Is mad digitizer inevitable?

S

sagar p

New member
So I use to have a Vx which started the mad digitizer crap, plus eventualy it's battery stopped holding a charge. I upgraded to a Tungsten T, which has horrendous mad digitizer problems. I take my palm apart about once a month to re-seat the connector to the digitizer.

Now I thought I heard they fixed the issue with the T3, so I was looking to buy one. But I read in some other forumns about people having problems with the T3's as well. Is mad digitizer really that common, or did I just get really un-lucking getting two different models with the problem? The problem is mentioned all over the internet, which is kinda deciving because the only people that are posting are the people that have the problem.

So if I pick up a used T3 what are the chances that it's going to have a problem with a mad digitizer?


Eric
 
I must be the exception to other PDA users. To my knowledge I have never experienced MDS. I did a search on the internet after I discovered your post. I now conclude that probably the only reason why I have not experienced it is I have used software application(s) as a patch to solve any problems.

In 1997 I started with Vx, I graduated to m515, moved on to T3, and now have a T5. I only had a T3 for a short period and I cannot remember what would happen after a hard reset, however with a hard reset of a T5 the user is automatically taken to the screen to redigitize your styllus, therefore no MDS with a T5.

Now if you do go with a T3 and you have concern for MDS occurring, I would like to suggest using an application lie one of these:
DigiFix from http://www.copera.com/download.html
or
zDigitizer from http://www.PalmGear.com

There is also an application(s) that are freeware that work just as well and can be found at
freewarepalm.com

One additional comment about the T3 - although there are still places to purchase a T3, regretfully it is being phased out by PalmOne. There are many of us who do not understand why PalmOne chose this option, the same of us regret they have made this decision.

Hope this helps now....
Carol
 
None of the software programs ever worked for me on my Vx or my T. It's a hardware problem and I dont' see how software is supose to fix it.

Starting the digitizer at startup isn't exactly a solution. I mean you still have to hard reset to regain use of your Palm.



Eric
 
I can't imagine that PalmOne ever meant for us to take our pda's apart to reset the digitizer! Therefore, I would never even consider it unless it was absolutely necessary. I have never had a problem with using the software patchs to realign the digitizer. I know and can see the doubts in your post, however, I would strongly encourage you to try these patchs before discounting them completely.
Carol
 
I doubt ford ever ment for the Pinto to explode, but that doesn't mean that they didn't.


I have tried all the software patches. Probably ones you've never heard of, and none of them work. It's a well known hardware problem in the ribbon cable between the digitizer and motherboard.

Taking the pda apart and re-seating the connector does not reset the digitizer it fixes the mad digitrizer problem for a little while, until you bump it the wrong way and the connection becomes loose again.

Have you ever had problems with your digitizer goign out of alignment say every 30 minutes or more? Or did you just install the patches just in case? Because I'm more interested in hearing from people that have never experience the problem. I'm reluctant to buy another palm if the only person that responds to this post is yet another victum of mad digitizer.


Eric
 
Respectfully, I am bowing out of this discussion. You came here for opinions, but the only opinons you appear open to are those who appear to coinside with your already formed opinions. I see that you are relatively new here and we all come here to get help, to help others, and to learn from others. I hope that you get the answers you are looking for, apparently my opinion is not what you are looking for, so therefore I will move to the shadows in this discussion. Hope you get other responses more in line with your preconcieved opinions and I only wish for you the foresight to be open to other's opinions. Good luck in your pursuits for the perfect PDA that you are seeking and hope that you are successful in finding it.
Carol
 
Well, I'm responding and I have never had a digitizer problem on my T3. And no, I did not install the software to make it work.

I find it difficult to believe that a digitizer cable could come lose on a Palm Vx and any other device released before the Tungsten slider was introduced.

I have read on this forum that some cables were pulled out of the socket when the slider opened and closed on the Tungsten T, T2, and T3. But in those cases, the digitizer was dead and had no responses.

If you are having an alignment problem, change your screen protector and check your stylus. Make sure your screen and stylus tip is clean. Calibrate your digitizer. There are also some digitizer drivers that Palm included in the T3 update that corrects some of the alignment issues and helps apps detect the stretch screen properly. There are other things to check for. Make sure your screen is not scratched. There are also some environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity level, which could adversely affect the digitizer.

This is probably the most down to earth answer you will get on this forum. Take it for what it is worth. If you aren't willing to listen to opinions or suggestions on how to correct issues, then it is a waste of everybody's time and energy to post them in the first place. If you are trying to get people to flame you, look elsewhere.
 
I apreciate the responses but it's obvious that most people responding have not had a problem with their digitizer like I have. This is a good thing, because I wasn't sure if I was just unlucky or not. Anyway I bought a T3, and haven't had any problems yet. So we'll see.
 
If I would have had the same problems you had with your Vx, I would have sent it into the PalmOne for repairs. Issues like the ones you discussed appear unusual to say the least.

Congratulations your new T3, hopefully you will find the success and perfection you are seeking.
Carol
 
its not inevitable! My old TT still has a solid didg although I usually have to recal if I knock it or whatever. Drift, OTOH, is minimal and it is ~ 3 years old now and applying for its bus-permit/pension...
 
my old TT ? i still use it, it's an "old friend of mine"...once in a while moody, most of the time volunteer !

it gave me a lot of fun thru out all this years (2,5 in fact) but still working as a "house" pda

today i mostly use a T3 for business purpose (and film watching mostly in planes




tomorrow is vacation day... enjoy all of you


all the best
in your quest

dd
 
My two cents to this thread, for what it may be worth...

Got my T3 the day after Palm released it for sale in Oct 2003. It developed digitizer drift about 8 months after I purchased it. It was still under warranty, so I contacted Palm, sent it in to their repair service, and they returned it to me in 4 days. It's been working like a champ since then with no problems whatsoever.

My T1 did not experience any digitizer drift until about 2-3 months ago. (I sold it to a fellow manager here at work after getting my T3 and I am called upon for tech support periodically.) I suggested he install DigiFix, but he has not yet done that. He may be waiting for me to do it for him.

My m505 and my Palm V developed a small amount of drift well after the warranties expired. DigiFix took care of it on both units.

No drift on my PalmPilot Pro or on my Pilot 1000.

My Treo 650 is too new. (By that, I mean it will wait until the warranty period is over before going whacky on me. )

OldBlue
 
Similar to OldBlue, I got my T3 in October 2003 and had a digitizer problem six months after. My unit was replaced, and it has been working fine since then (1 year, 4 months now).

I have dropped my unit at least 3 times from waist level to concrete floors, causing two screws to fly out on one occasion and deep dents on the others. I always worried about the screen and the digitizer after each fall, but my T3 did not seem to be affected.

I'm still very happy with the T3, especially after I got a 1gb SD card, and never felt the urge to update even after trying out the new models.

One thing I like with the T3 is that practically all the Palm softwares I buy seem to work fine with it, and it seems to be very durable (discounting the digitizer problem which I think was already addressed by PalmOne because I belong to a big Palm User group and have not heard of any more recent cases).
 
I'll add my two cents. Mad digitizer syndrome was well known and widespread on the Palm V series. Palm seems to have improved that problem in later models but there are still many more reports of mad digitizer syndrome than I would expect to see if there wasn't a continuing quality control problem with the digitzer panels. It is possible for the screen cable to work loose and cause digitizer problems but I haven't seen that as an issue since the Palm V series.

By comparison, I have never had mad digitizer problems with either the Handspring or Clie models I own or have owned.
 
MDS finally drove me from the T3 to a Clie. I had two T3's with digitizer problems and the second suffered a complete meltdown. I've never had even the slightest digitizer drift on my Clie.

That said, it appears that Palm has made changes to the T3 and improved the digitizer performance. Unless you bought your T3 from eBay, I wouldn't worry.
 
Well ............. different strocks for different folks but the program DigiE just fixed this problem for me (for now)! Good stuff!!!!

Thanks,

Syno
 
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