Who else thinks Dell has SERIOUSLY dropped the ball?

crash613 · 11-15-05, 07:58 PM

I have been reading this forum for some time. I am an owner of a X30high. The latest rom version has been nothing but problems for most who have gone to it, introducing some serious battery drain and other bluetooth related issues. I read, but have no experience, with the X51 having serious bluetooth issues due to Dell choosing MS version of the Bluetooth stack, as well as a bug infested version of WM5 released in general. And that seems to apply to the X50v's that have been upgraded too. (most seem to revert to Wm2003se)

These are huge problems, in my mind. And i am wondering if anyone else feels that Dell has dropped the ball? I am not too sure i really trust the company anymore. Believe me, i really hate saying that. But i don't know what else to think.

any thoughts?

11-15-05, 10:49 PM

I agree totally. Something else I haven't seen discussed here yet, but we've started talking about over at Mobileread (thanks to PocketNow for the original story) is the issue of needing signed applications in WM2005, and the repercussions of this with regards to quality open source software we're seeing so much about now...

Not happy at all....

soulmirror · 11-15-05, 11:05 PM

Your options are not exactly...well...balanced.

The x51v problems to me don't seem to be particularly more severe than new kid on the block problems with OS version releases in general. They need to be recognized and admitted to. They definitely need to be resolved. But their build quality with the Axim seems very good and competitive with the handheld industry, if not better. The hardware is nice. The problems that exist are fixable ones. I can be a little patient with that.

And I'm not a Dell fanboy. Quite the opposite. I have an iBook and an iPod and other Apple gear. There are really only two products Dell makes that I think are high quality -- the Axims and the FPW flat panel screen lineup. I wouldn't buy anything else Dell makes, personally.

That's not flamebait -- that just gets back to my original comment about your poll options. You're, well, clearly looking for confirmation of your opinion and not discussion, if you can't put in options that don't make people who disagree with you out to be rabid idiots. Isn't that fair to say?

EDIT: Ommadawn, thanks for those links. Can I ask a question? I did not see any information about what the process entails for getting a signed package. In Java, the process of signing a JAR file, as I understand it, is very easy to do, and doesn't really place an impediment on new open source software developed in Java (although it might interfere with hacks, just as this process interferes with MUI files). Excluding hacks, what exactly is required for signature of a WM5 app? Is it something that definitely costs money, like review by some consultative agency?

crash613 · 11-16-05, 09:01 AM

I agree that the problem doesn't seem to be the hardware, although, i think they should have left the back-up battery in the x51v. Most of Dell's blunders seem to be in the ROM department. One bad decision after another. I mean come on. they released A06 for the X30 (which was total junk) then instead of admitting it was a mistake and doing the right thing by fixing it, they simply ended the product life and left everyone hanging with crippled machines, if they updated.

I am closely watching what works out with the X50 series roms. I am quite sure that they will work on the problems, as the X51 is brand new. But with their recent track record, the next rom update could introduce more problems than the last!

As to the issue of the options. only the first 3 are serious options. Most sane people wouldn't pick the last one.

Rsaturn9 · 11-16-05, 09:19 AM

As to the issue of the options. only the first 3 are serious options. Most sane people wouldn't pick the last one.
I think I need to see socpsy for treatment :)

Ba-gug · 11-16-05, 10:06 AM

Great product-Crappy phone support! Their mantra should be "Can you understand me now?" No Fred, from India, or where ever I can't.

derekivey · 11-16-05, 04:33 PM

I've had no problems with Dell. I'm using a X5 though.

star882 · 11-16-05, 11:30 PM

Dell's worst decision was to go with just Windows Mobile. Linux is better. Nothing like some open source to solve those problems.
BTW, my friend Britney Spears has a Sharp PDA that runs Linux, and when I was talking about it, she remarked, "I thought about getting the Dell, but Microsoft drives me crazy. I'm not paying Microsoft to get an inferior OS."

I still wonder why Dell doesn't just release the important hardware details so we could get Linux running on it. That'll actually be good for business.

Rsaturn9 · 11-16-05, 11:31 PM

I Love Dell!!! this has been a paid advertisement

11-17-05, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by soulmirror

EDIT: Ommadawn, thanks for those links. Can I ask a question? I did not see any information about what the process entails for getting a signed package. In Java, the process of signing a JAR file, as I understand it, is very easy to do, and doesn't really place an impediment on new open source software developed in Java (although it might interfere with hacks, just as this process interferes with MUI files). Excluding hacks, what exactly is required for signature of a WM5 app? Is it something that definitely costs money, like review by some consultative agency?

The gist of the article was that it appears that it does cost money to register, and even if it didn't, I can still see the need to register like this has serious issues. Here's the link to Part 2 of the PocketNow post, FYI.

**Frenchy** · 11-17-05, 01:54 AM

They are doing their best to recover from this. It is just that we do not have the patience to wait anymore.

11-17-05, 02:03 AM

I'm sure you're right, Frenchy, but I really have to wonder how much testing was done on the X50v X51v running WM2005 prior to its release, considering the plethora of problems people are experiencing... that shakes my confidence in Dell more than anything else (I don't expect any more from MS, their policy is to get it out the door and let the service packs fix the problems)...

crash613 · 11-17-05, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Frenchy

They are doing their best to recover from this. It is just that we do not have the patience to wait anymore.

how long shall i continue to wait till they fix A06 for the X30?
They should have never released that POS if they didn't plan on supporting it.

reese · 11-17-05, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by star882

Dell's worst decision was to go with just Windows Mobile. Linux is better.

*cough* fanboy *cough*

Originally Posted by star882

BTW, my friend Britney Spears has a Sharp PDA that runs Linux, and when I was talking about it, she remarked, "I thought about getting the Dell, but Microsoft drives me crazy. I'm not paying Microsoft to get an inferior OS."

A) Inferior is WAY to big a word for Brittney Spears
B) Linux is WAY to complicated for Britney Spears
C) By Doctor's orders Brittney isn't allowed to play with anything "Sharp"

11-17-05, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Frenchy

They are doing their best to recover from this. It is just that we do not have the patience to wait anymore.

Who ever thought I would agree with a monkey

but I do.