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Unread 31-03-2010, 17:24
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Get a life? This IS my life!
AKA: Phil Malone
FRC #1629 (GaCo: The Garrett Coalition)
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Re: Where/how to purchase spare classmate

Quote:
Originally Posted by mtfawcett2907 View Post
Do you know if this part has a warrantee? If so, how do we send back our failed unit? ...
I have to say, this whole Broken Classmate issue is starting to make my stomach churn a bit.

Let's face it, this is a mandetory component with a dubious supply chain.

I thought that going with a commercial off-the-shelf product would have given us some stability and support, but in reality it seems that we really are worse off then the old Blue-Boxes.

I mean... there are no direct replacements available from the suppliers. The alternative seems close, but not fully compatible with the supplied imaging/restore tools and drivers.

Since many teams have removed the flexible cover from the clamshells and applied Velcro, they are unlikely to be covered by any sane warantee so I think we're going to be left out in the cold again.

Seriously.... Two weeks to nationals and I have a Classmate that can't run on batteries, and no-one to call for tech support (the live online support is a joke! and the phone number just goes to a machine that never calls me back.)

What are my options?

Guess I better go and see if it's legal to power the classmate from an external battery and inverter. Short of that we're done for championships.

Phil. Pretty dissapointed with the whole deal.
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Phil Malone
Garrett Engineering And Robotics Society (GEARS) founder.
http://www.GEARSinc.org

FRC1629 Mentor, FTC2818 Coach, FTC4240 Mentor, FLL NeXTGEN Mentor
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