Dust issue with e550G

[Stake]

Just an FYI to those e550G users:

Well, I've had the e550G for a week and a half I love the device since I retired my Casio E-100. But today I found a few particles behind the screen and a cluster of something that resembles dust in the center. It seems like the screen isn't completely sealed or the seal isn't tight. :(

I'm sure that other PDA manufacturers have learned from iPaq but it's possible that this can affect a very small amount of units.

In anycase, I'm going back to CompUSA tomorrow to at least exchange it for a new one. Luckily I spotted it before the 14 day return limit expired! We'll see how that ordeal goes...I have a feeling they may screw me in some way.

Has anyone else examined their e550G's for dust?

[Charles Pickrell]

No dust problems here... yet. As a matter of fact yours is the first one I've heard of with dust behind the screen. It might have gotten in there during manufacture.

[apeguero]

No dust here. I make my own screen protectors which cover the whole screen and as of yet (over two weeks) I don't see any dust.

If I may, I suggest you get the extended warranty with CompUSA. I ran into problems with my e740 screen for which CompUSA gladly replaced for my e550g. It's $69.99 for a year and $99.99 for two. I bought the two year one. Keep in mind that they'll replace it for anything that renders your device useless.

If you do happen to trade it in for a new one, then I recommend you also get the warranty :)

Good luck.

[RLBorg]

The problem with CompUSA's extended warrenty is that is for 2 years/1 replacement. Therefore, i would hold off replacing it unit near the end of the plan if you can help it....

[KPMaker]

Stake your not alone :(

I am on day 8 of my 14 dat trial of the e550g, and I must admit I soooooo want to keep it, this is by far my favorite device I have purchased out of all the devices from times past.

BUT I too am having dust problems, day-7 I noticed 2 dust particles, now on day-8 they're is 7. So no way am I keeping it, dust drives me up the wall, I am very frustrated with this, my e310 had dust issues too, and I have gone through 5 of them :x .

So if I have it correctly the iPAQ Line has finally fixed the problem? I know they had problems in times past too with they're older models but have heard different lately.

Man what a bummer, they're really isn't another PDA I would rather have right now, oh well I'll have to wait and see if Toshiba actually fixes the problem, as well as Dell's new PPC and iPAQ's new lower end model.

Anyone else, if so please post. I plan on contacting Toshiba, so if it is a wide scale problem and they get enough reports, the earlier the better, hopefully they will kick it in high gear and fix it ASAP. Although they might still be considered 1 of the new guys in the PPC Camp, they're a good company from what I've seen with their other products :x and heard from various posts, and I don't think they're going to change.

[KPMaker]

Please excuse the :x Face inserted after their other products..., I have no idea how that dude got in there.

Anyways if the Dust Monster has struck your e550g, or even another Toshiba, then contact them, I'm sure they'll eventually get on it, and maybe sooner then we think :D

[KPMaker]

Just an update, either the 12th or 13th day I noticed a cluster of dust located at the bottom of the screen, and I mean a cluster. It's about the size of a dime. Although this cluster is different than the other 7-8 specs of dust that snuck in, they seem allot smaller, also they are more noticeable at night than the daytime, and with certain applications with a darker background. So I brought it back and had it replaced.

Side Note: Has anyone else had a bad experience returning anything at CompUSA, I experienced what was the worst experience I ever had returning something to a local retail store. I was hesitant but was won over by the nice sales rep when he told me if I wasn't satisfied with the device and I brought it back within the 14 day period they would not charge me the 15% restocking fee unless seriously abused. So I listened and purchased one, a mistake :cry: .

So because of the dust issue I decided to return it for good, upon arrival, with the device in great shape, they admit to me that yes they use to wave the 15% restocking fee but changed it the day after I purchased this e550G. They also told me they would not refund me the 2-yr Extended Warranty ($99), they said allot of people were taking advantage of their return policy and were clamping down. I also stated that since I purchased it the day before the change isn’t it just to still allow me to fall under the old policy. Of course that was a NO, and since I waited till the 14th day they assumed I was like all the rest of the folks just renting the merchandise. I decided to keep the device knowing I could go to another CompUSA and exchange it for another device if it keeps giving me trouble, I'll just look for a competent manager :wink: .

So to sum up the whole thing, I was willing to pay the restocking fee upfront if they had told me about it, and not lie to me and say they won’t charge me. So to end the story they made an innocent customer suffer the consequences of the actions of others. I emailed CompUSA’s Cust. Response Team from their website with a professional unsatisfied email, waiting for a response, but seriously doubt they’ll do anything. I have also made the pledge to never give them my business ever again as long as Best Buy, Circuit City and the such like can supply the need. End of Rant, Life Goes On…
8)

[Stake]

I went to CompUSA and I actually didn't have a problem because it was still under the 14 day return policy. So I just did a swap and so far there's no dust in the unit. I've been using it normally just as before. Also I had that flickering issue and that seemed to be gone as well. My assumption was that the dust was from the manufacturing process and not from day to day use.

I've been very pleased overall with the e550G. Though I wish there was a screen protector large enough for the 4 inch screen...and where is that elusive PC card sled?!?!

[KPMaker]

Well I'm glad you did not have any trouble at CompUSA, I actually brought it back on the 14th day and still went through that sorry experience. I think it's more the manager on duty, and in my case I had a 1st class moron that needs to sweep floors for a living. Now they're are good managers out there you just have to know what to look for, I actually got in good with some of the guys and was hoping they were there, but like a knuckle head I didn't check to see if they were in 1st- doh!!!!!, and then low and behold 1 of them comes around after I got through the whole ordeal.

You said:

"My assumption was that the dust was from the manufacturing process and not from day to day use."

Hmm, well I know for me it was not there before I started to use it, I'm very detailed oriented and really picky and can easily tell when there's a new speck of dust. They did give me a new 1, but I have not used it, I have 2 and I am thinking of selling it, it's brand new, the cradle and everything else that came with it is 2 weeks old, but the device has not been used. I don't want any dust in it if I decide to sell it.

As far as the 4'' screen protector, check out Brando's,

http://shop.brando.com.hk/screenprotector.php

I have not tried them myself, but heard good things about them. I'm holding off incase I sell the device, also www.Vajacases.com has some good cases for this baby :D

[Stake]

OK, my friend just showed me his Genio and he's got that dust clump on the center of the screen like I had in mine the first time I got it. So I took off the screen protector on my Genio and low and behold, dust again. At this point, there I'll have to conclude with the others that this is universal through ALL Genios no matter what you do.

I'm going to return my PDA today. I can't tell you what I'll want to do at this point. I hope there's something I can do. Do I dare go to an iPaq?? Or the Toshiba e740?!?

This really sucks.