Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 110

I finally broke it - advice?

After five years of owning Palms and 16 months with my Prism, I finally did it - I cracked the screen. Dropped it? Stepped on it? Got me - I just pulled it out of its case, and there it is: a pretty web of cracks running all across the (still functioning!) screen.

1. Is Handspring my only option for a repair? As near as I can tell, the alternative service providers do pretty much every Palm/Visor - except the Prism. Ouch! $125/150 to fix a PDA I can buy new for $229! (or less on eBay!)

2. Transferring my data to the replacement unit - Any recommendations for an easy transfer? I've replaced enough Palms to know that not nearly everything goes into the Palm backup folder.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 334

Get the backup module and backup the current Prism. Then when
you get a new one, restore from the module. It's that simple.

__________________
Rick

www.visorsolutions.com

Registered: Feb 2002
Location: Washburn University in Topeka, KS
Posts: 450

Well, it is up to you really then - do you want a replacement or to buy a new one? Remember, if you do the advance exchange option for $25 more, you might or might not get a new one - you might get a refurb...either way, quality should be the same as any refurb you buy from Handspring. BTW - if you can't use a backup module (can't press the "backup" button on the screen) - try BackupBuddy from BlueNomad if you can still HotSync. That might do what you want.

What is the lesson of this story? Buy an extended warranty of some sort, whether it is from Handspring, Best Buy, Staples, etc.

I just broke the screen on my visor deluxe, but luckily, I paid $40 for the Handspring Product Replacement Plan when I first bought the device in december. One call up to Handspring had them give me an advance exchange of a Brand New Visor Deluxe - They even overnighted it Airborne Express (on their penny) and I had a replacement less than 20 hours after I called them up. They are paying return shipping for the broken handheld, and I am assuming they are then going to get a new screen on it and sell it as a refurb.

Not bad though - $40 gets me a new Visor withen 20 hours...better than two weeks where I send mine in, it gets the screen repair, and they send it back to me, leaving me visorless.

__________________

Friends don't let Friends vote Democrat
Victory 2002 - Republicans Win Control of the Senate
Now onto Victory 2004 - FOUR MORE YEARS

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 110

Thanks to all for the advice. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and get the replacement. I haven't seen a compelling color upgrade model yet (hey, HS, I'm one of those who DON'T WANT a cell phone kludged into my PDA!)

Terry - I don't know about the extended warranty approach. Between my wife and I, we have ten years of owning Palms, and this is the first time we've had to replace outside warranty. I didn't pay real close attention to the HS rep, but I think she told me yesterday that the extended warranty (for one year?) would be $40, and I would need to pay something like $35 per year for a screen replacement rider. $75/year for what effectively amounts to insurance doesn't seem like a good deal when you can get a replacement for $125. (But maybe I have the details wrong!)

Registered: Feb 2002
Location: Washburn University in Topeka, KS
Posts: 450

What I understood (and did) was that with the extended warranty, you get ONE FREE screen repair. If I am wrong, I hope Handspring doesn't decide to bill my credit card...(which they said they won't unless I don't send in the replacement!)...

All I paid was $40 and for me, that included the one free screen repair. I quote from the Handspring Website (http://www.handspring.com/protection/?_requestid=69280)

One Year Extended Warranty with One-Time Screen Replacement for Treo Communicator and Visor Handheld*

Protect your investment. Extend your original warranty for 12 months and provide for a one-time replacement of your communicator or handheld screen (not covered under existing manufacturer's warranty). To qualify for this plan, your communicator or handheld must have a minimum of 90 days remaining on the original manufacturer's written warranty.

One Year Extended Warranty not available for refurbished handhelds.

Plan for Treo 180 and 180g
Price: $49.99

Plan for Visor Prism and Visor Edge
Price: $49.99

Plan for Visor, Visor Deluxe and Visor Platinum, Visor Neo, Visor Pro
Price: $39.99

__________________

Friends don't let Friends vote Democrat
Victory 2002 - Republicans Win Control of the Senate
Now onto Victory 2004 - FOUR MORE YEARS

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 19

This replacement cost is really high, in Europe you even have to pay more than in the US

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Fuerth, Germany
Posts: 17

If you are interested in fixing it yourself:

http://www.palmscreens.co.uk/products.htm

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 19

@ErnstB:

I got a Prism, no screens for that...btw, I'm from Germany too and thought I would use my time as being an exchange student to get the Prism here in the US for half of the cost...but when I looked up the cost for a repair in Germany I decided to try to keep my screen working as long as possible (or at least get a working unit over there at the end of the year) just three more month

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 234

Help is here...

Hey I have had trouble with my visors in the past and had to go through replacing all the stuff that wasn't backed up and I found a solution...download the free program filez and click on view and edit files...then go to menu and turn backup on...it turns on the backup bit for everything...then hotsync...when you switch palms and reinstall all of your old stuff will go back into the new unit...I hope this helps...