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1451694
Dell Venue 8 Pro bad choice of USB Micro-A socket with USB Micro-B plug. Already broken!
Got the Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet and it seems to be a great Windows tablet. But I already broke one of the pins in the Micro USB power connector. Funny thing is the socket in the tablet is a rectangular Micro-A and the power cable plug is Micro-B (un-even shape which makes you plug in the right way if the socket is also Micro B). One can easily put the Micro-B plug in the Micro-A socket in the wrong way and if you force it, it will break the pins inside. Just like I did today! I don't know who in the world made this choice! I have been using Android phones which correctly use a Micro-B socket and Micro-B plug!
For my issue, I will try to call Dell service and see whether they will replace the connector. :-(
mbooks
7 Posts
2
December 30th, 2013 06:00
Have new device being sent, put old device in box to send back for warranty. Tech could not confirm if I would be charged or not. I'm concerned they will say it's end user damaged and charge me for a new tablet. If end user damaged, which I don't think it is, I would rather just pay to replace USB plug but didn't have that option. FYI - Supervisor confirmed Best Buy was NOT a local tech - glad I escalated call otherwise guys at Geek squad would have laughed
mbooks
7 Posts
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December 29th, 2013 06:00
Same issue with mine. Any luck with warranty?
Darryl_Gittins
49 Posts
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December 29th, 2013 11:00
Darryl_Gittins
49 Posts
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December 29th, 2013 13:00
Jeff Leites
480 Posts
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December 29th, 2013 13:00
I mentioned in another post yesterday, that I did some research on USB connectors. I'm pretty sure that the socket on the tablet is a mircro-AB socket, not a micro-A. They are both rectangular, but the micro-AB accepts both a micro-A and a micro-B plug.
The best policy, which I sometimes find hard to practice myself, is to never force anything. The cable's micro-B plug goes into the socket the correct way without a lot of force, trying to put it in the wrong way takes a lot more effort.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB
Jeff Leites
480 Posts
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December 29th, 2013 15:00
I read that link. That is what stared me on checking it out. That is also where I replied that I thought he was wrong.
Look at this picture of a Micro-AB socket from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB
It is rectangular because it is designed to accept either a Micro-A OR a Micro-B plug.
A Micro-B plug will will go in the correct direction without forcing it. If you force it in the wrong way, it will break. DON'T FORCE A PLUG INTO A SOCKET.
That said, I agree that Dell should have used a Micro-B (only) socket.
mbooks
7 Posts
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December 30th, 2013 04:00
Plan to call Dell today for warranty claim. Will update this post once I speak to them, hopefully in English.
mbooks
7 Posts
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December 30th, 2013 06:00
Update - On the phone with support as I type this - Was told they can't replace due to type of warranty and that I would need to contact a local tech. They were about to hang up and I said WAIT, how do I find a local tech? Was given poor advice then asked if I could go to Best Buy, they said yes. He then said he needs to speak to a supervisor, then I was asked to take pictures and send them in. Explained my frustration on deaf ears, now on hold waiting to speak to a supervisor - We are having basic communication challenges due to language barriers. Stay tuned!
davidsmi
14 Posts
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January 1st, 2014 13:00
Mine just broke. It is a problem with the design.- my cell phone has similar connector and it keeps working and working.
Let's see what the say when I call Thursday!
Happy New Year!
Darryl_Gittins
49 Posts
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January 3rd, 2014 10:00
Darryl_Gittins
49 Posts
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January 3rd, 2014 10:00
mbooks
7 Posts
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January 3rd, 2014 10:00
Jeff Leites
480 Posts
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January 3rd, 2014 15:00
The long side of the trapezoid go on the back of the tablet.
The short side goes on the screen side.
It should slide in that was with only slight resistance.
Mark the back side of the plug with fingernail polish, "White Out", or paint, so you don't get it wrong.
Darryl_Gittins
49 Posts
2
January 6th, 2014 14:00
Rich2beach
5 Posts
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January 6th, 2014 14:00
Had mine about 3 weeks. Noticed the problem right away and was very careful. However, yesterday morning the plug would not go all the way in. I had not forced it but a couple times I started to plug it in upside down, felt the resistance, stopped, turned the plug around and then it went in. Yesterday it simply would not go in (it was turned correctly). Could not charge tablet and could not reset to factory settings. Had to use CCleaner to wipe it clean. Returned it to Costco and got a full refund. Thank you Costco.