Optimus II digital autio out problem

[Pagey]

Ok i'm a tad confused.

If it's a laptop digital out, I'm pretty sure it's just an electrical signal, not optical. I was always under the impression the square connectors only outputted optical.

 

[Lum]

The square connectors are indeed optical TOSLINK connectors. The tiny round ones are mini-TOSLINK

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK#Mini-TOSLINK

If it's electrical then an RCA (phono) connector would be used.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF#Hardware_specifications

If it is indeed electrical then it's using a non-standard connector. I'd be perfectly fine with this if someone could confirm it.

 

[PaulH]

Hi There,

Sadly you are incorrect, although it is an EU law, it is not used nor enforced in the UK, you have a 1 year warranty as stated on your order, at the time ordering.

Its also very misleading from a lot of the internet warriors and online "law specialists" it would only apply in any circumstance if the goods we faulty at the time of delivery - But again, its UK law we follow and not EU so thats a moot point.

 

[Lum]

The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 implements that EU law.

http://www.consumeradvice.net/pages/consumer.htm.

The reason the two year thing is not mentioned is because UK law already exceeds that requirement.

 

[PaulH]

Consumer rights to return faulty goods
Standard Note:
SN/HA/2239
Last updated:
2 April 2012
Author:
Lorraine Conway
Section
Home Affairs Section

2 Is there an EU-wide two year consumer guarantee?

Many people are mistaken in thinking that the purpose of Directive 1999/44/EC, ‘On certain aspects of the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees’, is to give consumers a minimum two years guarantee for all goods. In fact, this EU Directive, implemented in the UK by the Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002, has added little to already existing UK consumer protection law under the SGA 1979.

Under this Directive, all Member States have to ensure that “a retailer could be held liable for all 'non-conformities' (i.e. defects) which manifest in the good within two years from delivery”. However, this requirement is not a two-year legal guarantee (although, rather confusingly, the Directive’s title describes it as such); goods are not legally required to last for two years. It simply provides that consumer goods must conform to the sales contract at the time of delivery.

 

[Lum]

The very first post in this thread should be sufficient proof that the goods did not conform at the time of delivery.
I also get six years to make the complaint (five in Scotland)

 

[PaulH]

Im afraid i will have to disagree here, a post on the forums (which arent notification anyway - they arent classed as an official channel of support) 2 months after recieving the laptop does not count as letting us know straight away, you have 3 days to let us know of any deficiencies to the item from delivery.

 

[Lum]

As described, and datestamped, on page 1 I contacted you as soon as I became aware of the fault, and one of your techs remoted in and confirmed this.
I also have 6 months to do that under SOGA before the burden of proof is reversed and I am required to provide proof that the fault was there from the start. This thread is that proof.

 

[PaulH]

Ok, im just going to rewind a little here, you are using this cable right :

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/380393458227?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla

From what i can gather you are expecting a digital red light? that wont happen as its only the Later Vortex models we sell that has that!

Its a similar one to this question:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...es/247658-spdif-not-working-clevo-m570ru.html

 

[Lum]

I am using this type of cable:

Are you telling me that, all along, it's actually co-ax, not optical?

 

[PaulH]

Correct, also make sure that the digital output is the default device from playback devices (right click on the white speaker in the task bar next to the clock and select playback devices)

You can even use these i believe : http://www.amazon.co.uk/MP-PDIF-Adapter-3-5mm-MONO/dp/B001TKEGRI

 

[Lum]

Tested it using a jack to two phono cable I had lying around.

That worked, thank you!


I feel like a bit of a plonker now, though in my defence nobody else at either end spotted it either, until you did!

 

[PaulH]

To be honest Im a bit disgusted nobody under my watch spotted this - I do apologise and glad we got it sorted in the end.

Clevos have nearly always had the jack cables to RCA on the mid and lower end models, only the highest range actually had the optical ones with the red light.

 

[Lum]

It's happens to all of us, and that is a bit of an odd one to remember.

I always remember doing an 8 hour drive to fix a fault that was cured by rebooting the workstation, something they were adamant they had already tried. Turns out the user thought you rebooted by turning the monitor on and off!

 

[Pagey]

Iirc, I did say it could be using an electronic signal and not an optical one. I couldn't confirm as I don't have my Optimus yet.

Question for Paul instead of making a new one: My Optimus should be coming through in the next week, but it's actually a Christmas present. Will I need to make sure things are ok as soon as I get it, or can I do that at Christmas?

 

[Lum]

Indeed you did. It just seemed like such a bizarre thing that they would put an electrical version of it in that type of connector. That combined with the fact that the PCS guy I spoke to confirmed to me that there should be a red light in there meant I dismissed your suggestion without actually trying it, so apologies for that.

I guess this does, however, explain why there is a separate digital audio connector when traditionally you would put the LED at the end of the analogue jack to make it into a combined connector, as found on every minidisc walkman ever sold.


Given Paul's post on the last page (post 27) about having 3 days to report defects, I would probably suggest checking it right away. The packaging is easy enough to reassemble, so providing you don't smear the laptop with fingerprints you should be able to pack it back up looking new and wrap it for christmas.

Edit: I'd also make clear on the order form that the laptop is a gift for <whoever> otherwise the statutory rights (and possibly the warranty) do not transfer to the recipient.

 

[Pagey]

Indeed you did. It just seemed like such a bizarre thing that they would put an electrical version of it in that type of connector. That combined with the fact that the PCS guy I spoke to confirmed to me that there should be a red light in there meant I dismissed your suggestion without actually trying it, so apologies for that.

I guess this does, however, explain why there is a separate digital audio connector when traditionally you would put the LED at the end of the analogue jack to make it into a combined connector, as found on every minidisc walkman ever sold.


Given Paul's post on the last page (post 27) about having 3 days to report defects, I would probably suggest checking it right away. The packaging is easy enough to reassemble, so providing you don't smear the laptop with fingerprints you should be able to pack it back up looking new and wrap it for christmas.

Edit: I'd also make clear on the order form that the laptop is a gift for <whoever> otherwise the statutory rights (and possibly the warranty) do not transfer to the recipient.

Haha, I wouldn't even worry about it to be honest. I still have my minidisc recorder that I still use and always use the optical for recording and I've only noticed the square connectors to be an output. Funnily though I was looking at a video on Youtube and noticed that some laptops do have optical out on those connectors but only activate once the TOSLINK is in, so even then I started doubting myself.

As a sidenote about defects and whatnot: I did purchase the silver warranty and it's also a christmas present for myself, dunno if that'll make any difference.

 

[Lum]

I purchased the silver warranty too, yet I was still told her that I need to check within 3 days.

In any case it's a Christmas present. Wouldn't it be best to check it, and if necessary get it sorted, so that it's all perfect on the big day rather than making the recipient wait until the new year for a working machine.

 

[PaulH]

The 3 day check is to make sure nothing has been missed - if the laptop doesnt work your warranty is still valid.

The check within 3 days is so you cannot come back after 6 months saying we did not provide you with a Windows DVD etc - We do have check in place so that specs are not wrong, but we do have people phoning up 2 years after recieving their PC saying we didnt provide a windows code or DVD!

 

[Pagey]

The 3 day check is to make sure nothing has been missed - if the laptop doesnt work your warranty is still valid.

The check within 3 days is so you cannot come back after 6 months saying we did not provide you with a Windows DVD etc - We do have check in place so that specs are not wrong, but we do have people phoning up 2 years after recieving their PC saying we didnt provide a windows code or DVD!

Cheers, I did give them a quick call earlier today and was given the same advice.

I suppose it's peace of mind and I still get a nice laptop for crimbo.