Cracked screen, please help

Dazza550 · 04-11-06, 06:20 PM

I recently dropped my X50v, it works fine but the screen has two big cracks now. I can't actually feel the crack with my nail/finger so I'm guessing its not actually in the screen but the bit behind the screen (digitiser I think its called?). Anyway basically I just want to know what is the best way to get this fixed in the UK? I know Dell won't fix this as part of the warranty, but will they fix is for a fee? Or is there somewhere else I can take it in the UK for repair?

thedakr · 04-11-06, 07:48 PM

I was pretty sure that Dell had this in their warranty - that might be the extende one though...

Dazza550 · 04-11-06, 08:55 PM

I was sort of guessing that Dell wouldn't fix it so you could be right. I'll get in touch with them. In the meantime though any alternatives would be appreciated.

darkdestroyer · 04-11-06, 10:40 PM

www.pocketpctechs.com
is a great place to go for repairs/upgrades.

Dazza550 · 04-12-06, 09:36 AM

Hi, thanks for the link, but that's in the US, I need one in the UK.

PillagingJack · 04-12-06, 04:01 PM

If you can see the cracks, then the LCD is cracked, but you just cant feel it through the glass top. Unfortunately, your looking at a hefty price if infact it is not covered by warranty. You can go to ppctechs.com if you like, and most likely its almost worth it just to buy a new axim with full warranty. However, your other options are to replace the screen your self (cheaper then having someone else do it) or to buy a cheap x50v on ebay and do a screen transplant. Also, the screen on ppctechs is not highquality, so you will notice a HUGE diffference from the original both in clarity and brightness... any more questions, drop a PM...

04-12-06, 04:32 PM

I haven't seen anyone complain of poor quality on the replacement screen before. is this from personal experience or have you heard it from someone else? if that is tru then it isn't a good deal at all and buying a new one would be of more value in my opinion.

Budadank · 04-12-06, 04:32 PM

Hi,

First of all, if your touchscreen is still responding properly, then it is not your digitizer that is broken. If you can see cracks but can't feel them then it's your LCD that is cracked, but I don't understand how you can still see all the screen if that's the case as there should be a black substance bleeding out from the cracks...

I'd need a picture to be sure so if you can provide that then I could advise on whether you need a repair or a replacement screen altogether.

Have a look at Apex Laptops in the UK, tey do Axim repairs but are very expensive. I found it cheaper to send mine to the USA to be repaired... Better still, order the part and do it yourself if you're confiden, there are plenty of people here who can advise you on how to repair your axim.

Good Luck!

PillagingJack · 04-12-06, 04:48 PM

BIGDAVE.. yeah, from personal experience. The screens they use are not from dell, but are a third party manufacturer. The clarity issue I have only seen on an x5, and it was negligiable, but it was there. The brightness issue though is apparent through all the model screens from ppctechs. For example, I replaced my screen with one from there, and the screen I have now, when set to brightest, is equivalent to about (actually a little less) than 1/2 brightness on a regular dell screen. They, of course, dont mention this on the ppctechs site. This is also really only noticeable under two conditions. 1, you are replacing your screen right away, and will realize the difference. or 2, if you have not seen your screen for a while, it will look fine until you compare it side by side to a dell original.

This thread has a pic of a new and replaced screen:

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...=pillagingjack

Dazza550 · 04-13-06, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Budadank

Hi,

First of all, if your touchscreen is still responding properly, then it is not your digitizer that is broken. If you can see cracks but can't feel them then it's your LCD that is cracked, but I don't understand how you can still see all the screen if that's the case as there should be a black substance bleeding out from the cracks...

I'd need a picture to be sure so if you can provide that then I could advise on whether you need a repair or a replacement screen altogether.

The two cracks are very fine and hard to see, they're most visible at an angle as kind of see through lines. There's nothing bleeding from them and the whole screen is clear and visible (even the bits right beghind the cracks). The touch screen doesn't work properly around the area of the crack (I suppose I should have mentioned that..

). The cracks actually started very small but grew because I kept using it. I'll try to get a picture of it on the net as soon as I can. Thanks for your help (that goes out to everyone who's posted).

x6tenz · 04-13-06, 09:42 AM

It may not be the LCD that it's broken.... I am not sure but I think it comes with a glass layer and that's what's probably cracked.

LCD's basically are made of micro pipes filled with gas and when they crack you can see partially or nothing depending the kind of damage; but eventually they will fully die.

04-14-06, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by PillagingJack

BIGDAVE.. yeah, from personal experience. The screens they use are not from dell, but are a third party manufacturer. The clarity issue I have only seen on an x5, and it was negligiable, but it was there. The brightness issue though is apparent through all the model screens from ppctechs. For example, I replaced my screen with one from there, and the screen I have now, when set to brightest, is equivalent to about (actually a little less) than 1/2 brightness on a regular dell screen. They, of course, dont mention this on the ppctechs site. This is also really only noticeable under two conditions. 1, you are replacing your screen right away, and will realize the difference. or 2, if you have not seen your screen for a while, it will look fine until you compare it side by side to a dell original.

This thread has a pic of a new and replaced screen:

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...=pillagingjack

I wonder if this problem is the same for the x50v? It would not be worth it to put an inferior screen on a VGA device. sort of defeats the whole purpose....

Dazza550 · 04-16-06, 11:04 AM

Right, so if I'm going to try to fix this myself it would seem that the most sensible first step would be to open it up and see for myself exactly what's broken. Then I'll know what I need to buy to fix it. Can anyone give me a quick guide on opening up the X50v, how to do it and what to be careful of.

Thanks

darkdestroyer · 04-16-06, 01:36 PM

Opening X50v
http://www.x50v.it/index.php?option=...=127&Itemid=62

Food for thought:

After personally owning an X50v I can easily say that the screen is not the best in clarity or contrast. Would it be technically possible to replace the screen of the X50v with the screen of another VGA PDA? Say.. the Loox 720?

Lodis · 04-16-06, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Dazza550

Right, so if I'm going to try to fix this myself it would seem that the most sensible first step would be to open it up and see for myself exactly what's broken. Then I'll know what I need to buy to fix it. Can anyone give me a quick guide on opening up the X50v, how to do it and what to be careful of.

Thanks

If you do not want to fix it yourself, go to www.expansys.com and search for ''Axim repair'' I know they do the RAM Upgrades for people in the UK via PocketPC Techs so they might also do Repairs.

They are the authorised repair centres for PocketPC Techs in the UK but they will still have to ship it overseas. With this way you avoid unnecessary import Tax / VAT and cost.