[NTLK] Jaggies and voltages (was: Jaggies send me to 130 land)

From: Doug Parker (dougparker_at_progressdata.com)
Date: Wed Nov 27 2002 - 17:41:39 EST


>So I did some experimentation (wow, risk-taking). Turns
>out jaggies (at least mine) had to do with a data corruption
>somewhere. I couldn't tell where, but it was something on
>a memory card: no jaggies when the card wasn't in the
>Newton. In fact it could have been the card itself.
>
>So what I did was reinstall the software on a separate card,
>and move the data by re-filing from card to card (it took a
>while: some apps didn't have a 'select all' button). No
>jaggies since then.

HW folks, does this make sense? A voltage-sensitive screen being affected by
a software reload?

Don't get me wrong--I accept your story, but I'm wondering if coincidence
played a role.

I'm leaning toward voltage changes being the culprit--here's my thinking.

Sometimes my screen wigs out briefly. When it does I repeat the exact steps
to see if I can make it wig out again in the same place. There have been
times I'm barely touching the case while writing--barely putting force on
it--and it still wigs out. But not when I'm not touching the case. (Think
circuit completion.)

1) As I mentioned above, I get jaggies when I'm barely touching the case.
2) When I switch from battery pack to AC adapter, I often have to realign
the stylus. If I'm not mistaken, there's a voltage difference between the
two sources.
3) As the charge on my battery pack weakens, the alignment drifts. Think of
it as a *really* slow jaggie.

I can't figure this one out: My jaggies are only along the short width of
the screen and not along the long width. Wouldn't you expect jaggies in both
directions? If I rotate my screen 90 degrees, my jaggies are still along the
short width. Everyone else, what say ye?

The debris under the edge of the case causing jaggies makes sense for two
reasons. 1) physical force of the debris pushing down on the covered edge of
the screen, and 2) if my assumptions are correct the debris can also
provides a path for current or static charge to pass from

     user to case to debris to screen to circuitry

A list member recently wrote that using Deoxit, a liquid that you dab on
ends of connectors, cured his jaggies. Deoxit cleans up dirty connections.
It provides better circuit completion. Better grounds. Unrelated as it may
first seem, bad grounds on a car will light up the reverse lights when you
step on the brakes.

I wish I had some sensitive testing equipment at my disposal. I'm sure I
could setup a conclusive test to see if voltage irregularities are the cause
of jaggies.

Doug Parker

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