Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, Texas
Posts: 231

I've had my IVD for about a month and a half now, and while showing off the(unfortunately empty and never used)springboard port I noticed chips broken off the hard-cover retaining slot. It seems that in the multiple-times-a-day that I remove, flip to the back, and then return to the front the hard cover, the very thin edge of plastic that makes up the springboard side of the top retaining groove for the cover has fatigued and broken off about 3/16" on both sides! (Actually only one side is gone, the other is cracked and will fall off shortly it appears.)

I've never dropped or otherwise done anything to cause this problem (that I am aware of). The only apparent cause is taking the cover on and off 20-30 times a day. It seems that at this rate my hard cover will only be usable for about 3 more months!

Anyone else with this problem?

BTW, as the initials indicated above, my Visor is 'ice'. If others have this problem it will be interesting to note if there are any color patterns to the problem.

tyler

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 9

Ice Visor.
Looks like I'm having the same problem. No chipping, but clear stress fractures on the right side, assuming the visor is facing away from you.

A bit unnerving. I really like the cover a lot and have no desire to go back to using any type of a carrying case. I've been considering making a Palm III style flip up cover, which I now have some motivation to do...

Then again, I plan on using the Innogear MP3 player, which looks like it would preclude a cover like that or the snap on cover.

Hm.... Maybe a flip down cover that is hinged at the bottom rather than the top and that swings around back would do the trick.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sacramento, CA, USA
Posts: 24

Ice Visor...same problem. In fact almost all of it chipped off. I finished the job, & the visor cover still functions the same...maybe a little looser, but VERY little.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 23

My Graphite Visor Deluxe hasn't had any problems as you have described. Could be an issue related only to the ICE visor (as it looks like you have been suggesting).


------------------
Richard Kettner
Handspring Weekly Editor
- http://handspring.listbot.com

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 10

I also have an Ice visor but haven't noticed anything like you described. My only problem is that I'm not that crazy about the Ice "color". I think it looks like cheap plastic.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: "Children are a gift from God, they are a reward"
Posts: 1049

Have had my green Visor for over a month now with no sign of the chipping you described. I don't use the plastic cover as much you though. I had some Slovakian pigskin lying around and made a 'communicator' style flip case for myself, which I prefer using except when I'm playing Galax with my six year old. The plastic one is fine to use, while I just own a back up module , but I probably won't use it at all when the hardware modules start coming out.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posts: 195

Oh no! I'm having the same problem! I have a BLUE Visor (though the backs of all the VDlx's except graphite are ice), and sure enough, there's a crack in the groove that the clip on the cover fits into. Nothing has come off of it yet, and since the crack is internal, I wouldn't see it if it was graphite and therefore completely opaque. Oh well. I've ordered a case (Wilderness Nubuck) for mine, and I probably won't use the cover much after I get it, depending on whether or not the front of the case is reinforced at all.

Sigh.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, Texas
Posts: 231

Today I saw a buddy's BVD, and I realized what Chris points out: that the area-in-question is 'ice' for all colors, excluding graphite. This seems to indicate that if it is a color-specific problem, it will be 'translucent' -v- graphite.

It is an interesting observation that the cracking that indicates the not-to-distant-future breaking of the slot edge would be FAR less visible on graphite, perhaps even invisible. I wouldn't be surprised to read from a chagrined, 'graphite' poster in the next few days.

Now for another sad observation/question: don't the Handspring cases use the very slot-in-question to retain the Visor? Apparently the slot still works, as a previous post indicates (due to the springboard cover?), but suddenly my confidence in a Handspring case is lowered. I have only used the hard cover to date (for size & economic reasons), but I keep expecting for the 'perfect' case to appear at just the right price. If my Visor won't stay put in it though...

On the bright side, maybe this 'flaw?' will qualify us for a free Visors when the color screens show up?! ---sorry, had to inject some optimism into the post.


tyler

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posts: 195

Ah - on closer inspection, I can see that there's a tiny "wall" of plastic that creates the back wall of the groove that the clip fits into. This makes a tiny groove that you can stick your fingernail into, and it's the back wall of that groove that gets cracked. RichF was kind enough to post a picture of it for me:



The red arrow is pointing at the crack, which shows up as a bright "streak" in the case in this photo. I can see how this would prove fragile. I hope it doesn't break off!

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 91

Crap. I just noticed the same thing. (BVD)Hopefully it won't get worse if I use it only to cover the front.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 91

Crap. I just noticed the same thing. (BVD)Hopefully it won't get worse if I use it only to cover the front.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: West Palm, FL
Posts: 53

Just checked my girlfriends IVD and it isn't having trouble yet but she only has it 1 week. I hope her IVD will be ok and not start to chip apart.

My other Graphite VD's ore ok and I have had them a little over a month.

I sugest anyone with this chipping problem to call handspring and Bit*h about it. I certainly will if my g/f's starts.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 35

NOTE: THIS IS JUST A SUGGESTION
I haven't tried this, and I'm not sure that it would work, but here are my two ideas.

1. Use rubber cement to strengthen the cracks. Just open up the case (and void the warranty) and dab rubber cement on the case where the cracks are.

2. Use bent metal (scrap sheet metal) and patch / strengthen the cracks. You could glue (super glue, hot glue) or rubber cement the metal to the inside of the case.

I'm not sure if either or both of them would work, so unless you want to take a chance, don't try this. If you do try this, please, please, tell me.

Thanks

------------------
Signing off,

C. Russell
[email protected]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, Texas
Posts: 231

Interesting update to my personal 'crack' saga:

While I was distressed about my 'cracking' slot, I was pretty chilled about the discovery. Reason being: I had a replacement Visor coming because I was dissatisfied with my screen's contrast. I called Handspring and told them my IIIx's screen was much clearer and they said they'd get me a replacement right out. So I had no need to worry, my cracked Visor was soon to be replaced.

As promised, Handspring did get a replacement out pronto, and I received it today . UNFORTUNATELY, IT ALREADY HAS A CRACK! (The screens better though! )

I just noticed the crack after having it for about five hours now. I don't know if this is a result of the 4-5 times I've flipped the cover -- very carefully mind you, being well aware of the consequences of 'casual flipping' -- or if this replacement is a refab (as Palm does replacements) and the previous owner used the hard cover enough to crack the slot. (As these babies are so new, I can't imagine that they have enough returns already to be supplying defective Visor returns. For supply reasons, I anticipated a new one even if their future policy will be as Palm's; maybe not though.)

Fortunately, there are more important things in life than Visor-hard-cover-retention-slot-stress-cracks. <sigh>

Life continues.

tyler

[This message has been edited by tyler (edited 12-07-1999).]

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: glenside, pa
Posts: 3

I am so sick of this visor. First off I have the same damn problem with that crack and it is on both of the visors i have!!!

I am working on my second one right now, while waiting for my third one in the mail. The first screen was scratched and the second bvd has a damage screen. There is a small black circle on the left side of the screen.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 200

Don't use any ultra fast glue (cynoacrylic), it will blossom around the glue area and will give a dull look.

Get some special plastic glue instead.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA
Posts: 126

OK, I've got the same problem, even more advanced. About 3/4 of the little plastic strip is completely gone.

The thing is, although it is obviously a poor design, I don't see it making any real difference, even if it falls off completely.

The only time that tiny strip would actually have to hold the cover would be if you placed the cover on the back of your Visor and didn't have either a springboard or the springboard cover in place.

Stupid design, but it makes no difference.

Dave

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 2

Other than the crack in the mentioned area. Are the visor cases as sturdy as the palm 111x case ?

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 41

I've got a BVD, and have not noticed any cracks yet - I use the plastic cover daily. BUT, another flaw has surfaced - the top half of the plastic housing is squishy on both sides - in fact, if I hold the unit and put my thumbs on the screen, I can slide the screen back and forth about a 16th of an inch or so. I haven't dropped it or used it in any way to cause the case to do this - anyone else have this issue? I am considering calling for a replacement unit, but considering the 6 week backlog, I am holding off for now...

and feedback would be appreciated!

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Interests: Women, Drums, Visors, Computers, Home Theater and any cool gadgets.
Posts: 138

I have a graphite VD and there is no sign of wear. I did however make an observation, maybe just lift the top part of the cover a bit more before pulling/pushing it off/on.
What I mean is don't let it click into place or pull itself out of the grove. After doing it a few times I can get the cover on and off and it doesn't seem to put stress on that grove (the walls of it) it snaps into. I think that is where the wear occurs.

Just a thought