hands0n

Totally unreliable! My X30 Hi turned up a few days ago. Everything seemed to work fine - none of the problems with screen sensitivity etc. that others on this forum have experienced. But very quickly I percieved a problem with the unit locking up for no apparent reason. At the time I was trying out a number of bits of software, including Skype (which does not work with Axim - but they don't make it obvious unless you look carefully at their downlod page, read every pixel!).

Ayway, several total resets later and I got the unit stabilised (I thought) running nothing more than Avantgo for my daily read. Finally I loaded my entire contacts and diary from my Palm system across to Outlook and into the PDA via Activesync. So far so good. But not to be outdone, the little PDA decided to get a strop on and has started to lock up for no apparent reason.

I can most reliably reproduce the lock up by pressing the power button when the unit is in the cradle. Otherwise, the unit will lock up merely moving around the native apps that came with the OS and Avantgo.

To reset the unit I have to perform several (often no less than 10) soft resets to get it back. Today, however, it took things to a new level and refused utterly until I did a hard reset and had to restore the system from a Backup that I did when I first got it going again.

I am not putting up with such shabby quality. The unit is gorgeous to behold but in terms of reliability it leaves a lot to be desired.

I'm returning the unit to Dell for a full refund and going back to my 3-yr old Ipaq 3630. At least it works, even if it does not do all that I bought the X30 to do! I'll wait until version 2 or 3 of the X30 comes out and this forum to quieten down before I part with money to Dell again.

I'd advise anyone reading this to do the same. Don't live "in hope" that Dell will resolve these problems. Vote with your wallet and MAKE them do something about it. If enough X30s get sent back someone in Dell will begin to get the message that something is not quite right with their gorgeous little beastie.

Howard2k

Quote:

.....the little PDA decided to get a strop on and has started to lock up for no apparent reason.....

Quote:

....At the time I was trying out a number of bits of software, including Skype (which does not work with Axim - but they don't make it obvious unless you look carefully at their downlod page, read every pixel!)....

Maybe it is to do with the software that has been installed. If you do a hard reset BUT DON'T RESTORE FROM BACKUP is it stable? Could it be software that has been installed?

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Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

hands0n

Quote:

Originally posted by Howard2k Maybe it is to do with the software that has been installed. If you do a hard reset BUT DON'T RESTORE FROM BACKUP is it stable? Could it be software that has been installed?

The unit was very unstable after my software trials so .......

I removed all of the software by doing a hard reset - then getting the PDA re-sync'ed with Outlook and finally re-installing Avantgo. All traces of the earlier software loads would have been lost when the hard reset was carried out.

So what I have right now is a "virgin" machine with my data only in it plus Avantgo and it's data. Nothing at all funky.

The trouble with this system is that I was next going to buy Tom Tom GPS but I cannot with any faith in the X30 do that. Say I buy it and the X30 goes completely off the page, I'm left with a worthless CD and a PDA that doesn't.

Once Dell refund me I'll research the HP/Compaq range - shame really 'cos none of them have the new fast Intel processor ... yet! That's what sold me on the X30, that and the price which is hard to beat - shame the thing is so very buggy (witness other topics on this forum).

A good percentage of me wants to keep the thing, get a replacement - but I've been through this too many times before to want to get stung again.

Howard2k

Yep - I understand. As long as you didn't restore from backup (and restore the problem) you did things right.

Dell offer next day replacement, so depending on how far into your 30 days you are (and what country you are in) you might be able to get a replacement within the 30 days and see if that makes a difference. If the replacement unit sucks too, I'll see you at IpaqHQ, if not then you have a decent unit.

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hands0n

I must be getting old ........... The X30 is sitting on top of my computer monitor and I'm getting the hankering of phoning Dell CS tomorrow and asking them to send me a replacement to see if that sorts my problem out. I'll sleep on it and decide on the morrow!

Howard2k

Just remember to be mindful of the 30 day policy - assuming it exists in the UK. You need to check that. Under the consumer guarantees act it may only be 14. Can't remember

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Don't Panic!

Keep the Ax my friend. If you've got a 3 year old 3600 to work the way you wanted it to then you can whip this Axim thing. Where did the PALM figure into this BTW?

Don't Panic!
Bobby

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Don't Panic!
Bobby
42
Soft-reset is our Friend :

hands0n

Quote:

Originally posted by Howard2k Just remember to be mindful of the 30 day policy - assuming it exists in the UK. You need to check that. Under the consumer guarantees act it may only be 14. Can't remember

In the UK Dell have a 14-day rule for full cash refund whic conforms to UK Distance Selling laws. I'm almost there! However, we also have the Trading Standards laws that give us wider protection. The only thing is ..... if I accept a repair/replacement I negate my right to cash refund under the Trading Standards laws.

It's a worry because I really do like the Axim and want it to work.

BTW, do you know what should (or shouldn't) be in the Windows Startup folder on the Axim. I had a file called "poutlook" which was 14 bytes size dated 01/07/03 which I've moved off to a save directory just in case its vital. Since then I can't make the Axim lock up!!!!! There is also a larger file called "poutlook" in the main Windows directory - both of these I assume are Outlook files/executables!

I do not think anything should be in the Startup folder, and I've not put the file there (at least, not intentionally).

Any thoughts?

hands0n

Quote:

Originally posted by Don't Panic! Keep the Ax my friend. If you've got a 3 year old 3600 to work the way you wanted it to then you can whip this Axim thing. Where did the PALM figure into this BTW? Don't Panic! Bobby

Hi and thanks. The 3600 has been a diamond device since I got it, apart from a prob with the digitiser that had to be replaced. Its heavy as Sin though and everything I attach to it bulks it out. But it never [ever] went as freaky as this Axim thing has.

The PALM (Tungsten T) is my recently retired work PDA (the other half of my brain, if it aint in there I dont turn up for it! - I dont do dates & times which is ridiculous 'cos thats my current job). I have always liked WinCE over Palm's OS but the latter simply [ and I mean Simply] works. No hassle, no fuss, just does what it says on the tin. But its another OS to carry around, and I *do* prefer the WinCE/Windows paradigm.

The Axim is what [finally] persuaded me to spend the time and effort migrating my entire Calendar and Contacts from Palm to WinCE - the bonus is my 3630 has taken it all on board too (woo hoo).

I'm going to check out the reliability of the Axim now I found something "odd" - if it still plays up I'll possibly reverse my decision when the Returns people contact me to arrange return/refund. Can't imagine it'll be in a hurry! That gives me a few days to assess before I commit one way or the other.

hands0n

Spoke too soon .......... Re-sync'd with USB Cradle, fine. Now it's locked up again! 10th re-set and trying ..... grrrrrrrrrr

hands0n

Here's an interesting update!

I phoned Dell CS this morning to ask for a NBD Replacement. The CS rep asked me what my problems were, which I explained as much detail as I could. He went away to consult elsewhere and came back to me to say that this was a known fault with the Axim X30 and that their Product Dept was working on a fix, but that none was available right now. I asked if there was an anticipated time to fix and he said that it was not possible to predict if the fault could/would be fixed in any time period. Basically, I would have to take a bit of a gamble that the fix would be forthcoming.

I have therefore opted to let the little beastie go back to Dell and take my money back. I'll wait, and keep an eye on Dell and these forums, to see if and when they issue a fix for the machine and try and assess how effective it is before re-placing my order for a new one. I suppose a dual benefit is that I'll also get any hardware improvements that may come along from the initial version.

Only question is .......... can I live without an X30? I think not :-)

hands0n

Quote:

Originally posted by hands0n Spoke too soon .......... Re-sync'd with USB Cradle, fine. Now it's locked up again! 10th re-set and trying ..... grrrrrrrrrr

25 Soft Resets and it's back! ............... but for how long.

I'm going off to work to distract myself.

jacksonaaronc

Greetings,
I had the same kind of problem with my first unit. I was forced to hard reset 3 times in two weeks! In addition the antenna was seated incorrectly with the left side lower than the right. I opted for a replacement unit and the new unit has been great! Heck, I'm writing this on it from the comfort of my couch! Maybe a new unit and then return that one if it's not better? Good luck.
Blessings,
Aaron

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Aaron Jackson
www.highcaliberguns.com

hands0n

still no word from dell. found a quick way of getting the unit back. do a reset then press the power button to switch off before it comes up fully. power it up again and it works ok until the next lockup. well ....... its a start.

7/7 - After a few days this has turned out to be a foolproof way of getting my X30hi back in service. It works every time providing I can get the timing of pressing the power button off during re-boot. Roll on the next [hopefully repaired] version of the OS.