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(More customer reviews)I bought my VOT125-04 to function as an Ubuntu Linux server. I made this decision in part in reliance upon ViewSonic's 32 page user manual which devoted 10 of its 32 pages to describing the BIOS installed on all four of its VOT125 models. What I didn't realize was that those ten pages were inserted into the user manual without any regard to the actual BIOS installed on these computers and that the customer was supposed to understand that he should ignore this entire part of the manual because Viewsonic included this warning:
"The BIOS menus and selections for your product may vary from those in this chapter. For the BIOS manual specific to your product, please contact ViewSonic."
To make a long story short, I bought my mini-PC imagining that it had basic power control features, including, most specifically, automatic restart after a power interruption. It didn't. I spent several weeks trying to get ViewSonic to fix this and was consistently surprised at how their sales and technical folks knew less about the computer I had purchased than I did. (For example, no one in either sales or tech support could tell me what the actual installed BIOS features were for any of the four VOT125 models.) From the outset my preferred solution was for ViewSonic to send me a BIOS update that would give me the power functionality described in the user manual. I was repeatedly told that no such BIOS update existed.
Finally after a long and non-productive back and forth with their tech department and a gracious (and unacknowledged) letter to the company CEO, I filed complaints with both the Better Business Bureau and the California Attorney General asserting my belief that ViewSonic had misrepresented the functionality of this computer in its published user guide. Within just a few days of the date when the California AG forwarded my complaint to the company, tech support called me back out of the blue to indicate that they were sending me via email the BIOS upgrade I had first requested several weeks earlier.
The BIOS update worked exactly as it was supposed to and gave me the power functionality that I had requested. As an Ubuntu Linux server, my VOT125-04 is now a great machine. But I simply can't recommend this product given that (1) I spent 15 or 20 hours fighting unsuccessfully with tech support and sales over several weeks, (2) the company's senior management completely ignored a gracious letter which I sent to them in the early days of my dispute in which I sought a fair and mutually agreeable resolution, and (3) I ultimately had to file formal complaints with various regulatory authorities in order to get the product functionality that ViewSonic had advertised in the product's user manual.
(A few other comments: Because the VOT125 models only have one USB port in the back, you are pretty much obligated either to use a powered USB hub or to run cables around to the front of the device which makes for a more cluttered desk. I purchased an external CD/DVD drive that was USB powered to use with the VOT125: based upon the reports others have made, it appears that the power problems I have had with this CD/DVD drive are related to the relatively low power available on the VOT125's USB ports. The DVI port does support analog audio output which allowed me to avoid having to run a separate audio cable from the front of the computer to my KVM switch. It is unfortunate that, unlike with the VOT132, ViewSonic does not appear to offer the VOT125 without a Windows operating system installed since that makes the device significantly more expensive for folks who want to use it for Linux. Also, there isn't a full set of Windows XP drivers available for the VOT125 which means it can't be used as a legacy Windows XP computer.)
Click Here to see more reviews about: ViewSonic VOT125-04 PC Mini Intel ULV Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.3GHz; 2GB RAM; 250GB HD; HDMI; VESA Mount; Win 7 Home Premium
The VOT125 PC Mini is the perfect solution for a workforce needing a compact PC Platform.Whether you leave it on the desktop or attach it to the back of the display you are creating a clean desktop environment for your employee or student.The Intel ULV processor allows you to realize 90% cost savings over traditional PCs.With multiple connectivity ports you can connect everything from keyboards to high end storage.The included VESA mount allows you to attach the VOT125 to any display - whether it already is on the desktop or you are doing a complete PC refresh.The Kensington lock ensures physical security while your image security is protected by the absence of an integrated optical disk drive.Use the VOT125 as the smarter greener pc solution.
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