Axim Cases with magnetic closure......BAD???

diesel · 02-24-03, 02:05 PM

All,

I'm trying to decide on what case to cover my new axim in and i've been following some of the posts in regards to the options out there. It's between Vaja cases (expensive but nice custom made leather cases with magnetic closure), EB cases (cheap, leather with magnetic closure), and finally Sena cases (cheap, leather, and non magnetic snap closure).

The question that i have after reading some of the threads in regards to the above cases is, many people seemed to have speculated about the potential danger of using a case that used magnetic closure for fear of the magnets damaging the axim's electronics or something. Is this a valid concern? Can anyone weigh in on this issue based on science or direct hand experience for good or bad when using a case with magnetic closures? Also some have said the magnetic closure would also damage credit cards carried in the case. If so, I think it would be pretty dumb for the case makers to design it in such a way. Are the magnets on these cases strong enough to damage the magnetic strip on a credit card?

I personally like the idea of magnetic closures and am leaning towards a case with magnetic closures but want to poll the members here for their opinions or personal experiences on this issue. This is a great opportunity for some uber techie to step up to the plate and put this issue to rest :) Thanks.

Eric

shaneincottondale · 02-24-03, 02:19 PM

Personally I feel that a closure with a magnet strong enough to actually hold it closed would be too unhealthy for the Axim and memory cards. If the magnet is weak enough to not hurt anything it probably wont keep the case closed either.

shane
:crooked:

Emonair · 02-24-03, 02:20 PM

I don't know if I should be considered an uber techie but here's my .02

Many people are using the eb slipper magnetic close cases with their pda's and haven't complained. On their website they state that they do NOT recommend storing credit cards in the case. In time the magnetic strip on the credit card may become useless. I have way too many cards in my wallet to ever consider merging my wallet and my pda case. It's just not something that works for me. If we are one and the same on this then the case would be great for you. If you feel the need to store credit cards in your pda case. This one isn't for you. Move on, your decision has been made from a functionality standpoint. Also, the Vaja case I've seen is snap closed not magnet closed.

Emonair · 02-24-03, 02:33 PM

I've heard two different sides to this story. I once read on a message board that SD and CF memory weren't effected by magnets. I just called Sandisk Tech Support and ran it by them. They said a simple Refridgerator magnet could permanently ruin the SD or CF card. I guess that makes my decision. Sena here I come.:crooked:

Emonair · 02-24-03, 02:33 PM

Blah blah blah, why can't I delete this post I created!!

WindWalker · 02-24-03, 03:25 PM

Just as a follow up, I cheched the SanDisk site for a FAQ on this.....

The FAQ states that corruption of data on an SD card (or any Flash memory media) can result from "sitting the card on or near strong magnetic sources." I would assume that you could wipe out a card if you left it on a magnet for a long period of time, but the magnetic closure of a case probably doesn't have sufficient juice to do anything to the card. i should sonn have a 32 MB card to test on, so I'll let you know how a magnet affects an SD card in the coming week or so.

diesel · 02-24-03, 03:51 PM

hmmmm, looks as if i will be going with the Sena, there seems to be a lot of "unknowns" in regards to magnets and the Axim and SD/CF cards. Why take that chance considering if the magnet does have some effect, the grief you will be put through in lost data or damaged sd/cf cards.

Mike1138 · 02-24-03, 05:07 PM

Vaja has two models. One with magnet closure, one with snap closure.

My question is this. If these magnets are really bad for the Axim, CF/SD Cards. Why is everyone making a magnetic closure case?:crooked:

diesel · 02-24-03, 05:40 PM

Mike,

Who knows.

Why did a certain car manufacturer several years back make side mounted fuel tanks and after several explosive accidents, a class action lawsuit, and governmental intervention, did they finally acknowledge "poor design"?

Awwww, the mysteries of life. Men for all their achievements are still capable of great stupidity.

Khuff · 02-24-03, 10:32 PM

I have used three E & B cases the quality was great.

M515-Velco closure, seemed like it would wear out after a couple year as the fuzz would be gone.

J568- Mag closure, has had no effect on 568 or any of the CF cards (Sandisk and Viking)

Axim- Mag closure, no problems on SD card or Axim so far....

diesel · 02-25-03, 02:28 AM

I've taken this straight off of ebcase's website for the dell axim slipper cover with magnetic closure:

"*We do not recommend carrying credit cards or other cards with magnetic strips in this case."

It's their little disclaimer. This pretty much says it all. If their magnets are strong enough to damage credit card slips, it could be strong enough to affect storage cards or CF cards I think unless someone can convince me otherwise.

I think I will be going with Sena cases with their snap closure.

Eric

wmson2000 · 02-25-03, 06:44 AM

I can only speak from my past experience.

I have been using two cases for about 4 years, both with magnetic closures. I have been using a Palm V and more recently, a Palm m505 with color screen. I have carried SD cards and credit cards with mag stripes. One case was a Franklin Covey and I don't remember the other brand but it was a "slipper type", not EB.

I never had any problem at all.

Funny thing, I never even thought about it until I started reading these Axim forums. Maybe ignorance really is bliss. . .

I've got an order in for the Sena case so I'll be "snapping" and not using a magnet anyway.

Herb · 02-25-03, 06:52 AM

A static magnetic field doesn't do anything to such devices, the problem grows with alternating fields, eg. power supplies coiled cables etc.

shaneincottondale · 02-25-03, 09:53 AM

Quote:

A static magnetic field doesn't do anything to such devices

Lay any media on a speaker magnet for a few minutes then try and use it.

shane
:crooked:

wolfmangk · 02-25-03, 11:06 AM

When compact discs first came out I tried the old speaker test on them, and other than one CD I bumbled and scratched, no damage resulted. This isn't the old electromagnetic type of tape data we are all used to, this is solid state semiconducting technology. Like someone said, alternating current creating a "Field" of electricity may pose a risk to unshielded devices. When I was a tech at a computer company years ago I watched them assemble computers with magnetic screwdrivers even after we had the HDD image burned. The reason they warn you about credit cards is due to the fact some idiot somewhere out there will keep his credit cards inside the case or whatever, and rubbing any credit card against a magnet will result in some sort of damage. It's like one of those "Do not operate this electric heater inside a pool or bathtub" warning, because you know someone will try it, and their family will sue when they fry. There are already EMF fields inside yoru AXIM primarily in the cold cathode power system, which oscillates at a high frequency at a pretty high voltage. Those scan lines in your screen- those are from an HV leak somewhere in your AXIM- but your AXIM still works, right? The magnet on that little flip case probably couldn't distort the cathode ray tube inside your tellivision.