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ASUS: Reviewers & Users Get Different Battery
Source: Tom's Hardware – Category : Notebooks 29 comments
ASUS officially admitted that it provided better batteries to reviewers of its popular Eee PC 900 than those it shipped to actual customers. According to reports flowing in from Hong Kong, customers who purchased the new UMPCs on launch day complained that ASUS mislead consumers and reviewers. The batteries that were given to reviewers were 5800mAh batteries while consumers were given 4800mAh.
Officials at ASUS told reporters that the standard for the Eee PC 900 is a 4800mAh battery. The company said that it had plans to introduce a higher capacity 5800mAh model at a later date, but accidentally shipped those to reviewers instead.
Company representatives state that due to the confusion, it will consider a exchange program for users who have 4800mAh batteries — currently all of them at the moment. However, ASUS did not indicate to reporters if it will follow through with this program or when it would be available.
This is not the first time that companies have shipped "special edition" equipment to reviewers, which ends up skewing overall impressions of the product from actual models that are for sale.
Found: Gizmodo
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The only way to test any product is to get -retail samples- from different venders/shops over a period of a few weeks and insure all tests are run the exact same way.
"Asus would like to assure our customers, we never intended to get caught."
LOL
I disagree i think it's stealing.
"Asus would like to assure our customers, we never intended to get caught."
Priceless.
"Asus would like to assure our customers, we never intended to get caught."
LOL!!!
Sorta reminds me of several recent companies, i.e. Enron, Global, Worldcom, etc.
First of all, you should have read the computer's specs at the hardware/internet store before you bought it. If they would sell/ship you the PC with inferior specs, you could argue about scamming and you could just RM that.
I disagree i think it's stealing.
You can't really classify this as stealing. Fraud, deception, misdirection yes but stealing, no.
Take a look at the EEE PC 900 page http://eeepc.asus.com/global/news04152008.htm - there is no information there about the battery. Rarely do you get much information about the battery, reviewers had no reason to suspect they were getting a bigger battery. The blame is 100% on ASUS for being scumbags.
This happens with a lot of products. When Toms gave the Viewsonic VP930 a glowing review I went out and bought one. When 6 months later it died, I got a replacement unit which was terribly inferior to the original. Nothing I can do about it. What can anyone do about it?
And no, I don't and have never worked for Asus. I haven't used an Asus mobo in too long to remember, although a pair of Asus EAH3850 video cards I bought for different systems (mine and one for my niece) have worked well.
A failure to think for oneself is NEVER someone else's fault, even if that someone else could have been more clear.
It should have sent red flags at the beginning when a brand new 5800mAh battery was in the 900. The 4G and 8G both use the 4 cell 4400mAh and 4 cell 5200mAh. If I get a laptop for review and it has a different battery than all the previous models, isn't the prudent first question to ask Why?
Any reviewer that didn't note this change failed. Its also funny that the reviewer now get to write the counter and claim ignorance as a defense and watch as all the sheeple readers jump on the Asus hate bandwagon.
Uh, the usual answer is "it's a new product" ?
Gee, you get in a new MacBook Pro to replace an older revision, and it comes with a faster DVD burner. Would you ask why? Maybe because it's better? Maybe because it makes sense? Do you then go and ask Apple "hey, is this new feature really just for me or for everyone?"
The whole goal of releasing a "new" product is having "new" features? If I was reviewing this thing, I'm going to go and ask ASUS "Hey, why did you update the battery? I don't get it."
"Hey Apple, why did you put in a better LCD screen? I don't get why."
"Hey, I noticed you now include a better, longer lasting batter, which is naturally a good thing. I don't get it. Why did you do it??"
... >_>
retard.
And I dont buy over priced Macs, but you seem to, so I wouldnt expect much out of you anyway. Especially since your first post was modded and removed. I can already tell you are an especially world class sheeple.
And I dont buy over priced Macs, but you seem to, so I wouldnt expect much out of you anyway. Especially since your first post was modded and removed. I can already tell you are an especially world class sheeple.
You obviously did not even attempt to challenge what I stated above. Who in their right mind goes and asks a company why did they take a forward step to improve on a product? Is it suspicious that they release a new Eee PC model, and equip it with a new model of a battery? Hello? Isn't this what EVERY company does? I buy a 2008 car over a 2007 car, Usually there's something new and improved there? Do I go and ask the obvious question of why they improved fuel efficiency or why did they add mp3 capabilities to a CD player?
Sandmanwn, please think before you make these ignorant remarks. You are clearly assuming by your response that you think ASUS did not lie, and that the fault lies entirely with a reviewer. The fact of the matter is, you no nothing of what transpired in this case. You don't know whether or not ASUS had male intentions, and you don't know whether the reviewer was mislead, lazy, or lied to? For all we know, it's entirely plausible that the reviewer DID ask ASUS why they included a better battery (a DUH question to ask to begin with), and was given a misleading answer. It's also possible that the reviewer knew they received a special battery and failed to mention it.
The above, is fair from both sides.
What you've written, obviously is one sided, putting the blame squarely on the reviewer.
If you do not have the full answer from ASUS (and you'll never know if either side was honest or mislead), then you can never say you know 100%. By the statement I quoted above, you clearly picked your side.
Know your shit before you write. And in this case, no one knows the full truth behind this tale, so shut your 1 sided slant.
And again I will reiterate since you don't seem to understand, this is a production battery that is hitting the market along side with the standard battery. Its not special. Its the exact same scenario that they already have a track record with on the 4G and 8G EeePC models. Sorry that little bit of rocket science went over your head.
You are dumb arse. If that is a production battery how come nobody who bought the EEE haven't got one?!? How come ASSUS is now apologizing and promising to replace those batteries? Idiot.
Read the article again moron. The standard battery will come first followed by the extended battery. And just for idiots just like you they will give the retards who can't read and spell a free upgrade.
Do you get it or do I have to break it down further for you idiot?