Cracked digitizer screen replacement

pdiaz · 06-12-07, 05:45 AM

Just a heads up that replacement digitizer screens are now very cheap on eBay. Found one for $15 delivered with shipping discount so 2 comes to $25 (thought I would get a spare :approve:). At those prices it is almost not worth using a screen protector...almost. It is fiddly to remove from your TFT screen, but with a razor blade and a steady hand (my wife's) it is quite doable. Will keep you guys posted on how the replacement works. Here are some useful links I have found:

Compare Prices and Read Reviews on Dell Axim X50v (VGA) Digitizer/GlasstopNOT FOR THE AXIM X50 (XX1799) at Epinions.com

PDA, Treo, iPOD & Smartphone Repair Directions & Videos: PDAparts is the Palm Treo, HP iPAQ, Blackberry, iPOD and PDA Parts and Repair Specialist

pdiaz · 06-18-07, 01:05 AM

Digitizers arrived today! Breeze to install -> just place over LCD (no glue needed), plug into mainboard and voila, instant unbricked PDA. Still have a spair for fututre breaks :rolling:

The digitizer seems to work as the OEM one (sensitivity, accuracy etc.)

pdiaz · 06-26-07, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by pdiaz

The digitizer seems to work as the OEM one (sensitivity, accuracy etc.)

Man I regret that last statement.

As I mentioned in my 1st post, after breaking the orginal digitizer on my x50v, I purchased 2 replacement digitizers off eBay. Things looked good for the 1st few days with the digitizer working as expected, but gradually the accuracy of the digitizer deteriorated. Drawing straight lines in "Notes" results in jagged lines and character recognition is now very inaccurate. Firmer stylus pressure resllts in greater accuracy than normal pressure, but is still inaccurate. The screen allignment setting does not improve things, and now cycles infinitely - rejecting my calibration attempts. I have followed the advice in another post regarding cleaning under the bezel with no effect. Removing the screen protector and a hard reset also did not help.

Since I bought 2 digitizers, I decided to try the other one. Again, worked well for about a day and then did the same thing as the other one! Frustrating to say the least.

Does anyone have any ideas? I am a bit reluctant to purchase more digitizers as the one's that are available look like the one's I just bought. Anyone had any luck with these eBay digitizers?

06-27-07, 08:28 PM

I got mine for X51v
the touchscreen has some problem, it goes way off sometimes, even after several times of alignment
but well, it appears X51v is dying (bluetooth stops working sometimes, requires reset or full off, the internal battery died, lost time everytime switch main battery)
the old X50v is still strong, why?!

bigbop · 06-30-07, 07:47 PM

Make sure that there is a gap around the outside edge of the display where the case covers the display. If the new digitizer is thicker than the old one the case edge around the outside perimeter of the display can press on the display and cause problems. You should be able to slide a single sheet of paper between the digitizer and the case, around the edges and there should be no locations where the paper gets stuck.
You should also be able to run the PDA without the top cover on it to make sure that nothing is pressing down on the digitizer surface.

I have a few postings of how to replace the digitizer you may want to review. Just search for my postings for the last year in x50 and x51 hardware problems forums.

alohatech · 07-06-07, 11:57 PM

I am having the same problem with a digitizer I got off of eBay. I knew I should have spent the money and used PPC Techs but the price sounded so good.

I had problems getting it to align and it would just loop after it finally aligned it would add all extra lines when writing or drawing in notes.

I removed my screen protector but that did not help. I then tried bigbop’s suggestion and removed the cover. I performed a hard reset, realigned and I had the same problem with the top cover off.

aasoror · 07-07-07, 01:18 AM

so these are the $10 ebay ones ..?
here is feedback I got from one of the buyers of these:

1. The screen is a silky matt finish quite a nice feel to it.
2. As the Digitizer is mat the daylight readability is lower as the screen tends to look a little milky under bright light,
3. it seems aproximatly 50% less sensitive than the original component.
4. The accrecey of the part in operation is some what lower than that of the original, fustratingly tends to select the point lower (In my case) than the stylus position unless one pushes quite firmly, to which seems to get an accurate position. This could be related to item number 3.

I've found same seller having same auction title under $10, $20, $27 and $47 .. when I asked him what is the difference that was the reply:
"Thanks for your message. They are exactly the same, no difference"
lol

any way, if anyone had a good experience with ebay digitizer just let us know.
Regards,

pdiaz · 07-07-07, 03:16 AM

I have purchased a 3rd digitizer and this time it seems to be working (so far). The ones on ebay are all identical from what I can see, except for a couple of sellers which sell the OEM version but is much more expensive (about $60). What I did different this time was:

1. Removed the old double sided tape with a flat screwdriver and alcohol

2. Attached double sided tape to the LCD frame (thin Sellotape) to match the way it was attached to the original digitizer as much as possible.

3. I think this may be the most important difference, the digitizer ribbon tends to bulge out and might have gotten pinched by the top cover when I placed it back on the first 2 times. I noticed the old digitizer has the middle of the ribbon bent inwards so it tucks tightly to the side of the screen / motherboard (check it out yourself). So I gently pushed the new ribbon in so it folded slightly in the middle. I used some sticky tape to hold it in position and keep it from bulging back out. I then carefully put the front cover back on, inserting the locking tab closest to the digitizer ribbon 1st making sure it didn't pinch it.

4. I also removed the padding on the back of the front cover (thin black strip). Well actually just the lower one (had to cut it with a razor) as I noticed that the acuracy of the lower part of digitizer degraded with the cover on as opposed to the cover off. That seemed to improve things (thanks bigbop)

Hope this helps. It has only been 2 days since my install but fingers crossed it keeps woking.

Pedro

pdiaz · 07-09-07, 06:05 AM

No luck :(

The digitizer is going to crap again. It seems to be use dependant, the bottom middle part of my PDA (corresponding to the lower case bar of "letter recogniser") went 1st but now the rest of the screen is starting to fail.

Bottom line is you get what you pay for, these ebay screens are simply duds. I purchased from 2 different sellers so I wouldn't bother hoping that another seller might do better than another as they are all selling the same part. If you really love your Axim, then send it off for someone else to fix. Me, I'm over it and am sick of wasting good money after bad - I'm going to turf it on ebay for parts. Anyway, my wifes rx4540 kills the Axim on everything except VGA which I can live with.

x50v R.I.P(ieces) :realmad:

erkme73 · 09-14-07, 09:15 PM

I bought and installed one from ebay ($30) and have been using it solidly for over a week... Seems to be going strong. Maybe they changed something since this thread was started?