batuckan

Hey folks,

I've noticed that the axim has been taking a beating bigtime in some forums and I had to put my 2 cents. Incidentally, this will be long, so be advised..

re: WM2003: It is bleeding edge technology. Granted the "other" ppc makers aren't experiencing the same problems that dell has but I have a few "observations"

1) axim is/has/was outselling many of the current pda in the same market. Up until the WM2003 issue, many people were flocking to the axim for price, features and design.

2) I think that the axim's popularity grew faster then the company could support it. When MS came out with the upgrade, I think Dell just jumped on the bandwagon just to make sure that they weren't going to lose market value, but didn't properly plan the Rollout. They were too busy selling the devices to properly research issues, and by that time the problem was identified, it was too late. And now people are jumping ship just because they don't want an axim w/WM2003 until it's resolved.

I think <jmho> that people buy/bought their axim for a specific reason/s, their reasons for disliking the axim, didn't change, just their expectations. You wouldn't be reading this or posting on this board, without one <axim>

Those of you who have to have the coolest, fastest neatest toy on the block ran out and purchased the upgrade, and or axim w/ WM2003, without proper research.

Oh sure you may have read the TID's/FAQ's on what OTHER PPC makers were saying about Their product upgrade and just expected the same to be the axim.

Well, It's not. Anyone who has ever put together a PC can expect "problems" dead battery on CMOS, chipped board, bent pins, wrong jumper setting... It's technology. What one manufacturer does with their product can't be held to the same standard as another.

I buy ASUS boards, I like em, good products, and I know fairly well. I've bought others in the past, and paid for my mistakes. For my clients I recomend Dell/Gateway/Micron anyone over compaq/HP. At work, where someone else buys stuff, they buy compaq. And then wonder why it won't work properly.

No one should be expected to be a CompTia A+, or MSCE, MVP, or CNE to support a pda, but if you've been in technology long enough you expect "bugs" with any rollout on any NEW software. You roll the dice, take your chances, and pray to the IT Gods when you upgrade.

If you didn't check the FAQ's, do your research or check with others, and then check/verify again, you only have yourself to blame. Remember WM2003 is going many platforms, phones, as well as PDA's. different motherboards/cpu/ bios combinations all hoping to achieve what MS had promised the OS would do.

Me, I don't work for Dell, <hard to believe huh?> but I do know a good product when I see it.. I've only been on PPC's for about 5 months, after leaving the PalmOS group. I was running a Visor for
3.5 years? before I decided to jump ship and move to PPC.

I wrote a few network apps with a couple of the SDK's <dbase stuff> for the palm @ work. I was apprehensive moving to the PPC format, but I could see what the PalmOS limitations are/were and my needs were changing. Much too expensive to do the same stuff that PPC's can but much cheaper.

But after doing my research, comparing the design, features and price, the axim beat out the Asus, compaq/HP Toshiba, hands down.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I've broken my axim as well. <flashed my bios and trashed my axim, should've check this forum first!> but I received a replacement in 1.5 days. I don't think I could get the same support and turnaround at work if I was running compaq Ipaq's or HP's.. <and we run compaq's @ work>

put simply. you folks all moved from your current PDA to the axim.
Sure, you may now have a PDA not as fast, and or zippy as it's competitors, but you bought it for specific reasons. The PDA <upgrade or OEM> still works, but there are known issues now.

Dell has said they are working on the problem and will push out the patch when it's available. Sit tight and it will come. Enough people I am sure have told Dell about the issue.

OR, request that you get one with the previous OS. If that's not available, install the linux bootloader, but, if you can't wait, , then quit, get your money back and or go back to whatever pda you were using.

If you were using a palm, great go get a new tungsten w/bluetooth. If you were using a compaq, make sure you get the "sleeve" to run both cf/sd/mmc compatibilty. If your on HP, I think the Jornada's only came with MMC support. the Pocket Loox <asus/vayo?> and a plethora of other PPC devices and phones out there that don't have the same issues as axim. Just make sure you keep paying for the same mistakes.

Me, I am keeping my axim. oh I can wait till the WM2003 upgrade issue is resolved before I flash the bios and upgrade to WM2003. I don't need to be the coolest fastest neatest guy on the block. I use my PDA heavily, both professionally and personally. I just can't justify purchasing another PDA to replace the one I have just because it's "slower"

I hope I didn't start a flame war. I am by no means a "troll" this wasn't meant to start something, or to fingerpoint. this was just an "observation" I had.


I am now stepping off my soapbox.

thank you for letting me vent.

Mike

__________________
mike

Dell Axim X5 Xscale 400
Windows Mobile 2003 <flashed>
ambicom gps
linksys wcf12 <working!>
lexar 1GB CF
Sandisk 256 SD card
NiteIZE nylon pda case
Sony Memory stick hard aluminum case

ravager

Quote:

Originally posted by AstronUSA This is what happens when everybody wants the latest and greatest. Hey its gonna be buggy. There are a great number of users who said I want it. And I want it now. and then they act surprised when it has problems. It alsmost feel like I'm explaining this this to new users ( noobs) The people that would frequent a board like this I would not expect to be new users.

WTF? I don't recall anyone whining on this board. There were some legit complaints about BRAND NEW UNITS not working, and several people gave up on Dell and switched to the HP2210.

I can't believe someone has the audacity to actually talk down to the members on this forum.

Rav

__________________

Axim X-5 400MHz PXA255 (PPC2002)
Simpletech 128MB SD Card
SMC Wi-Fi Card
Harley Enthusiast (2001 FXD)

polaris2k3

woah! essay!

__________________
Axim Basic
Belkin IR Wireless Keyboard
RhinoCase
NEED (used) 128 or 256mb CF card!
NEED (used) CF WiFi card! (Netgear or Linksys)
Please PM or email offer! Me poor!

dumwaldo

batuckan,

thats a very nice post and does make alot of sense but it does not address the CORE issue that dell has done nothing but lie and misrepresent thier product since this MW2003 was introduced and it looks as if the ONLY reason they have addressed this problem in any type of public view is because THEIR BOSS, microsoft seems to be forcing them. this is how i see it.

AXIM USERS - the axim is slow as hell with WM2003

DELL - there are no problems with the axim and no reported issues.

AXIM USERS - i hear dell is working on a patch to fix the problem.

DELL - there are no problems with the axim and no reported issues.

AXIM USERS - the patch from dell is being held up because its a microsoft mistake and dell has to wait for microsoft to give them a patch.

DELL - our testers discovered a problem with OUR software that might cause a problem but there are still no reports of problems and we discovered this on our own.

AXIM USERS - dell finally admited there is a problem and they will release a patch.

DELL - we do not have a target date for the patch to be available.


personally i am very disappointed in dell. this is my first and last dell purchase and when asked i tell others its worth the extra $100 to get an HP and stick with a company that has enough experience with PocketPC's to provide adaquate support for the device.

__________________
live better, work union

sracer

Quote:

Originally posted by batuckan . . . Those of you who have to have the coolest, fastest neatest toy on the block ran out and purchased the upgrade, and or axim w/ WM2003, without proper research. Oh sure you may have read the TID's/FAQ's on what OTHER PPC makers were saying about Their product upgrade and just expected the same to be the axim. Well, It's not. Anyone who has ever put together a PC can expect "problems" dead battery on CMOS, chipped board, bent pins, wrong jumper setting... It's technology. What one manufacturer does with their product can't be held to the same standard as another. I buy ASUS boards, I like em, good products, and I know fairly well. I've bought others in the past, and paid for my mistakes. For my clients I recomend Dell/Gateway/Micron anyone over compaq/HP. At work, where someone else buys stuff, they buy compaq. And then wonder why it won't work properly. . . .

batuckan, you have simply composed yet another self-righteous rant that is rooted in an ignorance of the situation laced with a good dose of condescension.

micahlegg

Quote:

Originally posted by AstronUSA This is what happens when everybody wants the latest and greatest. Hey its gonna be buggy. There are a great number of users who said I want it. And I want it now. and then they act surprised when it has problems.

i dont agree with you on some things, but this is one i do.;)
It just gets me tickled that people want it so bad, but yet they get so mad when it comes out.

My 2 cents.

micahlegg

Quote:

Originally posted by ravager WTF? I don't recall anyone whining on this board. There were some legit complaints about BRAND NEW UNITS not working, and several people gave up on Dell and switched to the HP2210. I can't believe someone has the audacity to actually talk down to the members on this forum. Rav

No, thats not it.
People were whining that ppc2003 was not reliesed yet and started to get upset about it.:D

I never talk down to people on this site, nor do i intend to.

Beowulf

I do not know how many articles, via magazines, forums, etc. that have advised folks to wait till they upgrade their software, either OS's or upgrades to applications. Let others work out the bugs. I must agree that the industry must do a better job of issuing stable reliable upgrades, but, I've used PCs since the DOS 2.0 days and I haved learned my lessons well.....wait, read, and when the upgrdes are stable, as reported by hundreds of users.....upgrade!

__________________
BEOWULF
Always on the second
barstool from the left.
Peace Out

AXIM X5 PXA250 MS Mobile 2003, Dell foldable keyboard, Lexar 128 SD, SD, Memorex 128 CF, Socket WLAN CF and the the mighty Space Pen Stylus!

micahlegg

batuckan, Ulike some, i think you made some good points.
And i do see why sracer cares why you rant. I am glad you posted this.
Sracer, why call people self rightious when you seem to do the same.
Altho, this seems like im being hypocritical. :D
For me, i dont care if people rant, ive learned to ignore it, but batuckan made some good points.

I am guilty of trying to get the latest and greatest, but ive found no reason whatsoever to upgrade my axim, and i thank dell for making history in a handheld. They may let us down sometimes, but they will come through. ;)

Quote:

batuckan, you have simply composed yet another self-righteous rant that is rooted in an ignorance of the situation laced with a good dose of condescension.

Your words tickle me.

ender58074

Quote:

Originally posted by batuckan [Dell] were too busy selling the devices to properly research issues, and by that time the problem was identified, it was too late. And now people are jumping ship just because they don't want an axim w/WM2003 until it's resolved... Those of you who have to have the coolest, fastest neatest toy on the block ran out and purchased the upgrade, and or axim w/ WM2003, without proper research... If you didn't check the FAQ's, do your research or check with others, and then check/verify again, you only have yourself to blame...

Note the disparity between these last two paragraphs with the first. I fail to see that your "observation" is even valid. First, you acknowledge that Dell didn't properly "research issues" and rushed a faulty product out the door. Then you claim that users, myself included, who may have ordered on June 23rd when reviews of the new OS with the Axim were all positive, are to blame for not doing their own research. How, may I ask, could that have been done? Do you think I plopped fown $343.00 without checking around first? You think anyone around here would throw money around, especially hundreds of dollars, without considering the product? Please. Saying that buying new tech is a crapshoot is BS and conjecture in this issue - the issue here is that Dell, as you previously admitted, foisted a broken product on consumers.

Condescension certainly isn't going to get you anywhere, and looking down on users who purchased an Axim with WM2003 with the expectation that it would be the "coolest" and "fastest" toy on the "block" only reflects on you. I did research. I was thoroughly convinced that the Axim, in conjunction with reviews of WM2003, would be a fantastic deal. Then I got mine. Then I called tech support, sent multiple emails, and got treated like an idiot for claiming that problems existed that Dell refused to acknowledge. Does that sound like customer service to you? Dell offered me $40 to keep the unit when I called Customer Care for an RMA, but I said no because the entirety of my experience, buying the Axim, learning it's newfound deficencies, having a terrible support experience, compounded into one disagreeable week. I didn't want the damn thing because of the way I was treated by Dell. So I sent it back...

...and jumped ship for a 2215.

So, PLEASE, before anyone goes off on members of this forum, or Axim users in general, for being angry about this whole thing, remember that people deserve the product they paid for, and they deserve for it to work properly. There was NO indication that this would be the huge bust that it was, and I feel people are just in complaining (note that I didn't say whining) that Dell reps have provided inadequate service and that Dell itself shipped a faulty product and then proceeded to deny fault,

MY $.02

cageyjames

Hey, we are all wacko for spending so much time on Aximsite. I hold no ill will to those who say we are passionate !

ender58074

I agree :) Good activity for a lazy Saturday morning!

micahlegg

Quote:

Originally posted by ender58074 . I didn't want the damn thing because of the way I was treated by Dell. So I sent it back... ...and jumped ship for a 2215. MY $.02

lol, just wait till you have to deal with hp.
Dells sevice is not the best, but it you will get a rude awakening when you have to deal with hp support.:D

Friend had a hp comp. that he wanted me to repair. Wouldent you know that in that time i would fry the modem.:p well, i needed the modem to load the drivers to win xp, and i called them to see if they had and driver cd's for xp, and there was an arabian woman answering the call.(i have nothing against these people, im just making a point). She knew verrrrry little english.
She told me to turn on and off the computer 10 times and see if that fixed it! After that did not work, she told me to rebuild the computer! And i was like, why? and i hung up.

The hp service is horrible, and i hope it is better with there handhelds because they sure are darn expencive.;)

DRCaldwell

I agree with some of all of the previous posts...as posted elswhere, I ordered and PAID for my Axim Advance on 19 Jun 2003...here is a running list of my "ship dates" as posted by Dell..

3 Jul 2003

9 Jul 2003

15 Jul 2003

18 Jul 2003

21 Jul 2003

22 Jul 2003

23 Jul 2003

24 Jul 2003

25 Jul 2003...and countng...

After the third or fourth change I e-mailed and called Dell numerous times to find out what the problem was...ultimately I was told that the only thing holding my order up was my desktop charger...I then asked for the order to be split and, despite many others having orders split, was told that my order could not be split.

Then, mysteriously, Dell apparently admits to this "bug" issue. My point here is that Dell should have been up front all along as I suspect that the reason my order could not be split is because the problem was the "bug" and NOT simply a charger...I REALLY want this Axim...but Compaq IS starting to look better and better.

rfortune

I also purchased a new Axim with WM2003 (my 2nd Axim). Purchased on June 24th, it finally shipped yesterday.

Hopefully that is a sign that Dell truly has the problem fixed.

Dell definitely was not honest about the delay, in fact, I hope my e-mails/discussion did not cause them to just ship me one with the problem.