Finally heard back from Tech Support.

[CLuTcH]

OK.. maybe it's me.. but for the money I spent on this thing, I kind of expect better support.

I sent this email almost 2 weeks ago:

Type of problemSoftware

Detailed description of the problem :

Do you have a list of mime types (extensions) that the Opera browser
supports on the 604 wifi player with the latest firmware? I'm trying
to write a custom archos gateway page and need to know what I can pass through to the archos 604 I purchased

----------------------------------
The reply from Archos:
----------------------------------
noreply@archos.com,

Everything you need can be obtained from the open source file at the bottom of the following URL:

http://www.archos.com/support/download/ ... al&lang=en

Thank you,
Tony H
Archos Technical Support
----------------------------------
hrmmm...
That seems kind of can'd.. so my reply..
----------------------------------
So, you're telling me that I have to download a 150+ mb file just to get a list of file types that you probably have sitting there??

Tell you what. I'm going to write a great review of your product and support. Including this email msg of course, since it's really top notch support. And post it to any PMP site I can find. Then I'm going to take my 604 wifi and all the goodies I purchased back and get my money back and buy something else.

I've done support related work for 15+ years and I'm really confused at how awful your support is. I've sent you several emails almost 2 weeks ago, and just now you're responding? Pathetic.

And honestly, your response was AWFUL. I asked a question. DonÔÇÖt answer it with 'go look in this huge file and you might find it' as an answer. That's AWFUL support. ANSWER MY QUESTION!

Anyway, I've pre-ordered my OQO and can't wait for it to come.

You should read some of the bigger forums (forum.archosfans.com for example) theres a lot you could learn from your customers.

You've made the decision I've been considering for a week now very easy with your long awaited answer.

A very unhappy customer that can't wait to let people know what he thinks of your company.
----------------------------------
Just to see what I could find out from the file they recommended:
----------------------------------

application/x-shockwave-flash swf swfl

wow.. flash support!! I never knew! oh wait.. it doesn't support flash.


application/x-java class
application/x-javascript js


java? awesome!

ooops...

Those are just 2 things.. the list has all types of things that the player doesn't support.

that's the only file I could fine with 'mime' in it.. (mime.types)

Just another example of terrible support.. I'll post a review of the oqo 2 when I get mine. If it sucks - and their support sucks - you'll be the first to hear about it.

[Budwzr]

Archos tech support is farmed out to a support company, like a sub-contractor.

I have had great luck with Archos support. Someone there named Tim S. has provided me direct answers that solved my issues immediately.

To say that their support sucks because they don't want to pow-wow with you over your software project is a bit unfair doncha think?.

[Reppu]

Archos tech support is farmed out to a support company, like a sub-contractor.

I have had great luck with Archos support. Someone there named Tim S. has provided me direct answers that solved my issues immediately.

To say that their support sucks because they don't want to pow-wow with you over your software project is a bit unfair doncha think?.

First time i needed to contact with Archos support, they gave me a very helping answer in just two days. BUT..i made another question to them 28 days ago (because my DVR didn't work as a pass-through device) and you know what' They never answered. It looks like their support depends entirely on luck....

[Mojorisin69]

Clutch it's really not just Archos it's tech support in general. Everyone has farmed out for cheaper help and in most cases you wait on the phone for 2 or 3 hours to talk to the one person who knows what is going on. If companies spend a little more everyone would get better tech support. In the future though I would recommend calling them since email is not the fastest way to receive information. Congrats on you oqo 2 I bet it will rock. I would look into one but just dropped a grand on a new laptop.

Send me a link to your review once you do one.

[CLuTcH]

I've sent Archos emails several times about different things and this was the only response I received. I've been in the 'service' end of business forever. It's all I've ever done. Maybe that's why I know it should be better then it is. I understand that it's not just Archos and it's not just this industry.. it's everywhere. Good customer service is very hard to find anymore.

I think if they're not willing to provide prompt and accurate support via email with good follow-up, then they shouldn't offer it. Just remove the option from their website. Make people call. But to offer substandard support to many people just to say you offer 'email support' is unacceptable and should be made public. There are many people that don't have a couple hours to sit on hold. For the price of this item, I think quick/quality support should be a must, and the fact that they don't provide that should be taken into consideration in your purchasing decision.

[Budwzr]

Try Sony or Microsoft tech support and you'll love Archos again.

[Mojorisin69]

The only advice I can give you is to sell it and move on like I have.

[DKill_]

Maybe this is something you're looking for cLuTcH.

Translated from by me from http://tweakers.net/nieuws/46890/HTC-to ... -umpc.html

*EDIT* - Forgot to translate the top of the post, here it is:


HTC with their smartphones and pda's not an unfamiliar company anymore under tweakers, and now the company showed their own UMPC. The ultramobile computer is provided with Vista-Business software and has GMS-, GPRS-, EDGE-, UMTS- and HSDPA communication.

Behind the touchscreen - with a screensize of 7", there is a fullblown qwerty-keyboard hiding. For wireless communication there is the HTC Shift, which is the name of the device, given on wifi-networks and Bluetooth-connections. There is no information that's inside given yet, but HTC did say that the Shift has 1GB DDR2 memory, 128MB rom-storagespace and a 30GB Harddisk. Also the dimentions aren't known yet, but HTC claims that the UMPC won't be much bigger than "a few DVD cases". From the available pictures it seems that the device won't be one of the thinnest kind.

Unfortunately they don't say what the price will be, but when i look a bit on the internet, i find that it will probably be available in the 3rd quarter of this year, and probably under $2000,-.

Tech Specs:

Screen size: 7"
CPU: Via 1.2 GHz (maybe there will be more CPU's)
Memory: 1GB DDR2
HDD: 30GB
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, Tri-band UMTS / HSDPA, quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE
Software: Windows Vista Business.
Misc: Biometric reader, front-facing camera

Here 1 little movie which shows the device:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_IsK51P1vg&NR

[Mojorisin69]

Dkill, Any word on the price of that UMPC?

[DKill_]

Dkill, Any word on the price of that UMPC?

Read it again, just edited the post