Mushy D-Pad Fix?

eriknelson · 05-27-03, 10:00 AM

Has anyone come up with any creative ideas to fix the mushy directional pad? That's the main thing that frustrates me about the axim.

05-27-03, 10:41 AM

Just call dell for a replacment,they will send you one overnight.

thewisteron · 05-27-03, 10:48 AM

Instead of indentations on the D-pad, why didn't they make them stick out a little so you can feel which direction you are pushing? Did you read this thread. It is interesting.....

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...threadid=12100

eriknelson · 05-27-03, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thewisteron
Did you read this thread. It is interesting.....
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...threadid=12100

yeah i saw that, but i'm a little hesistant to take it apart without some idea of whether or not it will work when i put it back together...has anyone tried fixing the d-pad?

combustion · 05-27-03, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by micahlegg
Just call dell for a replacment,they will send you one overnight.

send what? a new d-pad or a new axim?

dmkozak · 05-28-03, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by micahlegg
Just call dell for a replacment,they will send you one overnight.

Yes, but will the replacement work any better? So far I've returned three replacements all of which were worse than my existing. I've been told Dell has a software patch to cure nav pad inconsistencies and I'll have to wait for this to be posted. It was supposed to have been posted two weeks ago, and, nothing so far. Now, after installing the ROM update, I get a backup battery warning every two or three syncs. Taking off and replacing the backup battery cover stops the warning and reinstates a 100% backup battery on the meter. The longer I have my Axim (six months), the worse it gets and the less help I am able to receive from Dell.

Yes, calling customer service gets you a replacement. But what is the replacement's quality?

Magadin · 05-28-03, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dmkozak
I've been told Dell has a software patch to cure nav pad inconsistencies and I'll have to wait for this to be posted.

There was already a patch put out to fix the problem with the D-Pad, it should also be included in both ROM updates. I'm just curious though, it sounds like you are talking about a Physical problem with the D-Pad. Drivers only fix software related issues, if there is a physical problem with the D-Pad, I would think it needed to be replaced or the unit replaced.

dmkozak · 06-01-03, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Magadin
There was already a patch put out to fix the problem with the D-Pad, it should also be included in both ROM updates. I'm just curious though, it sounds like you are talking about a Physical problem with the D-Pad. Drivers only fix software related issues, if there is a physical problem with the D-Pad, I would think it needed to be replaced or the unit replaced.

I'm sorry either I was unclear or did not clearly read my post. I was told by Dell they intend to post a patch to cure navigation pad inconsistencies, i.e., when you push a direction, the curser does not move one space in the direction pushed (usually the right push is the problem). You are talking about the patch to activate the center push. What you are talking about has nothing to do with what I was told by Dell.

wildcat · 06-01-03, 03:04 PM

The problem seems like a hardware issue. I dont see how changing the software will solve the problem but im am open to new ideas.

mdcauthen · 06-01-03, 03:21 PM

I agree with wildcat.

hwyman · 06-01-03, 03:27 PM

I dont know if my D-pad problem is the same one everyone else is talking about, Ive been humming and hawwing over replacing my ax.... I just love it so even with the minor default... Anyways after about two weeks of using my d-pad it decided to stay in the up position leaving the down position sticking out .. Sometimes it can be a little frustrating when you push up and it actually triggers the enter Aghh..

What do you guys think I should do.. I dont want to send it away and have to wait for another to arrive

dmkozak · 06-02-03, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wildcat
The problem seems like a hardware issue. I dont see how changing the software will solve the problem but im am open to new ideas.

I, like you, assumed this was a problem with the "click registering" of the nav pad itself. However, I have been told by Dell (not customer service or tech services, but admin customer support who got the info from tech r&d) that the issue is really a software issue because the problem is the software's recognition of the "click", not the actual "click" itself.

I really don't know if this is true or not. I was told there were some license issues to be finalized and the patch was expected to have posted May 15, 2003. It's now June 2, 2003, and, nothing.

06-02-03, 12:34 PM

oooook, lemme clear this up...... Call dell and tell them you have a horible d-pad, keep yakking on how hard it is to play games on.

The will send you the ENTIRE axim as a replacment, and the replacmet it usually alot beter than the original, and all this costs you is time.

jeepfaned · 06-02-03, 12:50 PM

i too have the problem with the d pad and not clicking when pushed to the right. but heres my thing...i have the old ax with the 250....if i return it...whats my chance of getting one with a 255 and the a02 patch instead of the a00 i curently have??

06-02-03, 01:25 PM

As for waiting for a replacement . . . I'd heard that Dell sends out a replacement, and then you send in the unit that needs repair. If so, then you don't suffer any down time. Is it true?

I've put up with a mushy D-Pad for the three months that I've owned my Ax. (Navigating through cells in Excel is literally impossible.) I haven't sent it back in because I'm waiting to hear about an improvement in the quality--there are too many stories of people whose replacements were worse than the original.