Another defective unit

smp_iliad · 10-25-2008, 09:18 PM

My DR1000s arrived today and it apparently has fault in capacitive sensor. I saw somewhere in the thread complaining about the same problem. This problem comes up random. You can see in the picture three sensor lights stay on. I think anyone receiving DR1000s should check the problem as well. Personally, I don't understand why iRex had to use the capacitive sensor...iLiad has more useful buttons than DR.

Morffius · 10-25-2008, 09:22 PM

The capacitive sensors don't make much sense to me either. I suppose the only thing they provide is a unified aesthetic to the device and maybe prevent accidental powering on.

veeraganesh · 10-27-2008, 06:48 PM

I got the same problem, once. As soon as I reset it they are ok.

smp_iliad · 11-06-2008, 01:26 PM

It turns out that the problem was due to high EMI from fluorescent light!
The button problem disappeared when I turned off the light on my desk.

allovertheglobe · 11-06-2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smp_iliad

It turns out that the problem was due to high EMI from fluorescent light!
The button problem disappeared when I turned off the light on my desk.

Woah, didn't realize they were this sensitive, between this and the static from the Deluxe cover (as other users have experienced) Personally I haven't run into any problems myself yet.

I think the biggest advantage is that there will be no wear-and-tear or mechanical failure or dirt intrusion, which I like, as well as the fact that it can be used equally well by lefties and righties (hand-wise :)

joblack · 11-06-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smp_iliad

My DR1000s arrived today and it apparently has fault in capacitive sensor. I saw somewhere in the thread complaining about the same problem. This problem comes up random. You can see in the picture three sensor lights stay on. I think anyone receiving DR1000s should check the problem as well. Personally, I don't understand why iRex had to use the capacitive sensor...iLiad has more useful buttons than DR.

What are capacitive sensors anyway?

allovertheglobe · 11-06-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joblack

What are capacitive sensors anyway?

Here's a page that may explain things. At least the top of the pages keeps it fairly easy. Basically they generate a small electrical field, which will be changed by the presence of your fingertip and this can be interpreted as a "button push" (without the need of a physical switch)

joblack · 11-06-2008, 07:52 PM

Can this function be disabled - I don´t like to be radiated in an unfriendly way. Additionally this costs a lot of battery power.

allovertheglobe · 11-06-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joblack

Can this function be disabled - I don´t like to be radiated in an unfriendly way. Additionally this costs a lot of battery power.

OK, to be clear: we're not talking about nuclear radiation here, or even cellphone radiation, for the paranoid.

If you look at the diagram in the link, you can see it only goes for 1-2mm above the button, and obviously not further sideways either because otherwise it wouldn't know which one of the three "buttons" side-by-side you pressed. It doesn't use a lot of power at all (like the tablet does) and it can't be turned off completely (remember you have to hold down the menu button to turn the reader on...)

You can lock the sensors in the preferences. But then you have to use the pen. And the reason your pen doesn't need a battery is because the Wacom tablet generates its own inductive field.

You can turn that off too if you are worried about "radiation", but than you can't do anything with reader anymore

joblack · 11-07-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allovertheglobe

OK, to be clear: we're not talking about nuclear radiation here, or even cellphone radiation, for the paranoid.

...

You can turn that off too if you are worried about "radiation", but than you can't do anything with reader anymore

We are talking about nuclear radiation -> flying electrons are beta radiation. It's not a strong one but if you don't need it don't have it ... wouldn't you agree? ...

HarryT · 11-07-2008, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joblack

We are talking about nuclear radiation -> flying electrons are beta radiation. It's not a strong one but if you don't need it don't have it ... wouldn't you agree? ...

Beta radiation is indeed "flying electrons", but there's no "flying electrons" here - this is a static electromagnetic field. Do you worry about being "irradiated" by the field around a magnet? This is no different, and is far weaker than the EM field you are sitting in every moment of your life due to the Earth's magnetic field.

allovertheglobe · 11-07-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joblack

We are talking about nuclear radiation -> flying electrons are beta radiation. It's not a strong one but if you don't need it don't have it ... wouldn't you agree? ...

I was joking about "nuclear radiation", meaning as in Chernobyl or 3-Mile Island (not that THOSE were a joke) There is radiation everywhere anyway, whether it's harmful to humans is often a matter of degree...

In this case your DR1000 emits only very weak ones, no more than any other electronic device without a true transmitter, and furthermore they don't go far (not much beyond either the tip of your finger or the tip of your stylus respectively)

Maybe the wireless & bluetooth version would be more of a concern, but right now it seems more of a concern when will it ever be released to most people

Anyhoo, we're getting

so I'll leave it at this.

kreg · 11-11-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joblack

We are talking about nuclear radiation -> flying electrons are beta radiation. It's not a strong one but if you don't need it don't have it ... wouldn't you agree? ...

No. Absolutely not. In fact, these sensor are not even emitting electrons. They simply create an electric field. You are exposed to stronger fields every time you walk around wearing slacks, every time you sit in a car, ever time you sit in front of a computer, or when you comb your hair. These fields are absolutely, incontrovertibly of no possible harm.

I have, however, had occasional problems with there behavior. I was thinking it was when the battery was low? When I tried to power the unit up while sitting on a plastic stand through which I had drilled a whole for the usb cord, they totally flaked out--big surprise, the plastic carries a static charge from routine handling.

Bunter · 11-21-2008, 07:15 AM

Put your tin hats on...

I think iRex used these type of buttons just because they could. In old iLiad there is also a lot of strange hardware (audio, two different memory card slots, USB connection that never worked, standard ethernet through dock), probably somebody with strong engineering background and no marketing vision for the device decided to stuff all that into iLiad following more is better... Now probably someone who knew about capacitive sensor thought they are such a neat piece of electronics and stuffed those into DR without thinking more than 3 seconds about usability. Sorry, but iRex guys in my opinion have strong management/product development issues... I personally use my old worn iLiad and wait for next year to see if iRex manages to deliver any of the promises it has made for the DR.

10-25-2008, 09:18 PM	#1
smp_iliad Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 816 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: KindleDX, iPhone3Gs	Another defective unit My DR1000s arrived today and it apparently has fault in capacitive sensor. I saw somewhere in the thread complaining about the same problem. This problem comes up random. You can see in the picture three sensor lights stay on. I think anyone receiving DR1000s should check the problem as well. Personally, I don't understand why iRex had to use the capacitive sensor...iLiad has more useful buttons than DR. Attached Thumbnails

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10-25-2008, 09:22 PM	#2
Morffius Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 20 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: IPhone / Paper	The capacitive sensors don't make much sense to me either. I suppose the only thing they provide is a unified aesthetic to the device and maybe prevent accidental powering on.

10-27-2008, 06:48 PM	#3
veeraganesh Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: UK Device: iRex DR1000s	I got the same problem, once. As soon as I reset it they are ok.

11-06-2008, 01:26 PM	#4
smp_iliad Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 816 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: KindleDX, iPhone3Gs	It turns out that the problem was due to high EMI from fluorescent light! The button problem disappeared when I turned off the light on my desk.

11-06-2008, 07:52 PM	#8
joblack Wizard Posts: 1,745 Karma: 4382514 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somewhere on earth Device: Onyx Boox Tab X	Can this function be disabled - I don´t like to be radiated in an unfriendly way. Additionally this costs a lot of battery power.

11-21-2008, 07:15 AM	#14
Bunter Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Device: iRex iLiad	Put your tin hats on... I think iRex used these type of buttons just because they could. In old iLiad there is also a lot of strange hardware (audio, two different memory card slots, USB connection that never worked, standard ethernet through dock), probably somebody with strong engineering background and no marketing vision for the device decided to stuff all that into iLiad following more is better... Now probably someone who knew about capacitive sensor thought they are such a neat piece of electronics and stuffed those into DR without thinking more than 3 seconds about usability. Sorry, but iRex guys in my opinion have strong management/product development issues... I personally use my old worn iLiad and wait for next year to see if iRex manages to deliver any of the promises it has made for the DR.