Official Word from Dell on the Windows Mobile 5 Upgrade

[Jason Dunn]

I just got off the phone with my PR contact at Dell, and I need to clear up the very erroneous information that I <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,44101&/dell_halting_upgrade_cd_shipments?.htm">published last night</a>. First off, the CD is <a href="http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/ProductDetail.aspx?TabPage=techspecs&sku=420-5596&spagenum=&category_id=5903&brandid=&k=&c=us&l=en&cs=19&mnf=&prst=&prEnd=&mnfsku=&orderby=&searchtype=&pageb4search=&page=productlisting.aspx&instock=&refurbished=">on the Dell Web site</a> and available for $39 USD. It has not been recalled in any way - they started shipping the upgrade CDs on the 26th of October, and many that ordered it already have it. There are no "serious issues" and no one is going "back to the lab". Further, the upgrade is fully supported by Dell. They will not support 3rd party application compatibility issues, but the core upgrade itself is supported according to my source. Whomever Clinton talked to was simply misinformed, and I apologize for passing on inaccurate information without fact-checking it first. The perils of pseudo-journalism. :wink:

[Clinton Fitch]

And let me add my apology to this as well. As Jason has pointed out, the information I got was completely wrong and, unfortunately, that made PPC Thoughts look wrong as well.

Hopefully the Dell represenative can get to the bottom of what happened.

Regardless, if you want to smack someone for the wrong info, it's me, not Jason or his team.... :D

Regards,

[Patrick Y.]

We forgive you. :D

I knew that there was something fishie about "dell recalling their CD". Over Aximsite, people are "happily" installing their WM 5 upgrade without any problem except software incompatibility.

Also, is it possible to remove the post on Dell recalling their CD? It just annoys me when I visit PPT. :roll:

[MleB]

'PR contact at Dell' notwithstanding, the fact that users are getting misinformation from Dell (and who is to say your contact is not just blowing smoke) is not hopeful.

Dell reps appear to be saying whatever pops into their heads - no doubt in an effort to simply move thru what must be a wave of inbound calls wondering a) where is the CD I ordered and was due in October and/or b) how do I fix this mess your upgrade CD put me in?

My most recent phone call with a Dell Canada Customer Service Rep (Ian) was civil enough, but he could offer no guidance as to when I might see the CD (his screens still showed them being produced) or what best to do with a pooched device once the OS is installed - my 'Total Satisfaction Guarantee' having lapsed while waiting on this 'free' CD.

Jason, you may have accepted the info you received last night at face value and chose to reproduce it as news, but it wasn't wrong. It is simply what some users are getting as answers from their 'contacts at Dell'.

Dell needs to do more than deny there is a problem or do damage control.

[CookieKid]

'PR contact at Dell' notwithstanding, the fact that users are getting misinformation from Dell (and who is to say your contact is not just blowing smoke) is not hopeful.

Dell reps appear to be saying whatever pops into their heads - no doubt in an effort to simply move thru what must be a wave of inbound calls wondering a) where is the CD I ordered and was due in October and/or b) how do I fix this mess your upgrade CD put me in?

My most recent phone call with a Dell Canada Customer Service Rep (Ian) was civil enough, but he could offer no guidance as to when I might see the CD (his screens still showed them being produced) or what best to do with a pooched device once the OS is installed - my 'Total Satisfaction Guarantee' having lapsed while waiting on this 'free' CD.

Jason, you may have accepted the info you received last night at face value and chose to reproduce it as news, but it wasn't wrong. It is simply what some users are getting as answers from their 'contacts at Dell'.

Dell needs to do more than deny there is a problem or do damage control.

please note that CSR (Customer Service Representative) != PR (Public Relations)

[xiazm]

How do you guys explain why Dell provide this to users to go back to 2003SE from WM5? There must be something wrong with the upgrade.


ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R111630.EXE

[CookieKid]

How do you guys explain why Dell provide this to users to go back to 2003SE from WM5? There must be something wrong with the upgrade.


ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R111630.EXE

HP also provides their customers with the downgrade also. It's required since some people don't like how PS slows down their machines or certain programs that they use doesn't work with WM5.

[Clinton Fitch]

How do you guys explain why Dell provide this to users to go back to 2003SE from WM5? There must be something wrong with the upgrade.


ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R111630.EXE

A backout plan doesn't necessarily indicate a problem. Any upgrade - router, switch, server, and PDA - should have a backout plan... This is the one provided by Dell. Their providing of it doesn't necessarily indicate a problem with the upgrade.

[lapchinj]

Well I think that Jason has very good contacts along with good info. Generally I would go along with what Jason finds out from his contacts as opposed to calling a company like Dell myself to find out what's up. Anyway I just put my order in for the upgrade which is being sold and i should get it by Thursday so I'll let you all know what happens.

Jeff-

[xiazm]

How do you guys explain why Dell provide this to users to go back to 2003SE from WM5? There must be something wrong with the upgrade.


ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R111630.EXE

A backout plan doesn't necessarily indicate a problem. Any upgrade - router, switch, server, and PDA - should have a backout plan... This is the one provided by Dell. Their providing of it doesn't necessarily indicate a problem with the upgrade.

Is there any backout plan for PPC2002 back to 2000 and WM2003SE to previous version???????????????????????

[lapchinj]

A backout plan doesn't necessarily indicate a problem. Any upgrade - router, switch, server, and PDA - should have a backout plan...
Yeah, everything that I have ever flashed has some kind of backout route. Either it was a supplied ROM image or a way to backup the current ROM on the device being upgraded.

Jeff-

[Clinton Fitch]

How do you guys explain why Dell provide this to users to go back to 2003SE from WM5? There must be something wrong with the upgrade.


ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R111630.EXE

A backout plan doesn't necessarily indicate a problem. Any upgrade - router, switch, server, and PDA - should have a backout plan... This is the one provided by Dell. Their providing of it doesn't necessarily indicate a problem with the upgrade.

Is there any plan for PPC2002 back to 2000 and WM2003SE to previous version???????????????????????

Not to my knowledge.... This could be more of an indication of simply not being able to back out not necessarily the upgrade itself.

Boy did I open up a can on myself.... :oops:

[Fishie]

We forgive you. :D

I knew that there was something fishie about "dell recalling their CD". Over Aximsite, people are "happily" installing their WM 5 upgrade without any problem except software incompatibility.

Also, is it possible to remove the post on Dell recalling their CD? It just annoys me when I visit PPT. :roll:

I strongly deny involvement in this.
I am shocked and outraged that witouth a shred of proof you decide to put the blame on me.
I demand an apology.

[Fishie]

How do you guys explain why Dell provide this to users to go back to 2003SE from WM5? There must be something wrong with the upgrade.


ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R111630.EXE

A backout plan doesn't necessarily indicate a problem. Any upgrade - router, switch, server, and PDA - should have a backout plan... This is the one provided by Dell. Their providing of it doesn't necessarily indicate a problem with the upgrade.

Is there any plan for PPC2002 back to 2000 and WM2003SE to previous version???????????????????????

With systems that received upgrades YES.

[Patrick Y.]

We forgive you. :D

I knew that there was something fishie about "dell recalling their CD". Over Aximsite, people are "happily" installing their WM 5 upgrade without any problem except software incompatibility.

Also, is it possible to remove the post on Dell recalling their CD? It just annoys me when I visit PPT. :roll:

I strongly deny involvement in this.
I am shocked and outraged that witouth a shred of proof you decide to put the blame on me.
I demand an apology.

Please forgive me!!! :devilboy: :rotfl: :werenotworthy:

[takotchi]

I just wish Dell would say what they do. I finally fixed my problem trying to install the upgrade by reformatting my entire computer... but that was a last resort and shouldn't have been necessary because everything else was working perfectly, including the last ROM update I did to A05 of WM 2003.

I still don't appreciate the fact they told me they did not support the ROM upgrade. I have an e-mail from them that proves they said so, too.

[Johnny Bravo RJ]

Dell is not shipping the CDs to everyone.
They're shipping only to customers who purchased the upgrade CD alone.
I bought 03 Axim X50v that included the upgrade CD for free, two months ago - and I haven't received any WM5 upgrade CD yet.
How do you explain that?

[Fishie]

Please forgive me!!! :devilboy: :rotfl: :werenotworthy:

Its ok, just dont do it again.

8)

[florin20032003]

Does this mean that if I buy an x51 preloaded with WM5 I could actually go back and install WM2003SE? I am confused. :?

[arb]

Does it matter if the original posting was worng? In some way it was right. Dell likes to "blow smoke" thinking this will make the customer feel better somehow. I think after someone from Dell read your post, they were like, uhh, I think we lied to the wrong person boss......


But then, you get what you pay for with Dell.

The sad part is that like a computer virus, Dell did to the PDA industry like it did to the PC market. Crippled and burned it to the ground.

[PetiteFlower]

I don't think so. The backout is for people who upgraded. You didn't upgrade, it came that way, so there's nothing to back out to. At least that's what I would think. Someone more techie can confirm or deny :)

[Fishie]

Does this mean that if I buy an x51 preloaded with WM5 I could actually go back and install WM2003SE? I am confused. :?

No you cant, the x51v was never available with SE, so apart from there not being a specific ROM for that machine you will have the legal isseu as well, that being lack of liscence for that specific OS.
If you have a x50v and you upgrade it you already have a liscence for SE and you get one for free or buy one from Dell for WM5.
Entirely different situation.

[PetiteFlower]

The sad part is that like a computer virus, Dell did to the PDA industry like it did to the PC market. Crippled and burned it to the ground.

I think you're getting Dell confused with HP. Considering they're the only company that has an easy to understand, concise lineup of reasonably priced PDAs on the market right now, seems to me that they've taken the PDA market places it never could have gone before they entered the market. Far as I can tell, pre-Axim, your choices were really cheap and featureless Palms, or feature-full but extremely overpriced Ipaqs. Dell created the mid-priced Pocket PC market, without skimping on specs. Personally I know I never would have gotten a PPC at all before the X5 came out - everything else worth having was just out of my price range. And last I checked, the PDA market was growing, hardly "burned to the ground."

I don't follow the PC market as I have the PDA market, but I do know I love my Dell PC and I will most likely never buy a PC from any other company. I wonder what you have to back up the hate-on you seem to have for the company.

[kirankaja]

Well, I tried innumerable times to ask for a date when they will ship my free upgrade but the representatives on the online support text chat had no idea what so ever. As I required the upgrade for my job, I had to order it for $39 + $9 for second day shipping. At least this way I can know the date when it will be shipped and I can tell my bosses.

Extremely satisfied with the product but very very poor customer support in terms of order placement and shipping.

Regards,
KK.

And let me add my apology to this as well. As Jason has pointed out, the information I got was completely wrong and, unfortunately, that made PPC Thoughts look wrong as well.

Hopefully the Dell represenative can get to the bottom of what happened.

Regardless, if you want to smack someone for the wrong info, it's me, not Jason or his team.... :D

Regards,

[mpaque]

What I would like to know is why the order I placed back when the upgrade first hit their website has now been canceled. The status says to contact a Dell order specialist for re-order information.

[cab124]

I bought 03 Axim X50v that included the upgrade CD for free, two months ago - and I haven't received any WM5 upgrade CD yet.

I am with you. I bought my x50v about 2 months ago as well, and still no free upgrade to WM 5.0.

Let me know if you get yours!!

[Soyale]

What software compatibility issues are folk seeing with the 5.0 upgrade? The first post makes it sound like there are lots.

[Darius Wey]

What software compatibility issues are folk seeing with the 5.0 upgrade? The first post makes it sound like there are lots.

Most major third-party software companies have already updated their applications for Windows Mobile 5.0 compatibility. It's more those minor companies and freeware developers who have yet to make an update.

This site (http://www.wm5fixsite.com/) is worth visiting if you want to check an application's compatibility. If it's not listed, you can submit your findings.

[joefuture]

I'm seeing some pretty annoying issues after the upgrade. Did the Dell rep give any indication as to the best route to report problems? I'm not going to bother with tech support, and their community forums are apparently not monitored by Dell reps.

For example:
1. WiFi doesn't pick up a signal after turning on my x50v or enabling WiFi about 50% of the time
2. About 25% of the time, when I turn on my x50v, nothing happnes (except the green WiFi LED starts to blink), but I'm stuck with a black screen. Occassionally it's a purely white screen.
3. SD card access seems to have slowed down on startup. Most of the apps I've tried installing to the SD card that worked fine under WM2003SE give popups if they have "turn on" notification event handlers - cannot find program blahblah.exe, etc.

I'm just curious as to what's the most effective way to report problems like this to Dell?[/list]

[Cybrid]

How do you guys explain why Dell provide this to users to go back to 2003SE from WM5? There must be something wrong with the upgrade.


ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/utility/R111630.EXE

A backout plan doesn't necessarily indicate a problem. Any upgrade - router, switch, server, and PDA - should have a backout plan... This is the one provided by Dell. Their providing of it doesn't necessarily indicate a problem with the upgrade.

Is there any backout plan for PPC2002 back to 2000 and WM2003SE to previous version???????????????????????Yes, there was. only for models that had been offered an upgrade. Ipaq 3630, dell X5 to name ones I am aware off.

[cab124]

I just got my free upgrade from Dell!!

However.....I was just over at www.wm5fixsite.com where it says that Fitaly is not compatible. Bummer. I don't know if I want to install it if I can't use Fitaly anymore.

[lapchinj]

...I was just over at www.wm5fixsite.com where it says that Fitaly is not compatible. Bummer. I don't know if I want to install it if I can't use Fitaly anymore.
Give them a call or send an email to them maybe they got something cooking or something to be or already being released. At least let them give some sort of answer and time frame.

Jeff-

[Jon Westfall]

I did my upgrade last night, and aside from my laptop being the cause of some pain (switched to another machine without a problem), the upgrade went well and from playing with the device today, all seems OK. WiFi worked fine, and amazingly it can get a GPRS connection through my mpx 220 unlike the WM2003SE ROMS did (While I miss the other BT Stack, I'll learn to love Microsoft's if it works where the other didn't).

[Darius Wey]

I just got my free upgrade from Dell!!

However.....I was just over at www.wm5fixsite.com where it says that Fitaly is not compatible. Bummer. I don't know if I want to install it if I can't use Fitaly anymore.

Last I remember, Fitaly works in Windows Mobile 5.0, although don't set it as your default SIP, otherwise you're in for a wild ride. I think the Fitaly folks might have a v4.0 beta planned toward the end of this year, which will hopefully address any Windows Mobile 5.0 compatibility issues.

[Darius Wey]

I did my upgrade last night, and aside from my laptop being the cause of some pain (switched to another machine without a problem), the upgrade went well and from playing with the device today, all seems OK. WiFi worked fine, and amazingly it can get a GPRS connection through my mpx 220 unlike the WM2003SE ROMS did (While I miss the other BT Stack, I'll learn to love Microsoft's if it works where the other didn't).

Dang, now I want to upgrade. There's something about Dell in Europe and the Asia-Pacific that isn't quite ticking yet. "Hello, where's our upgrade, Dell?" ;)

[G M Fude]

There's something about Dell in Europe and the Asia-Pacific that isn't quite ticking yet. "Hello, where's our upgrade, Dell?" ;)
Maybe it's the faut of that fabulous new software that Australian Customs installed which has been delaying clearances around the country by as much as three weeks. Perhaps there's an airfreight container brimfull with WM5 CDs sitting in bond at Sydney airport, waiting, waiting...



..or perhaps not.

[Darius Wey]

Maybe it's the faut of that fabulous new software that Australian Customs installed which has been delaying clearances around the country by as much as three weeks. Perhaps there's an airfreight container brimfull with WM5 CDs sitting in bond at Sydney airport, waiting, waiting...



..or perhaps not.

Haha, I doubt it. As strict as our customs officials are, it doesn't explain the rest of Asia-Pacific who are also left without a Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade option for their X50 series. Anyway, I piped an email over to Dell Australia and will let you know what they say (if they even bother replying).

[G M Fude]

Thanks! Despite much of the doom-and-gloom being written at Aximsite, I'll be doing the upgrade as soon as it's available.

[cab124]

Just did my upgrade. Went smooth as silk.

Now to start installing my apps...

[Muntasser]

Thanks! Despite much of the doom-and-gloom being written at Aximsite, I'll be doing the upgrade as soon as it's available.

WHat doom and gloom? Is the release buggy?

If so I dont know if I want to upgrade anymore. I've spent too many hours installing all this countless software to go through a Microsoft bug rollercoaster !
:?

[cab124]

I have been using WM5 on my x50v for a couple of days now, and I guess I am beginning to feel pretty disappointed. My reasons:

1. The device just feels slow and cluncky. Most of the time, there are significant delays after a tap on the screen. This seems to vary, but, in general, it just feels slow.

2. I used to make heavy use of the "New" menu on the today screen. Often times I would think of something I needed to do, so I would tap on "New/Task" and add a task, without first opening the tasks app. Now, the "New" menu is gone.

3. Activesync no longer allows me to launch the Pocket Quicken helper app directly. I used to be able to right-click on the Quicken icon and select "synchronize."

4. I am seeing alot of graphical artifacts on the screen, both from within Word Mobile and from within ListPro. Sometimes, the screen is just not repainted properly.

5. I keep getting a blank white screen that forces me to soft reset and then wait about 5 minutes for the device to finally become active again.

6. The battery life seems to be significantly less than before.

Things I like:

1. Word Mobile
2. The new sound scheme (even though the clicks usually occur about 2 seconds after I tap the screen)
3. Persistent memory (just seems more intuitive)

I am going to give it a little mroe time before I consider rolling back, but overall I feel disappointed. This is what Microsoft has given us????? It just doesn't feel like much of an upgrade. What have we really gained???

What is the consesnus out there on WM5? Is there anyone who is enthusiastically making the case that WM5 is a great OS and worth the upgrade?

[Darius Wey]

1. The device just feels slow and cluncky. Most of the time, there are significant delays after a tap on the screen. This seems to vary, but, in general, it just feels slow.

I've seen this before. Try performing another hard-reset immediately after the upgrade.

4. I am seeing alot of graphical artifacts on the screen, both from within Word Mobile and from within ListPro. Sometimes, the screen is just not repainted properly.

I believe that's nothing new. I used to have the same problems time and time again on WM2003SE.

6. The battery life seems to be significantly less than before.

I've heard Dell is planning to address this with a ROM update. Then again, I'm not 100% sure if that's fact or fiction.

What is the consesnus out there on WM5? Is there anyone who is enthusiastically making the case that WM5 is a great OS and worth the upgrade?

There will always be the pro-WM5 and anti-WM5 faction. Personally, I think it's a worthy upgrade, but it's not without its issues. A lot of things need ironing out before it becomes the killer OS that people were hoping it to be.

[aroma]

Received my free upgrade this morning. Upgrade went without a hitch at all. So far, no problems at all with the device either. Seems much quicker than before. Haven't had any lock-ups or needed any resets yet. I for one don't use too many 3rd party apps, so I wonder how many of peoples issues are because of those apps?

[cab124]

Mine is definitely ALOT slower than before. Sometimes, I click the Start menu and it takes 5 seconds before it actually drops down. I am going to take Darius Wey's advice and do a hard reset.

Then, I am going to take your (aroma) advice and cut back on the third-party stuff. It could be that SPB Pocket Plus is one of the culprits. I am going to try running without that for a while and see what happens.

Aroma.....how do you like it so far???

[ctmagnus]

It could be that SPB Pocket Plus is one of the culprits. I am going to try running without that for a while and see what happens.

Just a suggestion and my two cents...

This may save you a few steps in the long run, or it could create more steps, but I'd suggest going into Pocket Plus' options and disabling everything. Then try running that way for a while. It's possible that one or more items that comprise Pocket Plus is causing the slowdown, and not the utility as a whole. This may help Spb with getting new versions out faster, as well, if my theory is correct.

[aroma]

Then, I am going to take your (aroma) advice and cut back on the third-party stuff. It could be that SPB Pocket Plus is one of the culprits. I am going to try running without that for a while and see what happens.

Aroma.....how do you like it so far???

Love it so far. Still haven't experienced any problems. It honestly seems MORE responsive to me than before. Been syncing up both to my PC and directly to Exchange (over WiFi). Haven't experience any failed syncs, or any syncing problems at all. Use quite a few Excel sheets, and haven't had any problems there yet. I have the Dell Bluetooth GPS and navigation software (which is NavTeq). Used the updated (for WM 5) version. Haven't had any problems with the device after installing that app. That's the only 3rd party app I have installed so far. I actually have two X50v models, one that I've updated, the other is still running 2003SE. I'm charging up the 2003 unit right now (it was completely drained). I'm going to run them both side by side a bit to see if I can notice a difference.

[Darius Wey]

This info comes courtesy of G M Fude (who can't access the site at the moment) and only applies to Australians:

The Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade CD for the Axim X50/X50v is available through Dell Australia phone-order (1800 812 393) and will cost $50.60 AUD delivered. Suggested ETA is approximately six working days from the date of order.

[PetiteFlower]

I'm running Pocket Plus and am not having any slowdown issues. Just make sure you are running version 3.0.4 as that is the latest version which fixed the prior slowdown-causing bugs. If you're running the latest version, you can probably look elsewhere for the cause of the slowness.

[G M Fude]

Suggested ETA is approximately six working days from the date of order.
An update for the Aussies now I've sorted my PC problems and can browse PPCT again: my ETA for the WM5 upgrade CD, as advised by the Dell Oz website this morning, is now 23rd November.

Perhaps that is 6 working days, if you're semi-retired...
:)

Maybe this CD will have an updated ROM.

[G M Fude]

Okay, latest update on the Dell website is that my order ETA is now 18th November. Thanks Dell, that sounds better! I can install it that weekend.

Any other Aussies here doing the upgrade to their X50?

[cab124]

Well, I did a hard reset of WM5 on my x50v. For the most part, it still feels gereally slower. Launching an application like Pocket Quicken can now take over 10 seconds. Also, I am noticing the following:

1. Often times, my CF card does not show up.
2. Often times, the device will not turn on without a soft reset.
3. Battery life is definitely shorter.
4. Resco audio recorder crashes when I try to use it

[Patrick Y.]

I believe the solution to all your problems can be found here-
http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=104366

As for the audio recorder, you might want to email Resco's customer support regarding the problem.

Hope this helps.

[cab124]

Thanks for the info, Patrick. I will check it out. It would be great to be able to move forward with WM5. But, if I am not able to resolve some of these issues, I will probably end up rolling back. Very dissappointing!

[Patrick Y.]

I really hope that things will work out for you. Many people's x50v with WM 5 is running flawlessly after a few tweaks. Also, third-party today plugins tends to crach the system.

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=104944

[Muntasser]

hi, I'd just like to add that the WM5 upgrade from Dell is bollocks.

That is all/.