Digitizer Problem

03-04-04, 04:15 PM

Hey guys, i have a strange digitizer problem... usually it manifests when i'm playing age of empires, but it has happened a few other times. pretty much after a bunch of tapping, the screen becomes unresponsive and all the taps register at the bottom of the screen. while playing AOE in landscape it would be the side with the d-pad. to get it back to normal, i'd tap in the millimeter or two on the edge and then tap somewhere else and it'll be bakc to normal for about 30 seconds, and then it goes nuts again... anyone else have a similar problem?

03-04-04, 07:15 PM

I have the exact same problem. What type of screen protector do you have?

If you squeeze the sides of your Ax (make sure not to press any buttons in the process!), the screen will go back to normal. How often do you get this problem?

03-05-04, 02:04 PM

i had the dell screen protectors... i took it off and it seems to happen less? i don't get that... it used to only happen in AOE, i just performed a hard reset and not it's happening in windows... (funny calling it windows for some reason). i'll try squeezing the sides to see if it helps... usually i just swat the stylus around the bottom of the screen and it's fine.

03-05-04, 10:30 PM

Others have posted that a screen protector can sometimes cause this problem. I certainly hope this is the case, because I don't want to replace my digitizer any time soon! I have noticed it happen a lot more frequently if I am using the hardware buttons. Is this the case with you?

pecos · 03-05-04, 11:38 PM

I had the same problems with my axim X5 basic. For the last month or so I have to keep squeezing the sides,doing soft resets and hard resets slapping it really hard or even dropping it so that it comes to normal. I got tired of doing all of these and try to tell myself that it will be fine so I shipped it back to the person in the US who bought the unit for me, who will contact the Dell People.
All this happened just after the warranty is up.

However, this a PDA thingie it seems . This is my third PDA(casio>palm>dell) and they all had the same digitizer problem one year after purchase(brand new). This therefore drives home the point that PDAs aren'nt really reliable and probably are a waste of funds as the cost to repair one is equal to or greater than the cost of buying a new one. Makers of these devices need to improve not only on their warranty offers but the durability of thier PDAs.

I definately don't want an X3i I just want my X5 repaired .
Makes no sense buying a new PDA (whatever brand) it wont last longer than a year.

Scylla · 03-06-04, 12:34 AM

It's a problem with the frame being overflexed. I had to replace my first X5 because of it.

There are threads about this on Dell's Community forums. The problem usually won't get better.

It can be caused by screen protectors that you have to "tuck-in" at the edges; never do that! It forces the edges of the screen down on the foil beneath it.

And don't use the Dell or generic screen protectors - most of them do require you to tuck the edges under the frame. Spend a little and get a good protector. I use the WriteSHIELD by PocketPCTechs. One's been on my Ax for five months now - looks like new! There are a couple other good ones out there. Check the "Review" section here at Aximsite.com.

It's also a good idea not to keep the Axim in a pocket or on your belt where you might lean against something regularly and cause it to flex or bend, even a little. I was using a soft leather Belkin case on a belt clip, and I think I may have been a little careless.

Now I use a DSI Holster case - it's a hard case that protects the Ax from flexing.