Registered: Dec 2000
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 134

are the replacement visors from handspring refurbished?

brandon

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brandon
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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NYC
Posts: 287

quote:

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Originally posted by pcgamingnet.com
are the replacement visors from handspring refurbished?

brandon

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It all started way back in February 2000 with a Blue VDX.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: North York, Canada
Posts: 50

I had my unit replaced in Dec due to cracks in the case and battery life problems because of the 8MB DRAM issue. It arrived in 1.5 days, with a prepaid return package.

The new unit shows no signs at all of being used. The screen was pristine, the buttons click much better, the stylus is the new silver metal/ice 3 part one instead of the old black plastic stick. If it is a refurb unit I cannot tell.

It is slightly different than the old one. The circuit board is a dark greenish colour, instead of the light green of my original one. The OS is 3.1H2, vs. 3.1H on my original, so it is definitely newer. And best of all, it passes the DRAM test.

The battery cover has MT12 stencilled in white on the inside. It has a blue dot on the serial # sticker inside the battery cover, and a red dot on the leftmost "Handy" under the Springboard cover. (Search the archives for a speculative discussion on the meaning of those.)

I am glad I had it replaced.

Contrast this to a replaced PalmPilot Pro, which was an OK unit but it arrived with ink on the power button from the previous owner using a pen to turn it on.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 40

Replacement? New or Referb.?

Turn it on.
While in the program selection view, hold down the "up" button and tap the time. Wow, a Handspring who done it easter egg. Now press the "down" botton. Wow a date easter egg. Perhaps the chip manufacture date.

Just had mine replaced. Bad D-ram. Those people at Handspring shipped the "referbished" one that same day, and I got it the next. Now that's customer support!

But the replacement did not pass the D-ram test, it installed the patch! I wonder how long it will last. The "Easter" Date on it is 31-Aug-1999. My original was purchased 06 JAN 2000. That's a five month back date! And how could one with an August 99 date have the problem?

Dafydd


PS. Did you ever notice that the THX in movie theaters has to be fixed by that little robot dude, every time? You would think THX could make a reliable product after this much time...

[Edited by Dafydd on 01-10-2001 at 01:15 AM]

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 284

quote:

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Dafydd writes:

Just had mine replaced. Bad D-ram. Those people at Handspring shipped the "referbished" one that same day, and I got it the next. Now that's customer support!

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Just broke my VDX yesterday, and they told me it would be at least 72 hours before I got my replacement!

With what I've been reading about replacements, and the experience of some of my friends, I'm beginning to think I should have just bought a new Platinum......

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: North York, Canada
Posts: 50

My unit also shows 31-Aug-1999. But what does that date mean? Maybe it is just the date the developers' credit easter egg was written.

Try the dot 6 shortcut which displays the ROM date. (You must be in an app like memo pad or find that can display text.)

The ROM date on my replacement is 1/25/00 1:35PM, so it is definitely newer than my original, which was shipped in Jan 00.

I'm interested in what other units say.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 133

I have had no problems with my refurb unit

I received a refurbished unit about three weeks ago. I have had no problems with mine and I am actually happier with this one. I know that it is a refurb because there were a few small scratches in the graffiti area. I didn't mind getting a refurb, I returned a used unit so I figured I should get a used one in return.

Also, I received my refurb unit within 48 hours. I couldn't believe how quick they sent it. Handspring's customer support and tech support is excellent. I once considered a Palm V for a future purchase but now I don't think I would ever stray from Handspring.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 12

I get the same 31 Aug 99 date on my Blue Visor Deluxe. I also get a 1/25/00, 1:35pm date using the .6 shortcut.

I purchased mine in May 00 and it has the memory problem (patched). Lately, I've been having to do a lot of soft resets, especially when I change a modem and occasionally before getting a hotsync going.

After have mine for about 8 months, I would be glad to get a refurb as long as it worked without doing soft resets all the time.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 49

My two month old Prism started cracking on the back, just above the middle screw on the right. The crack was starting to spread up toward the Springboard slot. This concerned me, so I called Handspring. They blamed it on an over-tightened screw.

*Less than two days later*, I have a replacment that is blemish & scratch free in every way, and works perfectly.(Thank god for the Backup module!)

Referb or not, as long as Handspring stands behind their guarantee, I can't complain.

Now if someone would PLEASE come up with a case for the Prism and Minstrel S, I could keep it this clean...

-cnegrad

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

DRAM test?

I've just received a replacement for my Visor Deluxe. How do I do a DRAM test?

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L. Tyler

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: North York, Canada
Posts: 50

Handspring explains the DRAM issue and has a link to a test utility here:
http://www.handspring.com/support/ts_errors.jhtml

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 62

My Replacement

I have just received my fourth replacement Blue VDX. The first was because I dropped it and the screen broke. The second was because the replacement wouldn't beam at all. The third was because the replacement wouldn't beam well.

I bought my first one in December 1999. All of the replacements have had the mysterious blue dot, which is the signature for a refurb. My newest replacement also has a white MT6 stenciled on the battery cover - who knows what that means? This last time, I called them on Thursday to tell them about the beaming problem, and I received the replacement on Friday. The NEXT DAY!! How about that for service!!??

My VDX has a date of 8/31/99, and an OS version of 3.1H3.

Each of the refurbs has looked and operated like new (with the exception of my beaming problem.) OK, I wish it didn't have any problems. But HS is still replacing them at the drop of a hat.

I LOVE THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE.

Long live HS.

larry

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Posts: 22

According to the blue dot theory, I just received a refurbished VDX from Handspring. OTOH, in physical appearance it looks to be in mint condition. Considering that my old unit--on which the on-off button had stopped working with any reliability--was nearly a year old, I have no complaint. To the contrary, I very much appreciate Handspring's prompt, courteous service.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 175

I'm on #4 VDX Ice. First one, before you could even buy retail, came with a bad screen (loose connection, I think). Second, seemed fine. Then I bought the Minstrel S, so they sent me the RF "optimized" version, which was back-ordered for a month. The springboard didn't work at all. When I finally figured that out (had to wait to buy a 2nd module), I called and had a new VDX in less than 24 hours. However, this one has a screen problem. Goes "blank" with some "moving" thin dark lines. So I'm about to call again.

Mine has MT10 scratched inside the battery cover and, though I don't know what I'm looking for, no dots inside the springboard area.

Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 15

I just received my replacement last week and it had the DRAM issue.

I am sending it back to try again. Hanspring promised my new replacement will not have this problem...we'll see how visor #3 fairs.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: East Coast, USA
Posts: 134

quote:

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A word of advice, Most of the time (98%)when you buy a new Visor, it will be free of failures. If you call Handspring for a replacement because of minor things like: cases or screen scratches, you most probably will get a refurbished one even though they will tell you it will be a new one. I've seen most replacement units worst than the first ones. I don't think you want to be stuck with a unit that has system failures rather than keeping one with scratch issues.


I hope this gives you food for thought.

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brandon
drop me a line

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

You can tell if it's a refurb because the inside of the battery compartment has white letters written on the cover. I don't know how you'd be able to tell on a prism.

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