Okay,
It is clear that the Microsoft band is a worthwhile device in terms of some of the excellent technology built into the device and the ecosystem seems to be improving with time albeit a bit more slowly at the moment. However IMHO there does remain a question mark relating to this device and the ability of the product line to last for a reasonable amount of time with active use without developing some kind of fault.
For instance, at the moment my main pastime is walking and running so is it my sleep pattern that is breaking the band and causing the straps to come apart or split?
What I would really like to know is:
In the UK we cannot walk into a MFST shop for a replacement and online/telephone support seem to take a lot of convincing that there is a problem with your device so it can be quite frustrating.
Surely a ?250.00 device should last longer than 6 months before it has to be replaced under warranty, even with this it seems to me that once your warranty runs out neither band will last much longer than 18 months of either heavy or light use YWMV.
As consumers are we getting ripped off with what seem to be prototype devices or is this just the price we pay for advancing technology and for being early adoptors?
It is clear that the Microsoft band is a worthwhile device in terms of some of the excellent technology built into the device and the ecosystem seems to be improving with time albeit a bit more slowly at the moment. However IMHO there does remain a question mark relating to this device and the ability of the product line to last for a reasonable amount of time with active use without developing some kind of fault.
For instance, at the moment my main pastime is walking and running so is it my sleep pattern that is breaking the band and causing the straps to come apart or split?
What I would really like to know is:
- Is the Microsoft Band actually durable at all?
- Is Microsoft using the best material to provide a lasting durable product?
- Is it built in obsolesce?
- Is this the best we can hope to expect from a fitness device in terms of longevity?
- Is the Microsoft Band a poorly conceived or manufactured product?
- How best could a Microsoft Band 3 be improved in terms of durability?
- Original band number 1 = used for 4 months then returned under warranty after developing faults and battery coming away from strap
- Replacement Band = currently band is disintegrating, battery coming away from strap, clasp breaking away from strap (decided to get band 2 and dump B1 in my drawer of old technology as the concept device for B2)
- Band 2 number 1 = used for 3 months then returned under warranty after heart rate sensor stopped working, stair count intermittent, strap splitting, battery stopped charging after multiple resets.
- Replacement Band 2 = awaiting replacement or MSFT to tell me faults not covered due to abuse or something.
In the UK we cannot walk into a MFST shop for a replacement and online/telephone support seem to take a lot of convincing that there is a problem with your device so it can be quite frustrating.
Surely a ?250.00 device should last longer than 6 months before it has to be replaced under warranty, even with this it seems to me that once your warranty runs out neither band will last much longer than 18 months of either heavy or light use YWMV.
As consumers are we getting ripped off with what seem to be prototype devices or is this just the price we pay for advancing technology and for being early adoptors?