Poll: % of users who've experienced screen cable problems

[jriemerm]

Hi,

I see many references to the screen cable problem in this forum, though I've also heard it said that the 5MX is less prone than the 5 to this problem. It would be helpful if all 5MX users were to say whether they've experienced the problem, and how many months or years they've used their 5MX.

I'm going to try to post a poll with this, but I'm not sure how that works. So, if the poll itself doesn't work, please include your response directly in your reply.

james

[diem]

I had a 5 suffer this after about three years, but my 5mx is still okay now after 3 years or so.

[MikeMcC]

It would be helpful if all 5MX users were to say whether they've experienced the problem, and how many months or years they've used their 5MX I'm not really sure that it would be particularly helpful as the conditions under which these devices are used will vary considerably.

I bought a 5mx as soon as they became available in the shops. In all of the time I have had it, I have probably opened and closed it about a dozen times - it normally stays permanently open on a desk. Similarly, my batteries last for many months because it also has a mains adaptor permanently connected, unless I move it over to the PC to do something with PsiWin.

This, of course, is not typical usage (I do also have a Series 5 and Revo for portable use) but under these conditions I would expect the cable to last for a very long time. Saying that I haven't had a cable problem isn't therefore very helpful :)

[jriemerm]

I don't know, Mike, but I would guess your experience is quite atypical. Most people buy the 5MX as a portable machine, and carry it with them. Though certainly some open it dozens of times a day, others only a few times.

In any case, a better sense of the frequency of this problem could put my mind quite at ease. When I see so many references in a forum to screens going bad, it makes me think, stay away from this machine! But if only one out of ten, or twenty, or thirty, ever have the problem, and that only after two years, then my worries are eased somewhat.

Originally posted by MikeMcC
I'm not really sure that it would be particularly helpful as the conditions under which these devices are used will vary considerably.

I bought a 5mx as soon as they became available in the shops. In all of the time I have had it, I have probably opened and closed it about a dozen times - it normally stays permanently open on a desk. Similarly, my batteries last for many months because it also has a mains adaptor permanently connected, unless I move it over to the PC to do something with PsiWin.

This, of course, is not typical usage (I do also have a Series 5 and Revo for portable use) but under these conditions I would expect the cable to last for a very long time. Saying that I haven't had a cable problem isn't therefore very helpful :)

[WolfUK]

Originally posted by jriemerm
In any case, a better sense of the frequency of this problem could put my mind quite at ease. When I see so many references in a forum to screens going bad, it makes me think, stay away from this machine! But if only one out of ten, or twenty, or thirty, ever have the problem, and that only after two years, then my worries are eased somewhat. I believe that this problem depends upon how the machine is treated. If you let the case snap shut like a glasses case then don't expect your screen cable to last very long. If you gently close the device using two hands then it will last for quite a while. As a very rough guide, it seems that most machines go for two or more years without a problem so it's not as if it happens every six months.

I should think that the problem will occur with all units eventually simply due to the nature of having a flexing cable in the device but, as I said above, being gentle will certainly help.

One final thing to consider, I dropped one of my old Palms all of about three inches onto my desk once and it died. I've known Psions to drop from desk height onto wooden floors and survive quite hapilly. The screen cable issue is one of many problems that can befall a device (broken screen glass, dropped and dislodged components, etc.) so deciding whether or not to get a Psion on this sole factor is a bit blinkered.

[jriemerm]

Simon,

If the poll results so far are indicative (the first 7 respondents have had no screen problems), I would agree with you. If half of long-term owners had to get their machine fixed because of screen cable problems after a year of use, then I'd say it was probably a fundamental design problem.

I don't know the answer to this question--that's why I asked it.

Your advice on gentle usage is well-taken. Thank you.

james

Originally posted by WolfUK
The screen cable issue is one of many problems that can befall a device (broken screen glass, dropped and dislodged components, etc.) so deciding whether or not to get a Psion on this sole factor is a bit blinkered.

[nigelp]

I had the the bad luck of the touch screen going that was repaired under warrenty so voted yes as i credit this to the screen cable? However my 5mx has been canoeing, winter mountaineering and daily use till about a month ago when I bought a 5 to use in my pocket. I protect my 5mx with a hard case but do use it!!. I think you have to choose as with all PDA's between there individual atributes and how they best serve you. A protable device will always be prone to some kind of 'problem' only other makes tend produce different models so quickly they are not tested and used like OUR Psions.
I would still recomend and advice some one to purchase a Psion if they want a truly portable device with a usable keyboard and excellent O/S!!! :D

[doogald]

Mine just broke after 3 months - and that was from constantly being gentle oopening and closing the device. I am a bit pissed quite frankly and probably will not bother having it repaired - it'll just break again.

I did use the device a lot in 3 months - probably about 75 hours total.

[diem]

3 months?? That does suck quite badly - have you tried getting it repaired under warranty?

[doogald]

I'm thinking about it, perhaps just to get it in shape to sell it. If it is going to break every few months it is not worth it to me to repair it. But I'm not sure if there are any US Psion repair sites; I haven't really had time to look into it.

Does the warranty actually cover the screen cable?

[Jim Cooke]

James,

Since you're in Massachusets, you should be in luck since that's where Psion USA has their office. The screen cable is covered by the warranty so all you should have to do is give the a call and get an RMA. You can ship it off to them (or drop it off if you're close enough) and get it fixed.

I can't help but think you've just gotten a duff unit. Three months is a really short time to have the screen cable fail, especially if you've been treating it kindly. I've had mine about six months with no sign of problems so I'd at least give them another chance.

Regards, Jim

[Sonny]

At this stage slightly less than half the voters have had a screen cable breakage though only 19 votes is not a large number. I would find the poll more useful if it indicated how many years the owners who have not had a problem have owned their Psion.

In response to some of the replies, I had a screen cable breakage when I had had my Psion for 2 years. I had known about the potential problem for some time prior to this and as a result treated my Psion very gently when opening and closing it.
My Psion was for personal use and was probably opened about 3 to 4 times a day. (Since the cable has been repaired I now leave it permanently open on my desk in the hope of prolonging it's life and I now use a Palm m130 for day to day PDA use). I find the Psion a far superior machine compared to a Palm.

I successfully took the case of my broken screen cable to the Disputes Tribunal under New Zealand's Consumers Guarantees Act. The expert witness I had gave evidence that the screen cables in the Psion 5 and 5mx are highly likely to break because Psion have ignored "Hook's Law" which indicates the maximum that a wire of a given diametre can be bent and maintain its integrity. The wire used in the Psion screen cable exceeds the maximum it should be bent by a considerable margin.

Whether or not a Palm (or a Psion ) survives a fall is probably a matter of luck depending on the way it falls, how it lands, where it lands and the condition of the individual machine at the time. If you search through the Palm Boulevard Boards you will find a story of a Palm that survived a fall from a horse.


Sonny

[diem]

Sonny,

Was you machine a 5 or a 5mx? It will also be good to establish whether the 5mx is more resistant to this failure than the 5.

[netBookBabe]

OK, Sonny, a bit more detail.

My S5 Classic is 4 and a half years old, my MC218 and 5mx are each around 18 months old.

I have always subscribed to the "handle with care" philosophy, although I'm quite sure that doogald has not mistreated his, and has been very unfortunate in this case.

Thankfully, no screen cable problems on any of mine so far.

Julie
< holding on tightly to the PsionPlace official wooden amulet! ;) >

[Sonny]

Diem

My machine is a 5mx.

I have posted the story of the case I took to the Disputes Tribunal on the Psion Place 5mx board on the 29 Nov 2002 titled
"Broken Screen Cable with a Positive Outcome".

Sonny

[tx1oss]

Being a London Cab Driver I use my 5mx frequently throughout the day it is opened approx 20 - 30 times daily. I have just had the screen cable replaced after approx 2 1/2 years use.
Os

[Monty Python]

Try this : send mails to many owners of a 5mx , mc218 or series 5 , asking them whether their psion has ever been repaired. Pretend you're considering buying their unit.

You will see that even after several years of usage , VERY FEW units have ever been repaired.
And only a part of this amount of repaired psions WILL have had flatcable problems.

Of course it is difficult to know whether those owners speak the truth. Sometimes they may want to conceal that the psion had been repaired. Or sometimes just just don't realize it had been repaired. yet still , after asking this and similar questions some 20 times to 20 different owners offering their psion 5mx / mc218 (10 + 10) for 2nd hand sale , only THREE had experienced flatcable troubles.

This inspired me to take the risk and buy a brand new mc218 (with the old flatcable type) very recently.

Although this doesn't say anything about the series 5 that got flatcable troubles , just have a look at the big quantity of (still perfectly functioning) series 5 being offered for sale : the vast majority still has the old flatcable , yet most series 5 are now 4 -> up to 7 years of age.

People who gather here in this forum very often get here BECAUSE they experienced flatcable problems at least once. So the number of reported flatcable troubles will be higher here. Any numerical comparison of the users on this webpage will not be 100 % representative of the worldwide average.

[V J]

Well, I just had the display cable issue... After 4 years... :)

I'll probabely get it repaired... :)


Jörg

[pthwaite]

My cable broke (5mx) after approx 2 years and have had it repaired by POS. Since then I have bought 2 of the Psion Flex cables to enable me to keep the thing going, hopefully for a long time as there is nothing on the market to replace it.

Usage was fairly gentle, opened and shut several times a day and generally left plugged in on the desktop except when in meetings.

Howard

[royal744]

I have owned Psion 5s, Psion 5MXs, and 1 Psion 5MxPro. One of my Psion 5s had the screen cable go bad. At least I think so since the display no long works. I use the Mx as a backup machine for my Psion 5MxPro and neither has experienced problems.... knock on wood.... so far.

Is it worth it to buy a couple of spare cables? I can't repair the darned thing myself, so I'm wondering if this is a good idea. BTW is there still a repair facility in the US or do I have to ship abroad?

[Tammy]

I've had my 5Mx for about a year and a half now. And no problems with the screen cable yet. Fingers crossed.

Tammy

[wanman]

Same experiences pretty much as netBookbabe. I had a 5 for 2years and now my 5mx is coming up for 6years. Neither has had any problems with screen cables although the 5mx does not get a great deal of use these days as I use my 7Book more.

[stefank60]

Yep mine died on Friday after ..ehmmm not sure either 18 months or 30 months (ish - I'm so crap at judging time frames) though I passed it to a colleague at work to give her aphone number and before she passed it back she let it snap closed !!!:mad: Ouch.

So I have to decide whether to get it repaired or not

[KevinChang]

Hi all,
One of my friends have repaired his screen cable by himself recently. If you are interested in the DIY instruction, please check this link
http://cclien.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=207

As the original content is in Traditional Chinese, you can translate it by http://world.altavista.com/ Wish this will help. Bye~