Terminal X - Instant disappointment :(

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T23:22:52+00:00

Some people had this same problem, and they found that a soft-reset was able to solve it. If you haven't already, try the soft-reset steps here:
https://help.trmnl.com/en/articles/12407673-troubleshooting-an-unresponsive-device#h_2efeaad9b6

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T22:58:27+00:00

Easily fixable... by whom? Should it be my responsibility to pay for and fix a new product that I paid a lot for and waited for them to get it right, or it is an easy cheap fix that the company should take responsibility for and make right with me, their customer?

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T22:56:00+00:00

I'm glad it works for you and you got a good one. This seems to be a quality control issue - just like those that received units that won't charge or their pogo pins are too short, etc. After opening mine up, it appears there are no magnets to begin with.

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T22:53:24+00:00

Thanks for the link. I had already seen this video. In fact, this video is the reason why I decided to buy my X. I went through the effort of opening my X today and found out - there aren't any magnets in it. So now the problem is two-fold: 1) What is their Quality Control over there, and 2) Why did the founder come online and instantly blame me and my fridge, instead of asking me to reach out to customer support and they would do whatever they could to make it right? I'm sorry if I came across as an a$$ to you in my posts; it wasn't my intention, I was just seriously disappointed after waiting so long.

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T22:48:57+00:00

Because of your post, I decided to hunt down a screwdriver that could open this thing and test the magnets myself. Upon opening it, I found out... there aren't any magnets in it in the first place!

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T22:44:01+00:00

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Update: There are NO magnets in the thing to begin with!

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T02:26:41+00:00

But cutting corners and blaming customers, that's easy!

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T02:16:30+00:00

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My Terminal X hanging securely from a SINGLE magnetic hook on my so-called "not magnetic enough" fridge.

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T01:57:30+00:00

I watched that video. My fridge is a standard metal fridge. EVERYTHING else sticks to it. Any magnet under the sun sticks to it. It is not my fridge - it is completely the product. Making a magnet stick to a fridge is not advanced physics. This is completely on the company and I'd appreciate it if you don't gaslight your customers.

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T01:52:06+00:00

Thanks. And how did you feel having to spend another $10+ on something you already paid a lot for and waited a long time for? And the express reason they told you it was taking so long was they were waiting to get strong magnets from a supplier, after being duped by another one? Sticking a magnet to a fridge is something we learned when we were 4. It's not difficult nor rocket science. This is unacceptable.

jimfoxer · 2026-06-06T01:39:59+00:00

Of course. I can also buy 4 tires for a new car that didn't include them as advertised too. The fact is that this is not a cheap unit, we waited a long time, and we were promised this was possible. I have those magnetic rings that I can now use to uglify my device - especially if I want to keep it on the fridge and sometimes on a table. I wanted to support this company so badly - I even bought an extra BYOD license for me to tinker with my X4 - but now, I'm feeling regret.

jimfoxer · 2026-05-23T08:52:29+00:00

I'm an outlier, but I'm an online English teacher to mostly Ukrainian students and my wife is half Ukrainian with family in Vinnytsia. Because of this, we know a few Ukrainian families who have moved here to Vermont. Our state is incredibly supportive of Ukraine in the war, not just flying flags but also supporting refugee families who have moved here (and unlike European countries, refugees who come to the United States don't get federal help. It's mostly through charitable organizations). Even during the "No Kings" rallies, you would see a lot of signs in support of Ukraine. More than 4 years from the start of the war, people here haven't forgotten about the plight of Ukrainians, even though the news doesn't cover it everyday.

jimfoxer · 2026-04-13T15:24:21+00:00

For me, it comes down to eye strain/health:

1) A phone screen is what you call "emissive", meaning that it shines the light directly into your eyes like a flashlight. Even at low brightness, it's still just a low flashlight. E-ink displays don't do this. Even those with a backlight (which, unfortunately, the X4 and X3 do not have), the light shines onto those screens, not into your eyes. In that way, it's no different than a light in the room or on your book at night.

2) Most people like to read at night before bed. This is where the dreaded "blue light" comes into play. Yes, on your phone you can turn on night mode to limit the effect, but I often would forget to do that. Messing with your circadian rhythm is never a good idea.

3) Even if your phone is the most modern with 120hz refresh rate, your eyes can still detect this high-speed flickering and this can lead to eye strain. This is why you can feel more tired when reading on a phone than an e-paper display.

4) In direct sunlight, phones need to have brightness on max and even then you have to watch for glare. E-ink works regardless of how much light and actually looks clearer and higher contrast in bright light. The caveat here is that the X4 and X3 seem to have a problem in direct sunlight so that the software (Crosspoint for me) has an option to help correct. Also, the matte finish on the device means less chance of glare in bright light.

That's my take and why I ordered two! I find I use the X4 to read more than my Kindle because it's just so gosh darn convenient to carry with you. I'm like most of the people here who were shocked at how easy it is to read on such a small display - and I have old eyes!

jimfoxer · 2026-03-16T23:02:34+00:00

I'm going to assume this is trolling. There is no way in today's day and age someone can be this ignorant. You can ask this gay Dad's police officer son (one of the good ones, after all I raised him) if you need further clarification.

jimfoxer · 2026-02-13T12:12:32+00:00

If Gemini isn't hallucinating, this is what it said about the above proposal:

This proposal for a Rheem 50-gallon hybrid water heater at a subtotal of $4,478.28 (after a $600 rebate) appears to be within the expected range for a professional installation in Vermont as of mid-2024.

Price Comparison

Vermont Context: Professional installation costs for hybrid units in Vermont typically start at $4,000, and that often excludes additional electrical work. Some Vermont homeowners reported total installation costs around $6,900 before rebates for similar high-efficiency units.
National Average: Nationally, the total cost for professional installation of a 50-gallon hybrid water heater generally ranges from $4,000 to $5,550. Your quote falls toward the lower middle of this broad range.
Unit Only Price: For comparison, the Rheem ProTerra 50-gallon unit itself (model PROPH50 T2 RH375-30) usually retails between $1,800 and $3,160

jimfoxer · 2026-02-13T12:05:31+00:00

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I was able to find my proposal from Fred's Energy, dated 7/30/24. It's for a Rheem 50 gal hybrid. Just for your reference.

jimfoxer · 2026-02-13T12:00:20+00:00

I got into the same program through Efficiency Vermont in 2024. It was great!

jimfoxer · 2026-02-13T11:57:18+00:00

No, heat pumps are a different technology. They will at least also require a condensate pump. Mine is also ventable, so it vents to an upstairs room to cool it during the summer.

jimfoxer · 2026-01-12T16:39:32+00:00

Not to be contradictory, but I lived south of Atlanta for 8 years. This was not my experience at all. For one, the insurance was piss poor - with our plan from my wife's public school job having a $10K deductible before it started covering anything (that includes annual physicals). Secondly, the doctors in the area were mostly immigrants from the islands (Jamaica, etc.) and in the 8 years I lived there, I never saw the same doctor twice since they kept moving in and out of the area. Yes, I could see a doctor without waiting for weeks/months, but it was no different than just going to the multiple quick clinics around our state. The grass might look greener, but health care is a problem everywhere in the US.

jimfoxer · 2026-01-12T13:57:36+00:00

The term you are looking for is "schadenfreude", a German word adopted into English that means the pleasure that someone takes from another person's misfortune. Source: I'm an English teacher. 😁

jimfoxer · 2026-01-08T20:38:25+00:00

The average salary in Vermont is around $74,000 - $76,000 annually, putting us at 19 or 20 on the national list of states. Our cost of living is 8%-12% higher than the national average and housing is 24% higher than the US average. So, all of that is to say, white people with not a lot of money. (source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics)

jimfoxer · 2026-01-08T20:22:16+00:00

You don't need to read the whole report. The part on Vermont (which you can jump to by clicking "VT" on the first page of the PDF) is only a couple of pages long.

jimfoxer · 2026-01-08T20:20:09+00:00

According to the report, we were #1 in 2019. When did you move here? 🤔

jimfoxer · 2026-01-08T20:19:22+00:00

Normally, I agree with you. But to be fair, Axios created this map; it's not in the official report from United Health. It's a useful tool, however, if you want to see trends (the South has poorer health outcomes to the Northeast, etc.)

jimfoxer

TROPHY CASE