Headaches?

[Stanley Tan]

Is it just me, or does using the iPAQ (I'm using the h3970) give you a headache?

[BGinWA]

maybe you need new glasses?

[Stanley Tan]

Nope... have perfect vision. Could it have something to do with the brightness setting of the backlight?

[Rirath]

Doubtful.

[Bob Anderson]

Nope... have perfect vision. Could it have something to do with the brightness setting of the backlight?

Sure... different people react differently to different levels of contrasting light... in other words, if you use your ipaq in a totally dark room and have the backlight at full brightness that could cause you problems... and vice versa.

Many Dr's. also say that for us heavy computer users (I'll take the liberty of including PPC users!) we should frequently look away from our computer screens and focus on things at varying distances to help our eyes. I'm not sure what this does, but I practice the concept myself and it does help keep my vision sharp for an entire day of computer use!

Not sure this helps.. but thought I'd share what I know...

[JvanEkris]

You didn't make any hardware-modifications to your backlight (like replacing it with a 1500watt construction-lamp) :).

Jaap

[Janak Parekh]

Actually, the 3900 series iPaq is one of the brightest backlit/transflective screens. Do try lowering the brightness down and see if that helps. One nice thing about the 3800 series' reflective screen is just that - the light is indirect. Makes it a bit easier on my eyes than my backlit LCD at work & at home.

--janak

[JvanEkris]

Or sunglasses could help as well 8) . come to think of it, there are special glasses for CRT-monitors, perhaps these help as well...

Jaap

[dazz]

Stanley, do you have a wife that is trying desperately to get your attention while you use your PocketPC? This is a common problem at my home and the resulting lumps can be fairly painful.

I usually don't notice till after I put my PocketPC down though. Then I kind of, "HEY, what the...? I'm bleeding!" 8O . Kids snicker, I sob and my wife rolls her eyes.

<shrug> :confused totally:

[Stanley Tan]

Thanks for the entertaining replies. Nope, I haven't modified it in any way and the backlight setting is already quite low. Let my friend try it and she got a slight headache too.

I'll just try to get used to it and see what happens a couple weeks from now.

Oh yeah, thanks for the advice about looking away every so often :)

[Cortex]

Dazz, I was wondering why my head was killing me today....

I'll have a talk with my significant other -- let me add that to my todo list...

[Janak Parekh]

I'll just try to get used to it and see what happens a couple weeks from now.
One more comment: if this is your first backlit device, it might just be getting used to it. On my first desktop LCD, I went nuts for the first week or two. Now I'm used to the brightness, and I find regular CRT's dim. :)

--janak

[Stanley Tan]

Janak,

Well, I hope I get used to it soon! Getting dizzy all the time now! :?

[Rirath]

You're not reading it in motion are you? Like on a subway or something? I can't see how anyone could get dizzy looking at a screen. :? Not my idea of "perfect vision"... I'd be willing to strongly suggest an eye exam, may have something you don't yet know about. Or perhaps your vision itself is fine, just not the ability to look at objects like LCDs for long amounts of time. Does your family have some kinda genetic anti-geek gene? A history of football players or something? :wink:

[Stanley Tan]

Hehe... nope. I stare all day long into my laptop any never have a problem. It's only with the iPAQ. Hopefully, it's just an issue of getting it used to, but I might go get an eye checkup like you said. :wink:

[Rirath]

Dang, I'm out of ideas. :)

[Janak Parekh]

The only other idea I would have is go see someone else's 39xx unit, and see if the display is any different...

--janak

[BryGuy]

Nope... have perfect vision. Could it have something to do with the brightness setting of the backlight?

Sure... different people react differently to different levels of contrasting light... in other words, if you use your ipaq in a totally dark room and have the backlight at full brightness that could cause you problems... and vice versa.

Many Dr's. also say that for us heavy computer users (I'll take the liberty of including PPC users!) we should frequently look away from our computer screens and focus on things at varying distances to help our eyes. I'm not sure what this does, but I practice the concept myself and it does help keep my vision sharp for an entire day of computer use!

Not sure this helps.. but thought I'd share what I know...

Bob is very right.
I'm a heavy AutoCAD user (Civil CADD Designer), and work on computers ALL day long sometimes. Not to mention then coming home to a night of computering. Looking away from time to time is a major 'To Do'.
A couple other things you may be doing, and not realizing it is:
- Holding the unit too close or too far away from your face.
- Focusing very intensly on the screen (possibly while holding/using it too close to the face.)
- Font(s) may be set too small. Try increasing the sizes in some of the apps.
- Ambient lighting (your typical surrounding) lighting may be contributing to yur problem.

Watch and track you viewing habits. You may find that you 'are' temporarily using the unit in a way that could cause a headache, and the ache always shows up a bit later.

Hope this helps.

BryGuy

[Stanley Tan]

Thanks for the tips, really appreciate it. I'll try to keep those things in mind :)

[The Big Jay]

You're not reading it in motion are you? Like on a subway or something? I can't see how anyone could get dizzy looking at a screen. :? Not my idea of "perfect vision"... I'd be willing to strongly suggest an eye exam, may have something you don't yet know about. Or perhaps your vision itself is fine, just not the ability to look at objects like LCDs for long amounts of time. Does your family have some kinda genetic anti-geek gene? A history of football players or something? :wink:

One of my friends has football shaped eyes (I mean the eyeballs), and therefore she gets headaches whenever she stares at the screen for a while. Perhaps this is the problem?

You can have perfect vision and still have that sort of thing.

[Janak Parekh]

One of my friends has football shaped eyes (I mean the eyeballs), and therefore she gets headaches whenever she stares at the screen for a while. Perhaps this is the problem?
Are you referring to astigmatism? If she has that, she should be wearing glasses. I have a very slight astigmatism, so I can get away without glasses, but I can see how that makes it difficult.

--janak

[Stanley Tan]

Well, not that I am aware of, no, I don't have that kind of problem. I can stare into my laptop/desktop all day without much problem. :?

[ruffas]

Here's an idea... :idea:

How about tinted screen protectors for those users with sensitive eyes?

Might even be able to design them so the screen can be seen in brighter conditions...! Sort of like those anti glare screens you can get for desktop monitors.

Patent pending!!!

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

The only other idea I would have is go see someone else's 39xx unit, and see if the display is any different...

--janak

That's what I was starting to think. Maybe for some reason your 39xx is defective and has a lower refresh rate or something? If you can't find another 39xx is look at, perhaps another PPC to play around with?

I've never heard of people getting headaches looking at a PPC but if you AND your friend experience the same thing... maybe it's the unit...

[Stanley Tan]

If it is in fact the unit, do you think I could bring it to a Compaq center and have them take a look at it? Would they know what to do?

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

If it is in fact the unit, do you think I could bring it to a Compaq center and have them take a look at it? Would they know what to do?
How long have you had the unit? If within 30 days, can you bring it back to the retailer?

Otherwise, you'll probably have to call HP support and arrange for them to take a look at it.

[Pony99CA]

If it is in fact the unit, do you think I could bring it to a Compaq center and have them take a look at it? Would they know what to do?
If it's not the unit, and if you don't get used to it, feel free to send it to me. I could give it a good home, and my 3650 and 3870 would have company. :lol:

Steve

[Stanley Tan]

Haha. I love the sense of humor everyone has here. Great place to learn and have fun! :lol: