Amazon's latest venture into color e-readers faces significant challenges as users report serious display problems with the newly released Kindle Colorsoft, leading to shipping delays and customer dissatisfaction.
Display Problems Plague New Release
The Kindle Colorsoft, Amazon's first color e-reader, is experiencing considerable technical difficulties shortly after its launch. Users are reporting a persistent yellow discoloration strip at the bottom of the screen, along with complaints about a hazy and grainy display that some say causes eye strain and headaches. These issues have prompted Amazon to temporarily halt device shipments and delay new orders until mid-November in the US and late November in the UK.
Customer Response and Amazon's Actions
The severity of the situation is reflected in the device's current Amazon marketplace rating, which sits at a concerning 2.6 stars out of 5 across hundreds of customer reviews. In response to the growing complaints, Amazon's customer service team has begun reaching out to affected users, collecting device logs, and offering replacement units. The company has acknowledged the issues and is actively working on solutions.
Potential Solutions and Temporary Fixes
Amazon has indicated that a software update addressing these display issues is in development and should be released within the next two weeks. As a temporary measure, the company suggests that users experiencing the yellow bar issue can attempt to resolve it by powering off their device for a few minutes before restarting. Additionally, the company has updated the product listing to address the lack of dark mode, suggesting users utilize the Page Color feature as an alternative.
Price and Value Proposition
At a premium price point of $120 more than the entry-level Paperwhite and $80 above the Paperwhite Signature Edition, these display issues raise serious questions about the Colorsoft's value proposition. While the device's color display capability was meant to be its defining feature, particularly appealing to graphic novel enthusiasts, the current technical problems have overshadowed its potential benefits.