We've definitely had some
hit-or-miss experiences with the
Broadcom Crystal HD video accelerator chip in various Atom-powered netbooks, but it sounds like some
Eee PC 1005PR buyers are having a different sort of bad day entirely, as ASUS is apparently shipping some systems without the chip disabled or otherwise not installed. That's at least the word according to several reviews on Amazon, and ASUS is apparently directing people to return the machines for a refund or replacement. We'd recommend holding off for a tick if you were in the market, and if you've already thrown down the cash, well, now might be a good time to double-check that Device Manager.
Update: ASUS tells us it's looking into the matter, and that company reps are actively contacting users with issues to sort things out. We'll let you know if we hear anything else.
posted May 12th 2010 2:19PM
Ruh Roh.
How does that even happen, jeez.
@aaronbustillos Does not look good at all, its quite sad that such a company would make that kind of a mistake.
@aaronbustillos
So the time has finally come where not only car companies make recalls to the garage but laptop manufacturers as well. Damn copycats.
Excuse me? And who the F*** cares again??
@browserspot dude apparently you dont care for the news article but you cared enough to comment on it? i wish there was less of your type in this site...
@browserspot The internet just isn't the internet without trolls.
So I already have an 1005PR... and 1005PE.
While I dont pity broadcom after the defective set of wifi adapters they threw into those dell minis, this seems to be on Asus' head.
Okay, how do you know if are you suppose to have this chip, and how do you check to see if it is not there? I just bought one of these laptops.
You have to look under Device Manager then look under the games, video & sounds controller ( I think that is the name) and the Broadcom Crystal HD chip should be one of three things.
test
yawn
wow i returned mine cuz of that mistake they sending me a new one
Such bullshit. I called ASUS and was one of the first to notice the issue. (Posted on Amazon, etc with the issue.) They 1) Told me that only SOME 1005PR's had the Crystal chip. 2) They hung up on me and were rude. 3) They told me they'd call me back (I have a case number if you want to email me engadget :) ), and never did. I had to return it and buy again; which caused two problems. I had to pay twice (because J&R ran out of stock, so, to get a new one was to buy it from Amazon). Two, J&R had to cover shipping, etc.. for an ASUS screw-up.
ASUS ignored me on their facebook page too.. Basically, they are UNRESPONSIVE to any issues.
yeah - i was actually looking into buying one of these about 4 days ago and i read the amazon reviews that the broadcom chip wasn't in there. this was going to be my first netbook. congrats asus, i will never be buying anything from you again.
any update on this situation? i was currently looking into this netbook for purchase but if they are still having issues then i will stay away