Re: [NTLK] question about a bad display on eMate

From: Frank Gruendel (fg2_at_pda-soft.de)
Date: Tue Nov 04 2003 - 08:38:59 PST


> I just picked up my first eMate - actually two - that
> I got pretty cheap off eBay. One works great, the
> other has a blank band of pixels, about 20 wide,
> that runs from top to bottom about 60 pixels from the
> left side. I've opened it up and checked for display
> cable damage (both hinges are perfect). I am wondering
> if anyone knows the cause, and even better, if there is
> a cure.

If both ends of the ribbon cable look clean and ok, and if
both connectors look ok, too, there's either a problem with
the display unit or the driving circuitry on the main logic
board.

> I recall reading somewhere (can't find it now) that cleaning
> the edges of the screen (around its contacts) can help things
> out. Any chance something like that might help this screen?

No. This fixes a problem with the digitizer. Newton users call
it "The Jaggies", it means that the Newton recognizes pen taps
and movements you never made. This problem is nearly unknown
with eMates. Cleaning the display edges, although it can never hurt,
will in all likelyness not help you getting the missing pixels back.
If I were you, I'd temporarily switch the display units. If that
doesn't change anything, there's either a problem with the cable
or with the main logic board.

> One last question: I want to do programming on the eMate, and
> does anyone know of a good application for this? The only
> really important part are line numbers, and auto-indenting would
> be nice.

The Newton ToolKit (can be found at wwww.unna.org or in the
books section of the site in the signature) is pretty good for
a start. It can auto-indent, not sure about line numbers. Even
better, it's free.

Frank

-- Newton Software and Hardware at http://www.pda-soft.de

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