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TabletPCBuzz.com - Another Acer Horror Story
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I'm not exactly in disagreement with your points, but some things need to be clarified:
The question in the case of the tablet is whether we should demand that a device that we carry around with us be resistant (at least to some extent) to a drop. I don't think it's an unreasonable demand. (All this being said, I note that each of the persons who disagrees with me has a 302, which is a big ol' tablet, not the sort that I'd carry around with me, so maybe it is a matter of the differences in our tablet experiences)
Actually, I have a 3.9 lb ViewSonic V1250. My mother just got her Gateway M275, which weighs about 10 lbs, and she emailed me today to tell me it's big. Ergo, I don't think my Tablet is big, but I know there are some smaller. If it falls, I expect it to break. My Dell Inspiron was biggish. When it fell, it didn't break, but I am surprised and grateful. My little Gateway Solo broke when it fell, and it was in a bag at the time. In order to get it to boot, you have to have a PS/2 mouse plugged in.
Even Dell has that commercial for students about how they can get the warranties against accidents. Remember the kids slipNsliding down the hallway? The guy dancing the laptop off the desk? That WAS what the commercial was about, wasn't it (bad memory)?
There is a reason that there is a ruggedized TabletPC contingent. If not buying rugged, then a consumer can reasonably expect warranty service on a dropped machine if he or she has purchased the accidental damage warranty.
It is indeed reasonable to expect a non-ruggedized tablet to break when it is dropped. Why? Because they do break when they are dropped.
However, it is also not unreasonable to demand that manufacturers produce a product that withstands the rigors of their intended use. They are specifically intended to be carried around and written on, like a clipboard or a legal pad. Such items will inevitably be dropped. They should survive such drops with minimal damage. I shouldn't have to buy a special "ruggedized" tablet. As far as I'm concerned, ruggedized means it should survive a war, not just a casual tote to an office meeting.
Also, when I was tallying those who disagreed with me, I inadvertently omitted you. My apologies. Perhaps you have since come into the light.
It's a review, from a more intense user. I carried this thing around with me every day for three months. I was actually surprised at the fortitude of the hard drive, which wasn't damaged at all (I thank DASP). I was, however, upset about the various plastic parts on it that degenerated and fell apart with use. Also the cheap paint job that just rubbed off under my hands, and every singe person I ever saw would ask me what happened to the paint.
The complaint was not about the laptop's ability to break when dropped. It was mainly invoked by their charging me $450 and then it falling apart when I got it back. However, the hinge is relatively weak, made of brittle plastic, not nearly as sturdy as my friend's Toshiba. The audio port is also very weak plastic, which may bend and crack if you lean on it while something is plugged in-- looks nothing like the hard metal rings on everyone else's computer. The hook to hold it closed is also a cheap plastic solution that can get bent easily and become useless (as it did for the toshiba reviewer I cited) thus making standby and tablet mode difficult to use.
I did actually get the software to work, thanks to the user `tqc' in this thread: http://tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20427 (Disable the 'Press and Hold' action, as listening for it lags up 3rd party software on each stroke). The Acer was a good deal for the hardware at first. Before I paid $450 for that green plastic ring. I asked them about it, and they said they sent the motherboard back to its originating company. They'll probably get it fixed for a fraction of what I paid. gyp.
So anyway, I just might have a lot of fun when it comes back! I just thought this was useful information for the forum, and wanted to expose all of my Acer's individual problems (the rumors are right, its wireless has weird problems). And to tell you all an interesting tale. Thank you for listening. You can stop debating warranties now.
I really appreciate your post skeptic. Dropping it is a possibility considering that it more likely to be handled in a different way than traditional notebooks. It is something we should all be aware of. Mistakes occur, and when they do, what how is the company willing to help. After all, if the repairs were do correctly and they had charged less, I would have been impressed.
But still, it is extremely important to learn the cheeziness of the Acer model.
Often, people posts when they are most disgruntled, that is fine as we are not perfect. I've made my share or mistakes that fall into the "too emarrassing to say" category.
Hmmm, I wonder why they made rugged notebooks. Seems to me that should be the norm.
15 Posts My Tablet PCs: Bionic Acer TMC303xmi
(actually a TMC302 with all the parts replaced)
Posted - Feb 04 2005 : 3:44:13 PM
Hey guys. You know that broken green port I had to buy a new motherboard to replace for $450? It broke again, just two weeks after I got it back from them. After watching a DVD, I set down my headphones and stepped away from the computer, and tripped on my headphone cord. It pulled it out of the plug, completely raping that green plastic port again. My warranty is now completely useless, because they will not do partial repairs, so if I ever send it back they will charge me $450 for ANOTHER motherboard, again.
My friend owns a laptop from e-machines, broke the same piece, and got it replaced within warranty for free.
Also, I got the keyboard wet and 6 keys stopped working... permanently. And they'd just put that board in 3 weeks ago. Good thing I had that replacement, or I'd be totally screwed right now. *screws in keyboard #4*
I didn't know emachines made a laptop. Seems to me they are being very generous replacing the motherboard on their laptop for free. You should by an emachines tablet they are obviously a superior manufacturer.
15 Posts My Tablet PCs: Bionic Acer TMC303xmi
(actually a TMC302 with all the parts replaced)
Posted - Feb 08 2005 : 12:52:05 AM
emachines doesn't make a tablet, do they? The ability to draw on it is essential to me, so I'll probably be getting a Toshiba next time, hopefully with a real graphics card and bundled one-note. Hey, I just looked up emachines and their prices are pretty good for that hardware, almost half what I spent on my TMC, which is odd because I read an article where Acer stated "the hardware difference in a tablet pc is only $60-80; the real price is $200 more for Tablet Edition". So where did my extra $700 on top of that go? Heheh, if windows is really that expensive, maybe I should do more fiddling with tablet software for linux.
Oh, and I'm pretty sure it's not necessary to replace the whole motherboard for something like this. Every single thing about the motherboard still functions properly, it's just that I have to fiddle around with my headphone jack to get it to contact the leads right.. and it won't take over from the main speakers regularly. Acer sends the board back to its manufacturer, who probably sticks in another plastic piece and sells it back for big mula. Perhaps emachines repair people actually know how to weld?
Just wanted to sympothize with you skeptic. I support 12 Acer C300 series, various models... and they are all junk! half of them have been in for repairs 2 times, and a couple 3! Ironicly enough, as I was typing this, a guy came in with his, and the screen just died...
Another Acer Horror Story 
Posted - Dec 27 2004 : 12:50:37 PM
