A1 protected rom

[mikeymike]

If it is indeed a design fault (which I haven't seen confirmed), why do they ask money for replacing it? The only sensible thing to me is sending the bills to Eyetech for refund. What is Eyetech's stand on this?

Probably from their point of view, and the way it was presented on sale, that it isn't faulty.  If (whoever is experiencing this issue) can find something in the documentation or their website that says the ROM should be user-flashable, then they've probably got a case.

[JoannaK]

mikeymike: In my view this depends on IF old boortom is enough to get
all applications and specified hardware to function...

For example: (I don't have enough details so this is speculation):
I seem to remember announcement of (july?) update that was supposed to
help on USB problems. IMHO, usb is quite essential part of mobo and if
it does not work (or work reliably.. I can't tell) without Rom upgrade
then in my books it shoudl be covered by warranty.

For something like nicer boot-menu .. Well it's not essential, so it
alone ain't reason for chip replacement.