Black 9700 TrackPad leaning

[JD914]

Originally Posted by denis_sianto

are there really any left handed and right handed version? how to distinguish them?

Oh boy

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[sharepoint]

Originally Posted by denis_sianto

are there really any left handed and right handed version? how to distinguish them?

.............

[trafsta]

Well the 2nd 9700 we've received is no where near as recessed as the one that I have been using for the past week. I think, however, that the 1st one we received was not recessed at first, it just became like that after a weeks use. So, the problem with that is I suspect after a weeks worth of use this 2nd one will do the same.

The 1st 9700 was made in "Mexico 4", the 2nd 9700 is from "Mexico 4" as well.

A friend has taken his apart and discovered what is going on, I've asked him to post details and possibly pics on here so hopefully he does shortly

[BaRTiMuS]

Originally Posted by trafsta

Well the 2nd 9700 we've received is no where near as recessed as the one that I have been using for the past week. I think, however, that the 1st one we received was not recessed at first, it just became like that after a weeks use. So, the problem with that is I suspect after a weeks worth of use this 2nd one will do the same.

The 1st 9700 was made in "Mexico 4", the 2nd 9700 is from "Mexico 4" as well.

A friend has taken his apart and discovered what is going on, I've asked him to post details and possibly pics on here so hopefully he does shortly

So here's whats happening. The ribbon connecting the pad to the mainboard comes out of the top left hand side of the pad, that is what is causing most to "droop" to the top left. The pad isn't supported by anything except a strange plastic "shelf" like insert. This "shelf" isn't even perfectly flat, its like a pedestal. Imagine balancing a book on a coke can lets say. So while it sits flat, it does have some ability to lean off the sides of this pedestal.

After taking a good look at this pedestal, i realized what's going on. These phones were designed to use trackballs. There is a square hole in the main board as well as all the standard mounts I am used to seeing on an 8310/8800 housing. Once they decided to put in the track pad, they just filled the hole with this loose, plastic insert that the track pad now sits on top of. There are no mounts or clasps holding this track pad in place.

The trackballs on the 9000 were affixed to the board, thats what held them in place. The trackballs on the 8310/8800 were affixed to the keyboard, that's what kept them in place. On the 9700 the track pad isn't attached to anything except the ribbon.

[trafsta]

And there we have it Thanks BaRTiMuS!

[beamolite]

Originally Posted by EN4CER69

Dear All,

I received my BB 9700 today, been using it for 2 hours and just noticed that the TrackPad is leaning a lot more down on the left had side.

is this the same for everyone else?

Lean your body to the right. There you go, problem fixed.

[BaRTiMuS]

The first image shows the ribbon on the top left. The second shows the plastic "insert/pedestal" underneath. The whole plastic insert has a few mm of give on either side, so I can slide it around, it doesn't appear to be attached in any way, just dropped in.

[EN4CER69]

Originally Posted by BaRTiMuS

The first image shows the ribbon on the top left. The second shows the plastic "insert/pedestal" underneath. The whole plastic insert has a few mm of give on either side, so I can slide it around, it doesn't appear to be attached in any way, just dropped in.

Thank you Bartimus for the detailed explanation. When I started this tread, I never believed it would develop into this 9 pager!

I am on my second 9700 now, and the left hand top corner lean is (although) present is very minor in comparison to my first. I can and will live with it, unless it develops further. Think I still have 20 days to have another return.

My only worry is getting a 3rd one, with more problems than this or my 1st

[Maverick.Xtreme]

So, everything is VERY CLEAR then. Its NOT a manufacturing defect or RIM's lack of QC that's causing the leaning of the trackpad but the ribbon that connects the trackpad to the phone... I think we can call this "Leaning Trackpad" issue as Case Closed.

Thanks, BaRTiMuS! You even went as far as opening your beloved 9700 to show the real deal for us. I really appreciate it...

[trafsta]

Originally Posted by Maverick.Xtreme

So, everything is VERY CLEAR then. Its NOT a manufacturing defect or RIM's lack of QC that's causing the leaning of the trackpad but the ribbon that connects the trackpad to the phone... I think we can call this "Leaning Trackpad" issue as Case Closed.

Thanks, BaRTiMuS! You even went as far as opening your beloved 9700 to show the real deal for us. I really appreciate it...

While I agree that the leaning may be what RIM calls a 'feature' What I do not like is the fact that after a week of use my 1st 9700's trackpad became recessed - that is, no longer flush with the keyboard, but instead almost pushed in a few millimeters... The 2nd 9700 that we ordered for one of our users had its trackpad flush to the keyboard and I will be monitoring it to see if it becomes recessed after a few weeks of use as well. Both were made in 'MEXICO 4'. To me the leaning is not too big of an issue (both of them lean the same amount), I just don't know how the heck the trackpad from 1st 9700 we received became so pushed-in after a weeks use. Anyone else have this recessed/pushed-in/no-longer-flush problem?

Oh and I don't think BaRTiMuS has ever owned a BlackBerry that he didn't open up to tinker with and mod lol

[xbbabuser82x]

the track pad comes like that out the box. i got a bold 9700 as well and thought the same thing but checked with other users as well as finding out that from the box all the track pads lean to the left. you might get one or two that are perfect but will lean to the left as soon as you keep using it..

[trafsta]

Originally Posted by xbbabuser82x

the track pad comes like that out the box. i got a bold 9700 as well and thought the same thing but checked with other users as well as finding out that from the box all the track pads lean to the left. you might get one or two that are perfect but will lean to the left as soon as you keep using it..

Yes I agree that they all lean right out of the box (I've verified this with one as well). However, have you seen any sink in after about a week of use so that it is no longer flush with the menu and back buttons on any side of the trackpad? Cause that's what happened to one of ours. One is very visibly deeper (more recessed) than the other now. Hopefully this was just a one-of, and not something that happens to them all after a while...

[crazyson]

i am with bell and my trackpad has no such problem...but my friend who got his phone from rogers has that problem...

[trafsta]

Well here's something interesting! We received our first Telus 9700, and it has ZERO trackpad issues (it is TOTALLY flush with the keyboard, no leaning whatsoever). And guess why? It's made in "Canada 1", not "Mexico 4" like our 2 Rogers 9700's that have such huge trackpad issues (and I might add the silver bezel to the right side of the screen is not flush with the screen on the Rogers 9700, yet on the Canada-made Telus 9700 it is).

So, bottom line, if you are with Rogers you likely received an 9700 that was made in Mexico and it therefore has many build quality issues. If you are with Telus (and I'm guessing Bell is the same, someone please take a look under your battery to confirm this) then you are likely fine as they are assembled in Canada...

Interesting eh? RIM, if you can't make these things properly in Mexico, then DON'T try to, just make them in Canada... shesh...

[inkwell]

Because of this thread, I think I will keep my phone and not bother returning it. It appears it will happen with any 9700 I order. I have a seaky suspecion T-Mo orders all their phones from "Mexico 4".