[bugeyed]

Today, I noticed that my 2 week old Novel was beginning to crack around the edges. Don't know when it started, but I guess handling showed the cracks better when they got dirty. First shot is the first crack I noticed. Then found the other two. Notice the second shot shows the cracks radiating up onto the face of the bezel. I have not abused the unit, so this may be a problem with the plastic. Maybe a plastics expert will chime in. All of the cracks seem to be right at a transition in the mold & the second one really concerns me, as I have seen this sort of fracturing on proto or pilot builds that used inferior, brittle plastic. Anyway, here you are:

I can see you all getting out the magnifying glasses now. I hope this is not a common problem, not just for our sake, but for Pandigital's sake. I would like to see them do well. Cheers,kevBTW I have had the bottom cover off, but it was not stressful to remove & I honectly don't think that I induced any of this damage & I'm sticking with that story!!!!

 

[jjlange]

Just noticed a bunch of small cracks forming on the front of mine as well (on all four corners, it looks like...) This is surprising because it's basically just sat on a shelf for the week I've had it since I can't get the stupid thing to stay asleep. I haven't taken the back off, taken it anywhere, dropped it, or done anything else to put stress on it. I'm hesitant to exchange it, since I suspect that the replacement will have exactly the same problem. I guess I'll wait a few days and see how this pans out. I really want to like this device, but all these issues are making it difficult...

 

[thedarkbackward]

[quote name='jjlange;26007]Just noticed a bunch of small cracks forming on the front of mine as well (on all four corners' date=' it looks like...) This is surprising because it's basically just sat on a shelf for the week I've had it since I can't get the stupid thing to stay asleep. I haven't taken the back off, taken it anywhere, dropped it, or done anything else to put stress on it. I'm hesitant to exchange it, since I suspect that the replacement will have exactly the same problem. I guess I'll wait a few days and see how this pans out. I really want to like this device, but all these issues are making it difficult...[/QUOTE']Exact same thing here - small hairline cracks in the plastic on the edges of my Novel.

 

[bugeyed]

This may be an issue that, if reported to PD & duly noted, when resolved, we will all get new units when the improved units ship. I will observe mine closely. Cheers,kev

 

[oneglory]

mine is doing this in multiple spots!

 

[thebgrian]

Exact same thing here - small hairline cracks in the plastic on the edges of my Novel.

I noticed one hairline crack next to the volume button, on the top part of the white plastic frame few days ago. No mishandling, been very careful with the PDN. Don't know if it came like this, but haven't noticed the crack spreading or new ones showing (probably will start seeing them after I post this

, Murphy's law

). Have to take the PDN under a bright sunlight to see the crack.

 

[bugeyed]

My new one has some fracturing on the finish in the corner. Looks like the glaze or whatever in coating the bezel (gloss) is crazing.

 

[cpg716]

I noticed this issue on mine. I thought I must have done it, even knowing I couldn't really have.CPG

 

[oneglory]

Mine looks like a shoty glazing. I'll try and get a pic

 

[nvrpayretail]

I wonder if these cracks are developing post-purchase or if PD has a manufacturing problem and, since the cracks are so small, folks haven't seen them until bugeyed pointed them out.

 

[roebeet]

Yep, I pulled out the magnifying glass! Mine is almost 3 weeks old, no noticeable cracks yet. It's a BB&B purchase, if that helps.

 

[garstan]

Mine has one crack about 1.25" long right in the middle of the right side -- below the volume buttons. It's on the top side of the case, not the removable back part, right where bugeyed shows his -- right where it creases to form the bezel. Never noticed it until I read this thread and went looking. Don't need a magnifying glass, either. I've been telling my sister how great the PDN is and she finally went out and bought one today. I'm supposed to show her how to hack it on Monday. I'll have to check it to see if it has any cracks out of the box.

 

[violajack]

Well, that makes me feel better about the relatively small crack in mine. It's on the top right corner front in the glossy part. I noticed it a few days ago, but figured it was just a common white glossy problem. Even the white iPhone 3's had a terrible problem with cracks, and my white DS cracked too.

 

[balineseplease]

Mine has it all. When I got it, it had a couple of small chips at the corner. Now there are many hairline cracks in the flat bezel which continue to increase and are most concentrated in the upper right corner and along the top. I just discovered that I also have the long more visible cracks along the edges.

 

[LadydoveFL]

Oh, wow... I just got mine from BBB on Tuesday... I have a small hairline fracture about an inch to the left of the DC jack; it's about a half-inch long, running parallel to the joint where the top and back panels meet...

 

[blazingwolf]

No cracks on mine. Got it from Kohls.

 

[oneglory]

 

[bodex]

I picked up my PDN less than an hour ago from BB&B. No visible cracks anywhere. Hopefully it holds up.Maybe PD would be willing to give a sizeable discount on a gel cover for those with cracks...

 

[mrvd123]

just looked at mine and also had a crack running on the back cover,,, i went to their site and told them and and waiting for a response,, i can not really return it for i took the upc off the box,, , also i ran a google search and found this couple of lines written ..about he novel . " Pandigital Novel Reader ... is molded from thick layers of plastic and covered ... Minerva Press which went into liquidation after sending me the page proofs.."not much said but pressed plasic, which may pull apart,,,

 

[bugeyed]

I exchanged mine at BB&B without the UPC with no problem. They didn't even want to take the new UPC off the new box, even when I suggested it. They don't care, even the manager was just curious about the problem, never suspicious.