TF701 Build Quality Issues

[sbdags]

Yes when I was playing with my 701 I turned auto bright off. It kept dimming to the lowest level. I am sure its a software issue however I am not going to invest more time in the 701 until I can get the dock connector issue resolved (or not).

The default asus brightness profile is well screwy....

They have changed the way it works on the Tegra4 by looking in the firmware. It seems related to the perfromance profile being used. I can see commands like this:

echo 25 > /sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/aggressiveness

for web browsing mode and balanced mode for example and this

echo 0 > /sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/enable

for normal mode

Try switching the perf mode. Does it make a difference?

Now even odder this is how Asus seem to be setting up the screen res. Now if I'm not mistaken the screen seems to be able to switch between 2 resolutions? Interesting

panelresolution=1920X1200
NV_FPSLIMIT 0 30 30
/sys/module/cpu_tegra/parameters/cpu_user_cap 0 900000 900000
/sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/aggressiveness 29 29 29
/sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/enable 1 1 1
panelresolution=2560X1600
NV_FPSLIMIT 0 30 30
/sys/module/cpu_tegra/parameters/cpu_user_cap 0 1000000 1000000
/sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/aggressiveness 29 29 29
/sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/enable 1 1 1
panelresolution=-1X-1
NV_FPSLIMIT 0 30 30
/sys/module/cpu_tegra/parameters/cpu_user_cap 0 1000000 1000000
/sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/aggressiveness 29 29 29
/sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/enable 1 1 1

 

[EasyOne]

The default asus brightness profile is well screwy....

They have changed the way it works on the Tegra4 by looking in the firmware. It seems related to the perfromance profile being used. I can see commands like this:

echo 25 > /sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/aggressiveness

for web browsing mode and balanced mode for example and this

echo 0 > /sys/class/graphics/fb0/device/smartdimmer/enable

for normal mode

Try switching the perf mode. Does it make a difference?

Doesn't seem to make any difference what mode it's in. I guess you're referring to Smart mode? Is this the replacement for the 3 performance settings we have on our TF700's? Does it alter the clock speed? Anyway, it seems to dim down way too much in a dimly to moderately lit room, probably be good for reading at night but too dark for anything else.
Interesting about the 2 screen resolutions, weird ratios.

 

[GitAlongLilDoggies]

Upon further testing the disconnect problem between my tablet/dock appears to be a fault with the tablets new connector as well as well as the loose fit in the dock. When plugging the tablet into my computers USB port I get the same random disconnects, the slightest tap on the tablet connector causes it to disconnect from the computer. This is a consistently repeatable and obvious fault - been in the tech repair business for 40+ years, I know a faulty connector when I see one. I don't know if this is a design flaw in general or confined to my particular device. In any case, this puppy is going back. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else can reproduce my results, might help me decide whether to get an exchange or refund. Thanks.

Same here, just wiggling the cable causes it to drop from my PC. That's it for me, I'm done with Asus products. RMA this mess, take the 15% penalty and move on.

 

[wagz]

Same here, just wiggling the cable causes it to drop from my PC. That's it for me, I'm done with Asus products. RMA this mess, take the 15% penalty and move on.

Well crap, what to do now. I have the same problem. I ordered this thing from China and got it last week before the american release. I've been having random reboots and such on it and figured it was the dock connector that was loose. But I just did the USB cable test on the tablet by itself and same thing as you guys, slightest touch breaks the connection. My dock connection seems pretty tight so the loose connector isn't as big an issue when it's docked but I'm wondering what happens if the docks loosens up over time.

I don't have time to ship this thing back as I need it for work for the next two weeks as I gave away my TF101 which I use for VDI among other things. My warranty is in taiwanese or something, anyone know what kind of warranty this comes with?

 

[aznmode]

I still haven't purchased a dock but now I'm afraid to. My first unit the glass lifted slightly off and had to push it back in. 2nd one looks like it built better. But the keyboard is what sold me to asus.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[wagz]

I still haven't purchased a dock but now I'm afraid to. My first unit the glass lifted slightly off and had to push it back in. 2nd one looks like it built better. But the keyboard is what sold me to asus.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

It's not the dock, It's the connector on the tablet itself. I think the tight fit of my dock is the only thing not making this worse and limiting it to only a few black screens or oddities here and there. so if you do that USB cable wiggle test on your tablet and it doesn't disconnect from your computer very easily, I think you'll be ok getting a dock.

 

[GitAlongLilDoggies]

It's not the dock, It's the connector on the tablet itself. I think the tight fit of my dock is the only thing not making this worse and limiting it to only a few black screens or oddities here and there. so if you do that USB cable wiggle test on your tablet and it doesn't disconnect from your computer very easily, I think you'll be ok getting a dock.

I think you're on to something here. This might be a production run issue Asus needs to address at the factory. I was getting disconnects from the start. I don't think it was caused by the loose fit of the dock putting stress on the connection port in the tablet causing it to break but just an issue with the port itself.

Damned shame. Seemed like Asus finally sorted out the issues with the design. I've been really pleased with the performance of the tablet itself.

 

[xRevilatioNx]

Amazon took the dock keyboard down yesterday. I wonder if Asus is addressing this issue. Sucks being early adapters.

Sent from my New Asus Transformer Pad TF701T using Tapatalk HD

 

[AngryDinosaur]

Amazon took the dock keyboard down yesterday. I wonder if Asus is addressing this issue. Sucks being early adapters.

Sent from my New Asus Transformer Pad TF701T using Tapatalk HD

i wonder if the problem is the dock or the tablet, i havent got a dock yet

 

[pelago]

i wonder if the problem is the dock or the tablet, i havent got a dock yet

Have you tried testing (e.g. tapping or slightly wobbling) the USB cable connection at the tablet end?

 

[EasyOne]

With mine it was definitely a bad port on the tablet, not the dock. There was also a very telling anomaly in the battery stats, there were quite a few spikes that showed the battery had dropped to 0 and then returned to normal - if you're seeing this then I would definitely return it. I've seen this symptom often while repairing electronics, the port/jack pulls loose from the board taking a trace with it - headphone jacks do this often if they are not provided with a good mechanical connection in addition to the solder. My replacement unit is due later today, I'll test it with the cable before putting it into the dock, and then again after. If it turns out that the port is damaged from normal, or in my case,very careful use within the first day then I would say that Asus has a serious problem on their hands.

 

[EasyOne]

Update: Sorry to say but my replacement TF701 has the bad port connector also. Tried both cables with each tablet and with the dock, unable to get a reliable connection to any of my PC's or with the dock with either tablet. Both are going back as they are completely unusable as is, I can't imagine how even a "good' one would hold up to daily use for long. There is NO EXCUSE for such shoddy workmanship in a top end $600 device. Are you listening Asus? Back to my TF700 as I can't bring myself to buy one of those Touch Wiz abominations.

Note: The packaging on the replacement device was slightly different - a large sticker on the screen - but the model #'s match up, was hoping it came from a different batch that may have been assembled properly.

 

[thor7777]

I'm sorry to say that I've also returned the tablet and the dock. Had the same connection issues as the rest of the people here. Will wait for the new Nexus 10 or if Asus fixes these hardware issues I might try them again.

It's too bad, I really liked the tablet's speed and the dock features

 

[Eroc162]

Anybody have this problem with their keyboard. All my keys are quiet but my volume up and power button click so loud that it kinda vibrates the inside of the keyboard.

Sent from my K00C using XDA Premium HD app

 

[HaPe000]

In store I got an info that's normal for this model and they don't exchange me this dock...
Should I send dock to the Asus Service Care?

 

[berndblb]

In store I got an info that's normal for this model and they don't exchange me this dock...
Should I send dock to the Asus Service Care?

What is normal??????????

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 4

 

[HaPe000]

What is normal??????????

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 4

Losing connect from dock to tablet.

 

[thor7777]

Losing connect from dock to tablet.

How can that ever be normal for any product?! What store did you get it from? Seems like they just don't want to let you return it.....

 

[HaPe000]

How can that ever be normal for any product?! What store did you get it from? Seems like they just don't want to let you return it.....

A big store in Poland, very big. I will contact with Asus Service...

 

[wagz]

Update: Sorry to say but my replacement TF701 has the bad port connector also. Tried both cables with each tablet and with the dock, unable to get a reliable connection to any of my PC's or with the dock with either tablet. Both are going back as they are completely unusable as is, I can't imagine how even a "good' one would hold up to daily use for long. There is NO EXCUSE for such shoddy workmanship in a top end $600 device. Are you listening Asus? Back to my TF700 as I can't bring myself to buy one of those Touch Wiz abominations.

Note: The packaging on the replacement device was slightly different - a large sticker on the screen - but the model #'s match up, was hoping it came from a different batch that may have been assembled properly.

I think I'm going a different way with it. So I think I'm going to hang on to it for a while as I really love the tablet/dock/features and it works great as a vdi box and such. When it's docked I only really have disconnect issues when I open or close it and it's a a quick disconnect. the issue is more pronounced when the cable is plugged into my PC from the tablet itself undocked as a tap will cause a disconnect. So when I think of my use cases, neither of these things are really going to cause me any headache during use and I probably won't notice since when it's docked it's not like I'm swinging it open and closed a bunch while using it and when it's hooked to my pc it's usually because I'm copying something to it so I also won't be moving it around . I am worried about what a loose connector might do tothe tablet electrically over time like burn out the internel storage or cause corruption of the os.

With that said does anyone know what the warranty period is? As I was saying I bought this thing a couple of weeks ago from taiwan and the writing for the warranty card isin chinese or taiwanese or something

Thanks.