2013 Archives

[acer_newbie]

I too have been following this message string as well before and after buying my R7.  I was hoping that it really was an issue that only a small percentage of the units might have been affected by this issue. Unforutnately from my experiencesthis far that has not been the case.  I just bought my unit last at Best Buy in the Atlanta area immeidately started to experience the same troubles that everyone here has been reporting when I brought it home into my network (I use a linksys WRT54G wireless router coupled with cable internet service).   I then decided to go back to the store and swap out the unit for another one but unforutnately this one has the same wifi troubles as well.    I'm strongly considering just taking the unit back and purchasing another model (not Acer) unless we get some real feed back from Acer as to what is the source of the problem actually is. If it's with a particular issue that affects a particular batch from a particular factory then we need to know this so that we can look at the factory label data on the packaging in the stores before taking it home and have to deal with this!  Let us know what label codes to avoid!

[DISMAYEDUK]

Hi

just had my R7 back, and guess what still didnt work.  Technical centre tried to say the problem was with my router!!!

I have just been on the phone to ACER, and  in the UKan email has come out from Acer to their technical teams acknowledging there is an issue and what the fix is...so mine is now going back again

[acer_newbie]

Did you hear any of the details about the email?  Also do you know if they would be sending similar emails to their US support colleagues?  I'm thinking that if they have already sent somethign in teh UK then the US shouldn't be far behind.  Thanks.

[garter]

Quote from Acer_Newbie:

I too have been following this message string as well before and after buying my R7.  I was hoping that it really was an issue that only a small percentage of the units might have been affected by this issue. Unforutnately from my experiencesthis far that has not been the case.  I just bought my unit last at Best Buy in the Atlanta area immeidately started to experience the same troubles that everyone here has been reporting when I brought it home into my network (I use a linksys WRT54G wireless router coupled with cable internet service).   I then decided to go back to the store and swap out the unit for another one but unforutnately this one has the same wifi troubles as well.    I'm strongly considering just taking the unit back and purchasing another model (not Acer) unless we get some real feed back from Acer as to what is the source of the problem actually is. If it's with a particular issue that affects a particular batch from a particular factory then we need to know this so that we can look at the factory label data on the packaging in the stores before taking it home and have to deal with this!  Let us know what label codes to avoid!

___________________________________________________________________________________________

I could not agree more. While I appreciate the posts from Cory from Acer, this is not an adequate response. In essence, what he is advising potential buyers is to purchase a $1000 laptop with a known defect and then swap it for a (hopefully) repaired one after fighting with tech support for an hour or more. So far, all evidence posted on this site is that all R7's currently for sale are defective. I really want to get this laptop, but there is no way I am going to make this level of investment in a machine that I know I am going to have to awap out for a different unit. 

Given the declining sales in the PC market worldwide, Acer has (had?) a great opportiunity to use a unique model like the R7 to increase their market share and their credibility with PC buyers. Refusing to acknowledge this defect by (a) pulling defective models from the shelf and (b) doing something more public than having one tech person on this forum tell us to simply swap their units out for a repaired model speaks volumes about how Acer handles quality control issues. What about all the buyers of the R7 who are not looking at this forum?

[TwelveTone]

So after a few days of using my newly replaced R7, all is still well and good.  As previously suggested, I left it on overnight without rebooting and still had normal wifi speeds the next day.  So again, I would suggest getting a replacement as Acer-Cory has previously suggested in this post and others.

I don't know how Best Buy is dealing with this since I didn't go through them.  Personally, I don't like BB and their sucky 14-day return policy.  I would rather have bought my R7 from almost anywhere else, but that was the only choice.  If you just exchange it at BB I think you may be taking a chance on getting another bad one, at least until their inventory is replaced.  If you return it through Acer support at least you can be sure you will get one with the wifi fixed.  It may be a bit of an inconvenience, but not that bad really.   I have dealt with other support departments before and this was the best and quickest response that I have received from a major company.   I had to have an HP laptop replaced many years ago and that was a big hassle.  Don't even get me started on Microsoft.

Anyway, I'm not going to waste any more time trying to figure out exactly what/where the problem was or what was changed.  I have a perfectly functioning R7 now and I'm happy.  I would not expect Acer to publicly explain the details of the problem any more than Apple did when they had their iPhone/wifi problem or any other company would want to.  Obviously they are taking a hit for it, and the fact they are replacing the unit free of charge is in a way admitting their mistake which is good enough for me.  Just call Acer and get your replacement, you'll be happy you did.

[CTT]

I purchased an R7 a couple of weeks ago from BB and have not had any WIFI problems that relate to the computer itself. I do use the computer regularly in an environment where the WIFI signal is quite weak for all computers.  In that environment, there is a challenge---the same challenge that has been experienced with other laptops in the past. I just found a solution for that which might be helpful for others who are having WIFI signal strength problems with their R7's: I purchased a Tan1 Wifi signal amplifier/extender. It works VERY WELL with the R7/Windows 8 and has boosted the speed of the internet in the challenging setting a LOT---it is quite speedy. The Tan1 it a small device that clips onto the computer and connects with a USB cord.

There are SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS about the R7 to note. To me, it would be hard to "go back" to the "old style" laptop after using it. :-)    It may be that using the R7 with a Tan1 will solve challenges for those who also really like the computer and are looking for a way around their challenge with the WIFI.

CTT

[Jspencer]

Just exchanged mine because of WiFi issues. Got another one, exact same problem. Samsung guy at best buy said it was a problem with the metal backing. I give up. I returning it for a different model.

[Smurk]

TwelveTone, you are wrong about Acer´s policy about explaining the problem. Acer-Cory just explained "If there is a solution that becomes available that would allow users to do themselves without contacting us or requiring additional support, we'd provide it...quickly. I just don't know if or when that will be available, and we were not willing to wait for that either." That means Acer acknowledges the problem with the internal WiFi adapter and agrees to replace the internal Broadcom WiFi adapter with the one you obviously have received and which you say works. (They are replacing it because they don´t know what to fix).

So if you want to buy the Aspire R7 with a working WiFi: make sure it doesn´t have that version of internal WiFi adapter as the faulty ones have!

Maybe Acer could list internal wifi adapters compatible with the Aspire R7, that works when replaced? Maybe the Intel Centrino 6235 as suggested in the VAIO thread?

[acer_newbie]

I'm pretty sure TwelveTone works for Acer...just sayin

[Smurk]

acer_newbie, look at it this way: if your Aspire R7 was a postage stamp, it would be a priceless find ...