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Displays Microsoft Software Hardware Technology

Microsoft To Replace Surface Pro 4 Tablets Affected By Screen Flickering (theverge.com) 41

Microsoft is unable to find a software or firmware fix for Surface Pro 4 tablets affected by screen flickering, so it's launching a replacement program for them. Any Surface Pro 4 units experiencing the problem will be covered for up to three years from the time of original purchase. The Verge reports: The annoying flickering has been well-documented on Microsoft's support forums, with some users taking drastic steps like putting their Surface Pro 4 in a freezer to temporarily fix the issue. Back in February, Microsoft said it was closely monitoring the situation, and the company came to the conclusion that there's no convenient fix. Some customers have already paid for a screen replacement to stop the flickering since the problem typically arises when a machine is out of warranty; Microsoft says they'll be "offered a refund." The company notes that this three-year coverage doesn't extend to other problems your Surface Pro might experience outside the warranty period; it only applies to the screen issue. Replacement devices are refurbished -- not brand new -- Surface Pro 4s.
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Microsoft To Replace Surface Pro 4 Tablets Affected By Screen Flickering

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  • by ReneR ( 1057034 ) on Saturday May 12, 2018 @07:08AM (#56600260)
    Since they switched to the N-trig touch screen and digitiser since with the Surface Pro 3 they also have a phantom touch and dead zone issue that remains unsolved: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com] Running some –not even designed for that model!– "Sony" n-trig calibration tool can sometimes help, a little bit, temporarily at least, or so (your milage may vary), I find it ridiculous that many users need to live with a mostly brocken touchscreen for years! Also it can be really hard and sometimes impossible to even log in and reach the device manager to a actually switch the f*cking HID off, if it produces too many random touches, ..!
    • by ReneR ( 1057034 )
      my latest video update on the Surface Pro 3 touch issues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
  • "covered for up to three years from the time of original purchase. " What a bullshit, early adapters may have lived 3 years with the manufacturing defect, and now they do not even get it fixed? See my n-trig post above: If they even would have such a program for the Surface Pro 3 I quoted, I would not even be covered with a three year old device that I had touch issues with for nearly two (2!) years now, ..! I personally will never buy such integrated, glued and sealer non-user serviceable AIO devices anymo
    • I personally will never buy such integrated, glued and sealer non-user serviceable AIO devices anymore. Enough of this overpriced frustration producing junk.

      Microsoft has literally never been trustworthy and their hardware has literally always been flimsy junk. Their ergo keyboards were at the lower limit of acceptability, but truly built like crap. Their "ergonomic" mice hurt my wrist immediately. RROD. Massive Xbox 1 failure before that. Probably the only thing they've sold that delivered was Kinect and it was a commercial flop and they've discontinued the PC version.

      Giving Microsoft money is begging to be abused.

      • by Anonymous Coward

        Their "non-ergonomic", cheap mice are good. In particular the Microsoft Trekker wheel mouse is very, very good, I still have one (it's PS/2, so I only use it on desktop). It's a ball mouse, so it makes me look like a luddite sometimes but a good ball mouse can be surprisingly good.

        • In particular the Microsoft Trekker wheel mouse is very, very good,

          I prefer the classic Logitech wheel mouse, but to each their own. (I'm actually using a T-BB18, not a mouse, but I still have tons of those Logi mice.) The Trekker, at least, doesn't make my hand hurt like their "ergonomic" mouse does.

    • by LynnwoodRooster ( 966895 ) on Saturday May 12, 2018 @10:11AM (#56600636) Journal
      The Surface Pro 4 was released in November, 2015. NO ONE has lived with them for 3 years, in fact every single person who ever bought a Surface Pro 4 with this issue can get a fixed unit. Every single one.
      • by ReneR ( 1057034 )
        ok, fine, I was thinking about my n-trig plagued Surface Pro 3, that I was surprised calling Microsoft being already 3 years old, and they will not do anything about phantom touch dead-zone issue mentioned above that many, thousands of people experience. Given that a three year coverage would not include mine, although I have a not really working touchscreen for over two years. Also fi this flickering starts for someone later this year, in year 4, they would not be covered, although it is not the user's fau
  • by OneHundredAndTen ( 1523865 ) on Saturday May 12, 2018 @01:40PM (#56601216)
    The reason I am asking is because I have yet to see one in the wild. Which is weird, for I think that, in the circles I frequent, they should be visible.
  • Both of them? :-)

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