Dead Pixel?
A minority of new DS owners have encountered this problem. Nintendo responds.
November 22, 2004 - Now that the Nintendo DS is now ready for purchase, many new owners have reported the dreaded "dead pixel" syndrome on their system. So far, only a small percentage of Nintendo DS owners on our message boards have reported the problem.
"Dead pixel" is an LCD screen defect where one dot on the LCD screen remains a single color no matter what's happening on the screen. It's a distracting flaw that occurs in the LCD technology, and anything from LCD televisions to laptops, Game Gears to Game Boys have fallen victim to the dead pixel. And unless Sony's upcoming handheld is forged by the hand of God Himself, the PSP will encounter the problem in its life-cycle as well. It's a tough defect to track during the manufacturing process, so problem screens will occasionally slip through and end up in final consumer product.
Nintendo has offered an official statement via customer support emails to readers that have inquired about the "Dead Pixel" issue.
"With a small number of Nintendo DS screens, one or two dots on the screen may appear to be "stuck" on a particular color, such as white or red. This effect is caused when a particular pixel (the dots that make up the screen) is not working properly, even with the high quality standards set by LCD manufacturers. You will find this situation is common in many LCD devices, (PC monitors, televisions, cell phones, etc.).
It's important to understand that this issue will remain limited to the pixels you have already noticed. The problem will not get any worse and you should not expect to see the problem in any other areas of the screen.
We suggest that you use your system for a few weeks to determine whether this interferes with your enjoyment of game play. If, after using your system for awhile, you feel that this tiny dot is too distracting, the Nintendo DS does carry a one-year warranty. We are happy to inspect and, if necessary, fix your system at no charge within the warranty period."
If you encounter this problem with your Nintendo DS system, head to the company's Customer Support section of its website: http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/.
-- Craig Harris
