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Sony Recants on Dead Pixels (Sort Of)

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the god-i-want-a-psp-bad dept.

Ayaress writes "As reported on Gamestop, Sony will now warranty PSP units suffering from dead pixels. Sony still insists that dead pixels are a common problem in all LCD displays, saying "A very small number of dark pixels or continuously lit pixels is normal for LCD screens, and is not a sign of a malfunction," and asks that PSP owners use theirs for at least a week or two, to see if it still bothers them. User who encounter, "persistent and aggravating dead pixels," are instructed to contact Sony customer support, and will be allowed to mail in their PSP to recieve a unit with a new screen."

4 of 490 comments (clear)

  1. Yes, it bothers me by daveewart · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "Yes, it bothers me. Replace it."

    How can they say it isn't a defect? Of course it's a defect.

    --
    "If you think the problem is bad now, just wait until we've solved it." --- Arthur Kasspe
  2. Re:laptop screen by PhilHibbs · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I got a laptop from Rock, who are a reputable company with good customer care. It had a few faulty pixels, and they replaced the screen. My dad got a laptop from PC World; it has some faulty pixels, and they refused to replace it. Their policy is that ten adjacent dead pixels constitutes a fault! Serves him right, I warned him not to buy expensive hardware from PCW.

  3. Re:I will never buy Sony again by merlin_jim · · Score: 4, Interesting

    And what really burned me was their non-existent customer service.

    A close family member used to work at their american tech support center. Turnover was high. Expectations were high. Typical "get the customer off the phone" policies. He was there for about 9 months IIRC, and at that point was the senior member of his team.

    IMHO, (and this is an informed second-hand opinion) Sony really needs to stop treating customer service as a cost center, and give it the same branding treatment they give all their other products BEFORE sale.

    Or to rephrase: branding doesn't stop just because the consumer has bought your device.

    It continually amazes me that a company that is SO great at branding (see: playstation, XPlode, SonyStyle, Walkman, VAIO) drops the ball at such a crucial part of the branding experience.

    --
    I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
  4. Un-stick my pixel by AvantLegion · · Score: 4, Interesting
    On each of my last few laptops, I've had issues with a couple "stuck" pixels... but "massaging" the pixel (pressing against the screen a bit on that spot) always un-stuck them. My girlfriend freaked the first time she saw me do it to her new iBook (because the screen image distorts around your finger when you do it, and it looked to her like I was "breaking" her new laptop), but she soon saw the pixel would be un-stuck and the problem thus solved.

    In each case that I've had to do this, the pixels would stick a few more times before ultimately giving in in defeat and bowing to my will. They then behaved like good working pixels for the rest of their useful lives.

    I know the PSP screen is shielded so that you can't make direct contact with the screen. I wonder just how many "stuck pixel" issues could be fixed with a nice little massage to the pixel area, if only you could get to it...