Thanks everyone for your comments and votes! We'll be passing your ideas on to our manufacturers! Any other ideas - feel free to start a new discussion.
One thing I've run into repeatedly, while working with displays specifically, is that manufacturers don't provide all the required drivers or sample data for the platforms I need them to work on. And often the samples they do provide barely touch on the very basic bits of functionality. Maybe that falls under tech support too, but in general if Element14 has samples available, or through manufacturer support can make them available as needed, that would help out a lot. The more sample code, the better
It might be useful if the product related application videos are released to the viewers who can get the idea about the capability of the product. This can help to realise the potential of the product, how it can fit a certain area of application directly. If the errata details are listed or shown in the videos that are already faced by the existing customers and how to overcome them can really save lot of time. This helps to improve the quality time of the element14 visitors which can help the developments in fast pace, if they want to use in a new projects or existing ones.
It would be nice if you could open up for "user reviews" for road test products - so users who happen to own the same equipment can add their reviews as well. But I would of course like to see more road tests. I will not buy anything unless I can read a test or comments on a product.Paper specs are so greatful - and manufactores does not point out the weak sides of their products.
And then I would like to see the reviews linked to the Farnell product pages.
I think most of the choices presented here were already available on any manufacturer's website. As a suggestion to make customer's experience in element14 community more unique than the manufacturers' websites is the ability of this community to provide ideas and information coming from the representatives or experts of the manufacturers. As a customer, it would be beneficial for me to go to a community where I can see comparisons in between the products that I will be using for my projects. This could eliminate the bias that I might see if I go directly to the manufacturer's website.
I really like what other roadtesters say on their reviews and how they criticise the products. Their honest and detailed comments on the products show the additional information that a possible customer might need to know before buying it. However, I rarely see any feedback coming from some manufacturer regarding the issues and concerns that the roadtesters have seen in the product. If we could have these experts be engaged in the reviews and be able to address the issues then RoadTest becomes more interactive. With that, I might not even care to go to Google and search for a blog or a manufacturer's forum to get a firsthand experienced review.
I would like to see the manufacturers to become more interactive with the road tests. By that I would like to see them present some issues or questions that they have about the products they provide for road testing. Such as, usability, new applications using the device, reliability, usefulness, etc. Element 14 can provide them with a lot of views if they become more interactive with the community.
Running contests is one way to generate interest in new products and I have seen that work with the E14 group.
Provide old and new models to each road tester to get their assessment on the new features or problem fixes.
I know that road testers can do more than confirm how neat the products are, we can truly be alpha level testers for their products.
As I always say, a new set of eyes are always useful in proofing documentation, training guides, and tutorials. All they need to do is ask and provide the products, both hardware and software.
The manufacturers not only get technical assistance, but the visibility the road test provides can be an excellent product review source, plus a source of future product ideas.
