Compaq PCD-1
Written: Jan 30 '02 (Updated Feb 04 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: None
Cons: Too numerous to mention.
The Bottom Line: Do not buy it. Wouldn't even be a bargain if it was free because it is useless.
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| rparson6's Full Review: Compaq iPAQ PCD-1 Personal CD Player |
I bought this unit because it had a FM player and could play regular CD's as well as MP3's. I also incorrectly assumed that coming from Compaq, I would be buying a quality product.
Consider the following:
The firmware crashes frequently, and requires that the batteries to be removed in order to reset it. Sometimes it takes several tries.
The power on button often will not turn on the unit without removing the batteries and replacing then first.
There is no hardware reset button. With buggy firmware, a hard reset button is a requirement.
The system almost always crashes after charging, requiring the batteries to be removed.
You cannot use the player while it is charging the batteries.
It cannot read CD-RW disks. I tried numerous media and software packages and was never successful.
The model on the manual cover shows it being used sideways. In reality, it skips like an old fashioned record player, the kind that would bounce from heavy footsteps on the living room floor. It is totally unsuited for active use. Any cheap CD player is better than that. I was amazed.
Technical support is ridiculously poor.
The manual is poor to the point of being useless.
The serial number is hidden inside the battery compartment, and not where they say it is. You need that for web support.
The support forum is full of problems with no solutions.
Compaq should never have released this product. The engineering is poor, and not at all what you would have expected from Compaq.
Please, DO NOT purchase this product.
COMPAQ. BE ASHAMED!
Update: Since this product was purchased directly from Compaq, the only remedy is a return for repair (not a refund). Also, no firmware update is available as of Feb 4, 2002, so the replacement unit will likely have the same problems. Be prepared to be on hold for a long time if you need to speak to a supervisor, and even they have no authority to authorize a refund.
Therefore, make sure that if you buy one of these contrary to all the advice here and at the Compaq customer communities, make sure it is from a retail store like Radio Shack that will refund your money.
Good Luck.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID: rparson6
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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