Possible to open Prime without special tools? - Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

It keeps getting talked about but I have yet to see an answer is it possible to disassemble the Prime without destroying it? Do you need a special tool?
If someone could do this it would finally definitively tell us the aluminum backing is the culprit for the GPS problem.

XDA is supposed to be full of hardcore techies and no one even has a best guess on this?

I wonder if we could raise some money, purchase one, and send it to iFixIt and let them do the teardown. Those guys are pro when it comes to teardowns.

No one going to risk voiding warranty over something so trivial. Device to expensive to go messing around with it like that. Plus its not our job to do that or we shouldn't have to. That is Asus job. You probably could open it up but its glued shut more than likely. GPS not that big of a deal to mess prime up over.
Its already been tore down before. There are pix in one of these threads..lol
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium

I'm sure as more prime's come out this month someone is going to open it up.

Never heard of a tablet being glued together do you really think it is?

A dead GPS isnt trivial just because you don't happen to care about it imho..
That being said, I wouldn't crack it open to find out either.
We just need to give asus enough flak to start caring about it.

PrimeTimeBro said:
Never heard of a tablet being glued together do you really think it is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would bet almost all of them use glue. Especially the thin ones.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium

PrimeTimeBro said:
Never heard of a tablet being glued together do you really think it is?
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Click to collapse
Yep, the entire front/screen/digitizer assembling on the iPad 2 is entirely held together with glue. One requires the use of a heat gun to disassemble properly.

vbman213 said:
Yep, the entire front/screen/digitizer assembling on the iPad 2 is entirely held together with glue. One requires the use of a heat gun to disassemble properly.
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Click to collapse
well in that case I guess it is oh well one of the magazines or big techie sites is going to have to do it guess it ain't happening by a xda member.

Everyone's freaking out about the gps its not that big but if it is to some they should return it no one is going to pry open their tab it won't happen

Sokonomi said:
A dead GPS isnt trivial just because you don't happen to care about it imho..
That being said, I wouldn't crack it open to find out either.
We just need to give asus enough flak to start caring about it.
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Click to collapse
I agree, Asus needs the pressure to finally address the issue head on. By trivial I morsel meant not a big enough reason to risk voiding warranty and breaking device. One the back is off, they will know. Then that person out back..lmfao
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201

Related

Dogs dropped my prime =(

Yanked it by the chord off of the counter =(. Screen is cracked but it works. I have a case coming tomorrow but wow does this suck. Gonna wait until places start getting screens in stock and get it replaced, luckily it's still completely useable.
anybody else with bad luck?
hondarider525 said:
Yanked it by the chord off of the counter =(. Screen is cracked but it works. I have a case coming tomorrow but wow does this suck. Gonna wait until places start getting screens in stock and get it replaced, luckily it's still completely useable.
anybody else with bad luck?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's terrible sorry bro send it to Asus may be quicker than waiting for store
any pics? is the lcd cracked or just the glass?
Aww man, I'm sorry to hear that! It's good that it is still functioning. I had a freak out the other night when my cat knocked my phone off my nightstand, but it landed on my shoes next to my bed.
dang bro, sorry to hear that. is it very noticeable or you have to look very hard n closely to see it?
wow i feel for you, I hope the dogs got a good time out
Did you buy it on a credit card? If so many of them have a 90 day accident replacement program. You should look into that.
Wow, i feel for you man. I hope you can get it repaired swiftly and cost effectively.
Rekna said:
Did you buy it on a credit card? If so many of them have a 90 day accident replacement program. You should look into that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. I know that Amex gold (and above), as well as some Visa cards will do purchase protection as well.
Sorry to hear it happened though. I lost week old laptop a couple years ago in the exact same manner. Puppy tangled himself in the cord and dragged the laptop off of the counter.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Just sell your dogs and buy anew one!!! lol
chpimentelpr said:
Just sell your dogs and buy anew one!!! lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL.
That sucks for you, also my fear with tablets. Hope they can repair it for you.
I would send it back but I don't want to be without it for such a long time, especially when I have to pay to get it fixed. I would rather use it and bring it into a physical location and have it fixed in a day or two. Any news on when physical stores are getting these things?
What physical location has the ability to fix it for you if they have stock? How does that work?
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Best buy could fix it through geeksquad, as well as lot of local electronics stores that do laptop, phone repairs, etc.

Spray on Antenna

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/11/spray-on-antenna-revealed-best-thing-to-come-in-a-can-since-eas
http://www.chamtechops.com/Kit/Kit.html
Kind thinking about spraying it on to the entire inside of the aluminum cover and turn the whole thing into an antenna. Have to call and see what the price is though. Heck, they just sprayed it onto a piece of tape and saw several magnitudes increase in range and power efficiency.
Spray on antenna
m.engadget.com/default/article.do?a...ge=1&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
I was looking on pulse today and I found this. It would solve the issues with the prime. Just spray it on the aluminum back by the pcb to the outside. No drill holes or wires.
I want it!
Sent from my ADR6300 using xda premium
ChrisDos said:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/11/spray-on-antenna-revealed-best-thing-to-come-in-a-can-since-eas
http://www.chamtechops.com/Kit/Kit.html
Kind thinking about spraying it on to the entire inside of the aluminum cover and turn the whole thing into an antenna. Have to call and see what the price is though. Heck, they just sprayed it onto a piece of tape and saw several magnitudes increase in range and power efficiency.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think thats a great idea as long as you don't accidently spray two leads that shouldn't connect to each other. You could fry the board!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1492135
I have to say, if the Prime performed so poorly for me in some area where I needed to resort to this kind of "fix," I'd have returned it long ago. I mean, mine works great for my needs--I've not yet run into a situation where wifi wasn't strong enough, and I'm one of those who don't care about GPS.
If neither of those were true, though, I'd not be spraying some crap on mine to try to make it work for me... Unless I were just wanting to hack something, in which case I'd find something a little less expensive. Unless I had limited cash, in which case... Okay, maybe I'd do it.
I read that spray on antenna story today and thought directly of the Prime
wynand32 said:
I have to say, if the Prime performed so poorly for me in some area where I needed to resort to this kind of "fix," I'd have returned it long ago. I mean, mine works great for my needs--I've not yet run into a situation where wifi wasn't strong enough, and I'm one of those who don't care about GPS.
If neither of those were true, though, I'd not be spraying some crap on mine to try to make it work for me... Unless I were just wanting to hack something, in which case I'd find something a little less expensive. Unless I had limited cash, in which case... Okay, maybe I'd do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm assuming that this thread is just a little joke. You can watch the presentation over on wesolveforx.com or in the "opened my prime" thread where I have already linked this article. This product will not be available commercially for quite some time yet, however I do think Asus should be the first mass purchasers so that whenever a prime comes in for wifi/GPS issues, they just paint this wonderful organic nano capacitor compound onto the antennae and send it back out with the best dBm ever on any device.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Lock-N-Load said:
I read that spray on antenna story today and thought directly of the Prime
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup yup.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
It would pretty cool to have this on my Galaxy Nexus. Then I would get reception at school -.-
The connection is usually 1 bar and then it drops.
wouldn't the length of the antenna need to be a multiple of the wavelength? (CS not EE so excuse me if I am incorrect )

OMG.. sat on my prime

Ok, ppl I made a mistake and sat down on my prime for like 2sec.. smh screen didnt crack r nothing but now all im getting is messed up colors and and lines on screen..(it was in the dock with the leather case) I have the Accidental warranty thru Square trade.. Dat would be considered a accident right?? Man dis sucks, cuz i just got it 2weeks ago..
Oh no that sucks. I know your heart had to sink into your stomach as soon as it happens. I figure that would be considered accidental.
This proves that the Prime is no good and we should all demand a full refund from ASUS.
Bad break. Hope you can work it out on that warranty.
Bye.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Vcolassi said:
Oh no that sucks. I know your heart had to sink into your stomach as soon as it happens. I figure that would be considered accidental.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man my grown ass wanted to cry, especially knowing I just unlocked it 2days ago..lmao
damn..lol. send it in immediately. it was an accident. don't sit with broken device contemplating on what to do. just do it. that's why you got squaretrade coverage for. use it.
demandarin said:
damn..lol. send it in immediately. it was an accident. don't sit with broken device contemplating on what to do. just do it. that's why you got squaretrade coverage for. use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IK, will do but it just happened a few hrs ago.. smdh Outterbox need to stop playing and make 1 for the asus already..
I think only reason it messed up because it was in the dock. so by it belong connected to dock through dock hinge, it exerted extra pressure on the screen. therefore getting the result you got. I bet it would've been fine if you just sat on the tablet alone. its flat enough to where it could still survive that. this is a pretty tough tablet. its been surviving my daughter slamming my phone or cable remote against the screen really hard.
otterbox for prime would be sick! I'm sure there has to be some company already out now with a comparable type case.
demandarin said:
I think only reason it messed up because it was in the dock. so by it belong connected to dock through dock hinge, it exerted extra pressure on the screen. therefore getting the result you got. I bet it would've been fine if you just sat on the tablet alone. its flat enough to where it could still survive that. this is a pretty tough tablet. its been surviving my daughter slamming my phone or cable remote against the screen really hard.
otterbox for prime would be sick! I'm sure there has to be some company already out now with a comparable type case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea u right.. damn dock..grrr
I dunno if it would be considered an accident... My prime has had many uses for me including a cushion for the most uncomfortable of chairs.
/troll
Sent via Tapatalk on my BAMFed out TBolt
I think the Prime's are susceptible to pressure. I had a similar issue with mine (colors/lines on screen but nothing else) after I put it in a new Poetic case I got. It was really, really tight to "pop in" the bottom corners and after I applied a good amount of pressure, the screen acted like that. I had to send it back to Asus and wait 3 weeks to get a replacement. A smart man would have just opened up the notch a little more (which is what I did now).
demandarin said:
I think only reason it messed up because it was in the dock. so by it belong connected to dock through dock hinge, it exerted extra pressure on the screen. therefore getting the result you got. I bet it would've been fine if you just sat on the tablet alone. its flat enough to where it could still survive that. this is a pretty tough tablet. its been surviving my daughter slamming my phone or cable remote against the screen really hard.
otterbox for prime would be sick! I'm sure there has to be some company already out now with a comparable type case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do you know he had it in the dock when he never mentioned that?
On a positive note?
Datblkbro said:
Ok, ppl I made a mistake and sat down on my prime for like 2sec.. smh screen didnt crack r nothing but now all im getting is messed up colors and and lines on screen..(it was in the dock with the leather case) I have the Accidental warranty thru Square trade.. Dat would be considered a accident right?? Man dis sucks, cuz i just got it 2weeks ago..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the Wifi, Bluetooth, or GPS any better now? If so, I'm sure some of the other members will be proffering this as a solution.
Just kidding, of course. Sorry about the accident. Your insurance should cover that.
the_game_master said:
how do you know he had it in the dock when he never mentioned that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um, maybe because the OP says: "(it was in the dock with the leather case)"...
Gumdrop is the only company making something like an otterbox style case for the prime that i know of.
Sent from my EVO 3D w/ Tapatalk
the_game_master said:
how do you know he had it in the dock when he never mentioned that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
um did u read.. I did mention it was in the dock..lol
BTrack said:
Is the Wifi, Bluetooth, or GPS any better now? If so, I'm sure some of the other members will be proffering this as a solution.
Just kidding, of course. Sorry about the accident. Your insurance should cover that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rofl, thx man this mad me laff..haha
Well well well Just got a update from Squaretrade.. They seemed to have repaired my prime and it should be in in the next few days.. Ill be post details soon..
I called square trade today to find out what was taking so long for my tablet to be returned back to me.. The email they sent me on the 22nd had a tracking number but when i went to UPS.com it said voided.. Well talking to a rep and ST she told me my tablet was beyond repairs and dat I will be getting a full refund...
So my question is should I go head and get me a new TF201 are just wait for the new model, and if I wait anyone knows the release date.. Damn I miss my prime been over a month now.. Also ST site say within 5days, and it has been pass 5 days, so should I complain and get my warranty refund back also???
Datblkbro said:
I called square trade today to find out what was taking so long for my tablet to be returned back to me.. The email they sent me on the 22nd had a tracking number but when i went to UPS.com it said voided.. Well talking to a rep and ST she told me my tablet was beyond repairs and dat I will be getting a full refund...
So my question is should I go head and get me a new TF201 are just wait for the new model, and if I wait anyone knows the release date.. Damn I miss my prime been over a month now.. Also ST site say within 5days, and it has been pass 5 days, so should I complain and get my warranty refund back also???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you were happy with it before you sat on it, I would get a new one, and keep the warranty incase you sit on it again lol.
I thought you had to wait like 2 months or something before you can claim the squaretrade accidental warranty?

Broken Screen after small drop

Just take a look at this Video and cry with me. I dropped it from an about one meter high table in my university - on carpet. Well, now it looks kinda greenish, and the colors are all effed up. Sometimes there are more colors, sometimes less (depending on the way I bend and twist my prime).
No warranty will cover this. But maybe I can fix it? If yes, how?
Edit: I've attached the wallpaper used for your reference
Appears the screens ribbon cable came loose. You see the same thing when a PC'S monitor cable comes loose from the video card. You could take it apart and fix it but that should be covered under warranty just don't say you dropped it.
Did you get ADH coverage? It covers drops and screen damage. If not maybe look into square trade?
FYI, I had a roocase executive cover on my tab when it dropped from my dresser to carpeted floor and it protected perfectly.
What, theandies, no cool story bro? got sick of that played out phrase already?
Agree warranty will cover say it just happened with normal use....
Sent from my HTC Sensation using XDA Premium HD app
boakesm said:
Agree warranty will cover say it just happened with normal use....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To bad that there is a very tiny crack on the edge of the screen - I'm pretty sure they won't cover that. Guess I'll try to open and fix it.
jordanmw said:
What, theandies, no cool story bro? got sick of that played out phrase already?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool story bro.
You know what I'm sick of? Idiots that complain about the Prime all the time. If you're unhappy with it sell it and get an iPad.
shoulda got square trade accidental on it..
Before you start to brea-- err.. I mean, "open" your TP, take a look at the following TP teardown link:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5286/asus-eee-pad-transformer-prime-teardown
This'll give you an idea of what to expect and how best to disassemble with any hope of successful reassembly.
One important quote from that site, "... You'll need a heat gun to warm up the glue to get the bottom to pry apart. Proceed at your own risk, while I was able to put the Prime back together after all of this there's a high risk of damaging your beauty..."
all op needs to due is look at Erusman teardown thread or Buxthda links in signature. there's already videos made here by members on how to do it. Heat gun wasn't needed. Anandtech teardown is still good to look at though to know where everything is at once you open it up. its actually pretty easy to disassemble and assemble again. Just don't go rushing it.
theandies said:
Cool story bro.
You know what I'm sick of? Idiots that complain about the Prime all the time. If you're unhappy with it sell it and get an iPad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know what everyone is sick of.... their Prime not working properly. Oh except for you, who either got a glowing bit of perfection from asus while the rest of us got the normal prime, OR you are such an extreme fanboy that you are denying it's failures to yourself.
Oh, and I hate apple with a passion and just WANT AN ALTERNATIVE!
Am I unhappy with my prime? No, it is a great device for SOME uses/users. I just want the device that they promised.
jordanmw said:
You know what everyone is sick of.... their Prime not working properly. Oh except for you, who either got a glowing bit of perfection from asus while the rest of us got the normal prime, OR you are such an extreme fanboy that you are denying it's failures to yourself.
Oh, and I hate apple with a passion and just WANT AN ALTERNATIVE!
Am I unhappy with my prime? No, it is a great device for SOME uses/users. I just want the device that they promised.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're just not worth it. See ya.
Amidst the flames a few rise to actually help lol j/k, but really, play nice everyone
Yeah, fixing the cable will be covered under warranty, not the crack though. And I'm not sure if they'd just fix the cable placement and let you get it back with the cracked screen or try and charge you for a full front-assembly replacement. I'm sure you could talk them into fixing just the cable though.
If you're within 90 days of purchase, try getting SquareTrade just in case, you could fix it and still get it replaced at a more convenient time in the future. Fixing it yourself would only take a matter of minutes, you can follow my signature to my compilation of Erusman's thread if you feel like trying. I just wonder how that cracked corner will act actually separating the two halves to do the fix, it'll likely be fine. Try a screen-protector if the glass seems actually loose or if the crack annoys you.
Thanks for the advice, guys. Unfortunately squaretrade never was an option for me, since it is not available where I live. I'll try to talk them into just fixing the cable.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk 2
What type of Gorilla glass do they use on the Prime?
Gorilla glass 1... What difference does it make. One is 0.8 mm thick another is 1 mm. Apart from that they're pretty much identical
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 2

Can we do something?

As some of you unfortunately may have found out, the back glass on our phones break quite easily.
Do you think we could get a petition or something going on "Change" website to get this problem addressed.
I have read some stories of the phone breaking not because of a drop, but because of temperature fluctuations.
To me, this seems like a manufacturing defect, similar to a recall on an automobile.
Any thoughts are appreciated to maybe get something going to correct this.
Thanks
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda app-developers app
hollywood528 said:
As some of you unfortunately may have found out, the back glass on our phones break quite easily.
Do you think we could get a petition or something going on "Change" website to get this problem addressed.
I have read some stories of the phone breaking not because of a drop, but because of temperature fluctuations.
To me, this seems like a manufacturing defect, similar to a recall on an automobile.
Any thoughts are appreciated to maybe get something going to correct this.
Thanks
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you e-mailed LG support and let them know of these issues. I'm sure they know already but you can't just jump the gun without first contacting them directly. Give them the chance to fix it first. If they say that the temperature issues are normal then yes you can start a petition.
Is the back of this device easy to replace? If it is, it would be nice to be able to buy different backs, like made of polycarbonate or metal. That would be amazing. :fingers-crossed:
Though they would have to be made by a 3rd party, and I doubt any company would actually do it.
I believe that when you buy something with glass vs plastic or metal you should know and accept that glass breaks with pressure and don't hold others responsible for our choices.
That's why i use plastic cups at home lol
elvelozpotosino said:
I believe that when you buy something with glass vs plastic or metal you should know and accept that glass breaks with pressure and don't hold others responsible for our choices.
That's why i use plastic cups at home lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. Also haven't heard about the temp issue since early in the phone's life. I get people drop phones, and whatnot, but that isn't LG's issue, they chose a glass back, and the consumer chose to accept it.
Mike724 said:
Is the back of this device easy to replace? If it is, it would be nice to be able to buy different backs, like made of polycarbonate or metal. That would be amazing. :fingers-crossed:
Though they would have to be made by a 3rd party, and I doubt any company would actually do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen some replacement backs on ebay, i don't think the back of the phone itself would be too difficult to replace based on the tear downs i've seen at least. Guess ya never know till ya try. lol
I bought a spare back and bezel on ebay back when they were cheap and in stock, just in case. I work above the Arctic Circle and was worried what going from 70°F to -60°F and back when I go outside and come back in would do to the glass back, but I didn't have any issues this winter. YMMV.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Nastybutler said:
I bought a spare back and bezel on ebay back when they were cheap and in stock, just in case. I work above the Arctic Circle and was worried what going from 70°F to -60°F and back when I go outside and come back in would do to the glass back, but I didn't have any issues this winter. YMMV.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How cheap was it? The back, that is. I'm contemplating replacing it just because of the little crack, but I'm not sure if it's worth the 55.
Does the cracked back make it unusable? Case/otterbox and no one knows
sgtarky said:
Does the cracked back make it unusable? Case/otterbox and no one knows
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No the phone is completely fine, that's why I'm questioning buying a new back. It's just a cosmetic crack. Using a case now and I still think about it, haha.
I understand that. But temperature has nothing to do with pressure..
No I have not yet contacted them. I will do that and see what they say.
Just wanted to see what everyone's opinion was on this issue.
I saw one back on eBay for $55... Another seller shows them for $365 right now and before it was only $35, so I emailed him and they said its not in stock, that is why they raised the price. Said they will bring the price back down when they get more in stock..
Otterbox doesn't offer a case for this phone. I got a case from eBay for $10, its got a plastic shell surrounded in a rubber type wrap. It does ok, hides the crack some.. but my crack runs across the rear camera.
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda app-developers app
Yeah, I think I got one back when they were $35, and I had $17 in ebay bucks from buying the phone anyway, so I figured what the hell?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
But it off ya
Sent from my KFTT using XDA Premium HD app
elvelozpotosino said:
I believe that when you buy something with glass vs plastic or metal you should know and accept that glass breaks with pressure and don't hold others responsible for our choices.
That's why i use plastic cups at home lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see your point, but I don't agree with your premise. It's not unreasonable to assume that the manufacturer is using materials, that won't break when walking outside into the cold. The back glass is supposed to be as strong as the screen (supposedly GG2 also). If the screen broke when walking outside, would I expect the manufacturer to replace it? I wouldn't have done anything that is unreasonable or explicitly outlined in the warranty (e.g., immerse in water or drop), so yes, I would expect the manufacturer to replace it.
dbgeek said:
I see your point, but I don't agree with your premise. It's not unreasonable to assume that the manufacturer is using materials, that won't break when walking outside into the cold. The back glass is supposed to be as strong as the screen (supposedly GG2 also). If the screen broke when walking outside, would I expect the manufacturer to replace it? I wouldn't have done anything that is unreasonable or explicitly outlined in the warranty (e.g., immerse in water or drop), so yes, I would expect the manufacturer to replace it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The cold cracks are from placing a hotter than normal glass back onto a cold surface. Not from walking outside.
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda app-developers app

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