T3's Build Quality

[KenSong]

Hi all,

We know the T3 is Made in China and there had been complains about screen quality, digitizer, SD issues etc. What I'd like to know is your thoughts about Palm's decision to have the T3 Made in China. Is the build quality a real issue? Is the price reduction worth it?

Here is my take.
Palm had issues even with the M505 when it was Made in Mexico and Hungary with regards to the screen having a yellow tinge. Then came the Cradle issues, so I personally doubt it has to do with being manufactured in a particular country. My NR70 had pinkish screen and my NZ90 has a definite bluish tinge when compared to my T3 and these were Made in Japan!

To me, Palm's decision to have the top end model Made in China is probably a price consideration and I am glad the T3 is made so affordable. I will never have to think twice to upgrade. The NZ90 was especially painful as it costs a bomb.

As for quality, I think it had the BEST screen and being an all metal case, I see no build quality shortcomings. SD issue? That is software issue as the patch cured the problem so it should not be considered a build quality issue. On the other hand, Sony's issue with the MS on the NR was real and they never really admitted it. I had to put a pice of plastic by opening up the case to cure that!

So whether my next Palm is Made in China or Japan or where else, I won't be bothered so long as Palm maintains QC and bring the price further down ;P

BTW, the reason for this is because a friend of mine swore never to buy a Made in China goods again since he was unhappy with his T3 and is thinking of buying the UX now since that is Made in Japan.

What are your views, lets here them :)

[Vidge]

I can honestly say that I haven't given any thought to where my T3 was manufactured. I've been extremely satisfied with it (the power button notwithstanding). I did not have the SD card issue and have had no digitizer problems. About the only problem I have is software related - and where it was manufactured has nothing to do with that.

If Palm saved money by having them manufactured in China, then it was a good decision, as I believe the T3 to be an affordable PDA - certainly much more so than my NR70V was.

[n2ifp]

I find it hard to puchase anything that doesn't say made in China or Korea. I am not complaining, it's just an observation. As far as build quaility goes, I can't complain there either. In recent times, even Sony has had numerous QC issues with units made in Japan. The point being that the country of origin seems to have no impact on quality.

[bobbd]

I don't know that it matters where the unit is made - it's ultimately Palm (in this case) who's responsible. You see arguments all the time about quality re made in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, USA, or Canada. The key is whether Palm has adequate quality control over the end product. The only reason I care about where something's made is who gets the jobs and whether the people making them are properly treated (we've all heard stories). Since North America can't or won't compete in hi-tech manufacture and assembly, then it doesn't matter who else does it.

Likewise, the parts will be manufactured where ever the best price for performance can be had. So it's quite possible that although the units are "Made in China", various pieces come from all over the world.

This is the global economy.

Bob

[KenSong]

Well put Bob.

I think it's the consumer's lost to brand a country as one that produces sub-standard quality and bar it from their shopping list. If Palm decides to have their units made in China, then they must be confident China can produce the quality Palm expects, or the damage is going to cost Palm more than the consumer. Stringent quality control is still in Palm's best interest regardless of where it's made.

Anyway, like Larry's observation, I won't be surprise if many more IT related products will come out of China. It is becoming uncompetitive to produce such products in developed countries like Japan, USA etc.

I am going to continue buying Palms regardless of where they come from and if quality drops, I don't blame the country that make it, but Palm themselves. If the price drops because Palm decides to have them made in China, I have no complains whatsoever :)

[krispy]

I agree!! I have gone through several evolutions of Palm, from the plastic, with paint fading out on the Palm III buttons, to the fake metal paint going away on the semi-Palm Handera 330. The all-metal T3 is my best PDA thus far!! Where it is made is not an issue, it's the endurance of the product. (I upgrade on need, not because it's the "latest-and-greatest")

[alex_lorenzo]

China's manufacturing standards for Palm are probably the highest you can get, no complain here!

It is the design that is a little problematic. Although some parts seem to be sturdier than, eg, Tungsten T, (the case, no plastic parts in button part) their designs are not at the same level. The power button is too stiff, and it doesnt "click" at all (responsiveness is usefull since the cover now is not clear! and you never know when it is off).

The D-nav button is worse than that in TT and TT2, not really equally solid, but definitely less ergonomic, especially up/down. The central button is shallower, it was much easier to press in TT. The four app buttons are ok, but I would have preferred horizontally oriented buttons without the fancy machete blade shape. Most applications that allow remapping designate them 1 to 4, and that order is not so clear in the T3. (it took me a few errors to detect).

The slider started to become loose just as soon as my old TT. And it is too easily collapsed. But when I opened the back i saw an extra nylon piece on the right back inner slider, which was not previously in TT.

The cradle connection can be improved. Not only is it too hard to disengage, but i am having some positioning problems (if it is a little bent to one side, some times the hotsync does not begin in the Desktop, just touch it and the little screen appears). Of course, you can twiddle a little with the connectors to get seating and unseating a little softer, but you have to be so careful not to break them.

A lot of people seem to be complaining about the desing of the voice memo button, I used to dislike it being so hard to press, now I'm happier, but perhaps a flatter button could have been equally practical.

In, say, another half a year, I'll know more about the T3 endurance.

[dduran@linux]

T3 is not metal right? its feels like plastic (not that im complaining, its lighter this way)

[n2ifp]

Originally posted by dduran@linux
T3 is not metal right? its feels like plastic (not that im complaining, its lighter this way)
Yes, the T3's case is made of metal.:)

[backhand]

I had the T2 for a week before I traded it in for a T3. They were both made in China. I've noticed the following, and I've confirmed by going back to the store to compare with the demonstrator that these issues were not unique to mine:

1. The T3 feels flimsier than the T2: the slider doesn't snap and hold as strongly on the T3. In fact, while on the cradle, trying to eject the pen collapses the unit easily compared to the T2. Once opened it's easy to rock the lower section side to side, whereas on the T2 it wasn't as loose.

2. The pen isn't as smooth to put in and take out as the T3. On the T3 I have to push the top of the pen well into the body to remove it or make sure it stays. And it makes a little clicking sound that comes from some inner contact with the body that the T2 didn't make.

3. If I look closely at the side edges of the lower part of my T3, the edges of the front and back metal case components meet look roughly machined. By comparison the T2 is a flush straight edge. The store's T3 also was like this, and this does point to shoddy manufacturing. I don't know how to post a picture of this here, but will if someone shows me how, I will.

4. I have to agree with alex_l with regards to the cradle. It's just too easy to break the connection. I've left the unit on it to charge, only to find hours later that it had been listing by a few degrees to the right and never charged. And while a hotsync is happening, I find myself stepping away from the desk just to make sure things go well!

I wish the same standards had been used for both, considering how much they cost.

Steve