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PDA's in sub-freezing temperatures


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ashmed
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 441

PDA's in sub-freezing temperatures

This week I took a small camping trip to Yosemite with some friends of mine. I brought along my trusty Prism and all of its accessories plus my Handera. Very interesting things happen when these devices are kept in 18 degree weather for hours at a time. After the first night I woke up to find that my Prism had crashed and in doing so it kept the screen on thus draining the batteries and erasing its memory. Fortunatly I had my backup module. Even more interesting was the fact that when i turned on my Handera the screen took a very long time to draw things. I consulted two of the people who were with me as to why this might be. We put our physics knowledge together and determined that the cold was keeping the Liquid Crystals in the handera could not move as quickly to draw things on the screen as when it is warmer.

So for future reference, maybe taking your visor EVERYWHERE is not the best of ideas. Unless you don't mind having it sleep with you at night.

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12-15-2001 07:23 PM

MIKE STH
Member

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Moved to Clie Land
Posts: 331

'Tis true, they don't like extreme cold. I kept mine in an otterbox at my elbow in a sleeping bag while tenting in Alaska in October. Figured the longer the batteries stayed warm, the longer they would last. No problems...

12-15-2001 07:50 PM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Re: PDA's in sub-freezing temperatures

quote:
Originally posted by ashmed
Very interesting things happen when these devices are kept in 18 degree weather for hours at a time.

Handspring's specs call for an Operating Range of 0�C to 40�C (32�F to 104�F) and Power-off Storage from -20�C to 60�C (-4�F to 140�F).

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12-15-2001 07:54 PM

Toby
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

Um...in case you didn't RTFM, this is exactly why electronics manufacturers set environmental operating ranges.

12-15-2001 08:01 PM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:
Originally posted by Toby
Um...in case you didn't RTFM

Interestingly, it's not mentioned in the User Guide for any of the Visor models.

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12-15-2001 08:06 PM

Toby
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:
Originally posted by MIKE STH
'Tis true, they don't like extreme cold. I kept mine in an otterbox at my elbow in a sleeping bag while tenting in Alaska in October. Figured the longer the batteries stayed warm, the longer they would last. No problems...

Actually, the batteries aren't the problem (there's an old 'trick' with alkaline batteries where sticking them in the freezer will supposedly give 'dead' batteries one last boost). The problem is the silicon and the LCD. They don't like having electricity run through them (and consequently rapidly heating them) after being in extreme cold. It's even possible for it to crack the silicon (although I'm not sure if battery level voltage could do it, but I've seen it have _very_ detrimental effects with PCs).

12-15-2001 08:18 PM

Toby
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:
Originally posted by MarkEagle
Interestingly, it's not mentioned in the User Guide for any of the Visor models.

You managed to find it thought, didn't you?

Do you mean the online one, or the paper one?

12-15-2001 08:19 PM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:
Originally posted by Toby
Do you mean the online one, or the paper one?

Neither. It's not mentioned in any of the documentation included with the Visor (paper or electronic), nor is it anywhere I could find online at Handspring. I found it in the Developers Technical Reference Guide, something I'm sure the average user never looks at or even thinks about.

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12-15-2001 09:49 PM

miradu
TreoCentral Staff

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

In minnesota I often find that the screens slwo down - it's really actualyl kidna funnyif you try to place zap in that enviroment. I also determined that the LCD crystals didn't like the cold, and couldn't move quickly..

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12-15-2001 11:08 PM

volcanopele
Member

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

quote:
Originally posted by miradu2000
In minnesota I often find that the screens slwo down - it's really actualyl kidna funnyif you try to place zap in that enviroment. I also determined that the LCD crystals didn't like the cold, and couldn't move quickly..

When I was living in Arizona this summer, I learned that VDXs don't like heat. One time when I went to swim in the pool, I was taking everything out of my pockets of my shorts before I got in, including my VDX. When I was done, I picked up my VDX and looked at the screen. It was VERY dark. I tried to change the contrast but nothing fixed. I waited for hours and eventually it got back to normal.

The moral of the story: Don't keep you handheld out in the Arizona sun in June.

Jason

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12-15-2001 11:12 PM

ernieba1
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

quote:
Originally posted by miradu2000
In minnesota I often find that the screens slwo down - it's really actualyl kidna funnyif you try to place zap in that enviroment. I also determined that the LCD crystals didn't like the cold, and couldn't move quickly..

I can see the labels:

WARNING: Not meant for use in the following areas: Canada, Minnesota, North Dakota (otherwise known as "Dakota"). . .

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12-15-2001 11:54 PM

culo77
Member

Registered: May 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 236

I did notice the same thing with my deluxe last winter. I just thought my VDX was mad at me for carrying it in my backpack and not keeping it warm (it was slow on the power on). So i started to keep it in my, inside jacket pocket. Only then my VDX forgave me and life went on as normal.

Now that I have an Edge I am kind of worried about the EDGE's metal casing??? I cant wait until i am walking to the el-train on a below zero, windy Chicago day, (It will be the day i forget my gloves) and I pull out my metal edge to check the train schedual.

My new scientific test this winter will be to..... Lick my metal Edge in below zero weather....i will keep you updated on the results.

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Hey baby before we start do you mind if we use my M505?
No not for that!!!!!!!!!!
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12-16-2001 02:05 AM

volcanopele
Member

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

quote:
Originally posted by culo77

My new scientific test this winter will be to..... Lick my metal Edge in below zero weather....i will keep you updated on the results.

Yes please do. And we would also like photographic proof. That would have to be one of those pictures you have to share w/ everyone

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12-16-2001 02:35 AM

culo77
Member

Registered: May 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 236

I will take pics but i probably wont be with the EYEModule.

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Hey baby before we start do you mind if we use my M505?
No not for that!!!!!!!!!!
Use it to reffer to PalmaSutra, silly???????

12-16-2001 02:47 AM

Toby
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:
Originally posted by MarkEagle
Neither. It's not mentioned in any of the documentation included with the Visor (paper or electronic), nor is it anywhere I could find online at Handspring. I found it in the Developers Technical Reference Guide, something I'm sure the average user never looks at or even thinks about.

That's extremely odd. I'm certain that I've seen it somewhere in one or the other (unless it was on the box, although, I'd doubt that). If it's not there, I'd be extremely surprised considering nearly every other electronic device I've ever purchased has had that basic information.

12-17-2001 02:02 AM

Toby
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:
Originally posted by culo77
[...] My new scientific test this winter will be to..... Lick my metal Edge in below zero weather....i will keep you updated on the results.

I believe the appropriate response to this is "I triple-dog-dare you".

12-17-2001 02:05 AM

volcanopele
Member

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

quote:
Originally posted by Toby
I believe the appropriate response to this is "I triple-dog-dare you".

Uh-oh, toby went straight to the triple-dog dare!! Culo, just remember to have the fire-department on speed dial.

Jason

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12-17-2001 02:10 AM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:
Originally posted by Toby
That's extremely odd.

I thought the same thing but was unable to find it anywhere... manual, package, HS web site...

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12-17-2001 02:51 AM

MarkEagle
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:
Originally posted by culo77
Lick my metal Edge in below zero weather...

I love to hear that call to tech support... and their reply!

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12-17-2001 02:54 AM

Yorick
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Out of my skull, back in five minutes
Posts: 1435

quote:
Originally posted by MarkEagle
Interestingly, it's not mentioned in the User Guide for any of the Visor models.

p225 of the User Guide.pdf (actual page 217) on the CD notes that it should be kept from extreme temperatures (though, without noting a range).

just my two cents. or 1.235 cents adjusted.

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12-17-2001 03:46 AM

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