rights for charity company??

comnut

I do voluntary work for a charity - computer support..

some laptops were bought 4 - 5 months ago, Samsung, so we thought no problem, should be ok...

Most of our volunteers are old people, and we deal in highly personal details, so only use wired internet...

I have finished installing our special software on them, and then found the LAN cable seems to have got 'jammed'!!

It eventually was able to be removed by using a long screwdriver, and a lot of fiddling.. definitely not a task for an old person's week fingers... (they have to be locked up at the end of the day)

The sockets have been tried with at least 10 variations of leads, etc, etc..

I thought my manager had got them all RMA'd with details and pictures of the problem, direct to Samsung UK..

This took a few days, as Samsung UK did not seem to have any documentation or laptop to hand, and had to be talked through many things, to explain the problem to them!!!

A few days later, she gets a phone call saying 'why do you have to use the LAN port?'. and generally behaving like an idiot, not believing the facts from three of our IT staff!! and then demanding only one (not all, as was discussed before) to be sent for testing...

After this long, would it still be possible to get money or credit back, as 'unfit for use/ not fully functional' ??

We have a good deal with Equanet on-line site, but they say it has been too long for them to do a replacement..

what do you think???

bris

Like anything else they have a right to remedy the situation before a replacement can be authorised. The other problem you have is that this is a B2B transaction and not a consumer rights issue. You should check the terms of your contract with the supplier to find out your rights on faulty goods, if indeed they are faulty.

aldredd

Is the problem that the little pin you have to grasp to pull it out goes too far in, so you finger can't reach it? If so, there are Lan cables which make this much easier - I'll see if I can find an example for you!

Incidentally, when configured correctly, WiFi is perfectly secure.

edit:
ok, basic one is something like this..
http://www.saverstore.com/product/20074884/Lindy-03m-CAT6-UTP-Snagless-Network-Cable-Yellow
You may already have tried one like this though.

or, something like this...
http://www.saverstore.com/product/20075658/StarTech-3ft-Blue-Shielded-Cat6a-Molded-STP-Patch-Cable

There are also some which have an ever bigger squeeze grip, but struggling to find one.

All else fails - snap the pin off - lan cables usually stay in place pretty well

paddyrg

As aldredd says, could be that your cable connectors are cheap and nasty as opposed to the Lan ports themselves. Try a few different brands, or spend an hour or two seeing up the wifi properly, it's a quicker and more long term solution

comnut

thanks for your replies...

the problem with 'extenders' is mainly most of the older workers will still get worried about getting the plug out.... I have found a one piece 'swivel' connector but it is only for the smaller RJ11 phone type , not RJ45..

It looks very much a design problem, most of our old laptops have a socket with a metal surround, that latches the plug, where the samsung is plastic, with what seems like small inserts for the latch..
the socket itself is a loose fit, so just removing the clip will not work..

the problem with wifi is head office has VERY strict guidelines for security, so all 100 laptops would have to be locked down, not visible to anyone, and all the IP's logged so they can be connected to by the main server.. making it quite complex, and the ancient DB server software we have to use is very sensitive to any connection breaks...

and hopeless if a laptop has to be taken to a different site..

we have used many different cables including ones we have made up ourselves..


Samsung UK's name is certainly mud, dont think we will be buying samsung anytime soon!!!

paddyrg

OK, I have had an idea... USB to RJ45 adaptors

Not ideal, but it will eliminate the problem and you can fill the sockets on the lappy with a plug/epoxy resin to make sure they don't get used :-)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plugable-Gigabit-Ethernet-Chromebook-Specific/dp/B003VSTDFG/ref=pd_cp_computers_2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plugable-Ethernet-Network-Chromebook-Specific/dp/B00484IEJS/ref=pd_cp_computers_0

Or this cheap and cheerful (possibly nasty) one...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-UEA-0331-Usb-lan-RJ45/dp/B000CCZP88/ref=pd_sim_sbs_computers_1

Howzat?

Wicked_witch

Pretty sure there are laws about locking old people up at the end of the day

comnut

USB to RJ45 adaptors??? no I would use a RJ45 extender, if it would not confuse the users, trying to pull it out...

have you recently counted how many USB's there are on laptops? it is quite difficult finding a good laptop with 3 of them, they are so busy putting HDMI, ESATA, sdcard slots etc in the limited space... and they are usually too busy saying how good it is, to bother saying what sockets it has... and often does not even say..

I would love 4 or more, there are usually only 3...
1 - mouse for easier browsing
2 - usb drive for general updates etc...
3 - cell dongle for offsite use, may block nextdoor USB due to size..
4- if the keyboard has problems, or needs special interface for disabled user??

comnut

Wicked_witch wrote: »

Pretty sure there are laws about locking old people up at the end of the day

well I think you will find most 70 year olds are a lot more savvy than some teenagers!! retired naval engineers, Cobol programmers (they were brought in to help solve the Y2K problem in ancient computers!!), brains are still good, but strength not so good...

Slowhand

comnut wrote: »

USB to RJ45 adaptors??? no I would use a RJ45 extender, if it would not confuse the users, trying to pull it out...

have you recently counted how many USB's there are on laptops? it is quite difficult finding a good laptop with 3 of them, they are so busy putting HDMI, ESATA, sdcard slots etc in the limited space... and they are usually too busy saying how good it is, to bother saying what sockets it has... and often does not even say..

I would love 4 or more, there are usually only 3...
1 - mouse for easier browsing
2 - usb drive for general updates etc...
3 - cell dongle for offsite use, may block nextdoor USB due to size..
4- if the keyboard has problems, or needs special interface for disabled user??

Samsung 4 USB slot laptop for £350 with three easy payment instalments here:- http://www.qvcuk.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?partNumber=503823&storeId=10252&cm_re=LN-_-TODAYSFEATURES-_-ITEMONAIR&langId=-2&sc=IOA&catalogId=10152&UDC=ONAIR&ddkey=http:OnAirProductDisplay

comnut

sorry, but may I remind you this is for a company?? we do not support win8 due to our software and maintenance needs...

what is the chance it has the same RJ45 problem, being made by Samsung???

It is also a bit expensive for a low powered, pentium dual core..

here is a Core i3 with Win7 Professional 64-bit for £382..
http://www.equanet.co.uk/catalogue/item/it-equipment/Computers/Laptops/Acer-TravelMate-5760-32322G32Mnsk/NX.V54EK.027/A025299A

or an acer for £330..
http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Acer_TMP253_I3-2328_4G_500_DVDR_W7P_NX.V7VEK.004/version.asp?PID=679