Returned my X50V

Tracy · 01-22-05, 11:59 PM

I got an X50V on Tuesday and am returning it on Monday. I have been an early implementor for many device, and suffered through the problems that you typically encounter when you do that. I feel that the Pocket PC platform is old enough though that we shouldn't have to deal with tweaks and patches just to get the device working the way it should. I have had issues with MS Reader, the network driver, Avantgo, Olivetree Bible Reader (NASB with Strongs), Freecell, and others. I just don't want to deal with it. I am going to use my trusty X5 until a good, solid, more-or-less bug free alternative comes along. Maybe a decent PDA/Phone with wireless and good battery life will make it my way. The only glitch I have with my X5 is that it drops the Activesync connection for no apparent reason. Both my work unit and my home unit do it. It is a minor glitch and I can live with it.

Hopester · 01-23-05, 12:31 AM

Welcome back to teh X5 forum we love our X5. As you say until they get something better I love my X5.

Originally Posted by Tracy

I got an X50V on Tuesday and am returning it on Monday. I have been an early implementor for many device, and suffered through the problems that you typically encounter when you do that. I feel that the Pocket PC platform is old enough though that we shouldn't have to deal with tweaks and patches just to get the device working the way it should. I have had issues with MS Reader, the network driver, Avantgo, Olivetree Bible Reader (NASB with Strongs), Freecell, and others. I just don't want to deal with it. I am going to use my trusty X5 until a good, solid, more-or-less bug free alternative comes along. Maybe a decent PDA/Phone with wireless and good battery life will make it my way. The only glitch I have with my X5 is that it drops the Activesync connection for no apparent reason. Both my work unit and my home unit do it. It is a minor glitch and I can live with it.

01-23-05, 01:46 AM

I felt the same way Tracy. I bought the x50v and the screen is the best I have used. But the incompatablity with programs and patches a tweeks is bad. I know is 3-6 months newer versions of the OS and programs will be out and hopefully things will be better. I have my x50v for sale and I might be picking up the x30H.

bvkeen · 01-23-05, 07:21 AM

It's a shame that Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition has existed as long as it has and that there is still a lot of software that does not support it. Some devices (notably the e800) have had support for WM2003SE for about a year, and there are companies that still just do not think that the WM2003SE market is big enough to justify them modifying their software. It's a shame to see people miss out on the advantages of a great device because some software developers are just not willing to move beyond the 240x320 interface.

The Toddfather · 01-23-05, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Tracy

I got an X50V on Tuesday and am returning it on Monday. I have been an early implementor for many device, and suffered through the problems that you typically encounter when you do that. I feel that the Pocket PC platform is old enough though that we shouldn't have to deal with tweaks and patches just to get the device working the way it should. I have had issues with MS Reader, the network driver, Avantgo, Olivetree Bible Reader (NASB with Strongs), Freecell, and others. I just don't want to deal with it. I am going to use my trusty X5 until a good, solid, more-or-less bug free alternative comes along. Maybe a decent PDA/Phone with wireless and good battery life will make it my way. The only glitch I have with my X5 is that it drops the Activesync connection for no apparent reason. Both my work unit and my home unit do it. It is a minor glitch and I can live with it.

If you wait for a "bug free" pda to come out, you'll die with your X5. I feel your pain, but there have been issues with every PDA I've bought since the original Palm Pilot. The key is to find one you consider a value, even with bugs. With the price of the new VGA PDA's, I can't blame you.

csmith75 · 01-23-05, 01:07 PM

It is a little ridiculous that one has to install so many programs and hacks to make the unit work like it should. I actually considered getting a x30, but just decided to get the x50 mid.

CornyAxim · 01-23-05, 01:39 PM

Maybe I am not as fussy, but I feel the Axim x50v is the best toy I have ever spent money on hands down. Mind you, it is the first PDA/PPC I have ever owned, so maybe I was not spoiled by the earlier PDA's. But I knew before I bought the x50v that it would be using a resolution that hardly has existed for any ppc's out there. I always expect this sort of stuff when I am on the front edge of a new generation of device. Sure WM2003se has been around for a while, but I don't expect much software to work great with my 640x480 display. I just don't. And if it does whoopee! I actually don't expect a majority or software out there to support 640x480 for another year or so, when it become much more common. Maybe they should write support for 800x600 while they are at it so when the next big jump is res happens the software will already work for it.

Because of the big push to get WM2005 into cell phone though... don't expect a huge push towards the 640x480 res. if anything it will continue the legacy of the old 320x240 because most cell phone screens are simply too small to display anything much higher than that, and still be legible.

I am also waiting for an update from Dell for the x50v, I don't really care when it comes, but I know there has got to be at least one update for it, whithin it's entire generational lifespan. Maybe that will be WM2005se and I will have to pay for it. Whatever. For now my axim play video flawlessly, mp3s are great, acts as a picture wallet with pictures that really make people stare, plays games, and goes on msn. Thats all I wanted, and with the TV-Out option It's the best device I could ever imagine! Too bad there are some of you with the driver issues, I have had video driver issues when doing emulation etc, and some games in general just don't work, but like I said before I expected it to not be PERFECT, as no computer ever has been or will be.

Everyone I know who has seen this thing wants it, they just can't afford it.

csmith75 · 01-23-05, 01:59 PM

Crazy as it sounds, there are some people who actually expect a product to have all the kinks worked out when they buy it. Having to download hacks/programs for it makes them feel like they wasted hundreds of dollars on something that wasn't ready to be released. I would imagine if someone was using it for business/personal purposes and not as a "toy" or an object to invoke "envy", this would piss them off even more.

I can totally understand where the original poster is coming from.

IM0001 · 01-23-05, 05:03 PM

true but like others have said. You cannot buy anything in this tech world that doesnt have a need for an update/patch. I also am a first time PDA user and got the X50V looking toward the future. Sure a program doesnt work here or ther but I really havent had a hard time getting everything I want on there. The screen is great, the 3dchip reminds me of my old GF2MX with the demos and all, the sound is excelent (need new headphones) and so fourth i use it for school to keep dates and notes on. As soon as i can afford a Bluetooth keyboard i will be using it as a complete replacement of my laptop. I absolutly love the x50v.

tallredwookie · 01-23-05, 05:37 PM

I had to do the same with Windows XP, if you don't mod and tweak it the system will run like crap. I took the plunge on the x50v BECAUSE of the mods that could be done....with all the info on here I was able to make it run the way I needed. All computers systems have some kind of comprimise between what we want and what we need....that;s the electonic business for you.

lawtyger · 01-23-05, 05:56 PM

Could you all clarify something for me. My first PDA, an Axim x50 (not VGA) arrives Monday. From my reading of the thread it sounds like the complaint is more about the bugs and tweaks that need to be done to the X50v because of its increased VGA resolution. Comments like - "I always expect this sort of stuff when I am on the front edge of a new generation of device. Sure WM2003se has been around for a while, but I don't expect much software to work great with my 640x480 display. I just don't. And if it does whoopee! I actually don't expect a majority or software out there to support 640x480 for another year or so, when it become much more common" - kind of led me to this conslusion.

Does that mean I should experience less problems and compatibility issues with the mid level X50. I hope this is the case because as I said, this is my first PDA and I'm not sure if I've got the technical skills and know how to be downloading fixes, tweaks, etc. for it to run correctly?

Is it a Axim X50 series issue or more of an Axim X50v issues/problems being discussed here?

Ranma13 · 01-23-05, 06:12 PM

Your complaint is the same as anybody who buys Windows XP. I bought it, now what? You still have to shell out money for software and tweaks if you want it working to the way you want it to.

CornyAxim · 01-23-05, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by lawtyger

Could you all clarify something for me. My first PDA, an Axim x50 (not VGA) arrives Monday. From my reading of the thread it sounds like the complaint is more about the bugs and tweaks that need to be done to the X50v because of its increased VGA resolution. Comments like - "I always expect this sort of stuff when I am on the front edge of a new generation of device. Sure WM2003se has been around for a while, but I don't expect much software to work great with my 640x480 display. I just don't. And if it does whoopee! I actually don't expect a majority or software out there to support 640x480 for another year or so, when it become much more common" - kind of led me to this conslusion.

Does that mean I should experience less problems and compatibility issues with the mid level X50. I hope this is the case because as I said, this is my first PDA and I'm not sure if I've got the technical skills and know how to be downloading fixes, tweaks, etc. for it to run correctly?

Is it a Axim X50 series issue or more of an Axim X50v issues/problems being discussed here?

What I meant was simply that some games and apps I try to run, won't or look funny because of the 640x480 resolution. I would guess that, yes you will be able to run programs with less hassle then myself. However do not be under the impression that the x50v has tons of programs that won't work for it. If anything I wish there was a res switch that would let me switch from 320x240 at will, but again that would be sort of stupid for me to have to do, just to use 1 program out of the 15 I have installed.

I hope people don't think you actually need all sorts of patches and mods to work the x50v. The only "mod" I have done is installing the newer graphics driver that was posted on this site. Apparently it makes stuff go faster etc. Other than that all I have done is installed many different apps and games, testing which ones work good and which ones don't, all in my spare time. If it acts flaky, I delete it.

I settled down lately though because I have found everything I need to use the Axim they way I want it. Either way i am sure there are those that find different levels of perfection debateable. I actually am a very anal person when it comes to stuff not working the way it should. I just realized that out of the box, the x50v used a different resolution and that there are not many apps that natively were designed for this beautiful 640x480 res.. Ever held a 320x240 screen next to a 640x480 ppc's screen? If you did you'd see how sweet it is.

Like others though I have a problem with activesync sometimes closing down on me, rarely but it does. But this is something across all the generations of Axims, and I think could easily be how my USB is on my particular motherboard.. Thats my 3 cents.

lawtyger · 01-23-05, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by CornyAxim

I hope people don't think you actually need all sorts of patches and mods to work the x50v.

Thanks for the clarification. Like I said, the X50 will be my first ever PDA so I'm just learning about what PDA's can do so when I hear problems, I assume the worst. I guess my big fear is similar to with my home computer, that I'll install or do something that I can't fix.

BKF · 01-23-05, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by lawtyger

Thanks for the clarification. Like I said, the X50 will be my first ever PDA so I'm just learning about what PDA's can do so when I hear problems, I assume the worst. I guess my big fear is similar to with my home computer, that I'll install or do something that I can't fix.

Even if you couldn't fix it, with regular backups you're only minutes away from a fully functioning unit after a hard reset.