Ah, I just saw everyone else's post..

To anyone else who's just getting theirs.. can you go to your browser and start typing in

google.com.. just the first couple letters.

This was the first thing I typed into my browser, and as soon as i got to the O, there were 2 results that brought me to some explicit website.

maybe i should be glad mine have not yet arrived.

cake eater wrote:maybe i should be glad mine have not yet arrived.

I'm just bringing this up because I unboxed this with 3 other friends and they all agree it seems like a refurb..

I mean how does it come factory sealed, but with a browsing history on it.. let alone tea... who was using my tablet? More importantly, what were they using it for???

gwbaker wrote:Got mine today. Light will turn green when fully charged. I have found that it has the latest software with the 1.2 ver boot loader. Been trying to downgrade to 1.1 for the xda roms. But, I have found it very hard to find information about getting it to load. The boot loader starts for a second then reboots back into normal mode. I have the lock down version and cannot find the info to get around the lock.

Yours came with software already updated? Does this mean that you don't have a notification on the top right corner to update??

Mine did not come updated...

taemujin wrote:Ah, I just saw everyone else's post..

To anyone else who's just getting theirs.. can you go to your browser and start typing in

google.com.. just the first couple letters.

This was the first thing I typed into my browser, and as soon as i got to the O, there were 2 results that brought me to some explicit website.

hmm. This is kind of typical of Woot. I Woot-ed a netbook a few years ago. Though it stated they were refurbished, mine was obviously just returned. Others posted up with similar complaints.

My new gtablet is clean. The only things in the history are my own searches. The accessories were packaged as new.

I did notice that on the back of this, it says US Merchants. I wonder if they do refurbishing or just distribute for Viewsonic?

hmm, I just Googled up "us merchants", the first hit said they do "diversified repackaging". I guess they are refurbished!

ewraven wrote:hmm, I just Googled up "us merchants", the first hit said they do "diversified repackaging". I guess they are refurbished!

i don't see how they could sell something as "new" when it isnt though.

I still have some faith in woot, we'll see how service.woot responds on Monday.

it seems like g tablet has this 'US Merchants' since day one. i already check most of the unboxing and review from youtube. but i have to agree with you. when i open my g tablet today, i feel it is a refurbished. i am still charging the tablet. i will check it very carefully later.

kliu66 wrote:it seems like g tablet has this 'US Merchants' since day one. i already check most of the unboxing and review from youtube. but i have to agree with you. when i open my g tablet today, i feel it is a refurbished. i am still charging the tablet. i will check it very carefully later.

That is good to know then that the US Merchants thing has been on the back since day one.


I've got some news about my Gtab. I recommend to everyone to order the Malata Gtab dock off of Ebay or wherever you can find it. It is the only way to use the HDMI out on the Gtab, if you care about using HDMI that is. I've got a feeling that the Malata docks won't be around forever.

I just got mine all hooked up to the HDMI on my 42" LCD tv. I also plugged in my wireless Lenovo home theater pc mouse/trackball combo to the USB port on the dock. It works with no modifications necessary.

There are a few quirks, I have to use the arrow keys on the Lenovo remote as the trackball doesn't work on the home screen of the Gtab.

YouTube works in Opera Mobile browser but I had trouble navigating and getting a video to play in the default Gtab browser.

Also, in the Opera Mobile browser, there is a cursor on the screen but it is limited, can't access bookmarks for one. I had to use the directional keys to move the cursor around.

got mine today and charged and and played around with it.

Then flashed it to vegan 5.1.1.
It was really easy and made a big difference.

After around 1 days worth of use, a line running the length of the screen showed up. It changes color depending on what is on the screen, so it is almost like only one sub-pixel is missing. I've seen red and blue, so I'm guessing the green is what is dead. Either way, it is very annoying, so I guess I'll have to take my chances with the warranty. Hope they don't assuming I'm lieing like the previous person that had a problem with the power jack.

Writing this message from my gtablet took afew tries to get clockwork installed but finally worked. Installed vegan 5.1.1 and some other applications. After getting through the first few issues all is working well.
As far as I can tell mine was new.

Unpacked my gtablet, looked in good shape and not refurb, put it on the charger, when to the indians/mariners game and came home and got to play. I spent 2 minutes on stock rom, than took 20 minutes and loaded up Vegan 7.0. Absolutely love it so far. Screen really isnt as bad as a lot of people make it out to be.

clymerrm wrote:Unpacked my gtablet, looked in good shape and not refurb, put it on the charger, when to the indians/mariners game and came home and got to play. I spent 2 minutes on stock rom, than took 20 minutes and loaded up Vegan 7.0. Absolutely love it so far. Screen really isnt as bad as a lot of people make it out to be.

I agree with screen comment. Someone please school me on why I would want to ditch the stock ROM. I'd like to understand the gain, thanks.

afisboy wrote:I agree with screen comment. Someone please school me on why I would want to ditch the stock ROM. I'd like to understand the gain, thanks.

I tried the stock ROM for a few hours, it actually seemed ok.

Since this is my first Android device, most all of the functionallity of the device was new to me. Out of the box, it seemd pretty good, but I figured with everyone upgrading, there must be a good reason.

So I ventured on. I had been reading the posts about rooting the device ever since I bought it, so I was pretty familar with the process. My first few steps didn't go very well, and I thought I close to softbricking my device.

I finaly got everything installed, and it is better than stock. Plus I think the in the process, you can get access to more apps. I'm still not familar with "markets" but as the name implys, that is where you get your apps. The better the market place, the more apps you have. I think stock, there wasnt much available.

Also, the ROM I installed, Vegan-tab, to me, seems much nicer. Just be sure to follow ALL instructions. Including getting a updated launcher. Launch Pro, from the market place, is a much nicer experience that from the Vegan-tab default in my opinion.

I think the benefit of rooting, really opens up a lot more options, and power of the device.

medved02 wrote:I tried the stock ROM for a few hours, it actually seemed ok.

Since this is my first Android device, most all of the functionallity of the device was new to me. Out of the box, it seemd pretty good, but I figured with everyone upgrading, there must be a good reason.

So I ventured on. I had been reading the posts about rooting the device ever since I bought it, so I was pretty familar with the process. My first few steps didn't go very well, and I thought I close to softbricking my device.

I finaly got everything installed, and it is better than stock. Plus I think the in the process, you can get access to more apps. I'm still not familar with "markets" but as the name implys, that is where you get your apps. The better the market place, the more apps you have. I think stock, there wasnt much available.

Also, the ROM I installed, Vegan-tab, to me, seems much nicer. Just be sure to follow ALL instructions. Including getting a updated launcher. Launch Pro, from the market place, is a much nicer experience that from the Vegan-tab default in my opinion.

I think the benefit of rooting, really opens up a lot more options, and power of the device.

Thanks for responding. So far I totally dig this device and I'm still on the stock rom. Any difference in performance going with Vegan? Faster, slower, no difference?

Mine came and said US Merchants on the back. It was all wrapped up in shrink wrap but it did NOT have a screen protector on it and it has some finger prints on the screen. Hmmmmm. Makes you think that it might be refurbished.

Can someone go to Staples and check the back of their G-Tablets to see if it says US Merchant?

A quick search brought this up...

http://ordner.us/usw/?p=146

I purchased one of these from Sears tonight… had to wait for them to get unloaded from the truck. It was mentioned on Engadget so I had to see if I could get one. They received two so I guess slow to inventory. The viewsonic site is http://www.viewsonic.com/gtablet. The box says distributed worldwide by U.S. Merchants and the power supply has a modular plug. It says Android 2.2, powered by Nvidia Tegra 2, 1024×600 multi touch etc. For once it actually has “buttons” for search, home, menu, back which may be part of the touch screen but are dedicated at one edge plus volume rocker on top, microsd, full size usb and microusb ports, headphone port, two speakers, 1.3m web cam on front. Model UPC300-2.2 is on the back.

afisboy wrote:Thanks for responding. So far I totally dig this device and I'm still on the stock rom. Any difference in performance going with Vegan? Faster, slower, no difference?

seems faster and smoother, in addition to getting more apps in the market.

My 4 year old and my wife now are fighting over playing angry birds . . . She asked me how much it cost . . . I think she wants her own now . . . lol

medved02 wrote:seems faster and smoother, in addition to getting more apps in the market.

My 4 year old and my wife now are fighting over playing angry birds . . . She asked me how much it cost . . . I think she wants her own now . . . lol

Loaded Vegan last night. Yeah, way better.

I received my gTab yesterday (purchased from woot).

Mine doesn't come with the two screen protectors nor the User guide.

So is my gTab a refurb?

alvinyew wrote:I received my gTab yesterday (purchased from woot).

Mine doesn't come with the two screen protectors nor the User guide.

So is my gTab a refurb?

I think you are fine.

Mine came with the anti-static bag thing around the unit and then just a small instruction sheet.

It didn't come with two screen protectors or an actual user manual or guide.

It also of course had the charger and a little screen cleaning cloth in there.

mikequaack wrote:Mine came and said US Merchants on the back. It was all wrapped up in shrink wrap but it did NOT have a screen protector on it and it has some finger prints on the screen. Hmmmmm. Makes you think that it might be refurbished.

Can someone go to Staples and check the back of their G-Tablets to see if it says US Merchant?

US Merchants is the sole US Distributor of the G-tablets in the US so all All G-tablets have the US Merchants logo on the back.

The G-tablets arrive from overseas as separate components (the tablet and accessories are not packaged together in a retail box) and are then packed together and boxed and in some cases - new firmware is loaded on them here as well. My guess is that some units don't get the screen protector loaded on them and/or don't get completely wiped down after the firmware process here. That doesn't make it a refurb but it does say that there probably needs to be improvement in their QC process.