Interesting SD phenomenon...

Osiris · 01-30-03, 12:59 AM

It appears from what I've read all over the internet, that the Axim has a faulty SD slot. It miswrites data now and then, and sometimes completely wipes the SD card clean upon a soft reset. In my case it does the former. The data constantly gets corrupted, and sometimes just disappears. I have *only* had this problem with the SD slot, not a single problem with the CF slot (yet). So, I'm returning the 256MB SD card in favor of a CF card. I don't plan on ever using wireless with this Axim, that will wait until the X7. There's so many problems with these X5's that I'll probably grab the X7 a couple months after it comes out. Here's my list...

1. Faulty D-pad
2. Shadows on screen
3. Unit doesn't always power off when not in use (works sometimes)
4. Backup battery drains in a matter of seconds
5. Light behind power button is nearly impossible to see
6. SD slot completely messed up
7. Record button causes fuzzy recordings
8. Soft reset "hole" has now broken through the rubber, from using it so much
9. Rubber side grips falling off

A few notes to those with similar problems. The faulty d-pad can be fixed by merely removing the dpad patch...this way the "enter" button does nothing...and allows you to push harder, which makes the dpad work (sort of). As for the record button, only use software based records, don't use the button. For the pushed through soft reset hole, use software like "Nice Start" to do soft resets when possible. And for the side rubber grips, super glue them back on I suppose.

It seems there's a reason we only paid $350 for these Axims. $400 for most of us, as I've never heard of anybody getting their rebate back from Dell, myself included.

PS: Don't even think about using Resco's Speech Assistant recording software with your Axim's memory slot, it appears to be completely non-functional and will only record to the internal memory, which is nicely useless.

Mizar · 01-30-03, 05:52 AM

That's interesting. I've used the heck out of my Axim for over a month now (including daily trips to/from work in the cold of a Canadian winter) and haven't noticed any of the problems you've listed. 'Hope you have better luck with the X7.

-Bill

Quinn · 01-30-03, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mizar@Jan 30 2003, 04:52 AM
haven't noticed any of the problems you've listed.

Me either. I've got everything stored on an SD card and have never had a problem with it.

Quinn

toddack · 01-30-03, 06:59 AM

I am having the SD problem like no other... It is driving me up a wall.... Is Dell replacing the Axims that are having this problem?

ThinkerTDM · 01-30-03, 08:17 AM

Seems like more bitching and moaning to me. If you wanted an IPAQ, you should have bought one.

FSC Nitro · 01-30-03, 08:33 AM

My SD card used to cause me all kinds of grief, I would have to pop it out every time I did a reset because the Axim would stay locked up if I didn't.

BUT...

Since I did a hard reset and was a lot more careful about installing crappy little programs, it works flawlessly now!

toddack · 01-30-03, 08:36 AM

Not moaning, but when you pay for something to work and was under the impression that it would work and then lose a days worth of documents, you complain a little....

ThinkerTDM · 01-30-03, 08:41 AM

Ok, I take it back...

heysquirt · 01-30-03, 08:50 AM

Wow! I guess I am one of lucky ones. Mine is Great I have had no problems. <knock>
Has anyone checked with Dell about replacing ones with the bad SD?

toddack · 01-30-03, 08:55 AM

I just talked to a Dell Rep, actually it was my 2nd rep, the first one couldn't speak english to save his life and was reading a script and passed me on to someone else....

What he told me was
1) Do a Hard Reset, bye-bye everything
If it doesn't fix the problem
2) Replace the base Unit...

Good luck to all

pcbogert · 01-30-03, 09:30 AM

I have done so much searching/reading on the Axim that I can't recall where I read this, but I seem to recall that people have had problems (not just with Axims) with Sandisk brand cards. Could this be the case here?

LeapinLew · 01-30-03, 09:33 AM

I've had no problems with the X5 that you speak. The D-pad is useless anyways. I'm sure mine may be considered mushy. But the price for the unit is only 350 with a 50 dollar rebate - not 400 with a 50 dollar rebate like you stated Osiris.

At least - mine was 350. Maybe you got the special $400.00 price.

Guess I'm lucky. my sd card and wireless card perform flawlessly. I'm pretty much done playing with crappy little programs and use the device for what I intended it to do all along. My computer at home sucks too when I try to make it do stuff it really wasn't designed for... i.e. recording music, ripping movies, etc.

Mattman · 01-30-03, 11:51 AM

This screen shadowing....... how noticable is it? I seem to notice with certian lighter blues across the bottom of the screen, a ripple of shadows? However, it is not that noticable. Is this the beginning of the screen shadowing syndrome?

Another thing I have noticed with the Axim is a constant noise from the unit. You know the noise you hear coming from a muted TV or computer monitor. Let's see, how do I describe it.... I guess I'll call it an electrical humming buzz. With the Axim, it is quite noticable from an arm's length distance. I have tried turning the mic gain all the way down, all the way up, and in between. Attenuating the volume up or down has no effect either. Same humm with the volume up. Same humm with the volume down. Same humm with the volume off.

BTW, the hole in the rubber from soft resets is annoying. Makes me mad. I treat my Ax with a kid glove, yet it has a rip from soft resets.

I am beginning to wonder if I should call Dell Support.

NMkiD · 01-30-03, 12:10 PM

I think that if you have an issue with your axim that is really bothering you, especially SD issues (after trying another SD card and assurance of no "bad" programs) just call Dell about it and maybe get another one, because it seems like there is some variation of quality. Maybe I was lucky to have gotten a good one I guess, or maybe I'm more gentle with mine, I do resets every day and there is no hole on my reset button, my screen is nice and bright and perfect unless I really look closely to it or examne it from different positions that normal use would not entail. Also I hear noise from the Axim only if I hold it up to my ear, and I am quite bothered by humming noises, my Jornada cradle hum was very annoying, I hear a slightly louder hum when the wireless card is being used, but still thats only if I hold it up to my ear. If its louder then that I say you may have a problem.

Fellas, if you have a hardware problem that interrupts daily use, call Dell, get a new Axim, but dont prob or man-handle the unit from all different non-standard positions and grip about those kinds of things or else we'll all be in here complaining about these Axims, all I can say is that this unit is much better then my old PPC and alot better then most I have seen people use and tested out at various comouter shops, especially for the price!

Laterz all.

:D

Toydriver · 01-30-03, 01:38 PM

I must be one of the lucky ones. I'm on my second AXIM and I did notice the shadows at the bottom of the screen and I'am glad it is not a defective unit and I have a problem using the D button to read books (it will jump 2 pages at a time quite often even though I adjusted the setting for it). I use both the CF and SD slots and have had no troubles with them.
I use it everyday and I get extra pleasure comparing it with the Palms and whatnot other people have at work and seeing their expressions when I say "You mean you don't have color?" or "Of course I can read Word and Excel docs!" or I put on a slideshow of the pictures of my house remodeling. It just blows them away.

Toydriver