Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Debs. on 16 March 2008, 12:57:00

Title: Etch a Sketch: Faulty?
Post by: Debs. on 16 March 2008, 12:57:00
Mattel Inc.: Tech Support Enquiry:

Dear Sir or Madam,
Having received one of your "Etch a Sketch" products (build verson 1.01) recently as a 'retro/humourous' Birthday-gift, I am disappointed to discover it appears to be faulty.
I have tried to telephone your tech-support line on numerous occasions but the lines are always busy; I assume because of many-other similarly faulty units!.....so, I write this in the hope of e.mail support.

The fault on my unit exhibits itself in a number of ways:
Firstly, I often cannot make the unit progress beyond the 'welcome' screen; the unit often just 'hangs' with the display in simple graphical interface mode (B & W VGA-mode)......Fiddling with the controls at that stage will only produce a 'mouse-trailed cursor'; `none of the exciting images/pictures shown on the unit`s delivery packaging...."very disappointing!"

Despite successive re-boots I have been unable to make the unit perform as described.....I find this situation upsetting and I`m sorry to admit that I have (in frustration) shaken the unit, which interestingly, revealed the possible cause of the fault: the unit re-boots instantly upon being shaken; obviously a loose wire/connection within the device.
There is an audible rattle from the device when shaken; surely also pointing towards the presence of a loose component within.

I find it noteworthy that on the "Etch a Sketch" packaging the device is described as "Child`s play: so easy a 4 year old can use it"....so, as a 47 year old, finding myself unable to make use of your device I find those hyperbolic claims hard to stomach.
I also have been dismayed to discover the woeful lack of instructions to accompany the unit; not even a mention of which operating system it uses or even any fault flow chart guidance!....this aspect of your product surely requires a complete "shake-up"

The two rotary controls on my "Etch a Sketch" appear to only serve one function; to move the cursor in the X and Y axis.
I assumed they should be multi-function intuitive interface controls, perhaps opening the wireless mode, disc burning and voice recognition features.
In a eureka-moment of lucidity, I thought perhaps I had been given the touchscreen version and proceeded to try and access "safe mode" during boot by repeatedly tapping the screen; sadly however this only produced a dirty screen and a broken fingernail; yet more disappointment!  :'(

I`d heard great things from other users of your product an having aspired to ownership since my youth, I am deeply saddened to have one that`s so obviously faulty: perhaps making it`s utility more a`kin of a Raspberry rather than a Blackberry!

In line with other suppliers of technology I assume you offer an 'on site warranty' should a visit from a qualified engineer prove necessary?......however, in this first instance I would hope that you will be able to offer tech-advice which will enable me to use the device without recourse to a repair call.

I look forward to receiving your kind attention.
Yours sincerely,

Debs.
Title: Re: Etch a Sketch: Faulty?
Post by: waspy on 16 March 2008, 13:11:14
Quote
Mattel Inc.: Tech Support Enquiry:

Dear Sir or Madam,
Having received one of your "Etch a Sketch" products (build verson 1.01) recently as a 'retro/humourous' Birthday-gift, I am disappointed to discover it appears to be faulty.
I have tried to telephone your tech-support line on numerous occasions but the lines are always busy; I assume because of many-other similarly faulty units!.....so, I write this in the hope of e.mail support.

The fault on my unit exhibits itself in a number of ways:
Firstly, I often cannot make the unit progress beyond the 'welcome' screen; the unit often just 'hangs' with the display in simple graphical interface mode (B & W VGA-mode)......Fiddling with the controls at that stage will only produce a 'mouse-trailed cursor'; `none of the exciting images/pictures shown on the unit`s delivery packaging...."very disappointing!"

Despite successive re-boots I have been unable to make the unit perform as described.....I find this situation upsetting and I`m sorry to admit that I have (in frustration) shaken the unit, which interestingly, revealed the possible cause of the fault: the unit re-boots instantly upon being shaken; obviously a loose wire/connection within the device.
There is an audible rattle from the device when shaken; surely also pointing towards the presence of a loose component within
.

I find it noteworthy that on the "Etch a Sketch" packaging the device is described as "Child`s play: so easy a 4 year old can use it"....so, as a 47 year old, finding myself unable to make use of your device I find those hyperbolic claims hard to stomach.
I also have been dismayed to discover the woeful lack of instructions to accompany the unit; not even a mention of which operating system it uses or even any fault flow chart guidance!....this aspect of your product surely requires a complete "shake-up"

The two rotary controls on my "Etch a Sketch" appear to only serve one function; to move the cursor in the X and Y axis.
I assumed they should be multi-function intuitive interface controls, perhaps opening the wireless mode, disc burning and voice recognition features.
In a eureka-moment of lucidity, I thought perhaps I had been given the touchscreen version and proceeded to try and access "safe mode" during boot by repeatedly tapping the screen; sadly however this only produced a dirty screen and a broken fingernail; yet more disappointment!  :'(

I`d heard great things from other users of your product an having aspired to ownership since my youth, I am deeply saddened to have one that`s so obviously faulty: perhaps making it`s utility more a`kin of a Raspberry rather than a Blackberry!

In line with other suppliers of technology I assume you offer an 'on site warranty' should a visit from a qualified engineer prove necessary?......however, in this first instance I would hope that you will be able to offer tech-advice which will enable me to use the device without recourse to a repair call.

I look forward to receiving your kind attention.
Yours sincerely,

Debs.

This is usually what i try first

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Etch a Sketch: Faulty?
Post by: dad1uk on 16 March 2008, 16:42:38
Quote
Mattel Inc.: Tech Support Enquiry:

Dear Sir or Madam,
Having received one of your "Etch a Sketch" products (build verson 1.01) recently as a 'retro/humourous' Birthday-gift, I am disappointed to discover it appears to be faulty.
I have tried to telephone your tech-support line on numerous occasions but the lines are always busy; I assume because of many-other similarly faulty units!.....so, I write this in the hope of e.mail support.

The fault on my unit exhibits itself in a number of ways:
Firstly, I often cannot make the unit progress beyond the 'welcome' screen; the unit often just 'hangs' with the display in simple graphical interface mode (B & W VGA-mode)......Fiddling with the controls at that stage will only produce a 'mouse-trailed cursor'; `none of the exciting images/pictures shown on the unit`s delivery packaging...."very disappointing!"

Despite successive re-boots I have been unable to make the unit perform as described.....I find this situation upsetting and I`m sorry to admit that I have (in frustration) shaken the unit, which interestingly, revealed the possible cause of the fault: the unit re-boots instantly upon being shaken; obviously a loose wire/connection within the device.
There is an audible rattle from the device when shaken; surely also pointing towards the presence of a loose component within.

I find it noteworthy that on the "Etch a Sketch" packaging the device is described as "Child`s play: so easy a 4 year old can use it"....so, as a 47 year old, finding myself unable to make use of your device I find those hyperbolic claims hard to stomach.
I also have been dismayed to discover the woeful lack of instructions to accompany the unit; not even a mention of which operating system it uses or even any fault flow chart guidance!....this aspect of your product surely requires a complete "shake-up"

The two rotary controls on my "Etch a Sketch" appear to only serve one function; to move the cursor in the X and Y axis.
I assumed they should be multi-function intuitive interface controls, perhaps opening the wireless mode, disc burning and voice recognition features.
In a eureka-moment of lucidity, I thought perhaps I had been given the touchscreen version and proceeded to try and access "safe mode" during boot by repeatedly tapping the screen; sadly however this only produced a dirty screen and a broken fingernail; yet more disappointment!  :'(

I`d heard great things from other users of your product an having aspired to ownership since my youth, I am deeply saddened to have one that`s so obviously faulty: perhaps making it`s utility more a`kin of a Raspberry rather than a Blackberry!

In line with other suppliers of technology I assume you offer an 'on site warranty' should a visit from a qualified engineer prove necessary?......however, in this first instance I would hope that you will be able to offer tech-advice which will enable me to use the device without recourse to a repair call.

I look forward to receiving your kind attention.
Yours sincerely,

Debs.

You don't look it! ::) ;)
Title: Re: Etch a Sketch: Faulty?
Post by: Debs. on 16 March 2008, 16:49:13
Quote

You don't look it! ::) ;)

 ;) You are a true-gentleman!  :y

[size=8]I hear Specsavers` eyetests are very good![/size]
Title: Re: Etch a Sketch: Faulty?
Post by: sir moanalot on 16 March 2008, 17:06:26
here is the repair guide-
completely strip down the unit to bare essentials and place each unit i a different place within your house. secondly go out and purchase a 100 inch lcd screen with a built in pc, dvd, video, stereo and sky unit, remove the two control knobs, replacing them with the two etch a sketch ones placed within your house.
this will solve the problem, i can sell you all the items listed at an inflated price, please let me know how you wish to pay.
mr rip. n. youov   (ex etchasketch customer service engineer).
Title: Re: Etch a Sketch: Faulty?
Post by: Debs. on 16 March 2008, 17:37:28
Quote
here is the repair guide-
completely strip down the unit to bare essentials and place each unit i a different place within your house. secondly go out and purchase a 100 inch lcd screen with a built in pc, dvd, video, stereo and sky unit, remove the two control knobs, replacing them with the two etch a sketch ones placed within your house.
this will solve the problem, i can sell you all the items listed at an inflated price, please let me know how you wish to pay.
mr rip. n. youov   (ex etchasketch customer service engineer).

 ;D ;D ;D ;D........ :y