It would seem reasonable that you could buy a replacement power supply for a current product from the manufacturer wouldn't it? Start on Viewsonic's web site. Try using the store - ha-ha. Now call the number. Get referred to another number. Call that number - get referred to another number. rinse and repeat. Go to their website to the gtablet page. Read call this number 866-501-6405 for anything you need. Get referred to another number call that number - get referred to another number - rinse and repeat. Get frustrated - call their corporate headquarters in Wlanut, CA. Ask for the name of the president so you can send a letter. Get told they can't give it to you for security reasons - but it is on the web. Get hung up on. Sadly, I really like my g-tablet but this is an awful company to deal with. I wonder what will happen if I need a replacement battery - will I be told to go to Radio Shack to find something that fits (like I was told to do for the power supply)? I'm really enjoying the g-tab but I can tell you that when it comes time to replace it, it won't be with another Viewsonic product. Anyone can sell you something - it is how they support it that separates the good companies from the bad. I feel better posting this and maybe someone has had a better experience but looking at the struggles here to get power supplies and docking stations, I'm going to guess that no one has much good to say about dealing with Viewsonic. Surprise me!
Unfortunately I will have to agree. Since day one the support has been far less than you would expect. There have even been times when they have referred to XDA to help out. Basically US Merchants buys from China, Viewsonic buys from US Merchants, and no one really know who's supposed to support it. I will have to say that's the beauty of open source and some of the people that are here. More times than not you can get support right here if you don't mind doing a little digging. I've only been playing with android's for about 8 months now and know more than I ever needed or wanted to all because of XDA.
But honestly, isn't that the way we've become accustomed to support? No one ever calls Microsoft anymore, we use Google.
It's truly a shame that you can't get a straight forward answer when trying to replace something so simple. I apologies on behalf of the business owners that still give a s**t.
it2steve said:
But honestly, isn't that the way we've become accustomed to support? No one ever calls Microsoft anymore, we use Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is because half the tech notes for MS are "Can not be found" when it comes to errors and such
Google search allows you to reach out to users who no these things first hand. That is why I always make a point if I can not find an answer to a question, even on line and I finally figure it out myself to post it somewhere so someone else can be helped by it.
I did that here on XDA and getting ADB to work on my win 7 64bit system. All the help was on 32b this and that. I finally figured it our myself and wrote a tutorial for others that "will" need it.
Viewsonic is a very big company that is dabbling in android based tablets that at least with thegtab did not design. I would also argue that the cost/price is such they don't really know where this is going.
same with all the other tab makers save on, the apple. Think about apple's model with iTunes, what I call a consumption model. They can actually give away the ipad at cost because they can get it from the model.
now in order for company's like viewsonic to compete they need to provide all accessories and have a hook. We know from the official viewsonic Rep that they are thinking about some kind of development site, makes no money and meanwhile Steve has to bring in accessories because viewsonic dropped the ball. So yes, basically unsupported. A lot cheaper for the hardware though.
I don't see another development site as a good thing. Viewsonic needs to spend its energies on marketing the apple way or just stick with monitors. Maybe they look at the gtab as a monitor. But we know that can't be because the screen is not in usual viewsonic quality. I'm sure they saw the ztab as quick entry and OEM'd, it.
I've got to agree..
I've been trying to find a source for the mini-vga cable for the ViewPad 10. Support told me to go to Best Buy. When I pressed them on exactly what to purchase they admitted they did not know and that Besy Buy probably did not carry them. Support handed me off to the parts dept.
Parts pointed me to a cable designed for the Viewpad 100, which was a product released in 2001. When I asked if he was sure if they cable would work, he said "probably". When I noted the website said the product was 'out of stock' he said "order it anyway, that will tell us we need more". Since the conversation did not exactly instill my confidence in the parts dept I did not order the $20 cable.
I'm still looking for a mini-vga cable for the ViewPad 10 if anyone can point me in the right direction.
Craig
Please direct your demand to have the Dell Streak 5 upgraded with all other phones here www.ideastorm.com/apex/ideaList.
I let them have it and so should you!
Read my post www.ideastorm.com/ideaView?id=087700000008YDdAAM
I read your post on Ideastorm, and I have some comments.
1. My standard comment in these things is that in any complaint letter you explain what the problem is and what you want the resolution to be. Your complaint is that Dell isn't going to update the Streak to Gingerbread and the resolution is that Dell should update the Streak. I applaud you on that, because what you did is exactly what the last person who posted on this forum regarding Dell's decisions didn't do. That person ranted, rather than explaining what the problem was and what he wanted Dell to do about it.
With that said, do realize that Dell has in fact supported this device for a year and a half, and does in fact continue to support it. Now, whether you or I are satisfied with the level of support is a different issue altogether.
2. You mention Dell no longer supporting the Streak a month prior to its release. Did you just recently purchase your Streak? Reason being that Dell has had the Streak in its inventory for a year and a half, as I have already mentioned. In that time frame they have upgraded the OS from 1.6 to 2.2, then provided 2.2.2 after that. I have had my Streak since early April of this year, and there was a ROM upgrade available for me (347 to 351) at the end of April.
3. Your argument would have been strengthened had you left out the threat at the end. Dell simply isn't going to care whether you buy another Dell product or not. They already have your money for the Streak, and they already have the money for the other Dell you mention in your post. The future money you may spend is not even a blip on the radar.
4. Your argument would have been further strengthened had you gotten your facts on the AT&T Gingerbread upgrade correct. As written the AT&T factoid in your letter implies that every AT&T Android phone is going to get a Gingerbread upgrade, and that simply is not true. All AT&T phones released in 2011 are going to receive Gingerbread. The one exception to that is the Samsung Captivate, which was AT&T's top end phone in 2010. The HTC Aria and Motorola Backflip are not going to get the upgrade, because both have been discontinued.
5. Your alternative to the upgrade, releasing the drivers, is something I'm sure everyone wants to happen. However Dell has already said they will not release those drivers. On the one hand, it would be nice to have those drivers, but on the other hand, I understand why they don't want to do it. Asking for the drivers would be like asking HTC for the code to the Sense UI. It's just not gonna happen.
6. This is a minor nitpick, but your letter would have been more readable had it been broken into at least two if not three paragraphs.
Despite the nitpicking on my part, your letter was good, because it covered your issue, and how you wanted Dell to respond to it. We shall see whether they address your concern or not.
Well I guess it hit a chord with someone because my email and twitter account has been getting much attention.
The I also sent the same information to Michael Dell via Google+ so if everyone goes and puts their 2¢ in we can get something going.
Thanks for your input, if you are happy with 2.2 good. I expect my purchase to go farther. Speak Up!
Sent from my Dell Streak
Does anyone know where is the service tag ( that 7 character string you get when you purchase the mobile ) stored or any way to change it etc.
Thank you in advance, ...... and yes I did google about it but I couldn't find anything useful , maybe any Joda here might know.
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk
It's physically on a black sticker under the battery door and it's in the firmware under: menu/settings/about phone. It's most likely stealthed somewhere else in the firmware as well..... Hope that helps
Sent from my Dell Streak using xda premium
SHildebrandt said:
It's physically on a black sticker under the battery door and it's in the firmware under: menu/settings/about phone. It's most likely stealthed somewhere else in the firmware as well..... Hope that helps
Sent from my Dell Streak using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My question was not how to see that, but where is stored and is there any way to change that, ( not by using a Xerox, lol ).
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk
Why do you need to change it in the first place?
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Why do you need to change it in the first place?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not ?
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk
streakOwner said:
Why not ?
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it sounds fishy - that tag is used to identify the Streak to Dell for warranty issues for one thing.
Also - because there is no benefit, AFAIK, that can be derived from changing it that does not involve fraud of some kind. If there is, enlighten me.
If you have no intent to deceive then you have no reason to keep the reason a secret.
marvin02 said:
Because it sounds fishy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dell's warranty is quite specific:
This limited hardware warranty does not cover:
Software, including without limitation the operating system and software added to the Dell-branded hardware products through our factory-integration system, third-party software, or the reloading of software
Non-Dell branded products and accessories
Problems that result from:
External causes such as accident, abuse, misuse, or problems with electrical power
Servicing not authorized by Dell
Usage that is not in accordance with product instructions
Failure to follow the product instructions or failure to perform preventive maintenance
Problems caused by using accessories, parts, or components not supplied by Dell
Products with missing or altered Service Tags or serial numbers (emphasis mine)
Products for which Dell has not received payment
Normal wear and tear
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dell would not service such a unit under warranty, and has two ways to deny warranty service. The alteration of the tags is the obvious one. Regardless of whether the tag in the battery compartment is removed or not, Dell can tell if the service tag has been changed. The other option is to declare that the unit has been serviced by someone other than Dell. Frankenstein Streaks cobbled together from different non-functional Streaks fall under this.
What the OP is attempting will not work, and his alterations - if they could be done - would facilitate fraud. Thus illegal, and should not be discussed here.
The service tag can be changed, but not in a predictable way.
And just as much unless you can give us a valid reason as mentioned above it's warrentee fraud and likely illegal.
If you have a good reason it might be possible, regardless it's more work then to buy a new streak/streak mobo unless you already own the equipement to do it already. If you did you likely already know, have a clue on how to do it.
TheManii said:
The service tag can be changed, but not in a predictable way.
And just as much unless you can give us a valid reason as mentioned above it's warrentee fraud and likely illegal.
If you have a good reason it might be possible, regardless it's more work then to buy a new streak/streak mobo unless you already own the equipement to do it already. If you did you likely already know, have a clue on how to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the info The Manii , I am already on the way, the question arrived when I was trying my best to brick the streak totally and intentionally but in a controllable way , I observed that one time I had lost my service tag, was just empty there, so that wasn't being parsed I guess , why etc I don't know .
As for the other answers from those Dell guards , I can say this, I bought my streak in Aug , this is the first smart phone I own, never been interested in such things before, but this reminds me of the old days when I was active member of Astalavista and was putting my hands on some thing called Linux ( must had been around 1997 I guess ) , very very interesting , carrying this little Linux with me all the time now making me feel like that again. Do not judge next time, if you don't know something you better do like those other people that did read this thread but didn't comment on the legality of my thoughts, walk away peacefully.
Sent from my Dell Streak using Tapatalk
Just to point this out, had you answered my original question in the first place with the same response you gave Manii, you wouldn't have gotten Dell's warranty and comments about the legality of it all shoved down your throat. Instead you tried to be all coy about it and answer questions with questions. So don't play the "righteous indignation" card, because you have no one to blame but yourself for the responses you got.
I got my Prime on January 16th, very happy and proud.
That was the only short period where I have been in that mood.
The more I used the Prime the more I could see that something was not as expected.
1) weak WiFi, compared to any other unit at home, and I have many and from different companies.
2) GPS did not work, (they did not have it removed from specs. yet)
3) Lot of waiting time to get ICS installed (because it was German and needs a specific firmware).
4) and most important thing, WiFi and BT does not work together, which in a tablet is like to say that "a car does not break unless you put your feet on the road to stop."
I have used HOURS on this tablet, troubleshooting, testing, reading, writing, tried 5 different firmwares, 2 different headsets, WiFi Channels, B,G,N. Reboots, resets.
Then 2 days ago, I decided to RMA mine, also after recommendaton by Gary, and ASUS Customer Service. (The latter.. in DK is poor as I never experienced before).
I have been told tuesday that I have to wait up to 48 hours, before getting ans answer, fine!.
Today at 11am the 48 hours were gone. I called and the first thing they asked me was:" what browser do you use"? I said why? I have Tablet's android, IE8 and IE9.. Why? "Ah because sometimes we have issues with RMA made on Explorer browsers."
So are you telling me that you do not receive the RMA, even though the side told me that "all was fine and was sent"?
After 10 minutes, the guy at ASUS CS found out, that nothing has been registered in their system, and he offered me to make a new one, directly.
I am so pissed of at this bunch of amateurs that I will NEVER EVER buy a nail from them.
They could not ask this question or make me aware of that issue, after I spoke to them 3 times the same day about it.
They are making fun of many and they are the less serious company I have ever handled with.
I work as Supporter.. I have some experiences with IT companies and suppliers.
This is the bottom level!
2 times I made the RMA and 2 times "all was fine according the site. I made it 2 times to be sure that I wrote the correct S/N number, as I was in doubt.
Gary if you read this, it's not excuse. Not your fault for sure, but this is out of line and I really believe that ASUS needs a HUGE Team Building, starting from your CEO and ending with you canteen people.
Tomorrow this "innocent" ASUS guy should call me to confirm the RMA is now created correctly. If this is not the case. All media in Denmark and Nothern Europe will read this and more.
Shame on ASUS, idiot me to handle with them!
sorry to hear about it. just keep on their case to make sure they get it done. good luck
If you want to contact Gary Key, PMing him is the method
Asus, And rep generally don't respond to thread on XDA or other forum, unless said topic is made by them.
And if they do respond, they will hardly respond to a thread with threats and insults.
Yelling and screaming at Customer service agent has been outdated 10+ year ago.
I mailed him and the Marketing Manager in Denmark.
Let's see!
bluewr said:
If you want to contact Gary Key, PMing him is the method
Asus, And rep generally don't respond to thread on XDA or other forum, unless said topic is made by them.
And if they do respond, they will hardly respond to a thread with threats and insults.
Yelling and screaming at Customer service agent has been outdated 10+ year ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PMed him twice...................still waiting !
bluewr said:
If you want to contact Gary Key, PMing him is the method
Asus, And rep generally don't respond to thread on XDA or other forum, unless said topic is made by them.
And if they do respond, they will hardly respond to a thread with threats and insults.
Yelling and screaming at Customer service agent has been outdated 10+ year ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen Gary post in quite a few threads that weren't his which had particularly nasty attitudes toward ASUS/him. That's really more his job around here than anything IMO
Anyway, yeah, ASUS doesn't seem as organized as they should be. Especially things which are electronically filed, the information should be available to any and all relevant employees immediately upon receipt. As soon as the shipping company updates that the package has been shipped from the user up until the point it's back in my hands, ASUS reps should be able to tell me exactly what's going on and where it is. Naturally they move things in batches, but however they keep up with it is atrociously behind the times or something.
bimbobo said:
Shame on ASUS, idiot me to handle with them!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you'll feel little better knowing that ASUS Technical Support here in Poland is at the same or even worse level. I had no problem in registering my tablet for RMA but please be aware, that if you are going to RMA your Prime due to not working GPS it won't be repaired.
I decided to RMA me Prime at 9th of January and will never see it again because after one month since it has reached the Service Center in Czech Republic, ASUS Poland contacted me to say that GPS won't be fixed. They asked, if I want to start DOA procedure which should take about 3 weeks to get my money back.
We have 1st of March today and I'm still waiting... and what is really annoying, ASUS Poland is now unable to give me the exact date when my money will be returned!!!
My advice for you is to give up the RMA and request DOA, you'll save some time and health.
Gary won't help you here. I read at some thread here, that he has no way to contact with ASUS Europe. He has never replied to my PMs
Regards,
Pletwal
rdalev said:
PMed him twice...................still waiting !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah me too. No response and I'm in the USA. Pmd 2 weeks apart. I will enjoy owning my prime but definitely will not buy Asus again. No laptops, monitors, tablets or motherboards ........
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Most unfortunate. I don't mean to be rude when I sy this, but if you're an IT guy, why the hell would you be using IE?
That confuses me immensely.
Doktaphex said:
Most unfortunate. I don't mean to be rude when I sy this, but if you're an IT guy, why the hell would you be using IE?
That confuses me immensely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IE 9 is pretty good as long as you dont care about printing I am in the IT field and will use it from time to time but I do think overall Firefox is king
I'm sorry to read that you the "OP" is being ran through the ringer. I hope they get on track with your RMA. I have come to find that Asus outside of Taiwan sucks Donkey D. Asus Taiwan rocks!! They will bend over backwards to take care of their customers. If things don't work out in your favor, shoot a detailed email of your case, a long with a reasonable resoultion to Asus International.
jdbaker82 said:
IE 9 is pretty good as long as you dont care about printing I am in the IT field and will use it from time to time but I do think overall Firefox is king
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even IE 8 has this issue with certain printers. I'm actually just running into that issue with a customer, and they can not grasp the fact the IE is not the only portal to the internet...
Firefox is the most stable in my experience. Chrome and Maxthon are fast; Chrome's heavily unreliable and its cache likes to act weird over time, Maxthon I haven't used but for a few seconds so don't know its drawbacks.
Anyway...
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium via my tethered HTC Vision
..mail with UPS label arrived.
BUT it was WRONG, name and zip code to my house were not correct.
Called UPS, they could not change the info with the correct ones, and could not assure me that all could go well having the wrong address.
They suggested to call ASUS again and ask them for a new. I did it!
So now again new waiting time!
My trust in ASUS is gone, they do not do much to "re-gain it"
The unit will be sent to Chech Rep. for repair, and as I read, they probably do not fix WiFi/BT as "non faulty".
is this post a kind of therapy?
Enviado desde mi GT-I9000 usando Tapatalk
bimbobo said:
..mail with UPS label arrived.
BUT it was WRONG, name and zip code to my house were not correct.
Called UPS, they could not change the info with the correct ones, and could not assure me that all could go well having the wrong address.
They suggested to call ASUS again and ask them for a new. I did it!
So now again new waiting time!
My trust in ASUS is gone, they do not do much to "re-gain it"
The unit will be sent to Chech Rep. for repair, and as I read, they probably do not fix WiFi/BT as "non faulty".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that really is impressively awful on their part. I hope you get all of this resolved in the end.
.. I thought that somebody else could be interested in knowing that ASUS is not trustworthy when things goes bad.
Service is as important as the "fancy" products you sell.
Plus I wanted to share the fact, that if you do not check, push and follow up what they do, you won't get help.
If the mods are not happy with this thread, they are allowed to close or delete it.
There are many Europeans in this forum, who cannot mail or call Gary and his team.
We in Europe are left on our own. All the messages I read from people in Europe here, seems to confirm that.
Anyway, sorry for bothering some of you.
bimbobo said:
.. I thought that somebody else could be interested that ASUS is not trustworthy when things goes bad.
Service is as important as the "fancy" products you sell.
Plus I wann saher the fact, that if you do not check, push and follow up what they do, you won't get help.
If the mods are not happy with this thread, they are allow to close or delete it.
There are many Europeans in this forum, who cannot mail or call Gary and his team.
We in Europe are left on our own. All the messages I read from people in Europe here, seems to confirm that.
Anyway, sorry for bothering some of you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you need to apologise at all. ASUS on the other hand owe you a rather large apology.
It seems that using the big voice and words helps.
A manager from ASUS in Sweden called me on the phone, apologizing for all the troubles.
The short story is, that they offered to fully refund the product.
Why? Because there is a 10% risk that even sending this at the Repair Center will not sove the issue. He wouldn't and couldn't tell me more, but the story is that, for some "reasons" and even though the WiFi/Bt is now a known problem, they cannot be sure to fix it.
I referred to Gary's mail to me and here in this forum about a possible solution, but yet, he COULD NOT be sure that the replacing parts will do the job. (Metal backplate still jamming everything?? This is MY guess!)
So now ASUS is creating the second RMA label, I will send it to Chech Rep., I will await what happens, and I will contact this manager at ASUS SE when I get it back.
Solved? peace of mind and enjoying finally this device
Not Solved? Refund.
If you get a case manager ***** at them till they send you a free accessory I got a free mouse with my full tablet+ dock refund
Mouse should be here Tuesday
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Wordlywisewiz said:
If you get a case manager ***** at them till they send you a free accessory I got a free mouse with my full tablet+ dock refund
Mouse should be here Tuesday
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*****ing is not what I wish, I like information, competence and support.
I have a tablet for 629€, with issues, they know it, and they should fix it.
I am not fishing about other stuff, just a working tablet.
All this caos is due to the fact that several people either know a little, or tell me different things about same question
Anyway. They will have another chance to act correctly, and I am in touch with a person, who can and will try to help.
Let's see how it goes in "Czech Rep. repair centre".
I just spoke with Viewsonic's third party company for tech support for the gTablet. I noticed the gMarket icon gave me an error. I had not used the tablet in some time.
He informed me that Handango is now supporting Android 2.3 where the gTab is 2.2. The apps will not work.
I guess now I have a large paperweight. What a waste of money.
If you're planning on throwing it out, I would be happy to take it off your hands.
Fact is, any alternative ROM can work wonders on this device. I have never used the stock ROM since it's just so bad.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
JET314 said:
I just spoke with Viewsonic's third party company for tech support for the gTablet. I noticed the gMarket icon gave me an error. I had not used the tablet in some time.
He informed me that Handango is now supporting Android 2.3 where the gTab is 2.2. The apps will not work.
I guess now I have a large paperweight. What a waste of money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hell toss that paper weight my way and I will put it in to some Smooth use. :highfive:
nobe1976 said:
Hell toss that paper weight my way and I will put it in to some Smooth use. :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man, serious "coknbalz" here as they say in my country. I would ask Handango, since they've been jerking us around so rigorously while smiling all the way, if they'd be willing to handle our upgrades gently and gingerly as we told them what we yearned for. And then here at XDA we have 4.0 and 4.1 ROMs circulating? They should be taking it all over their face with glee and happily rubbing in all the extra white-sheet revenue with both their hands as we come down from the exhilaration of newfound support!
I can't imagine an app market wanting to be used so much and so often in this way as Handango tells other device makers they would. They of all app markets seem ready to spread far and wide, caressing the bleeding edge to fever pitch when the time is right for a loud and forthright announcement, for just about any device out there. Why won't they put out for the G-Tablet since they will for just about anything else? Is it something we as a community did?
JET314 said:
I just spoke with Viewsonic's third party company for tech support for the gTablet. I noticed the gMarket icon gave me an error. I had not used the tablet in some time.
He informed me that Handango is now supporting Android 2.3 where the gTab is 2.2. The apps will not work.
I guess now I have a large paperweight. What a waste of money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Along these same lines, my GTab running TNT Lite 4.25 still shows the Market, although not all apps any more, and it won't update what I have.
Can I get it to run the new Play Store (or whatever Google calls it)?