Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 12

This seems like an important problem that we should try to get a handle on. Let's have a survey so that we can try to detect any trends. For example, does it happen only to Ice Visors? Does it happen only to people who use Handspring cases?

Please respond even if you don't have any cracks. That's important to know, too!

Questions:
(1) Are you developing any cracks in your Visor? If so, describe. Where is the crack? How big? Has it spread? How long were you using your Visor before it started?
(2) What color is your Visor?
(3) Do you use the hard plastic cover that came with the Visor?
(4) Do you use a Handspring case that the Visor snaps into? If so, which one?
(5) Do you have any theories about what might cause these cracks?

[This message has been edited by VisorVictim (edited 03-04-2000).]

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 12

I'll start:

(1) Any cracks? No.
(2) Color: Graphite.
(3) Yes, I do use the hard plastic cover.
(4) No, I don't use a Handspring case. I don't use any case, actually, but I was thinking about buying a Handspring case soon.
(5) No theories yet, but maybe this thread will help! An earlier thread made it sound like Ice Visors might be more prone to cracking. Let's find out.


[This message has been edited by VisorVictim (edited 03-05-2000).]

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Bloomington, IN, USA
Posts: 1

1> No
2> Ice
3> Yes
4> No
5> No

My visor is as great as ever!

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Posts: 48

(1) Are you developing any cracks in your Visor?
YES
(2) What color is your Visor?
ICE
(3) Do you use the hard plastic cover that came with the Visor?
YES, Reversed sometimes too (like a Visor Case)
(4) Do you use a Handspring case that the Visor snaps into? If so, which one?
NO
(5) Do you have any theories about what might cause these cracks?
I think that reversing the hard cover is putting the stress on the groove that is cracking.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 11

1) Just today I noticed a crack. It is a hairline crack located at the top/back of the spingboard retention "flange". It is only noticable when the plastic springboard cover is in place. It appears the corner is trying to "chip off", and has a total length of a few centimeters. I wicked some super glue into the crack. Although this seems to help,I know I did not get glue all the way down into the crack.

I have been using the Visor since November, but from what I understand, I have one of the original units Handspring shipped. I received it as a gift from my wife who had it awhile.

2) Graphite

3) I rarely use the plastis cover.

4) Most of the time I use the leather slip cover (without plastic cover)case that came with the deluxe visor. When I travel I use the plastic cover (no slip cover)inside an otter box.

5) The crack appears to be caused by the stresses that result by a springboard/cover being in place. I use the back-up modele once a week, with the cover in place the rest of the time.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

1. No.
2. Graphite.
3. Always. I snap it off and snap it on the back every time I use Visor.
4. Don't own one.
5. Early manufacturing problems?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

I'm not sure this survey will tell us very much actually. I think the major cause of cracking is probably the way you use your visor rather than what colour it is. My girlfriend has a tendency to recklessly snap the cover off and on like she's shutting the car door!! and her little clip/lip thingy that holds the cover is cracking. Mine isn't and i take care everytime i take off or put on the cover. We both have Blue VDx's.

Think about it. Ask 1000 people how they drive their pontiac grand am and whether the notice increased brake wear! You might find that black and red cars have increased brake wear but you're not getting useful data. It's confounding data, you need more information.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

1) Yes... About 1/4" long at the right-hand side looking from the rear.

2) Ice VDx

3) Used the hard cover for the first 4 weeks until my HS belt-clip case came.

4) No HS case used to date.

5) Any combination of poor design, rough handling, bad luck... you name it.

Since I had been reading here for over a month before receiving my Visor, I knew to be careful with the cover, and I was. Took extreme care installing and removing it. I believe my crack developed from having the Visor in my pocket and putting pressure against the cover.

My solution was to put a small piece of clear tape inside the Springboard area to prevent the crack from worsening and falling out (I didn't want to risk exchanging an otherwise perfectly good unit by returning it for another one). I also have stopped using the hard cover altogether.

------------------
MarkEagle - Ice is nice!

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 12

quote:

---

Originally posted by Hoser_in_USA:
I'm not sure this survey will tell us very much actually. I think the major cause of cracking is probably the way you use your visor rather than what colour it is. My girlfriend has a tendency to recklessly snap the cover off and on like she's shutting the car door!! and her little clip/lip thingy that holds the cover is cracking. Mine isn't and i take care everytime i take off or put on the cover. We both have Blue VDx's.

Think about it. Ask 1000 people how they drive their pontiac grand am and whether the notice increased brake wear! You might find that black and red cars have increased brake wear but you're not getting useful data. It's confounding data, you need more information.

---

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Elkhorn, WI USA
Posts: 29

1. Yes - the slot that retains the cover and /or case on the top is chipping. Soon to be completely gone. Hopefully a replacement is on the way!
2. Blue (remember, with the exception of the graphite, the backs of all Visor Deluxe colors are ice.
3. Occasionally
4. Yes - premier series
5. Stress, haste, and poor design! (Here's a suggestion: if the cover is on the back, or the Visor is in a Handspring case, try removing from the bottom first. That will put less stress on the rather flimsy slot that holds the top in place.)

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

quote:

---

Originally posted by VisorVictim:
I doubt we'd find that black or red cars have increased brake wear, because it's very unlikely that the paint added at the end of the manufacturing process has any correlation with the quality of the brakes put in earlier.

---

the example was to show confounding data. The fact that paint affects brake wear is obviously wrong. However, one could say that people that buy red and black cars were looking for something 'sporty' and hence drive a little differently then those owning ..beige cars?

I think if there is going to be difference in plastics, it will be between batches on the production line. The 'ingredients' used to make that batch of plastic and the amounts of the different 'ingredients'. To have a suitable survey, i'd recommend asking people to post the serial number along with cracking problems.


Back in january or december we correlated serial numbers with production dates (i think) on this site somewhere. I'd look at that before i looked at the colour factor.

Just thinking out loud.

(unless the colour 'ingredient' is the problem!!! but then again, everybody has Ice plastic on the springboard lip thingy, so colour wouldn't play a role there!



[This message has been edited by Hoser_in_USA (edited 03-13-2000).]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Clinton, UT 84015
Posts: 71

(1) Yes, about 1/4 long. Started after a week
(2) Blue
(3) Yes
(4) No
(5) Pressure and sharp edges on the cover.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: McLean, VA USA
Posts: 216

1. Yes- about 1/4 inch on both corners of the SB lip. Not sure how long it's been cracked. Didn't notice until last week when I looked after reading about the problem here. I've had my BVDX for 3 weeks.

2. Blue, but as Domide pointed out, the back of the unit is Ice

3. No, see #4.

4. Yes, HS Premier matching case.

5. Quite possibly because of the way the Visor clips into the case. While I don't blame HS for poor engineering or such (I'm sure that they thought that the design was sufficiently strengthened), I will get a replacement should/when the cracks get longer or I get a SB module of some type.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Baltimore MD, USA
Posts: 717

(1) Are you developing any cracks in your Visor?
No.

(2) What color is your Visor?
Green

(3) Do you use the hard plastic cover that came with the Visor?
I used it for about two months. Now I use a Rhodiana case

(4) Do you use a Handspring case that the Visor snaps into? If so, which one?
No.

(5) Do you have any theories about what might cause these cracks?
Design flaw coupled with rough useage. I read about the cracks before I received my Visor. So I was always careful when applying or removing the cover.

[This message has been edited by Winchell (edited 03-14-2000).]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Columbia, MO, USA
Posts: 68

My springboard slot is chippped and the tongue on the plastic cover is cracking...

I have an orange visor deluxe.

The visor itself appears to be in good condition.

My theory is that every time I bump up against something with the visor in my pocket it puts pressure on the cover... I know I've accidentally forced the cover on too far on several occasions. While there may be other causes, I have little doubt of what has caused my problems.

LarryD

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

(1)No.
(2)Green
(3)Yes
(4)No.
(5)Yes.


Hoser is correct, the color of the unit doesn't matter. However the stress placed on the slot does matter and can be reduced somewhat. I bought a Flash and Backup Module for my GVdx and have had the Flash Module in all the time. Most importantly it is installed when the cover is on. I have noticed that the module tends to support the lower locking slot edge thus reducing the tendency for it to flex as it tries to do if the cover is snapped on with no module in. The "denture" that HS includes with VIsor does not fit as tightly as the module and the surface area of the module is MUCH greater. Also the two screws just outside the margin of the locking slot may affect the tendency to crack or not - if they are to tight added stress is placed on the back of the unit increasing the likely hood that a stress crack will form.
When I first received my unit I was aware of the issue with cracks so I carefully checked all the contact areas of the cover, SB slot and cover locking slot. I noticed that the cover tab had extra plastic "Flash" (from the molding process) and that when it was removed the cover fit MUCH better. Also I always assist the cover into the locking slot by lifting it over the case and allow it to slip into the slot. Never allow the tab to snap into the slot. I never use the cover in the reversed position (covering the back of the unit) since it does not fit as well as over the top. Finally I backed the screws out and retightned them so they just made contact with the back cover.
The only issue I may face one day is that the cover tab crackes off from lifing it over and into the locking slot.

Just my take on this issue..

cynic1

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

I've got to agree with hoser here,

Statistically, red cars ARE the most prone to accidents. It's just a fact. It's not that red is unsafe, it's just that different people use the exact same thing differently.

To be truly accurate, a survey should take into account how the device is treated in day-to-day usage. The best data would be derived from a single user that has more than one color visor, and can really give an informed opinion about different colors.

Dave

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 23

(1) Are you developing any cracks in your Visor?

YES

(2) What color is your Visor?

GRAPHITE

(3) Do you use the hard plastic cover that came with the Visor?

NO

(4) Do you use a Handspring case that the Visor snaps into? If so, which one?

NO

(5) Do you have any theories about what might cause these cracks?

This thread appears to be about the cracks caused by the use of the plastic cover.

On my Visor, however, I have lost triangular pieces of plastic on the back side where the Springboard moduels are inserted. There are two thin lips that hold the modules in place. Top portions of these lips broke off on both sides. The pieces are 1/4"x1/8"x1/16". I believe that this happened from frequent change of the modules. I flip between 8MB Flash Memory and the Modem.

My problem is cosmetic and has not affected performance of the modules. I am disappointed though. I have had the Visor for almost four months now and I am otherwise very satisfied.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Carmel, In
Posts: 32

1) Y E S Flanges on both sides of the Springboard cover are GONE. Large crack at top of hard cover at right side of clip curving intward toward middle aprox. 1" in length. Small crack at right side of memo button. Thin plastic flange at top of springboard slot completely gone. Had Visor about 2 weeks when the first cracks started. I take the cover on and off at least 50 times a day. Had the Visor since 11/17.
2) ICE
3) yes
4) no
5) soft plastic

I called Handspring Customer Care today and they are sending me a completely new Visor. I even suggested I only needed replacement plastic covers, but when I mentioned that I'm also having beaming problems to Palm V and IIIc, they insisted on sending me a new Visor.

Way to go Handspring.

Update - received my new Visor today (3/27). Brand new unit complete with batteries and a n Ice stylus. Backup and restore from the Backup Module and I'm off and running!

Thank You Handspring!

[This message has been edited by rbphelan (edited 03-27-2000).]

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 34

1) YES, after having my Visor for 3 months and using it daily, I have just noticed 2 faint hairline cracks: one in the rear "lip" that the hard plastic cover fits into (I have to take off the springboard cover to see it, and then only when its held at a certain angle to the light), and the second crack coming off the left screw inside the springboard cover, pointing directly towards the crack in the "lip".

2) Blue VDx, but as widely observed, all the backs are ice.

3) Yes, I use the hard plastic cover exclusively (see below).

4) I used one of the leather cases for a while - the dark blue with light blue trim. I didn't really like anything about it; it was too thick, the snap closure presses on the Visor screen, the sewn-in attachment (really just a plastic cover) was WAY too tight, and the case was UGLY!!! Not nearly as hip-looking as it should be for such a cool looking pda.

5) I have several ideas as to why cracking is happening: the leather cases are obviously too tight; even the ice plastic covers are not really designed to tolerate frequent use (although that's what Handspring expects people to use, the tolerances really do not permit such frequent use); the plastic is too rigid to permit the flexing necessary to remove the case (some minor flexing is necessary to navigate the lip of the cover over the lip of the Visor in order to remove the cover); the design of the cover as a whole is very poor (the cover should have been a flip-up, attached at the sides, and removeable with gentle twisting or prying to allow the cover to be removed entirely; I think that most users would not have switched to other cases if the plastic cover flipped up). Without being too cynical (I'm only underwhelmed!) I truly think that those really smart people at Visor know that they designed only a marginal product because they knew it would sell like crazy, regardless of minor flaws.