TechGenix and SolarWinds have partnered to provide a fully-functional, free 21-day trial version of SolarWinds ipMonitor, the WindowsNetworking.com Readers' Choice Award Winner for monitoring applications, servers, and network devices to all visitors who join Security Forums. Sign up to Security Forums and get your copy today! Existing members can pick up a copy from the Members Area.
Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 8:52 am Post subject: Freedom Furniture Laptop Table destroys Laptops
I recently bought a "Freedom Furniture Laptop Table II Mobile" for my one week old Acer Ferrari laptop.
After checking the screws were tightly in place and re-reading the instruction/warning booklet, I sat down with my laptop and proceeded to to adjust it to a comfortable position.
Little did I expect that one of the adjustment buttons would throw the laptop backwards onto the floor, smashing the screen.
To date their response has been that it was "my mistake" for not watching their in-shop product demonstration (that was never offered to me), and that a little warning sticker underneath the table was "adequate warning" that their table would destroy any laptop on their laptop table.
Given that I read the entire instruction manual specifically looking for warnings, I don't think I was given "adequate warning". The main warning in the instruction booklet is regarding the use of harsh abrasives whilst cleaning it. No mention is made about the product's potential inability to support a laptop.
The adjustment controls on the table are similar to those on most office chairs. Given Freedom's reasoning, every person that does not climb underneath their office chair searching for warning stickers before adjusting it's height or angle should expect that they will be thrown backwards onto the floor. Please keep this in mind if you're considering purchasing anything from Freedom Furniture.
I'm just trying to work out why it would tip backwards at all.
When nothing is on the table and you touch the adjustments buttons, nothing dramatic happens. You trust that the table is stable.
When you have a laptop on it with the screen up, the centre of gravity shifts to the far side of the table. If you then touch the adjustment button... BANG. Just like in the video I linked to. There's no gradual slippage to give you an indication of what's about to happen. It just flips.
In hindsite, I now know not to trust the table. It's a very expensive physics lesson to learn though. A $100 laptop table destroyed a $3500 laptop. ...And the laptop table manufacturer is saying it's the laptop owner's fault.
_________________ Freedom Furniture destroyed my Laptop
When you have a laptop on it with the screen up, the centre of gravity shifts to the far side of the table. If you then touch the adjustment button... BANG. Just like in the video I linked to. There's no gradual slippage to give you an indication of what's about to happen. It just flips.
To me it sure looks like the adjustment mechanism is spring-loaded - that movement was far too sharp and abrupt to simply be a case of a shifted CoG. In the video the table's actually hurling the pseudo-lappy to the floor like some bastardized catapult.
Quote:
In hindsite, I now know not to trust the table. It's a very expensive physics lesson to learn though. A $100 laptop table destroyed a $3500 laptop. ...And the laptop table manufacturer is saying it's the laptop owner's fault.
File suit. Don't dink around with back-and-forth conversations with them at this point. I despise frivolous lawsuits and the idiots that (sadly) usually win them, but makers of defective and potentially hazardous products refusing to "make good" on a BLATANTLY OBVIOUS design defect I have zero sympathy for whatsoever.
They're obviously fully intending to fart you off and hide behind claims of having labelled the product to alert users to its design. Odds are very very favorable that you'll force them to buy you a new laptop to settle the case, but you need to get a lawyer and file suit NOW.
And keep that cart and busted lappy in prime condition as your evidence.
oO
_________________ Deja moo: the feeling you've seen this bull before...
I could not believe that video. Is that what happened to your laptop?
One question I would have is why does the thing tilt back so far that it would let the laptop slide off? I cannot imagine using a laptop at that angle anyway.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
