webOS Hardware

[#1]

I have had the Palm Pre since it first came out and have mostly enjoyed it.  Sure there are the software shortcomings that I'm sure will be remedied in upcoming OS updates.  There are some bugs here and there (needs to be a way to recalibrate the screen), but one thing that started today and I am sure I won't be alone on this one, is the inability to turn the phone off and on with the power button.  It seems the little plastic nub that is the power button was not made large enough to, after a little wear press the electronic switch beneath it.  I have to press the plastic nub extremely hard several times to turn the unit on (which I usually slide it to do anyway) or off (the only way to do that).

I called Sprint regarding this and they said I should go and have a tech look at it. (read pain in the ass) or could have a refurb sent out (read even more worn out power button)  I suspect I will not be alone in this problem and hope that as more Pres are built a new power button will be used.  When that happens I will be looking for mine in the mail. 

Post relates to: Pre p100eww (Sprint)

[#2]

This is odd, I have heard of the power button failing but not in this way. It could be that the piece that drops down is broken or is not pressing down in the correct way. I would suggest that this device be repaired/replaced either through us or Sprint. You can contact us at 877-426-3777

[#3]

I posted about this yesterday:

http://forums.palm.com/palm/board/message?board.id=weboshardware&thread.id=5289 

[#4]

I too am having this problem, and it started out of the blue. I've never dropped or otherwise mistreated my phone, but I am not interested in paying the insurance deductible on something that seems like a hardware fault to me. Is there a way to fix this problem that won't cost me a lot of money, or take me away from one of my very few methods of communication? I don't have another phone, just my pre.

[#5]

Just an FYI, while I am still ticked about this issue and know it is an engineering oversight, I have self remedied the situation.  Not exactly Palm approved, but it works and has been since my post.  I removed the power button, folded a tiny piece of paper up to fit under it and replaced the power button.  Works fine and best part, its free and no dealing with Sprint

[#6]

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mjtyrpak wrote:
I removed the power button, folded a tiny piece of paper up to fit under it and replaced the power button.

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BUMP - I also have this problem, and am currently using the "folded paper method" to hold me over until I can afford to waste a bunch of time waiting for a technician at the Sprint store. The button feel isn't quite right, but it seems to be working.

Thanks for the tip! 

[#7]

This very failure mode occurred on my phone last night.  Completely random, as the others described.  

Could someone please describe the "paper fix" in a bit more detail?  How did you remove the power button?

I adore this phone and dread the thought of having to send it in for repair and go back to another phone, even if only temporarily.  Disappointing.

Message Edited by sunspotwendy on 01-14-2010 07:55 AM

[#8]

I'm not sure if this is the "correct" way, but this is what I did. 

Remove the battery back, and look at the now exposed surface of the power button. There are some resessed areas where you can use a small object (like a pin) to pry the button out. It just snaps in and out of place. 

With the button removed, you will be able to see where the small piece of folded paper should go. 

Hope this helps.

[#9]

I've had this phone for 2 months and this same exact problem just occurred out of the blue this week.  Now my phone barely turns on using the power button, and it's easier to just let the phone turn off by itself rather than use the power button.

I am completely disappointed that the fix to this problem is shoving a piece of paper into the phone.  Knowing my luck, Palm will likely not acknowledge this problem and will not replace the phone even though it's merely 2 months old.  I mean, what's going to break in another 4-6 months, and how much more paper and tape am i going to need to keep the phone functional???  This sux

[#10]

Well I just joined the group on this one. I hit the power button to send a text, sent the text and then hit the power button to turn the phone off and....POOF....it wont work. I gotta press so hard to get it to work I feel like its gonna break. I got my Pre about 2 or 3 days after it was available in the Sprint store.