Element 14 giving away Agilent 3000X's? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2011, 10:28:03 pm
content: I'm lead to believe that with these Roadtests you are allowed to keep to bit of gear...http://www.element14.com/community/roadTests/1029/?CMP=OAD-SOM-Twitter-Dave.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2011, 11:25:48 pm
content: QuoteGuess the site is buckling under the strain of having its first ever interesting content

author: Jimmy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2011, 01:21:51 am
content: Link worked for me if already logged into element 14 website.3 kits available 70 applicants atm

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2011, 01:25:32 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on July 02, 2011, 11:25:48 pm*snort*Dave.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2011, 01:49:33 am
content: I do not trust anything that comes as opinion or reviews from "element14" .But that's a personal thing.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2011, 10:21:04 pm
content: Application submitted and I am on the candidates. Would be great to test drive this scope first hand and compare with a Tek DPO3k over here.Ha, the irony...Alistair W. was the name of a sales rep from Tek that did a demo for an MSO4k at Intel in 2007ish. Same guy?!...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2011, 10:30:20 pm
content: Quote from: Alex on July 03, 2011, 10:21:04 pmUnique name, so probably. Coincidentally, he's leaving (or has already left) Element 14.Dave.

author: ElektroQuark
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2011, 04:40:33 am
content: Alistair is in this forum...

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2011, 06:06:26 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 03, 2011, 10:30:20 pmI applauder everyone who leaves or is leaving that parody called Element 14. Element 14, where they take hobbyists for a ride. And I am not just talking about the road tests.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2011, 07:31:48 am
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on July 04, 2011, 06:06:26 amHow do they take people for a ride?You get to keep the road test items, and in this case three Agilent 3000X's is nothing short of bloody amazing.But the Element 14 site is of course, a big FAIL. But pour money into it they do, a LOT of money...Dave.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2011, 09:30:58 am
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on July 04, 2011, 06:06:26 amOK, I'll bite.- In exchange for a couple of hours writing I have received already $1k worth of test gear via roadtests. And to be in the running for that Agilent MSOX3024A isn't half bad either; most likely a 1 in 150 chance for a $5.5k MSO.- They will deliver, for free, via overnight courier, to my home in a tiny town in the Hunter Valley, orders valued at $10 or more. Altronics can't manage that even when I pay them extra for AAE 'jet express' overnight courier.How are e-14 taking hobbyists for a ride?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2011, 04:00:04 pm
content: Quote from: tronixstuff on July 04, 2011, 09:30:58 amFirst they try to attract them via the element14 website, then they refuse to sell to them in at least Austria, Sweden, Germany and India.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 04, 2011, 10:09:36 pm
content: Quote from: BoredAtWork on July 04, 2011, 04:00:04 pmWow - that really, really sucks. Point taken.[I wish you had just said that instead of keeping us in suspense]

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 05, 2011, 02:36:56 am
content: That doesn't make sense, because E14 will sell to anyone here in Oz, and as John said, free courier on web orders. Can't be beat.RS components do the same thing.Buy hey, Farnell/Element14/Newark is real hotch-potch company anyway, so probably not surprising they do stupid things in different countries.Dave.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2011, 05:42:55 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 05, 2011, 02:36:56 amYou can add Denmark, Finland, Norway and Portugal to the list of countries where Farnell doesn't make sense, i.e. doesn't sell to hobbyists. Sometimes they just say no, sometimes they refer hobbyists to some retailer. Run the red text onhttps://dk.farnell.com/jsp/profile/register.jspthrough google translate and you get:QuoteForhttps://fi.farnell.com/jsp/profile/register.jspyou getQuoteAndhttps://no.farnell.com/jsp/profile/register.jspQuotePortugalhttps://pt.farnell.com/jsp/profile/register.jspQuoteIn Belgium and the Netherlands they seem to have special conditions (https://be.farnell.com/jsp/profile/register.jspandhttps://nl.farnell.com/jsp/profile/register.jspagain the red text).QuoteDo you mean not selling to hobbyists? Indeed, they also do thatMaking their DesignSpark PCB community things as dodgy as Farnell'S Element 14.

author: ally
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2011, 04:04:07 pm
content: Quote from: Rufus on July 02, 2011, 11:25:48 pmThanks Rufus..I have tried for two yearsI've never demo'd sold Tek stuff. Be interesting if someone with the same unusual name was in the same business!Dave..you know too muchI think RoadTest has been great fun. We've had some outstanding reviews over the last two years, quite a few from guys on this forum..actually most from guys from here! We must have given out a few hundred ks worth of gear without looking for anything but a few words and pics in return.But all good things come to an end..and I'll probably be spending a bit more time chillin here now

author: Armin_Balija
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2011, 04:08:45 pm
content: If we are able to conduct the road test and we are allowed to keep the product..are we allowed to resell?

author: ally
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2011, 04:23:18 pm
content: Quote from: Armin_Balija on July 05, 2011, 04:08:45 pmAfter you write the review then it is your's to keep, sell, destroy..or jump in a canyon with (disclaimer that Fluke DMM was not part of rt)

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 01:14:56 am
content: Quote from: ally on July 05, 2011, 04:04:07 pmThe only thing that annoys me with roadtests - some people literally write nothing at all. For example, the Agilent U1272A... I spent a while on it, and updated the review over time. Then you have people who spent about five minutes, such ashttp://www.element14.com/community/roadTestReviews/1003If I'm not lucky enough to receive one of the Agilent MSOX3024As I sure hope whoever does get one puts some effort into their review.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 01:34:40 am
content: Quote from: tronixstuff on July 06, 2011, 01:14:56 amAn unexpected error has occurredEven so, it does not matter the time spent about writing the review it self.What it does matter, are that those reviews to be rich of information, for the professionals and experts.And this demands from the side of the reviewer, to had actually work in the field,so to have some experience, of what called as useful, and what as a toy.We are talking about an industrial tool, and not a flashlight.The U1272A has a manual of 150 pages.If you do not read it, you can not understand of what this device is capable of !!

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 01:37:06 am
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on July 06, 2011, 01:34:40 amYes, my point exactly.Try the link again, a full stop was at the end by accident.

author: joelby
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 02:57:41 am
content: tronixstuff, you might not want to give away all of your secrets, but how much did you write in your accepted road test applications' "why do you want to review this" section? I've enrolled for the Agilent MSO (hey, why not!and written what I hope is a convincing argument for why I'd be able to provide a useful review.The "I measured the temperature of my armpit" review was truly diabolical. I'd be interested to see what they put in the application. Maybe element14 were having a slow day.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 04:38:05 am
content: Quote from: joelby on July 06, 2011, 02:57:41 amAsk me after the 18th of July.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 05:57:58 am
content: Quote from: tronixstuff on July 06, 2011, 01:14:56 amYeah, that's the problem, most people just don't care and don't want to give back. I think they should go to an established reviewers, especially with really high end stuff like this.I mean, and Agilent 3000X, wow, I thought I was lucky to get one, I know other reviewers that didn't get to keep theirs. And here are three up for grabs.I think it's a crime if you don't get one John! yours are the best road test reviews by far that I've seen.Dave.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 06:03:05 am
content: Quote from: tronixstuff on July 06, 2011, 04:38:05 amI'd apply myself, but that might look a tad greedy on my partBut this full time video blogger could sure do with the resell cashI'd likely be the only one that can provide the review up front!Dave.

author: ally
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 06:26:57 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 06, 2011, 05:57:58 amDave, it's a conclusion I've come to as well. I was thinking about 75% good reviewers and 25% random to keep things fresh. Any who don't write a review, or a bad one, removed from the trusted list and any who write a good one added to it. I won't be doing the Agilent draw. BTW the "what would you use it for" space doesn't count for the majority of roadtests. Reviewers are generally drawn using a RNG. I should add that you should fill that box in, we give the suppliers data like number of entrants, reasons and geographical areas which allows them to keep supporting rt and giving away more products

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 06:50:51 am
content: Quote from: ally on July 06, 2011, 06:26:57 amThat's ok for the low end stuff, but I'd hate to think that's the case for the Agilent scopes. They deserve to go to the top quality reviewers only.Dave.

author: ally
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 06:59:45 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 06, 2011, 06:50:51 amI wouldn't disagree with that. TBH we never expected to be handed that much value of equipment to give away in a roadtest

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 07:21:48 am
content: Quote from: ally on July 06, 2011, 06:59:45 amDid Agilent give you these for this purpose?, or are they coming out Element 14's pocket?Dave.

author: ally
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 09:01:03 am
content: Agilent gave us them for roadtest

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 09:33:17 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 06, 2011, 05:57:58 amThanks for that, I really appreciate it. Will just have to wait and see what happens come July 18th - hopefully my numbers come up

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 09:40:03 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 06, 2011, 06:03:05 amThey are not intended to be stacked DaveQuoteThere was provision for an email and telephone number as well on the application form. You could contact the shortlisted candidates and gauge up that 25% for such roadtests.QuoteI think I have his card somewhere...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 09:43:57 am
content: Quote from: Alex on July 06, 2011, 09:40:03 amI can can make'em stack, I'm sure!Dave.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 09:59:56 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 06, 2011, 09:43:57 amHmmm...I dont know...you are a bit short of space in your lab...would not want to force a bench cleanup upon you.How about positioning one next to another and using a delayed trigger for the second one (built in delay or external signal)? If the first scope trigger is set at the far left of the screen and the second trigger is delayed by the total time period of the first scope, then you should be able to get a very wide view of the signal across two screens spanning two time bases. With the already rather wide (for its class) built-in screen, that would be impressive.I will need two scopes for my review e14,Agilent. Thank you.

author: baljemmett
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2011, 12:54:35 pm
content: Quote from: ally on July 06, 2011, 06:26:57 amOh... whoopsThe reason I gave for entering the Agilent roadtest draw was something along the lines of "who wouldn't want to try one of these out?" -- at least it's honest, I guess... Although I did provide something more useful for when applying for the previous Microchip RF roadtest so I won't feel too bad about it!

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2011, 01:27:20 pm
content: tronixstuff got it ... LOLHey tronixstuff we should play a lotto ticket together, and share the profits.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 26, 2011, 01:36:06 pm
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on July 26, 2011, 01:27:20 pmIn the end three MSOs were handed out. Hopefully mine arrives in the next week or so. Have already been doing some research on the use and some demo applications for it, however I'm 110% busy for the next few weeks - plus travel. Grr.Lotto? You pay for a licence to dream until the draw

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2011, 01:48:04 pm
content: I am running behind you at full speedLOLJust ordered the educational CD from Agilent.Speaking about research and demo applications, I will watch out to not damage my few free braincells.Relax , take your time, do your best

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 26, 2011, 03:09:07 pm
content: Congratulations to those selected!I think selected is a better word to 'winners' as looking at the profiles they were the safe choice. I am glad established reviewers were selected for this review so that the profile of RoadTests is not adversely affected and more reviews will come.The value the company gets from 5k worth of equipment is tremendous. Think about it, how much would a review based traditional marketing tools ask for a 20 page review...? Also, the review would probably be detached from the truth which can be provided only by the end user.I am very interested in the three reviews. I would especially find very useful a section on the suitability/pros/cons of these units for an educational establishment like a technical college or university, as well as stuff I wont find in th user's manual.QuoteIt is worth dreaming if the pot is full. Like the winners of the Scottish jackpot of £161m found out.

author: gregariz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 03:23:41 am
content: I don't mind the element 14 website that much, but originally when it came online I was hoping/thought it was going to be more of an information service aimed at design help. Ie code snippets, discussion of regs, tutorials on the current programmable logic/uC's. All the sorts of things engineers have trouble getting. But when I look at it its a real online hacker community of DIYers playing with gadgets and 'cool' circuits (not that its a bad thing I guess), but its not for me.

author: Semantics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 03:57:15 pm
content: Quote from: Alex on July 26, 2011, 03:09:07 pmIt was absolutely the right thing to occur, but, I don't think they should have opened it up to everyone and their mothers if they never had (and should not have) a ghosts chance of getting selected! Kind of like when an employer posts a job opening only superficially when they already know who is going to get it. They could have called it "Super RoadTest" or something that shows the benefits of reviewing.It'll be quite telling comparing how many people signed up for those Agilent scope RoadTests as opposed to the newly posted one for TI's FRAM demo board.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 05:23:14 pm
content: Maybe there are different laws governing how to sell to individuals vs comanies in different countries?Farnell sell to anyone here in the UK but I've been told they no longer offer free delivery, at least not for individuals anyway.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 06:20:04 pm
content: It's nothing to do with law- just company policy, although the latter may be influenced by differences in consumer protection laws between countries, as well as policies of their competitors.In practice it's usually more about avoiding small orders and timewasters, as in practice anyone can invent a company name.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 06:47:19 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on July 27, 2011, 06:20:04 pmConsumer protection laws have been harmonized in the EU. And not just yesterday, the directive is from 1997. Still Farnell does not sell to individuals in some EU countries, but does so in others. Consumer protection laws are a common excuse, but really not the reason. They just think they don't need the money.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 06:52:10 pm
content: Quote from: gregariz on July 27, 2011, 03:23:41 amCommunity? After two years and a vast amount of promotion it gets about 30 posts a day. Half of those are on Eagle support, half of what remains seem somehow to be from people paid to post and half of what's left is from complete idiots like a guy asking an Agilent rep where to buy a Triac, or a guy asking for a 150v 100A switcher design which after quizzing he revealed needed to run from a 15A 110v socket. As a 'community' it is a huge fail.It could be useful as an informal contact path to supplier representatives but it is so painful seeing them politely answering questions from idiots. Apart from that and Eagle support the chances of finding something interesting or getting a useful answer to a question there are so slim it isn't worth looking or asking.IMO the social networking web2.0rhea drivel format of the site puts most people off before they even start.

author: gregariz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 07:59:22 pm
content: Quote from: Rufus on July 27, 2011, 06:52:10 pmWell.. perhaps the word community was a bit vulgar.. but I think the mistake they made was to try to cater to the Maker crowd. It seems to me there are already plenty of sites doing that. For parts at least their own MCM electronics division is for those guys. It should of been an engineering info service I think as I stated - as no-one has done that well. Getting introductory app's information from some of their component suppliers can sometimes be like pulling teeth, so there's an opportunity there. But instead they concentrated on Ben Heck stuffing an X-box into a laptop and now Jeri is there making transistors. I'm sure that stuff has an audience, but I don't think its the professional community. It would have been nice if they had gotten some of their engineers - I believe they have some - and had them provide reference designs, the tut's and code for entry into the dev products they sell. But thats just my 2c and I'm sure the Maker guys want to stick a fork in me.

author: Semantics
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 08:32:31 pm
content: Quote from: gregariz on July 27, 2011, 07:59:22 pmThat's the thing: communities around every subject seem to grow organically, and cannot be made to appear by some marketing VP's edict. The internet is full of failed .coms that really believed "if you build it, they will come" but didn't realize "if you build it late, they won't come." If something is "hot" and "up and coming" the landgrab is already crowding you out.While I'm not a professional electronics guy, I like professional groups because there's a lot of practical info to absorb. I haven't needed information on anything that had me wind up on Element14. And that doesn't particularly bother me, live and let live after all. But I will feel bad for those that really like it when the parent company decides to stop throwing the good money after the bad and discontinues it.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 28, 2011, 02:28:23 am
content: Quote from: Rufus on July 27, 2011, 06:52:10 pmHmm, 30 posts a day for the amount of money, time and effort put in seems like a very poor ROI. But that was fairly predictable from the start, the usability of the site is just terrible and from what I see has not really improved much. So much so it's a bit of a running joke on TheAmpHour!The EEVblog forum gets an average of over 87 posts per dayDave.

author: shadowless
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2011, 02:48:00 am
content: Dave,hope they let you give away a few Agilent 3000x soon.