Zyxel - False Advertising! - Beware of this Company!
in [Wireless Internet]
|
From: Le Chaud Lapin on 2 Jul 2008 01:20 On Jun 26, 1:25 am, Le Chaud Lapin <jaibudu...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > On Jun 26, 12:50 am, Le Chaud Lapin <jaibudu...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > On Jun 25, 11:31 pm, Le Chaud Lapin <jaibudu...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > For all else who are interested, the pseudo-generic name for what I am > > looking for is "SoftAP". > > > Google it, and much information will come forth. > > I appears that the complete package is Zyxel G200 series: > > http://us.zyxel.com/web/product_family_detail.php?PC1indexflag=200405.... BUYER BEWARE: Zyxel seems to be engaged in deliberate false-advertising to move products known to be incompatible with Vista in some respects. I bought the Zyxel AG-225H and was extremely disappointed today that the Access Point feature will not run on Vista. The following page: http://tinyurl.com/6zr6zn ...reads: "the Software Access Point feature that is included in each and every AG-225H." ...it also reads: "Microsoft Vista Support Out of the Box" "Microsoft Vista is the next big operating system change users have to contend with coming out of Microsoft in 2007. Dont be afraid of your new AG-225H becoming obsolete lagging behind your computer OS upgrades" I was definitely afraid of no Vista support for my Access Point dongle, so I spent over an hour carefully searching the web to make sure that the Access Point device I chose supported Vista. I chose the AG-225H specifically because it mentioned "Microsoft Vista Support Out Of The Box." If you try to use this device with Vista, the Software Access Point feature not only will not work, it will not install. AT ALL. This is not a bug. It is deliberate. The engineers have not written any GUI software for Vista. Zero. If the installation CD detects that the operating system on which it is being installed is Windows Vista, it will install the device driver only, and completely block installation of any other software, including the Access Point software. I spent 30 minutes on the phone today with a Zyxel representative and his manager arguing about whether a rational, moderately intelligent person reading the page at the link above would get the impression that the device is Vista-ready, meaning not only will it be useable as a normal Wi-Fi roaming dongle, but will also be useable as an Access Point, which is the only reason I bought it. The representative I spoke with, and his manager, staunchly denied that they are responsible for any wrong-doing or confusion that might have arisen, and faulted me [an electrical/software engineer that programs in Windows and network devices in particular] for "misinterpreting their clearly-written presentation." To prove that they were not at fault, the representative told me to go to the "Support and Downloads" location on their web site: http://tinyurl.com/39b82r And told to scroll down near the bottom and read one of the FAQ's where it says: Q:"When I install my ZyXEL Client Adapter, I cant use the bundled Utility that controls the adapter. Is this normal? " A:"Currently, Vista is not supported on any of ZyXELs Client Adapters however this does not mean that they will not work on Windows Vista! Using the step by step setup process outlined on this webpage, you can install any of our client adapters onto your Windows Vista OS PC. Please remember that the Utility used to configure and control the Client Adapter will be the Windows Zero Config Utility within Windows Vista." What this means, in English, is that the Access Point feature *WILL NOT WORK* on Vista. NOT AT ALL. Note how they call the Access Point software the "Utility", not "Access Point Software". I then asked, "Isn't the Support & Downloads area of a company's web- site typically visited by customers *after* they have already purchased the product?" He said "No, it is clearly written there, and you could have excercised some initiative and looked at that page and seen that the Access Point feature was not supported by Vista." I then said, "But I was mislead by the page that describes the product. Why do you not simply put an asterisk next to the 'Microsoft Vista Support Out of the Box' blurb on the product description page to say that Vista support does not include the Access Point feature? After all, the only reason I bought your product is so I could use the Acess Point feature on Vista." He said, "We will consider that in the future." I noticed that too many questions on the FAQ page seemed to indicate that I was not the only person who inferred that "Microsoft Vista Support Out of the Box" meant that the Access Point feature would work on Vista, so I asked the manager..."Certainly there are other people who where duped by this page...I cannot be the only person who thought that the Access Point feature would work on Vista only to find out that it doesn't?" he said, "Yes, you're the only person." I said, "Are you sure? I am not an idiot...I know how to read, I'm not lazy, this simply doesn't make sense." He said, "No,..no..you're the only one." I was about to ask if I could return the device and get my money back until I read the following FAQ not far from the other FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/39b82r Q: "Do you have an exchange program for customers that upgrade their PCs to Windows Vista only to find out that the ZyXEL product they are using does NOT support Windows Vista?" A: "Unfortunately the 2 Year ZyXEL Warranty program does NOT include exchanges if the product is not Micosoft Vista supported. The supported operating systems are dependent on the time of which the product was developed. Although ZyXEL tries our best to make sure that all products will be Microsoft Windows Vista certified, sometimes a replacement product will shift resources from one product to another." Liar. This company certainly knows how to make first impressions. [NOTE: To those reading this post, this is not just a rant. I will likely sue this company for false advertising as a matter of principle. What would help me greatly is if you could simply take a look at the following link, and make a mental note (or otherwise) that, as of 2008-07-08, there is nothing on the product description page that says that the Access Point feature of the device cannot be used under Windows Vista.] http://tinyurl.com/6zr6zn Zyxel Customer Support In USA: (800) 978-7222 -Le Chaud Lapin-
From: LR on 2 Jul 2008 02:43 Le Chaud Lapin wrote: > [NOTE: To those reading this post, this is not just a rant. I will > likely sue this company for false advertising as a matter of > principle. What would help me greatly is if you could simply take a > look at the following link, and make a mental note (or otherwise) > that, as of 2008-07-08, there is nothing on the product description > page that says that the Access Point feature of the device cannot be > used under Windows Vista.] > > http://tinyurl.com/6zr6zn Under Specifications System Requirement * Notebook or PC with the Pentium II o 300 MHz or compatible above o Minimum 32MB RAM (64MB Recommended) o A minimum of 20MB available hard disk space o A CD ROM drive o USB Type A slot (V2.0/V1.1 Comparable) o Microsoft Windows XP/2000 No mention of Vista > > Zyxel Customer Support In USA: (800) 978-7222 > > -Le Chaud Lapin-
From: LR on 2 Jul 2008 02:54 LR wrote: > Le Chaud Lapin wrote: > >> [NOTE: To those reading this post, this is not just a rant. I will >> likely sue this company for false advertising as a matter of >> principle. What would help me greatly is if you could simply take a >> look at the following link, and make a mental note (or otherwise) >> that, as of 2008-07-08, there is nothing on the product description >> page that says that the Access Point feature of the device cannot be >> used under Windows Vista.] >> >> http://tinyurl.com/6zr6zn > > Under Specifications > > System Requirement > > * Notebook or PC with the Pentium II > o 300 MHz or compatible above > o Minimum 32MB RAM (64MB Recommended) > o A minimum of 20MB available hard disk space > o A CD ROM drive > o USB Type A slot (V2.0/V1.1 Comparable) > o Microsoft Windows XP/2000 > > No mention of Vista > > >> >> Zyxel Customer Support In USA: (800) 978-7222 >> >> -Le Chaud Lapin- Zyxel Vista Support http://www.zyxel.com/web/support_vista.php
From: Le Chaud Lapin on 2 Jul 2008 13:31 On Jul 2, 1:43 am, LR <l...(a)privacy.net> wrote: > Le Chaud Lapin wrote: > > [NOTE: To those reading this post, this is not just a rant. I will > > likely sue this company for false advertising as a matter of > > principle. What would help me greatly is if you could simply take a > > look at the following link, and make a mental note (or otherwise) > > that, as of 2008-07-08, there is nothing on the product description > > page that says that the Access Point feature of the device cannot be > > used under Windows Vista.] > > >http://tinyurl.com/6zr6zn > > Under Specifications > > System Requirement > > * Notebook or PC with the Pentium II > o 300 MHz or compatible above > o Minimum 32MB RAM (64MB Recommended) > o A minimum of 20MB available hard disk space > o A CD ROM drive > o USB Type A slot (V2.0/V1.1 Comparable) > o Microsoft Windows XP/2000 > > No mention of Vista This link [http://tinyurl.com/6zr6zn] is the main link for the product description page. It has "Microsoft Vista Support Out of the Box" written in bold letters. I think that counts as a "mention of Vista". -Le Chaud Lapin-
From: Le Chaud Lapin on 2 Jul 2008 13:46
On Jul 2, 1:54 am, LR <l...(a)privacy.net> wrote: > LR wrote: > > Le Chaud Lapin wrote: > > >> [NOTE: To those reading this post, this is not just a rant. I will > >> likely sue this company for false advertising as a matter of > >> principle. What would help me greatly is if you could simply take a > >> look at the following link, and make a mental note (or otherwise) > >> that, as of 2008-07-08, there is nothing on the product description > >> page that says that the Access Point feature of the device cannot be > >> used under Windows Vista.] > > >>http://tinyurl.com/6zr6zn > > > Under Specifications > > > System Requirement > > > * Notebook or PC with the Pentium II > > o 300 MHz or compatible above > > o Minimum 32MB RAM (64MB Recommended) > > o A minimum of 20MB available hard disk space > > o A CD ROM drive > > o USB Type A slot (V2.0/V1.1 Comparable) > > o Microsoft Windows XP/2000 > > > No mention of Vista > > >> Zyxel Customer Support In USA: (800) 978-7222 > > >> -Le Chaud Lapin- > > Zyxel Vista Support > http://www.zyxel.com/web/support_vista.php Apparently you did not read my OP. In it, I placed that link already. Here, let's take two paragraphs, bout written by Zyxel, and place them next to ecah other to see if it becomes clear: First, the link that you put above reads: Q:"When I install my ZyXEL Client Adapter, I cant use the bundled Utility that controls the adapter. Is this normal? " A:"Currently, Vista is not supported on any of ZyXELs Client Adapters however this does not mean that they will not work on Windows Vista! Using the step by step setup process outlined on this webpage, you can install any of our client adapters onto your Windows Vista OS PC. Please remember that the Utility used to configure and control the Client Adapter will be the Windows Zero Config Utility within Windows Vista." And now, the link for the AG-225H [http://tinyurl.com/6zr6zn] reads: "Microsoft Vista Support Out of the Box" "Microsoft Vista is the next big operating system change users have to contend with coming out of Microsoft in 2007. Dont be afraid of your new AG-225H becoming obsolete lagging behind your computer OS upgrades." So, quick question: After reading this last paragraph, should I expect Vista support or not? This last paragraph, which is on the main page for the product, indicates that I should, even though it does not. The other paragraph is in the product support section. If I buy even a $40,000 vehicle, I do not go to the car manufacturers web site to look at the product support section to see if the marketing materials about its features were dishonest. That would not make sense. If a company says that their product has Vista support on the main description page of the product, then, in my mind, there should be Vista support for that product. If not, then they should not write on it, "Microsoft Vista Support Out of the Box". One of five key tests of whether this constitutes false advertising, as outlined by US DOC and other laws , is whether a majority of people, upon seeing on main description page, "Microsoft Vista Support Out of the Box". would be lead to believe that there is Vista support for the product. If so, then this is false advertising. -Le Chaud Lapin- |