Peter wrote:
> On Thu, 6 Oct 2005, Chen Xiao Fan wrote:
> 
>> My washing machine is front-loaded type (European brand) and
>> indeed there are lots of stuff on top. What is the problem?
>> They seems to be much more rugged than the top loaded
>> model from Japanese/Korea vendors. I have not yet read
>> the manual to be honest because it works right out of the
>> box.
> 
> 
> Did you remove the bolts that hold the drum fixed during transport ?
> ;-) ;-) ;-)
> 
> Maybe you should look at the manual a little anyway, even if you removed 
> the bolts.

If the user interface is well done, he really should NOT need to
read the manual, since it should all be intuitive with well labeled
controls. But it certainly can't hurt to read it to see what might not
be obvious.

But what about 'bad' firmware design? Why doesn't it get fixed even
when it's easy to repair?

We have a new Kenmore (whirlpool) side load washer. If my wife
pushes the 'cancel/pause' button at just the right point in the fill
cycle, to add some clothes, the unit locks up solidly.
Every button error beeps when pressed, but the unit simply will
not 'start/continue'. It has to be unplugged to get it to listen
to it's front panel. We have been able to reproduce the problem,
have phoned Sears (Kenmore is their house brand) to complain, yet they claim that
it's NOT a problem. The usual 'so don't use the pause button when filling'
advice was given. Gimme a break. It's got bad firmware and they don't
want to acknowledge it because they'd have to fix it under warranty.

Brand new Frigidair refrigerator had to have it's PIC controller replaced
because the damper between the freezer and fridge would freeze up and
not operate.
Apparently the replacement controller now opens and closes the damper
multiple times during a cooling cycle, the faster to wear out the motor.

One can sometimes fix a design screw up with firmware updates,
but it's unfortunate the makers don't, even when it's easy.

There are many features that I like in the newer digital cameras,
but I can't seem to find them all in ONE camera, in spite of months of
looking. Camera makers COULD update their older cameras with features
found in their later models (record mode histograms, fine focus zoom box, etc.)
but they don't. An update only seems to fix stuff that is badly WRONG
but never adds a useful new feature even though it's only needs firmware.
Why is that?


Robert

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist