Windows Mobile 6 on your Dell Axim - UPDATE

**Chris Leckness** · 03-29-08, 12:46 PM

Ok guys... Guess What?

After a long time, some deep thought, a dozen conversation threads in the admin forum, we are ready to allow discussion of Windows Mobile 6 on your Dell Axim.

Some things to consider...

Windows Mobile 6 was never released for the Dell Axim X51, well any Dell Axim for that matter.
Running an experiemental OS on a device can be dangerous. There is the chance to ruin your device.

Basicly, it's ok now, but we still stand by no hosting of files that are not legal here on our servers. Thanks. Just use your common sense when posting.

This is Aximsite and they are Axims and after much thought, why not allow support of devices even though it's not a legal ROM. We do not promote software piracy, but we do want to allow other Axim users to help you get the most out of your device.

Box · 03-29-08, 12:51 PM

Thanks for that Chris, I understand how difficult the decision has been.

Let me be the first to say that WM6 is a huge improvement on an X51v.

oldx5advanced · 03-29-08, 01:25 PM

You rock, Chris! "Don't ask, don't tell" no longer applies to WM6 on the Axim!

kparikh82276 · 03-29-08, 01:58 PM

I love this site, and i can't wait for further discussion for WM6 for axim.

I must agree WM6 on dell rocks.

thus far i've moved on to ppc - but i still love my axim,

Maximum Dude · 03-29-08, 02:28 PM

Thank you!

I appreciate being able to discuss this aspect of Axim usage. This is how a user community comes together to make an older device useful beyond the manufacturer's expectations.

Even if I were to replace the Axim with another device as my PDA, the X51v is just to powerful to sit on a shelf. These wonderful computers will survive as controllers, remotes, or carputers for years to come.

mousearoma · 03-29-08, 04:15 PM

It's an illegal activity, and while you don't support piracy you do support the facilitation of piracy. Brilliant use of contradiction!
< / sarcasm >

Wrong decision, mate!

John

**Chris Leckness** · 03-29-08, 04:21 PM

Here is my reasoning mousearoma...

I am not promoting the ROMs, I don't support piracy at all in fact. What I do know is that we have a Dell Axim website and no matter what we allow discussed here, there people out there bricking their devices not having the support to keep their Axim running. We're not going to write up a FAQ on how to obtain, install, or setup any shady ROMs, but we are going to attempt, as a community, to help folks fix their Axim. Whether that be helping them to fix what ever legal or illegle ROM they have installed or attempting to help them restore the Axim back to its original state.

I am pretty far removed from Axim issues now, but I know there are many in the forums that can help get people on track.

mousearoma · 03-29-08, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Leckness

Here is my reasoning mousearoma...

I am not promoting the ROMs, I don't support piracy at all in fact. What I do know is that we have a Dell Axim website and no matter what we allow discussed here, there people out there bricking their devices not having the support to keep their Axim running. We're not going to write up a FAQ on how to obtain, install, or setup any shady ROMs, but we are going to attempt, as a community, to help folks fix their Axim. Whether that be helping them to fix what ever legal or illegle ROM they have installed or attempting to help them restore the Axim back to its original state.

I am pretty far removed from Axim issues now, but I know there are many in the forums that can help get people on track.

Aiding individuals in returning the original state is a good stance since you're helping restore the functionality that they were granted upon purchase and steer them away from piracy, considering it a 'lesson learned.' However, helping them continue to use an illegal ROM is another ballgame. To me, it's no different than:

1.) A member downloading a pirated, modified version of Vista, having the 'reduced functionality mode' (pre-SP1) clamp down due to the uploader not being thorough in circumventing the anti-piracy controls, and then asking for support to resolve the problems so that (s)he can continue to avoid purchasing a legal copy.
2.) A thief stealing a car, having the wheels blown out by tire spikes in a police chase, and then asking you to repair them so (s)he can continue driving the stolen car.

The point is that without support in fixing the illegal ROM they would have to instead ask for support in returning to a legal state. Conversely, by allowing other to offer support in fixing the illegal ROM you are facilitating piracy, more or less giving them a pat on the back and saying 'it's OK, you don't need to give up on piracy...someone here may help.' Thus, I believe the relaxed rules take it too far, crossing the line of both legality and ethicality.

John

spunker88 · 03-29-08, 07:08 PM

Thanks Chris!

I understand what u wanted by not allowing discussion before. You didnt want to get a good site ruined by piracy. But many people are having support questions that can be legitly answered without any links to illegal roms.

Ex: When people brick their devices with wm6, the bootloader to downgrade it is pretty much the same as with wm5.
Ex: Support of software and sdhc cards can be discussed just like it is on the ipaqs with wm6. No links are ever given there.

As long as you guys only close the threads that have links put in them, b/c u know that people will try to do it the second they hear this, then everything should stay legal.

Long Live Aximsite!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mousearoma

Aiding individuals in returning the original state is a good stance since you're helping restore the functionality that they were granted upon purchase and steer them away from piracy, considering it a 'lesson learned.' However, helping them continue to use an illegal ROM is another ballgame. To me, it's no different than:

1.) A member downloading a pirated, modified version of Vista, having the 'reduced functionality mode' (pre-SP1) clamp down due to the uploader not being thorough in circumventing the anti-piracy controls, and then asking for support to resolve the problems so that (s)he can continue to avoid purchasing a legal copy.
2.) A thief stealing a car, having the wheels blown out by tire spikes in a police chase, and then asking you to repair them so (s)he can continue driving the stolen car.

The point is that without support in fixing the illegal ROM they would have to instead ask for support in returning to a legal state. Conversely, by allowing other to offer support in fixing the illegal ROM you are facilitating piracy, more or less giving them a pat on the back and saying 'it's OK, you don't need to give up on piracy...someone here may help.' Thus, I believe the relaxed rules take it too far, crossing the line of both legality and ethicality.

John

It is different, b/c you CAN by vista and you CAN buy a car. But you CANT buy wm6 for the x50/51. People who would never consider piracy are left with no choice, b/c:
1. Wm2003se on the x50v is a dying os. I know from experience with it that new software is being made for wm5+.
2. The x50v though in specs, is still a top of the line device, even in 2008. If you had a top of the line computer and it was stuck with an obsolete os, and the only way to upgrade it was illegal, would you?
Not to compare the x50v to a computer, b/c computers can have their oses easily upgraded legally, but x50/x51s cant.

Think about it this way:
You have a car that is only a few years old (x50/x51) and the manufacturer (dell) stops supporting it. You need a part in order to keep using that car with todays standards, but besides that it is top of the line. (just like you need a new os to run a top of the line axim). But the manufacturer stopped supporting it. You know a friend who can make the part by copying a similar car, but that would be illegal. (Just like u can get roms made). It is different than stealing, b/c the person ur taking it from is making copies and letting you take it. Also, there is NO alternative. So your faced with the choice of taking something illegal, without an alternative, or being left with a perfectly good device that is obsolete due to one little thing.

srvctec · 03-29-08, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spunker88

Think about it this way:
You have a car that is only a few years old (x50/x51) and the manufacturer (dell) stops supporting it. You need a part in order to keep using that car with todays standards, but besides that it is top of the line. (just like you need a new os to run a top of the line axim). But the manufacturer stopped supporting it. You know a friend who can make the part by copying a similar car, but that would be illegal. (Just like u can get roms made). It is different than stealing, b/c the person ur taking it from is making copies and letting you take it. Also, there is NO alternative. So your faced with the choice of taking something illegal, without an alternative, or being left with a perfectly good device that is obsolete due to one little thing.

Spunker,

I pretty much agree with your analogy. BUT, you are likening an "old" os (say WM5 on my x51v) to being obsolete, and it certainly is NOT. The only way I can see your analogy being accurate in this reference is if WM5 somehow turned irreparably corrupt on the device and the pda would not function at all because of that. Then and only then, would what you mentioned be the last resort. I don't really see upgrading to WM6 as a last resort in any other case. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it..."-- as quoted in your sigline.

Let me be clear here, I have no problem with people willing to risk bricking their pda because of the "need" (read want) to upgrade to WM6, it's just not something I'm willing to risk, especially since my pda works fine with the heavy use I give it on a daily basis since I got it almost a year and a half ago. JMHO

KimChee · 03-29-08, 08:55 PM

Great decision long live wm 6 on my x50v! Someone had to pick up where Dell dropped off

cawinters · 03-29-08, 09:46 PM

hmmmm...... I'm totally against software piracy......on the other hand my X51v has always given me problems. I can't put it to sleep with a program running because the SD card access delay causes the program to crash. As a Dr. I need to leave my reference programs running and may access it several times an hour, but not being able to leave them running is annoying. If changing to WM6 would resolve that issue, I would be sorely tempted. If I could fix the issue another way I would not be tempted. So I guess I'm in the middle

oldx5advanced · 03-29-08, 10:10 PM

I just can't figure out why Dell doesn't just buy Football's ROM. He's done their work, and I'm sure that just about everyone with his ROM would pay for support (and legality)

cravaus · 03-30-08, 01:03 AM

WM5 was a broken promise for me. The promise of a product that works. I work with my PDA. My old Psion machines worked as work machines. I have expected WM to do the same and have been so disappointed. I have had so many problems with WM5. I gave the M17 rom a good go and still had serious memory handling problems when multitasking a spreadsheet, TextMaker report, PhatNotes, a diagnostic manual, and a Database. This should not be a problem. These are not memory hogging multimedia programs and usually there is plenty of memory left. Multitasking is one of the promises of WM over the Palm system. M17 is much faster, and more reliable for the Bluetooth, but I still had frequent crash problems when multitasking, or when notification reminders wake up the device while PhatNotes was running in the background. WM6 was not much of an improvement for me over M17. Same problems and more. WM6 has problems with password protection reverting to the today screen--very frustrating when trying to take notes during a session--turning off and on the PDA. And, I would never purchase a WM6 device based upon my experience. But then 6.1 came!! Finally, WM6.1 does multitask without a hitch. 6.1 is promise fulfilled. It is a product that works. Does this justify stealing the product? No, and it is why I have ripped it off anyway. I would only consider a 6.1 device. If my device dies, that is what I will get. I have no problem purchasing one. I also believe in fully using what I have before I move on. I think being wasteful is also immoral. So, I will likely get the ROM memory upgrade and use that for a while until the thing dies. I take care of the x51v, it may be a few years from now. And, it will be running 6.1. It is the only software I run with out legally owning the license. I like paying for what I get. I also am pragmatic. I tend to do what works. I try not to cut off my nose to spite my face. Play by the rules. Deal with the exceptions on a case by case basis. Occasionally I run red lights, speed, and leave early from work too. I don’t make it a habit.

cravaus · 03-30-08, 01:22 AM

cawinters, regarding the crash from the reader and the SD card. What reader are you using. I use iSilo, MobiPocket, and Adobe, all are working for me (even on WM5) as long as the reader it self is loaded in main memory. The book can be on the SD card. An exception is Adobe, I have occasional problems with it. What I have done there is to move the book I am reading over to main memory and back. It is a pain but it works. iSilo does not have this problem and neither does MobiPocket. However, if the program is loaded on the SD card, it will crash. I just load almost all of my critical programs into main memory and find that is best. It is a sacrifice of some memory but worth the stability. I also do not use any tweaks for moving temporary files on to the storage cards. That has also helped stop some crashes.