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Official BenQ W7000 Owners Thread - Page 23

post #661 of 3383
If its not incompetence, then is there a motivation for the confusion?
Why is BenQ putting owners through this ordeal when the dealers claim outstanding service?

Are you guys getting the same projector back? If not then what happens to the used ones?

Companies need to test products or updates before they are released. It is rare that indeed that an update would be released which destroys 1:1 pixel mapping. Regression test with out the testing is product regression.

The Acer 9500 DLP keeps the 1:1 mapping but reduces contrast of adjacent pixels at the highest frequencies. Creates a pleasing analog look and eliminates DLP harshness.

BenQ support staff is probably clueless as the firmware updates come from their subcontracted DLP design house. Its humorous to see the BenQ and the Acer sharing similar reoccurring issues.

Many companies have experienced drastic internal cuts. Employes who work under stress may suffer from reduced productivity.

Consumers are reminded to always look out for yourself. Examine others roles (often unstated) when they communicate and ask if they are speaking in your best interest. If not. its ok to occasionally bite back to keep the discussion scientifically objective.

The lower DLP prices are no bargain of the product is rushed, full of bugs and unreliable. As with automobiles there a certain years to avoid.

The 2013 3D models will be introduced beginning this summer.
Hoping for the best!
post #662 of 3383
I just received a replacement for my W7000 projector from BENQ. This one is dated Dec 2011, but the firmware is 1.00-4
This seemed to have fixed the problem I was having when viewing 3D movies. Before, it would lose sync with the glasses causing a double image and also grey/greenish image thru the glasses. I plan to run further tests to see how everything else looks. This is my 3rd projector from BENQ.
post #663 of 3383
BenQ needs to make this unit user updatable, it is ridiculous having to ship the projector around just to do a simple FW update.
post #664 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by fcalev View Post

I just received a replacement for my W7000 projector from BENQ. This one is dated Dec 2011, but the firmware is 1.00-4
This seemed to have fixed the problem I was having when viewing 3D movies. Before, it would lose sync with the glasses causing a double image and also grey/greenish image thru the glasses. I plan to run further tests to see how everything else looks. This is my 3rd projector from BENQ.

Are you seeing 1.00-4 on the last tab of the menu screen?
post #665 of 3383
Just got off the phone with technical support and asked them if they will ever have something so the end user can do their own firmware update and he said "Yes".

They're working on something right now, but he doesn't know when it will be complete.

They realize how much they're spending on shipping costs!!!
post #666 of 3383
Interesting, wasn't it PC that said theirs was 1.02 or 1.03? (don't have time to look it up.) Very odd theirs is different from everyone else's that just purchased them.
post #667 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cru-Jones View Post

Just got off the phone with technical support and asked them if they will ever have something so the end user can do their own firmware update and he said "Yes".

They're working on something right now, but he doesn't know when it will be complete.

They realize how much they're spending on shipping costs!!!

This is a good thing. Virtually every popular equipment company allows user-upgradable firmware in the field. Things can go wrong, but so long as your firmware upgrade process is solid and you instruct the user not to power off the equipment things should go fine.

With all of the potential compatibility issues as well as bugs with new models, it would be foolhardy not to develop an end-user firmware upgrade process.
post #668 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cru-Jones View Post

Just got off the phone with technical support and asked them if they will ever have something so the end user can do their own firmware update and he said "Yes".

They're working on something right now, but he doesn't know when it will be complete.

They realize how much they're spending on shipping costs!!!

I would take anything they say with a grain of salt.
post #669 of 3383
Thread Starter 
I have a contact of a BenQ engineer that I'll be speaking with on Monday morning. it may be the same guy others have spoken with.

I'd like to get to the bottom of what's going on with the various models that seem to be from the same batch, but performing differently.
post #670 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by zombie10k View Post

I have a contact of a BenQ engineer that I'll be speaking with on Monday morning. it may be the same guy others have spoken with.

I'd like to get to the bottom of what's going on with the various models that seem to be from the same batch, but performing differently.

I was dealing with Sid.
post #671 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by HiFiFun View Post

If its not incompetence, then is there a motivation for the confusion?
Why is BenQ putting owners through this ordeal when the dealers claim outstanding service?

Are you guys getting the same projector back? If not then what happens to the used ones?

Companies need to test products or updates before they are released. It is rare that indeed that an update would be released which destroys 1:1 pixel mapping. Regression test with out the testing is product regression.

The Acer 9500 DLP keeps the 1:1 mapping but reduces contrast of adjacent pixels at the highest frequencies. Creates a pleasing analog look and eliminates DLP harshness.

BenQ support staff is probably clueless as the firmware updates come from their subcontracted DLP design house. Its humorous to see the BenQ and the Acer sharing similar reoccurring issues.

Many companies have experienced drastic internal cuts. Employes who work under stress may suffer from reduced productivity.

Consumers are reminded to always look out for yourself. Examine others roles (often unstated) when they communicate and ask if they are speaking in your best interest. If not. its ok to occasionally bite back to keep the discussion scientifically objective.

The lower DLP prices are no bargain of the product is rushed, full of bugs and unreliable. As with automobiles there a certain years to avoid.

The 2013 3D models will be introduced beginning this summer.
Hoping for the best!

I seem to recall this was a problem with one of the W5000 updates. 1:1 was subsequently broken and then fixed with successive updates.

Nothing I'm reading is contradicting my previous experiences with BenQ. Although they eventually get sorted out, early adopters of BenQ PJ's have to go to thru a lot of headaches to get their units working right. This would be so much easier if they just allowed the end user to update the firmware.
post #672 of 3383
Yes, I see 1.00-4 on the status display menu screen.
post #673 of 3383
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fcalev View Post

Yes, I see 1.00-4 on the status display menu screen.

thanks for the info. you mentioned this is the 3rd W7000 - do you recall the firmware versions of the others?

Mine was a January build, but the firmware was only 1.00. I'd like to get as much info as possible when I speak to the BenQ engineer on Monday morning.
post #674 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmalto View Post

Interesting, wasn't it PC that said theirs was 1.02 or 1.03? (don't have time to look it up.) Very odd theirs is different from everyone else's that just purchased them.

PC said they had firmware 1.00-3 now there is a 1.00-4. I faxed in the paper work on Friday to get my 2nd projector replaced with a third that hopefully works perfectly.
post #675 of 3383
Jason is that the new one from AVS that still says 1.00. My new one says 1.00 January
post #676 of 3383
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by michaelscott73 View Post

Jason is that the new one from AVS that still says 1.00. My new one says 1.00 January

correct, this is the one I received and it says 1.00 with a January build.

I just missed the BQ engineer on friday. I'll get a chance to talk to him first thing on Monday to explain our findings and hopefully get to a quick resolution.
post #677 of 3383
Wow, I've never heard such sloppiness
post #678 of 3383
My first W7000 was date code January 2012 firmware 1.00
It had very bad loss of 3D sync with glasses.
My 2nd (replacement) W7000 was date code December 2011 firmware 1.00
This had better sync with 3D glasses but it still had sync problems (The BENQ engineer said that this unit a rework in it even though the firmware did not change)
My 3rd W7000 was date coded December 2011 firmware 1.00-4
So far in my initial testing the 3D loss of sync problem does not show up. I will do a more complete testing this weekend. It is hard to tell about the black level as I did not really test for that. The 2D images are very bright.
I worked with Syd and Andy at BENQ.
post #679 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by JerryW View Post

More likely it is just sloppiness. That sort of thing happens all the time in practically every industry and it is almost always the result of the manufacturer not caring if end users can actually use the versioning information. It is damn annoying and extremely customer-hostile but its rarely a deliberate plan.

I was involved with a technology team that went through a very similar situation as BenQ is. The CEO cut the engineering, product management, and quality assurance budget to 1/3 of what it should have been. He then doubled the size of the sales staff and rushed the timeline of the product. The end result was a product that had potential, but was poorly thought out and unreliable. The end result was a bunch of our customers venting their frustration on a public forum. Sounds familiar doesn't it? My guess is that there was pressure from management to get this projector out the door before Xmas. They skimped on the QA and now they're paying for it. Once you create a bunch of upset customers, you rush even faster to try and fix their problem often skimping or skipping regression testing altogether. They're in such a hurry to put out the fire they started, they didn't realize that their fix just broke something else in the firmware. It's a neverending cycle and it always starts with management who value time to market over quality.

As far as the versioning issue does, I've seen it a hundred times. Sometimes it's inexperience as the engineer may not understand the importance of proper versioning. They could be just out of school and working on their first product. You also see it when they move from creating one-off products to selling thousands of something to the general public. They didn't have to worry about versioning and haven't felt the pain of not doing it yet. They'll figure out the importance now, but they've created some unhappy customers in the meantime. It's a net promoter score killer for sure.
post #680 of 3383
I didnt want to start a new thread but I'm currently debating between getting this projector and the Panasonic AE7000. I have a benq pe8700 has been a very good 720p projector for us for many years. It's had its quirks, especially with the color wheel starting up, but I've always loved its picture quality. Anyway, given that the prices today are equivalent, has anyone auditioned the panasonic? Has benq's quality control gotten better, in terms of the color wheel and fan noise?

Basically, does anyone regret getting this projector, and wish they had gone with something different, possibly the Panasonic?
post #681 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by ondaedg View Post

I was involved with a technology team that went through a very similar situation as BenQ is. The CEO cut the engineering, product management, and quality assurance budget to 1/3 of what it should have been. He then doubled the size of the sales staff and rushed the timeline of the product. The end result was a product that had potential, but was poorly thought out and unreliable. The end result was a bunch of our customers venting their frustration on a public forum. Sounds familiar doesn't it? My guess is that there was pressure from management to get this projector out the door before Xmas. They skimped on the QA and now they're paying for it. Once you create a bunch of upset customers, you rush even faster to try and fix their problem often skimping or skipping regression testing altogether. They're in such a hurry to put out the fire they started, they didn't realize that their fix just broke something else in the firmware. It's a neverending cycle and it always starts with management who value time to market over quality.

As far as the versioning issue does, I've seen it a hundred times. Sometimes it's inexperience as the engineer may not understand the importance of proper versioning. They could be just out of school and working on their first product. You also see it when they move from creating one-off products to selling thousands of something to the general public. They didn't have to worry about versioning and haven't felt the pain of not doing it yet. They'll figure out the importance now, but they've created some unhappy customers in the meantime. It's a net promoter score killer for sure.

Impressive and well spoken. When the bean counters take over everyone suffers. Here Honda lost their excellence:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46603235.../#.T1FS6Xrv-iU

If I were on the phone with Syd, I'd need to determine his overall technical competence and explore how the testing is conducted (if any), his manager, and try to follow the flow back overseas.

But Art of Projector Reviews has come back to life way later than he promised, and even if his black level proclamation was premature:
http://www.projectorreviews.com/blog...e-calibration/
post #682 of 3383
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fcalev View Post

My first W7000 was date code January 2012 firmware 1.00
It had very bad loss of 3D sync with glasses.
My 2nd (replacement) W7000 was date code December 2011 firmware 1.00
This had better sync with 3D glasses but it still had sync problems (The BENQ engineer said that this unit a rework in it even though the firmware did not change)
My 3rd W7000 was date coded December 2011 firmware 1.00-4
So far in my initial testing the 3D loss of sync problem does not show up. I will do a more complete testing this weekend. It is hard to tell about the black level as I did not really test for that. The 2D images are very bright.
I worked with Syd and Andy at BENQ.

thanks for the info. I have a number of members reports and will let them know tomorrow.
post #683 of 3383
The projector central review states that there's a high pitched squeak everytime the iris changes from light to dark scenes. Has anyone else noticed this?
post #684 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ou8thisSN View Post

The projector central review states that there's a high pitched squeak everytime the iris changes from light to dark scenes. Has anyone else noticed this?

I hear a slight noise on mine, but it's not noticeable during a movie. It's not that bad.
post #685 of 3383
is it noticable during quiet scenes? I used to listen to movies very loudly, now I listen at reasonable levels most all the time. I rarely crank it up and dont watch too many action movies. The projector will be ceiling mounted. In that case, how 'distracting' is it?
post #686 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ou8thisSN View Post

is it noticable during quiet scenes? I used to listen to movies very loudly, now I listen at reasonable levels most all the time. I rarely crank it up and dont watch too many action movies. The projector will be ceiling mounted. In that case, how 'distracting' is it?

I have it right above my head and the only time I can hear it is when my receiver is off. I don't notice it during quiet scenes.
post #687 of 3383
Looks like the Benq Lemon Thousand is having a sale.
It's getting closer to tax day and I soooo want to order one. That upcomming Sharp 30000 seems interesting but it has the exact same base stats as all the other current dlp's. Other than the light path I bet they all have the same electrinics inside.
post #688 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arcadia88 View Post

Looks like the Benq Lemon Thousand is having a sale.
It's getting closer to tax day and I soooo want to order one. That upcomming Sharp 30000 seems interesting but it has the exact same base stats as all the other current dlp's. Other than the light path I bet they all have the same electrinics inside.

Art said the blacks were as good as the Sony HW30 so shouldn't they bees selling like hotcakes?
How's Syd doin today?
post #689 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arcadia88 View Post

Looks like the Benq Lemon Thousand is having a sale.

I can't tell if you're simply making a play on words or if the BenQ has been discounted already. If the latter, where do you see the recent discount?
post #690 of 3383
Quote:
Originally Posted by SimpleTheater View Post

I can't tell if you're simply making a play on words or if the BenQ has been discounted already. If the latter, where do you see the recent discount?

If it is being discounted there is no reason to mince words.
Just go and post it in the Great Found Deals forum.
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