Twisted frame & cracking distortion

[wiza]

My 770's frame seems to be a little twisted making it rock annoyingly when I tap it with the stylus on a table. Also the speaker’s sound has a cracking distortion in it. The 3,5 output is ok. Other then those two things, the machine is great.

Anyone else having these problems?

[gareth]

Yes, mine rocks when placed on a flat surface, it was the first thing I noticed. At the time I quickly looked at the bottom and assumed it was because there were three "feet" on it (only one in the middle at the bottom), but trying it just now I see it only rocks in one direction (top right / bottom left) so it must be something oddly sized inside causing the casing to be deformed when it was screwed down.

I guess a solution would be to put small pieces of tape over the feet to pad them out, but it might foul against the slide if a few pieces are needed. I have only used on a flat surface a couple of times so it probably won't be much of a problem, just a niggle really.

Gareth

[gristle]

I just noticed a crack in the connector part on the bottom. It runs from the mini usb to the audio jack. I thought it was a weld line at first. I dont think it will be a problem but if anyone else has this then post a message.

[dsmudger]

I just noticed a crack in the connector part on the bottom. It runs from the mini usb to the audio jack. I thought it was a weld line at first. I dont think it will be a problem but if anyone else has this then post a message.For what it's worth - mine definitely doesn't have any crack weld line or marks there... One off I guess... :confused:

[gristle]

Oh well i dont think it is worth worrying about but i better be careful when the usb is plugged in. Dont want it to spread. Funny thing is most of the plastic parts are glass filled for strength so i have no idea how this happened.

[BenTheDog]

I just noticed a crack in the connector part on the bottom. It runs from the mini usb to the audio jack. I thought it was a weld line at first. I dont think it will be a problem but if anyone else has this then post a message.

I got that exact same crack - from mini usb to audio jack. Happened after about a week. No sure what caused it. Like U say its fairly insignificant, annoying though.

[gristle]

Yeah it is annoying. I had not used either jack around the time the crack appeared. Its been there for 7 weeks now and has not changed at least.

My unit has the diagonal distortional as well, rocking bottom left to top right.

[daveb70]

Thank you for pointing out this occurrence and possibility. I for one do not have any cracks that I can see. ~knock on wood~

gristle's comment on the glass-filled parts immediately brought me back to circa 1987-88 when I bought my Kyosho Optima 1/10 scale R/C car. It was the/one of the first to use glass-filled nylon in it's suspension arms. I had completely forgotten this material and even the possibility that it could be used in the housing for the 770. The smooth but seemingly textured material is likely the same which was used for the high-strength/stress R/C car parts.

I don't recall ever breaking any parts on that car made of that material despite it being a 4wd and offroad vehicle.

Nonetheless, I will be extra cautious when plugging in items to my 770. I don't see much likelihood in having anything plugged in simultaneously for my needs at this time, so that will decrease the possibility of generating stress.

I wonder if your devices were subject to mishandling before delivery, even if not cracked upon arrival, but stressed to nearly the point of cracking. Or even exposed for a longer period to cold temps which made the casing more brittle. Maybe next time they'll use something like carbon fiber?

Thanks again, and I'm sorry it had to happen to any of us.

[alexgonzalez]

I have the same crack, has anyone sent the machine in for service.

[Invicta]

I have the same crack. I would send it to Nokia, but with my luck they would only replace it with one that has faulty pixels or something.

Edit: My unit is made in Germany

[gristle]

Well sounds like this is a repeatable flaw in that part... using the toothometer Im 90% positive that the connector part is not glass filled. Maybe some stress from moulding and a slight flex of the unit at some stage made it crack?

I contacted Nokia in December about it but got a reply telling me to take into a local store for fixing, and get a temp replacement from them.. This was when there was a huge shortage in the Uk so I didnt bother.

I have had the crack for about 2 mths now and it hasnt spread mainly because the crack has no where to go. This is how they fix cracks in aircraft panels - drill a hole at each end of the crack and it cannot propogate.

The warping in mine has got worse - i wonder if the strain from the warping made the crack appear?

[Miho]

I have also this crack and also small part is missing on the other end. I can't say what was cause though.

[lon]

I didn't notice until I read this thread, but my 770 (one month old) has the same crack. Definitely some design/manufacturing weakness.

[=DC=]

Same rocking action here, no crack though. No biggie for me as I usually am holding the 770 at ~45 degrees when I'm using it. Only other flaw is a single pixel flaw that remains green in the bottom right corner of the screen. Most of the time I don't notice it though. It will be interesting to see what future technology is introduced to solve these and other common problems with the next generation of mobile devices.

[gristle]

It will be interesting to see what future technology is introduced to solve these and other common problems with the next generation of mobile devices.

Drop testing and other physical test are good for the case defects.
They must have done this though... :rolleyes:

[gristle]

I have a German assembled unit, in the UK. Anyone with the Estonian unit have any of the case problems?

[arivero]

Also got the crack. I think it surfaced after I left the nokia in the cold inside the car.

[Mike Cane]

@ desktop:

I guess I should be grateful I at least have flawless hardware.

No rocking; frame is fine; no crack.

-- edited to add:

From Estonia.

[Hedgecore]

Estonian... zero issues with the case. I keep it in my pocket and use it in frigid Canadian weather - - no issues.

[thedarksavant]

Mine also rocks and has the crack, plus a crack from the miniUsb to the power port.

I also have one bad pixel that turns red instead of black. Only noticible when playing movies with black backgrounds.

[smith]

Another one, like this: http://penguinbait.com/DSCF91651.JPG :mad:

edit: german assembled too.

[Supergeek]

How can you tell where your 770 was assembled?

[JMills]

How can you tell where your 770 was assembled?

For units built for the United States market, it is listed on the FCC Declaration Plate, under the battery.

Mine's from Estonia, and -HAS- the crack. I'll post pix of the crack and FCC Dec' Plate shortly.

[JMills]

Mine's from Estonia, and -HAS- the crack. I'll post pix of the crack and FCC Dec' Plate shortly.


http://virtual.twocansandsomestring.net/N770/Local-Pictures/FCC-Declaration-Plate.jpg

http://virtual.twocansandsomestring.net/N770/Local-Pictures/The-Crack.jpg

http://virtual.twocansandsomestring.net/N770/Local-Pictures/The-Crack-Hilighted.jpg

[gristle]

Yeah, looks like an almost identical crack to what I have. Luck the usb jack takes most of the load when a plug is inserted other wise piece would be falling off. Anyone going to bother getting this fixed under warranty? Looks like enough proof here that it is not a once off.

[Fifer]

Add one more. I noticed mine had the USB - headphone crack last night. I'll edit tonight when I check where mine was assembled.

[Mike Cane]

@ desktop:

You people with the crack: do you plug in the USB or headphones a lot? I've only plugged into USB maybe 6x, headphones maybe 3x. Maybe it's just a matter of time for me and everyone else?

[gristle]

Nope.. only usb maybe 20 times, and not once since the last update.
It happened in between being plugged in. Thats why im wondering if it has something to do with the case distortion.

[slinden]

:mad: Upon reading this crack stuff I checked mine.... I have the crack too. I plugged in the Usb cable only once. This is no coincidence, but a flaw in the production process. How about a mass complaint?

[Fifer]

@ desktop:

You people with the crack: do you plug in the USB or headphones a lot? I've only plugged into USB maybe 6x, headphones maybe 3x. Maybe it's just a matter of time for me and everyone else?
I've plugged in the USB cable maybe 5x max. I've never plugged anything into the headphone socket. My 770 has never been out of the house, has never been dropped and has been treated like a baby.

[penguinbait]

I contacted Nokia support and they told me to send it in for repair, which I would have to pay for case replacment. I then started the "Manufaturer Defect" thread on nokia770.com. Where I posted a link to my picture of this problem, a nice big one I might add

http://penguinbait.com/DSCF91651.JPG

I heard from a few people before I looked over here. I sent a email to nokia yesterday demanding my case be replaced and telling them they have to recognize this as a problem and fix it in their manufacturing process. For those who said it happened in cold weather or after they had it for a week. I say, thats just when you noticed it. Although my picture makes it very hard to miss, if you look at yours this is very small and hard to see. Very Very easy to miss upon inspection.

I will post when I hear from Nokia this time and let you know what they say.

Has anyone had any luck getting this replaced from Nokia. I realize it may never cause a problem, it may never break and lose a peice of the case. But I don't want to find out a week after my 1 year warrany runs out.

A minor flaw on an otherwise awesome peice of hardware, I still love this thing!!!!

[gristle]

Yeah it could have been there right out of the box for all know. I actually thought it was a weld line from moulding at first - it was so faint.

[Biomech]

I've been following this thread since the very beginning and I did NOT have a crack. As I was reading the latest post, I checked my 770 and sure enough I have a huge crack and it seems to be worse than the ones you guys are describing. With the 770's screen facing up, my crack starts at the bottom, about 1/8 inch to the left of the microphone hole and extends up and over the power supply jack, just touching the little battery symbol.

I have pampered my 700 since day one - no drops, in a case, etc. I think this problem may eventually show up on everyone's 700. My 770 does not have a warped case problem that some of you describe. I think this is a problem with the plastic plate that surrounds the jacks - the whole piece looks like it's tacked on.

Nokia better step up and fix this issue.

[Fifer]

I forgot to check last night but just did; my unit was made in Germany.

[jurop88]

Mine has got it too. I saw its birth from the corner of the usb port, its day-to day growing and its death onto the earphone slot after a few days.
Probably it's due to a too sharp curve of the usb port that stress the material too much. Mine never fallen, ever threated with care, never brought with me away, always used at home, never hurted anything.
It really seems a design flaw never noticed by Nokia, probably only a 'rounding' of the hole for the usb port will be enough to prevent it to start.
(qutoe)A little flaw in a great device(/quote)

[gristle]

So yours runs from a corner? The crack on my unit (from memory) starts perpindicular to a straight edge.

[Biomech]

In my case, the crack starts to the left of all of the ports. Since there is nothing to stop the growth of the crack, I'm sure mine will grow all the way to the top. I'll try to take a picture and post it this weekend.

[Fifer]

So yours runs from a corner? The crack on my unit (from memory) starts perpindicular to a straight edge.
If you mean the 'straight' edge at the lhs of the USB port, ISTR it isn't really straight, but follows the shape of the port and the crack begins at the point where the edge kinks from the thick top of the USB connector to the thin bottom part. I suspect something in the mould causes a weak point at the kink where the crack originates.

[penguinbait]

Dear Matt,

Thank you for e-mailing the Nokia Care Contact Center.

We apologize for the delay in responding to your e-mail message and appreciate your patience.

We understand your inquiry in regards to having a crack at the bottom of your Nokia 770 Internet Tablet.

We have not made any announcements regarding an issue with the cover on the Nokia 770 Internet tablet. All Nokia phones are covered by a limited warranty. If you feel the crack at the bottom of your device is a manufacturing issue, you may send it in to be evaluated.

Please visit our web site to obtain information on repair services. The address for our web site is www.nokiausa.com; once there, select "Support" and then "Repair". On the web site, you will be given detailed instructions for your personalized repair options. Please have your serial number available when you go to the web site, and remember to always keep a back-up copy of important data stored in your phone.

If you have any additional questions, please contact us. To ensure proper handling, please continue to use the current subject line.

Thank you for choosing Nokia for your mobile needs.

Jamie
E-mail Specialist
Nokia Inc.


Hmmm, anybody sent theirs in yet? I cant spend weeks without this thing. But I will probably send it in and see what happens, I will keep you posted!!

[gristle]

wait for a recall... :)

[llywrch]

Last night I noticed this infamous crack in mine. What makes it worse is that there's a second crack growing from the USB port to the port for the power supply. And I've had mine for just under 6 weeks.

I carry the unit around with me, maybe dropped it once, but I consider what I've done with it well within expected norms, about how I handle my cell phone. I treated my PP III that I bought back in 1998 more roughly & it showed no damage for 5-6 years before I finally replaced it with a IIIxe because the backlight was failing; the new Palm Pilot IIIxe receives about the same level of treatment (it lives in the inner pocket of my jacket), & it shows no sign of damage.

Someone at Nokia QA dropped the ball here. I would think that these units would be as solid as a cell phone; this defect betrays the out-of-box impression of solid, reliable construction I had when I first saw mine.

Geoff

[TVD]

OK... After using this GREAT device for 10 days now and checking it every day I just found exactly the same crack (http://penguinbait.com/DSCF91651.JPG) :( :( :(

Penguinbait did you send you're n770 to Nokia already?

[enagel]

My unit was made in Estonia and I did not notice a crack until after the first time I plugged the USB cable into the 770. I now have one running from the middle of the USB port to the middle of the headphone jack.

[Clay]

Mine is from Estonia, and showed no signs of any cracks for the first week. Now, at the end of two weeks, there is a crack from headphone to usb and a smaller one from usb to power supply. And for the record, I have NEVER plugged in either a headphone or a usb cable, so it really is an issue with the design of the case, the plastic used, the assembly, and the resulting stresses. You didn't do it -- they did.... Kind of sad for a company whose name is on phones I have dropped for years with no damage whatsoever.

I hope they get honest about it -- soon.

[fpp]

get honest... like Psion did, maybe ? :-)

The first Series5 - costing about thrice as much as a 770, ten years ago - had a paint coating that started to peel after a few weeks - but you could finish the job with your nails during meetings and afterwards it looked better than new ; a crack that appeared on most units on the hinge between body and screen - but that never caused real problems if you were careful, like probably the one on the 770 ; and a design problem in the ribbon cable between motherboard and LCD screen that caused 99% of units to end up unusable for lack of display, although all components were functioning perfectly except for a broken milimeter-wide stretch of copper.

Two years later, Psion came out with the twice-the-power, twice-the-memory-for-the-same-price Series 5mx. And guess what ? The paint problem was gone. But the hinge crack was still there, and although the screen ribbon cable was a new design, it still broke in the exact same way after 2-3 years of opening and closing the clamshell. And it still cost anywhere between 90 and 170 euro to fix.

They just sold the hotcakes, took the money and ran. And decided they weren't in the PDA business anymore after all.

We'll see if the finns are any better than the brits :-)

[aflegg]

At the mention of Psion, can I just sit here and dream of a 770 in a 5mx case?

<sigh />

[fpp]

..and know you're not alone <G>.

In the Gallery somewhere I have a "3-generations" picture with a 5mx, a Zaurus and the 770. The Psion is so much more bulky that the insides of the Nokia would fit in easily, with the screen actually looking a bit narrow...

When I was using the Psions I did dream, like everyone, of something with the 770's capabilities (color screen, connectivity etc.). But now, honestly, I would find it difficult to return to such a large form factor, even if it means sacrificing the fantastic keyboard. The Zaurus experience showed me that a less capable keyboard with a smaller machine made for an acceptable compromise too.

I hope the latest rumors on Nokia, the 770 sucessors and keyboards come true ! :-)

[TVD]

Today the crack has grown from the USB port to the DC port :( I did nothing special today with my 770 only pluged in a stereo plug twice... I'm going to call/mail Nokia tomorrow!

PS. The quality of the sound output is very good, almost no noise at all!

[fpp]

At the mention of Psion, can I just sit here and dream of a 770 in a 5mx case?
<sigh />
I forgot to add : only under the condition that Psion doesn't make the cables !
Today I tried my last working 5mx (that was fine last week) and the digitizer (touch screen) seems to have given up the ghost...
<sigh />

[Brian Gasperosky]

I have an Estonian unit with the same crack.

[Brian Gasperosky]

Ah, my Psion 5. How I miss it. I may have still worked today if it hadn't been for a stupid James Bond buff at airport security in September of 2001 in Chicago. He insisted it was a bomb detonator! I'll get you for this, James Bond! I couldn't help but to notice the comforting resemblance my new 770 bears to my greatly missed Psion. I also sense a Bluetooth keyboard in my near future.

[mrp]

Today the crack has grown from the USB port to the DC port :( I did nothing special today with my 770 only pluged in a stereo plug twice... I'm going to call/mail Nokia tomorrow!

PS. The quality of the sound output is very good, almost no noise at all!


did you contact Nokia? What was the answer?

[partridge]

Ah, my Psion 5. How I miss it. I may have still worked today if it hadn't been for a stupid James Bond buff at airport security in September of 2001 in Chicago. He insisted it was a bomb detonator! I'll get you for this, James Bond! I couldn't help but to notice the comforting resemblance my new 770 bears to my greatly missed Psion. I also sense a Bluetooth keyboard in my near future.


WHAT? Oh you can't except to be let off without more of a story on that one. Do tell.

[TVD]

After I had to explain to the lady of Nokia what the N770 exactly was she called me back and told me I could return the device to a local service point, they would swap it for another n770. But when I called the service point (again I had to explain what the n770 was) I was told they would return my n770 and it would be repaired in 1 or 2 weeks...

I did not return it until now because I have difficulties living without the 770 :D (and I did not have time...) Next week I will do it.

Another answer I've got from the Nokia lady is that it's not possible to become a member from CLub Nokia with the n770 :mad:

did you contact Nokia? What was the answer?

[TVD]

Today I got my N770 back after waiting for two weeks :( they just replaced mine for a new one. The frame is still a little twisted but it is less then with the previous N770. So I hope the cracks will stay away! Offcourse I did not have to pay anything.

[TVD]

*&^@&^%@&$ Only 2 hours later after reading the paper on my NEW N770 I saw a new crack between the 'back' and 'menu' button :mad: :mad: :mad: First it looked like a scratch, when I looked better at it I saw it was a huge crack :(

I send a mail to Nokia again...