Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Irvine, CA, USA
Posts: 56

You know how sometimes you rub your feet on the carpet, and sit down near metal? Well, today, I got shocked, and I felt it like going through the visor in my pocket to my leg. Does static shock damage the visor?

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Plantersville, TX, USA
Posts: 109

I wonder this also... as its that time of year again and if you ever drive a Pontiac Sunfire like me, you know that everytime you get out of the car, you're gonna shock something... maybe its the material...

Zen

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

Take this with a grain of salt...

I read a snide article in US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT about the problems that Handspring was suffering from. The article made an off-hand reference to some early Visors having inadequate anti-static buffering and so had to be replaced.

Note that is said early units.

It also implied that the problem occured while using the docking station. I tend to doubt that getting a shock while the unit was in your pocket would damage it.
Now if you were stupid and held it in your hand, skuffed your feet on the rug, and extended the metal contacts to a doornob, you might indeed fry the unit.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 13

Zen...

It's not the car, it's your tires. Tire manufacturers have changed the formulation of the rubber and are not including as much conductive material as before.

So, your car collects all of this static electricty and has no way to dissipate it until you ground your car to the earth.

Try this...get out of your car without touching the body....or buy a static strip.

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

Or try this - it works: When you're about to get out of your car, BEFORE you touch the ground (or anyone standing on the ground), grab some metal part of the car, like the door (I grab the frame around the window), and while you're still holding it, put your feet on the ground and stand up. You won't get shocked that way.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Deltona, FL USA
Posts: 16

Gosh, and i thought i was unique when it came to getting shocked every time i got out of my car! hehehehe I thought i had a .... electrifying personality or something
;o)

Rob