PSA: Dell Venue 8 Pro owners upgrade to firmware A08

[desura]

It came out in June. I just installed it. It looks like it solves the number one problem if the tablet, which was an erratic touchscreen. Double key presses have been greatly reduced. Metro IE is actually usable now. No more misclicks on links or mistaken zooms.

 

[gorcorps]

Wonder if it fixes the stylus. We've been very displeased with our Venue 8 pros at work here. Most of them collect dust because they're useless for note taking.

Thanks for the heads up though, I'll try it and report back.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I installed this update last month...

I've never had any problems with touchscreen. Though I realize it's been an issue for others.

Unfortunately this firmware update didn't seem to have any impact on the stylus. It's still very poor.

 

[gorcorps]

That's too bad. I know they had to pull their original batch of stylus from the shelves because they were giving people fits. Knowing that these are the "fixed" ones makes me wonder how god awful the experience used to be.

 

[RossMAN]

While we're discussing the DV8P what do you all think of this?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/plugable/plugable-pro8-docking-station-with-charging-for-ve

 

[desura]

That's too bad. I know they had to pull their original batch of stylus from the shelves because they were giving people fits. Knowing that these are the "fixed" ones makes me wonder how god awful the experience used to be.

I have the second generation stylus and while it wasn't perfect it was pretty good.

Just tried it out again and it works very nicely. I don't use it that often.

 

[EvilYoda]

My biggest issue with the DV8P is turning wifi off and then on again without needing a restart. I'm behind on the updates, I'm sure...finally looked into it the other day.

 

[Roland00Address]

While we're discussing the DV8P what do you all think of this?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/plugable/plugable-pro8-docking-station-with-charging-for-ve

Stuff like that already exist (usb docking stations), all they are doing is repacking existing chips into a micro usb that uses otg, so it will work well with a tablet.

Now such thing work, and such things work sometimes well and sometimes horrible. For example the external monitor that is run off usb is not the same as a built in integrated or dedicated graphics since it is using an external graphic card such as displaylink. But for things like internet and word it is fine, sure their is latency/lag but some people are fine with it.

It depends on your needs.

Hopefully in the future Vesa Dockport (which is royalty free but still requires a basic chip in the tablet or laptop) or Intel's Thunderbolt will make this a lot cheaper and a lot more efficient.

 

[Ravynmagi]

That's too bad. I know they had to pull their original batch of stylus from the shelves because they were giving people fits. Knowing that these are the "fixed" ones makes me wonder how god awful the experience used to be.

Yeah, I've had the Rev A01 and A02 stylus. For me both styluses behaved the same. They are usable. But both have the same identical issues... will keep drawing on the screen even after the pen is lifted, lines are jittery, hovering over the screen I can see the cursor bounce around rapidly its so shakey. The A01 pen totally died on me one day, so Dell sent me out the A02 as a replacement (though they were apparently offering it to anyone that had an A01, dead or alive).

It's usable. I still use it some. But it makes my already not so great handwriting look like complete chicken scratch.

 

[Ravynmagi]

While we're discussing the DV8P what do you all think of this?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/plugable/plugable-pro8-docking-station-with-charging-for-ve

I don't get why established companies like Plugable are using Kickstarter. Especially with such a small project as this.

 

[Ravynmagi]

My biggest issue with the DV8P is turning wifi off and then on again without needing a restart. I'm behind on the updates, I'm sure...finally looked into it the other day.

You mean when the wifi disappears from Device Manager after it's hibernated or been a sleep a while? Mine still does that, don't think it's been resolved. Oddly my SP3 is doing the same dang thing, so must be an issue with the Marvell drivers both are using.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Stuff like that already exist (usb docking stations), all they are doing is repacking existing chips into a micro usb that uses otg, so it will work well with a tablet.

Now such thing work, and such things work sometimes well and sometimes horrible. For example the external monitor that is run off usb is not the same as a built in integrated or dedicated graphics since it is using an external graphic card such as displaylink. But for things like internet and word it is fine, sure their is latency/lag but some people are fine with it.

It depends on your needs.

Hopefully in the future Vesa Dockport (which is royalty free but still requires a basic chip in the tablet or laptop) or Intel's Thunderbolt will make this a lot cheaper and a lot more efficient.

What makes this special is the Dell tablet is charged by the USB port. So if you use a regular docking station, even one with a micro USB connection, it works, but the tablet isn't being charged. Dell needs a special docking station that will also keep the tablet charged while also allowing data over that same port.

 

[Crotulus]

What makes this special is the Dell tablet is charged by the USB port. So if you use a regular docking station, even one with a micro USB connection, it works, but the tablet isn't being charged. Dell needs a special docking station that will also keep the tablet charged while also allowing data over that same port.

Exactly. A standard usb dock will not charge the Dell. This one from Plugable will... if it works as they say. I did get in on one of the early adopter specials. I'll let you know how it works.

 

[desura]

Yeah, but--

The Venue 8 isn't worth the trouble. It gets really good battery life and is best used as a tablet, not as a desktop.

 

[Roland00Address]

What makes this special is the Dell tablet is charged by the USB port. So if you use a regular docking station, even one with a micro USB connection, it works, but the tablet isn't being charged. Dell needs a special docking station that will also keep the tablet charged while also allowing data over that same port.

I understand the problem, but it is a real easy engineering problem to solve. All the widgets already exist, you are just now arranging the widgets in such a fashion to actually treat this very real problem. You are not designing a widget from scratch, you are just gathering up existing widgets and putting a little more power to the tablet so you charge the tablet and you are changing the shape of the plug from usb A to usb micro B.

Since the only problem is logistical, throwing money at it is very easy to get a final problem, for money is at its core a logistical solution instead of tactics, strategy, or diplomacy which have less to do with money than logistics does.

 

[gorcorps]

Yeah, I've had the Rev A01 and A02 stylus. For me both styluses behaved the same. They are usable. But both have the same identical issues... will keep drawing on the screen even after the pen is lifted, lines are jittery, hovering over the screen I can see the cursor bounce around rapidly its so shakey. The A01 pen totally died on me one day, so Dell sent me out the A02 as a replacement (though they were apparently offering it to anyone that had an A01, dead or alive).

It's usable. I still use it some. But it makes my already not so great handwriting look like complete chicken scratch.

Yup, same problem. My company ordered a few as pilot products and we didn't realize they didn't use wacom tech. We were expecting the note taking abilities of the Surface and got screwed.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Yeah, but--

The Venue 8 isn't worth the trouble. It gets really good battery life and is best used as a tablet, not as a desktop.

Yeah, it's a $90 docking station ($80 if you buy it now). Kind of expensive to turn a $200 Atom tablet into a desktop. 🙂

 

[Ravynmagi]

I understand the problem, but it is a real easy engineering problem to solve. All the widgets already exist, you are just now arranging the widgets in such a fashion to actually treat this very real problem. You are not designing a widget from scratch, you are just gathering up existing widgets and putting a little more power to the tablet so you charge the tablet and you are changing the shape of the plug from usb A to usb micro B.

Since the only problem is logistical, throwing money at it is very easy to get a final problem, for money is at its core a logistical solution instead of tactics, strategy, or diplomacy which have less to do with money than logistics does.

Yes, and people have built their own USB hubs that will charge the tablet I believe. And some have killed their charging port in the process. So it's not a bad idea wait for a professionally designed device to solve the problem if you aren't brave/smart enough to solder together your own solution. 🙂

 

[Roland00Address]

Yes, and people have built their own USB hubs that will charge the tablet I believe. And some have killed their charging port in the process. So it's not a bad idea wait for a professionally designed device to solve the problem if you aren't brave/smart enough to solder together your own solution. 🙂

I am not disagreeing, in fact I am in complete agreement with you. That is why I want something like dockport or intel's thunderbolt to take off.
1) It will work better due to how the technology works with graphics
2) We will see more peripherals, both a greater number of products and sellers as well as a greater variety of products
3) It will also be cheaper, A jerry rigged job or a professionally jerry rigged job like the kickstarter will cost more than a 80% passive hub + 20% one little controller which is what dockport is effectively.

And as much as I like my nexus 7 and my transformer t100 atom is not just there yet for a general computing device. It is great for a mobile solution but it is not desktop ready. Thus spending $90 on a device to improve your $200 tablet just does not seem to make sense to me.

 

[EvilYoda]

You mean when the wifi disappears from Device Manager after it's hibernated or been a sleep a while? Mine still does that, don't think it's been resolved. Oddly my SP3 is doing the same dang thing, so must be an issue with the Marvell drivers both are using.

No, my issue's different - let's say I turn off wifi or turn on airplane mode; when I try to slide wifi back to on, it "thinks" for a few seconds and then goes back to off. Nothing but a restart changes this and even then it's not guaranteed.

 

[sequoia464]

It came out in June. I just installed it. It looks like it solves the number one problem if the tablet, which was an erratic touchscreen. Double key presses have been greatly reduced. Metro IE is actually usable now. No more misclicks on links or mistaken zooms.

wish I had been aware of this sooner, just returned my Venue 8 pro. Replacing it with a Venue 11.

 

[Ravynmagi]

wish I had been aware of this sooner, just returned my Venue 8 pro. Replacing it with a Venue 11.

The weird touch screen issues Desura mentioned on the DV8P (which I fortunately didn't have on mine) are ironically the very same problems I did have on the DV11P, which I returned a few months ago. Haha.

Well hopefully Dell has fixed the issue for those experiencing it on both tablets.

 

[sequoia464]

The weird touch screen issues Desura mentioned on the DV8P (which I fortunately didn't have on mine) are ironically the very same problems I did have on the DV11P, which I returned a few months ago. Haha.

Well hopefully Dell has fixed the issue for those experiencing it on both tablets.

thanks, didn't really do any homework on the 11. Didn't know it has screen issues also.

Loved quite a bit about the 8,
I just had an extreme case of touch screen issues. Very frustrating to try to do pretty much anything,

 

[ControlD]

Yup, same problem. My company ordered a few as pilot products and we didn't realize they didn't use wacom tech. We were expecting the note taking abilities of the Surface and got screwed.

I understand your frustration, but I think literally every review I read of the VP8/VP11 states that they are using Synaptics digitizers rather than Wacom (most reviewers also mention that the digitizer performance is just so-so also). Just a few minutes of research would have alerted your company to this.

 

[desura]

So while the touchscreen is improved with the update...it doesn't fix it. Still get the occasional accidental zoom and double key tap.

Still it has improved some. Not enough to make metro IE usable over chrome.