For your enlightenment, I have appended a message
posted to the ultraviolet palm mailing list recently.
(I am hoping Mike Adams does not mind...if it helps
get this issue resolved, I am sure he won't) It contains
his entire correspondance with 3Com support.
Note especially the use of this phrase:
We feel this is a minor inconvenience considering the
overall improvement of the Palm IIIX screen.
Which amounts to "get over it you arse", or "nyah nyah,
we're not going to do anything bout it because what the
customer thinks doesn't really matter".
If this is -not- 3Com's position, you'd better find
another phrase ... preferably one like "we're working
on an OS patch that will cure this problem, in the
meantime some users have found 'StreakHack' to be
of some help."
(I also note that the customer support msg did point
to StreakHack, but it seems as if 3Com is not going
to take further action and that StreakHack is the only
help that IIIx users can expect.)
--
-Richard M. Hartman
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
186,000 mi./sec ... not just a good idea, it's the LAW!
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Ebert [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, April 12, 1999 4:50 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: Palm IIIx display streaks
>
>
> At 3:14 PM -0800 4/12/99, Michael S. Davis wrote:
> >Indeed you have. Several people have posted emails from
> 3com. Usually
> >I don't put much stock in such posts but I contacted 3com
> via email and
> >got the exact same response that was posted.
>
> If it's not clear, I work for 3Com, specifically for Palm,
> specifically on
> the Palm OS. In that capacity, I'd really like to make sure that the
> messages we send out to developers like yourself are consistent.
> Unfortunately, I don't personally know all the avenues of
> communication you
> might use. 3Com is a big company, and the Palm Computing
> division is even
> getting to be large...
>
> ...so it would really help if I knew who you and other people
> were talking
> too! An email address? A name? A phone number? Anything
> would help.
>
> Otherwise, all I can say is for myself and for the people I talk to
> regularly, this streaking thing *is* important, and I'm sorry to hear
> you're getting mixed messages.
>
Mailing-List: contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]; run by ezmlm
Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 1999 10:34:55 -0400
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Mike Adams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Subject: Pilot: 0000 Palm IIIx Screen Ghosting... (and 3COM's Response!)
Palm IIIx Screen Ghosting... (and 3COM's Response!)
You're not gonna believe it...
We'll I finally received a response to my issue regarding the IIIx screen
ghosting issues and it ain't pretty (see below for details ;) Basically,
they acknowledge the defect but don't see the problem as a major concern and
won't address it further. Not very good customer support regarding a wide
spread product defect if you ask me. Customer Service didn't even take the
time to fully read my email based on the reply content - I got the party
line rather than any real help on the issue. Maybe they're concerned about
the customer fallout if it got out that most to all of the IIIx's out there
have bad screens... :(
I did stop by 3 or 4 of my local retail stores last night and compared
several the palm IIIx screens to the V... they definitely differ and the
palm V's is quite noticeably better IMHO in all the units I compared. I
also check out as many of the IIIx's as I could get my hands on (@6-8) and
ALL demonstrated the severe ghosting issue. I did install the streakhack
fix last week - which 3COM is now advocating though the pilotgear site! ...
it worked great to begin with (CUDO's to the developer) but I did notice
compatibility issues with a few applications.. notably inforover and a few
other graphic oriented applications (it's almost like they disable the hack
until I cycle the power and hackmaster kicks in again). Bascially, the
screens defective and a software band-aid, not matter how well constructed,
won't really fix it.
I've decided to return my defective palm IIIx tonight and spend the cash on
a palm V unit with does not have the screen bug. Now that EFIG is
graciously offering the 8 meg palm V upgrade, the 2 meg memory limitation is
no longer an issue... good thing 3rd parties out their are picking up the
slack as 3Com's memory is appearing to fade with their success. So much for
the grass roots effort that made the palm platform great...
As far as my faith in 3Com goes... I'm extremely disappointed and feel
generally let down. They handled this issue VERY poorly... :(
Hope this helps,
-Mike Adams
>Hello 3Com Customer,
>
>Thank you for contacting Palm Computing(R) Online Support.
>
>I see that you are experiencing screen difficulties with your Palm IIIx.
>
>Please adjust the contrast to see if that helps. The contrast wheel is
>located on the left haned side of the unit. The Contrast settings have a
>major impact on screen visibility. I suggest moving the wheel through its
>entire range of motion before making a decision on the quality of the
>screen. You may still see some ghosting on some screens, like the Date Book
>month view, even with the contrast set just right. It is faint but visible.
>This ghosting seems to appears only where there is a grid or lines as part
>of the application. We feel this is a minor inconvenience considering the
>overall improvement of the Palm IIIX screen. There is a third party
>application available that may assist you. It is called StreakHack and can
>be downloaded from:
>
>http://www.pilotgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?sid=84447719990330110806
&
>prodID=2837
>
>Please post all replies under this message.
>
>Thank You,
>
>Ryan S.
>Palm Computing(R) Online Support
>
>MSCC17
>RES13
>#:RES;1
>
>> (Resend as my original email sent over a week ago has been ignored -
>> HELP!!!)
>>
>> 0000 PRODUCT DEFECT?: Palm IIIx Screen Ghosting...
>>
>> Palm Computing Support,
>>
>> In a nutshell... I purchased a new palm IIIx last night and found that
>> during times of screen clutter (month date book view, etc.) - I see
>> additional "ghosted" vertical and horizontal lines on the screen. It's
>> extremely distracting and certainly not what I paid $400 to see on a new
>> unit... ;)
>>
>> I've asked several palm news groups on the subject and the response (see
>> example below) is usually that this is a known defect with earlier
>> models of the palm IIIx and that newer models address this issue via
>> replacement screens.
>>
>> I called tech support earlier today and found that they were aware of the
>> IIIx screen ghosting issue and redirected me to this support email
>> address for more detailed information.
>>
>> Here's what I need to know ASAP...
>>
>> 1) Are you currently replacing units that reflect this defect? Are all
>> replacement units free from this defect? What is the turn around time
>> if I choose to return it to you?
>>
>> 2) If I choose to return this unit to the store where I originally
>> purchased it - what shipment dates, batch numbers, or serial number
>> ranges are free from this screen defect so that I can find a defect free
>> replacement?
>>
>> 3) If I choose to hold on to my current unit, how long may I do so before
>> you will no longer honor a trade-in to replace the screen and/or unit?
>> Must I rush to return this unit within the 7 day store return policy?
>> How long before I get stuck with a defective unit permanently?
>>
>> 4) What is your opinion on the use of the StreakHack Hackmaster hack
>> noted below to address this issue? While I rather doubt that it would
>> be supported... is it a viable and/or permanent solution to the problem?
>> Will it break anything in the future?
>>
>> Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Please refer to
>> call reference #4090135 for more specific and confidential information
>> on my case.
>>
>> NOTE: I'm also copying a high volume palm news group with this support
>> request so that others may also benefit from your prompt and detailed
>> response.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> -Mike
>>
>> At 11:04 AM 4/1/99 -0700, xxx wrote:
>> >If by ghosting, you mean vertical streaks, then yes, this is a known
>> >problem. You have three possible solutions: Return the unit to the
>> store
>> >where you bought it and hope you get a newer, corrected model. Call
>> 3COM
>> >and tell them about it. Reports from other users seem to indicate 3COM
>> will
>> >send you a replacement unit and most (but not all) of the replacements
>> don't
>> >have the problem. Or download StreakHack from PilotGear and use that,
>> it
>> >works wonders.
>> >
>> >One warning: The new units have a slightly greener screen (resulting
>> in
>> >slightly reduced contrast, but still WAY better than a III), and they
>> have a
>> >slower refresh rate on the screen, meaning it takes longer to "paint"
>> the
>> >screen. Most have said these problems are minor compared to the
>> streaking.
>> >
>> >I'm using StreakHack right now, and it does what I want. I figure when
>> my
>> >unit has a little more wear and tear down the road, I'll call 3COM to
>> get a
>> >free replacement. :)
>> >
>> >
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >> Subject: Pilot: Palm IIIx Screen Ghosting...
>> >>
>> >> Palm IIIx Screen Ghosting...
>> >>
>> >> I recently purchased a palm IIIx and notice some rather severe
>> >> screen ghosting effects when the screen is heavily cluttered as
>> >> with Quicksheet, etc. Is moderate ghosting normal with these new
>> >> screens? Should I return it?
>> >>
>>
>>
The Pilot list/archive/unsubscribe page is http://www.ultraviolet.org
