Oh, No! I've Broken My Visor! How Can I Fix It?

NetizenKane asks: "OK, so I dropped my Visor, and the screen is, shall we say, less than 100% readable. I can still use it, alarms work, etc., and I've been able to get by through hot syncing and editing and all. Handspring wants $85.00 to replace the one I have, which I suppose is OK, however, someone makes those LCD touch screen displays, would it be possible to order one from the manufacturer and replace it myself? Has anyone else tried this?"

Comments

Same thing happened to me a year ago

[Finni]

Last November, my fiance's cat took it into her head to knock mine off of my desk. I sent it back, after getting an RMA, explaining that it wasn't a "shipping damage" issue (because I was past the time limit for that sort of thing.) I even arranged for the "fast track/we'll get you a replacement tomorrow/$100 even" deal. The never billed me; however, this was when they couldn't even keep track of orders for the new units. So I wouldn't count on something this lucky happening to anyone else. But it made my day.

Re:Same thing happened to me a year ago

[Tower]

So *you're* the one they've been after this whole time ;-)

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Swimming with your palm

[spribyl]

My palm V when for a swim and its screen ceased to read the pen motions. I sent it to 3com for $100 the sent me a new one. Easy, Some what cheep and I got two new styli with it. I think there still is an lcd shortage and you might find it difficult to buy one from the mfg. Also how good are you a soldering? Are you sure that it is only the screen that is borken. You may take it apart and find that the board is cracked and only fell apart after you opened it up. Hey its $85 buck for a refubish one.

Make 'em

[masonowen]

Handspring offered a free replacement to their customers the first time they broke the screen. If you tell them that that's the reason you got the Visor in the first place, and make enough of a stink, they will replace it for you. I had a friend who went though the same thing, but it wasn't hard at all - maybe you are just talking to a bad person there.

You can check everything out at http://www.handspring.com/support/repairs.jhtml. Good luck! m/

Mason Owen,
Managing Editor

Handspring Used to Replace for FREE

[ARColeslaw]

Handspring used to replace broken LCD displays once, and once only, for FREE! I guess they are no longer doing that. I always felt reassured walking around with my Visor, but now that they are charging, that reassurance is gone.

!free repairs

[-stax]

General Repairs General Repairs Most problems with your Visor can be easily repaired with the help of online technical support . If you still need help, call Technical Support at (716) 871-6448 between the hours of 8 am to 10 pm Eastern Standard Time M-F and 10 am to 8 pm Sat-Sun. There are occasionally charges associated with Visor repair (particularly for rapid shipment of replacements and LCD repair). Please have your credit card number ready. Broken LCD Repair If you received your shipment with a broken LCD screen, we'll replace it free of charge. Simply contact our CustomerCare Center at 1 (888) 565-9393 anytime. free repairs if it was broken when you got it
-stax
/. poster #104543567

You may find some clues here

[GMontag]

This is the I-Opener (and other internet appliance) hacking BBS:
http://www.kenseglerdesigns.com/cgi-bin/UltraBoa rd/UltraBoard.pl

Searc around for display manufacturers and e-mail the people that ask questions about it.

They have found a source to upgrade I-Openers to touch screen for only $199. Might be something for you there.

Visit DC2600

Re:!free repairs -- formatted

[-stax]

General Repairs

General Repairs Most problems with your Visor can be easily repaired with the help of online technical support . If you still need help, call Technical Support at (716) 871-6448 between the hours of 8 am to 10 pm Eastern Standard Time M-F and 10 am to 8 pm Sat-Sun. There are occasionally charges associated with Visor repair (particularly for rapid shipment of replacements and LCD repair). Please have your credit card number ready.

Broken LCD Repair

If you received your shipment with a broken LCD screen, we'll replace it free of charge. Simply contact our CustomerCare Center at 1 (888) 565-9393 anytime.

free repairs if it was broken when you got it

better :)
-stax
/. poster #104543567

palm III

[smatthew]

Now i'm not sure how the hardware is laid out on a Visor compared to a Palm III, but I've been able to fix my palm III a few times. There's a little socketed board inside (using what looks like a small simm socket type thing). That card has a tendency to come loose. So I'd reccomend that you just crack open your visor and check all the connections. Especially if you use the device daily theres a good chance that vibrations, smacks, drop, etc have caused a connector to come lose.

Just remember - you'll probably violate your warranty. Oh well. It's saved me twice.

Re:Visor Ordering Issues

[Left Of Center]

Yeah, they weren't really on top of their orders for a very long time-- My credit card got stolen after I ordered mine... eleven days to be precise, when they were supposed to have charged it after ten. I even called them to ask if it was a problem and they said it wouldn't be, as the card had already been charged.

Lo and behold, I received my visor a few days later, and as I was taking it out of the box, they called and asked about the decline. I explained the situation and that I was still waiting for my new credit card. They were very cool about it (not, of course, that they had a lot of choice in the matter, I already had the thing in my hand)... said they'd call me back later.

They never called back... I'm one of those people who gets guilty feelings, so I let it ride for about a month and shot their customer service a note with the title "How I got you to send me a Visor without paying for it."

Then I called them and gave them the number. they were quite relieved.

Bad timing

[thppt]

Two things, neither of which you're gonna like very much:

1) Two months ago I, too, dropped my Visor. I called up Handspring: "How much?" And pretty much the exact quote was: "We'd normally charge you $85 for a screen repair, but since our billing system hasn't yet come online, it's free." !!! Gimme that deal! Unfortunately, their billing system has since come online. *sigh*

2) It is rumored that the manufacturer(s) of these LCD touch screens which are O-so-popular for PalmOS devices is/are having major trouble keeping up with orders. Similar to the backlog of FLASHRAM orders the industry is experiencing (which, according to VisorCentral, is a major factor in the delays of all of the Springboard modules we've been waiting for!).

Sorry for the bad news.

PALM Drop

[LHMartin]

I had the same thing happen to my PALM Vx. Really better off letting the Vendor do it. Also have it checked out in case other problems that you are not yet aware of should crop up.

how ethical are you?

[cheezus]

sell it on ebay claiming it works great for around 200-250 and then just buy a new one from handspring with the money

;)

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Depends on the problem

[Chris Pimlott]

If it's a problem with the neurotransmitters that recieve the video information from the visor's electrical transfer relays, I would advise making an appointment with Dr. Crusher.

If, however, the on-unit diagnostics indicate the problem instead lies within the visor itself, say in the wide sprectrum optical sensors or the high resolution binocular multipler circuits, you'll need someone with hardware expertise. Lt. Commander Data would be the best one to ask.

Used screens for sale

[Jacco de Leeuw]

This website sells used screens.

The silk screen of my Palm Personal was broken so I couldn't use it for the full 100%, but Screenwrite ($5) allowed me to write Grafitti on the screen.

Jacco
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