Dell Venue 8 Pro bad choice of USB Micro-A socket with USB Micro-B plug. Already broken!

The paint is a good idea, but you're just prolonging the inevitable. Sooner or later, you're going to plug it in upside-down and destroy it. It should not be possible to do this. Each and every one of these Dell Venue 8 Pro devices is doomed to an early extinction because of this. It's a colossal design failure. Dell needs to recall them all.

I've painted nearly the entire back of every plug I use with this thing white.  I'll never plug in it backwards.   But I do think that someone's head should roll at Dell for making such a terrible decision.  I wouldn't be surprised at all if a large percentage of these get broken and returned.  It's going to be a huge loss for Dell.

Unless Dell has warehouses full of these they'll be doing a "minor" fix to new systems based on their returns.

If they do this we'll all just return them in the fall (just before the end of the warranty) and get new ones with the plug problem fixed.  Those who don't use there tablets much will keep the old connectors.

Does Dell monitor these forums?

Been looking around, ie Best Buy, Frys, Dell website, eBay, and because I really like this thing while I had it, I just might buy another one from Costco. If the USB receptacle fails again (I'll have 90 days to use it), I'll just take it back.

100% agree.  USB aside, the device is awesome.  I received my new device today, port is the same.  I plan to mark the USB cable as suggested above and ban all others in the world from charging it or touching it while on the charger to avoid future issues. 

I also experienced this same problem got RMA agreement to return as I believe the design is defective with the current incorrect USB port installed.

I have found that if you accidentally try to insert the supplied B USB connector upside down it will bend the inner connecter but will plug in without forcing it.  since some force is required to insert the plug into the socket in all cases..   I have taken an Exacto knife and carefully bent the center conductor tab back down where it should be for a B connector and the cable will insert again correctly and charge.  However the stress from plugging this cable in upside down a couple of times can break off this tab... This is definitely a design flaw .and should be recalled and  corrected by DELL.

@CM.....Please let us know what type of USB receptacle is used to replace the original. I suspect they may just send you a new tablet with the same type receptacle installed.

Do they monitor the forums? haha funny. No. They do occasionally respond to @DellCares on twitter

Hello MBrooks,

I am sorry to hear about your previous Customer Service experience but, we do monitor the forums.  I do not always respond until we have information we can share or until we have a fix in place.  Dell Engineers have been made aware of customer concerns with the USB plug type on the Venue 8 Pro and we are working on a solution for future products. Jeff Leites has an excellent suggestion, to mark the up-side in some fashion. In the mean time, it is suggested to ensure you plug it in right-side-up and never force the plug.  I hope to have further updates as they come available.

Thank you all for your updates, feedback and patience,

-Don D.

You are right - I can't speak for reviews.

I can speak for me - I've never had a problem like this before so I just didn't pay attention.  I have a Surface RT and when you plug it in wrong you don't see the blue light - big give away!

I'd rather have an uncharged Surface than a bricked Dell Venue - you are so right that this is a very important issue since it kills the device.  When I get mine replace (due any day now) I'll look for extra instructions or a physical change to see if Dell has made any changes.

Why don't we all email / tweet Paul???

David

I wondered about the A/B port so I went to my local Futureshop and Staples stores and looked at all of the phones and tablets. I could not find one single device that used a  A/B type slot. I'm glad you've never plugged your BT device upside down "yet". I'm thinking maybe you might be younger than me and so your eyes are probably better than mine. Thanks again for the replies.

Reviewers don't use the product as long as a typical users so they may miss things like this.  I know that Paul didn't like the connector on the Microsoft Surface and found that early on.

Why didn't a Dell engineer find this problem - - - either they didn't or they found it so late in the development / production cycle that they were told to shut up by their manager.  Obviously Dell knows now - but who in Dell wants to jump up and down demanding they all be replaced when customers are hardly saying a peep.