x50v Screen Alignment Problems - Page 4

boto · 03-26-05, 07:02 AM

I have just ordered x50v without previous reading of screen touch problems. Is the problem so big for the pocket that I would cancel my order and buy another ppc?
Seems to me really serious problem .
Thank you

cnycompguy · 03-26-05, 03:30 PM

boto, the handhelds sent out now shouldnt have this problem, it was just the first hardware build, A01. From what I gather, it's not compatible with the A02 touchscreen "enhancements".

boto · 03-26-05, 03:41 PM

thanks, thats a really good news,today I was almost sick reading this thread

wmm · 03-26-05, 10:02 PM

Unfortunately, it's not quite true. I got mine at the beginning of this month (March), it was marked A03 for the hardware, and had the A02 version of the software. And it lasted about two weeks before it started having digitizer problems.

What I don't know is what percentage of units are actually affected. I get the impression that it's fairly small. So the chances are good that yours will be fine. If it's not, it's really easy to get it exchanged (my replacement arrived within 48 hours of when I reported the problem via the Dell support chat facility). In other words, I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens to you, and if it does, just get a replacement. Not worth working yourself up about it.

boto · 03-27-05, 04:53 AM

guys,anyway thanks for your support . I hope my unit will be OK.
Next week I will see.

kam33mitch · 03-28-05, 09:05 PM

Well, I must eat crow. After a couple of days the dancing digitizer came back so it is NOT an A01-A02 thing. God, I hate this!

Dell support had me do the battery thing plus hard reset. I doubt this has "solved the problem" but we'll see.

BrainFart · 04-02-05, 10:05 PM

My X50v is less than half week old and I finally took the screen protector off. Problem did not go away. Hard reset 10 times just today alone. About the only thing that helps for a little while is by pressing on the 'A' of the AXIM next to the power button.

I will be calling DELL for a replacement come Monday.

BTW, l type this message using my X50v (soon to be returned), I had to press 'A' a few times and countless retype which adds to over 10mins just to write this. This is painful.

scottnic · 04-04-05, 11:24 PM

Here's my story... Maybe it'll provide some correlating details that others can confirm?

My initial device (pre-ordered, received a week or so after launch) worked fine for a few months, but began having problems in late December if I remember correctly. It required frequent re-alignments and eventually was pretty much unuseable, so I called for a replacement.

Replacement came, worked fine for a couple of weeks, then it, too, started having problems. I was in the middle of several huge projects and simply didn't have time to deal with tech support, so I got along without a PDA for a couple of months, then when things calmed down I contacted Dell again, and another replacement was sent out.

When the third device arrived, I didn't install any of my usual software. I just put my battery in and put it in the cradle to charge the backup battery, The next morning, I grabbed it and stuck my SD card in it on the way out the door.

All I did with it that day was pull it out during a lull in work and fire up the ZUMA game (by Astraware) that was on my SD card. Within twenty minutes of playing, I noticed that my taps weren't registering correctly. I went into Notes and sure enough, I was getting the "heart monitor" across the screen when I drew a straight line. I immediately did a hard-reset, but the problem was still there.

So... Here are my conclusions... They're based on the assumption that this problem is rare enough that the odds of my getting three bad units in a row are astronomical, and that therefore the fact that all three of my units had problems must be related to something I was doing.

With that in mind, I went over every step in using my third unit and decided that there are only three possible causes:

1: My battery (which is the original battery that came with my first unit) is causing the problems. I doubt this one, because I also have an extended battery and if memory serves, I used the extended battery exclusively in my second unit from the time I got it until the time it failed, while I used the standard battery exclusively in my third unit. So unless both batteries are bad, I don't think they could be the problem.

2: My SD card is somehow causing the problem. I have no ideas on the likelihood of this one.

3: Astraware ZUMA is causing the problem. The more I think about it, the more I think that this one may actually have some merit. If my memory serves, my problems with my original device started shortly after Astraware released ZUMA in late December of last year. Several people in this thread have mentioned heat issues, and my device certainly gets quite warm (almost uncomfortably so) when I'm playing ZUMA for an extended period.

In reality, I suppose it could also be a combination of (2) and (3), since I'm playing ZUMA off the SD card. The heat does seem to be mostly localized toward the top of the unit, so it's possible, I suppose, that it's the SD card that's getting unconfortably hot and damaging the digitizer chip. Only way to test this for sure would be to try ZUMA for an extended period out of main memory or BIS, but I'll need a working unit for that.

Whatever the cause, it seems to be permanent. Once I've had problems, it doesn't seem to matter if I let the unit cool down, or whatever, the digitizer is permanently screwed.

So can anyone correlate any of this with their experience as well? Are we all avid ZUMA players? :) (I assume if ZUMA is indeed the cause then other CPU-intensive games could have the same effect).

wmm · 04-05-05, 06:54 AM

Nope, sorry, I'm not a gamer. I did notice a heat correlation with my problems, though -- when I had been carrying the unit next to my body, it tended to exhibit the digitizer flakiness, and when I let it cool down to room temperature, it tended to go away.

kam33mitch · 04-05-05, 01:08 PM

Well, I just got my new unit and so far so good. The SD card may have some merit but I have not been able to isolate any real cause. I coulod never get the heat, hard CPU use or even low battery to duplicate the problem. I agree that once it starts to go it just gets worse.

BTW, My new unit has an A03 hardware with A02 ROM. I'll keep you posted on how it works out.

ToughSushi · 04-05-05, 10:20 PM

I too have experienced screen alignment problems, possibly tied to the body heat theory. I would carry my axim in my pants pocket screen side in with no case. I started having problems with alignment daily. I have been without the ax in my pocket for 2 days now and all seems to be ok. I don't use a screen protector. Interesting theory and it seems to fit my experience.

zedman · 04-07-05, 07:25 PM

I just recieved my replacement from Dell, its A03 hardware my other one stuck in an endless alignment loop was A01.
The new ones screen doesnt feel as sensitive, but I prefer it as it definately feels more accurate.
I have a feeling my other one which I had for a mth started to go crazy with alignment when I applied a dell screen protector with the smothing card, I think it contributed to the screen malfunction. I wont use a smoothing card again and I bought a brando protector and it drops on beautifully with no bubbles.
Had the new one a week no problems so far, fingers crossed.

aawhyte · 04-08-05, 12:53 PM

Well I just thought I'd and my two cents in. I received my X50 on Tuesday, April 5th, and this started happening the very next day. Not that bad but I had to do the screen alignment about 5 times. I thought this was weird because my old PDA, Jornada 568, I did this once or twice to it. So the next day I start using it and it is by far getting worse. Now I'm into soft resets and then hard resets. Also did the draw a line across the screen in note, heart monitor. I used the Chat with technician function off of Dell's website and it actually is 100 times better than trying to talk to those people. Anyway, I have a new one on it's way. I hope that this won't happen again like some of the people here received a new one and it started on the replacement one also!!
I had/have the A03 if anybody wants to know.

Alex

boto · 04-09-05, 10:22 AM

I'd like to know one thing.If this problem happens if I use blue tooth mouse to write on the soft keyboard instead of stylus ?
Has someone tried it ?
I am aware that's a specific question but ...... thank you

Jimyster123 · 04-09-05, 10:42 AM

Strange I should read this. I spend hours trying to line up my boxwave protector, and once on would have to tap very hard. But now I notice I don't and seems kind of normal again, but the edges of the protector are coming up as well. The Boxwave protector worked great on my X5, but seems to have problems on the X50v. Maybe I should order another brand of protector.

Originally Posted by nparker13

Same problem...Had a boxwave clear touch screen protector, removed it, and back to normal.

-nate