, but that was the case. Before you decide to upgrade, make sure whatever product you buy will actually work here.

[Baas Babelaas]

Or I could get a smartphone with a 4 inch scree and read off of that.

You'll need rechargeable eyes to go with that, fella.

True that. I've been using my netbook to read the last couple of days - just not the same as e-ink, or holding the Kindle as one would a book. E-ink is really easy on the eyes, backlit screens not so.

[superking]

Saw this and thought of you... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18618521

[scomargo]

I could get a new Kindle 4 Touch for NT2200 or the Fire for NT6100.

Is that Touch price correct? If so, that's even cheaper than in the US. I'd go for that in a heartbeat.

[Baas Babelaas]

Is that Touch price correct? If so, that's even cheaper than in the US. I'd go for that in a heartbeat.

Bought through Taobao.

Saw this and thought of you... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18618521

I likey like!

[Taiwan_Student]

Baas Babelaas ...

Hi... I'm like the world expert in Kindle Problems in my humble opinion and I know I am an expert in what my own opinion is...

I had a similar problem. My kindle was stuck on the screen saver. Or it would sometime got to text than flash back again to the screen saver. It was a Kindle Touch. It was still under warranty. I being a former helpdesk guru did everything to help save an exchange...

They finally agree to to exchange it. Actually because I lived in Taiwan... they said that it was not even worth returning... and just shipped a replacement to my US address. At that time, the add supported version was not allowed to be shipped out of Taiwan. They sent the kill codes just in case I was lying about it not being working though...

Long and behold.. I fixed the sucker... But I won't tell them.. Here is the story...
The Kindle started acting strangely after I downloaded a public domain book. I asked the Tech if I could just reset the damn machine. He said you have to get into it first. (Not having a hard reset button is one stupid design flaw)
Anyway.. I got up at two o'clock in the morning one day. Looked at my computer and wondered.. what if I connect kindle to my computer and delete the files manually.. I did.. The Kindle came back to life.. It works..

Of course I can'd do anything with it because the moment I log back on line.. it will be bricked. But it can play public domain books.
I love and hate my Kindle..
Pro Kindle in Taiwan
1. Kindles will work anywhere! It's what you are allowed to buy or borrow that will determine whether you get a Kindle or a Nook type thing.

2. There are a lot of reasonable priced books. The Kindle Touch integrates well with Audibles, Amazon's audio book service, and just before you want to Chuck the Kindle or Audible membership, there will always be a too good to resist special offer.
3. If you have a US Proxy, and a US billing address you can use your American Public Library for a ton of Kindle books
4. If you need good Text to speech.
Pro Nook (EPUB)
The Taipei Library has a ton of epub books free to borrow. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN OR EVEN TRAVEL TO TAIPEI TO GET YOUR CARD JUST PART WITH YOUR ARC FOR A COUPLE DAYS...
EPUB is an open system and there are a great number of Readers available. Check out the ones advertised in the Kiosk at Family Mart.
I'm too tied to my kindle to give it up. If I knew the headaches I would get later from being "busted" and dropped as a US customer I would have probably went with the E-pub system.
I was so happy before being busted. I would borrow two or three kindle books every week and I was buying the special priced books about once a month. Then one day... bam.. My librarybooks would not download to the kindle and I was not eligible for special offers. Stupid Stupid. I was giving them more money than before....
Go with any E-Ink Reader. I tried a ton of devices from Laptops to cell phones and I could not read anything in the Taiwan sun. The E-Ink Devices are Heaven and my Kindle is always by my side!