WHATEVER HAPPENED TO R&D??

Looked like a fantastic piece of kit to help students I teach and also allied with a spotting scope would make thing much easier to find, a great furore was generated with fantastic reviews and recommendations therefore it was surely going to be an amazing new addition to the astronomers arsenal. So we waited it's arrival in the UK after being told by the US supplier that because of EU regulations (see: how to make the people in UK have to pay more) etc, we could only purchase from an approved UK supplier, I reserved mine with D. Hinds, 6 months later......... what a joke, it arrives. Can't wait, especially as my club students return to school within the week and with the dark nights approaching it's going to a fantastic aide for them. Box opened, quick read through the instructions leaflet (I was expecting a booklet at least) but this could be seen as reassuring to 'technophobes' as to how easy it is to use!! Seems easy, this is good, as the students (ages 13 - 16 years) will be taking it home to use, therefore simplicity is good. Brand new 'copper-tops' inserted I hold it out to the open skies and await the magic to begin, I wait for the magic to begin, I await for the magic to begin, you get the idea! The family ask what the problem is and already I'm making excuses, this is not good, £350 for something that does not work. GPS is simple and readily available for far less and works first time, why is this unit so rubbish at locating satellites and providing accurate information? I will tell you why, it's underdeveloped and it's manufacturers have underestimated their customers. After trying 10 times to locate a GPS signal from various places around my own location (outside, upstairs, downstairs, in the front street while being watched by passers-by) and seeing the battery indicator drop like a stone of a highrise I decided to jump on the internet and find out what's going on, surprise surprise it seems to be a common theme, I'm wasting no more of my time, it will be boxed up and returned asap for a full refund. Imagine buying a car, going to the garage to collect it, putting in the key and nothing happens!! The sales rep then tells you to push it home because it's still a car, it's just got a few problems and no doubt you'll manage somehow!! Rubbish. Things that cost this much should work, simple as. If you have problems send it back and await the release of a unit from a company that manages to overcome all of the issues that this unit has. It will happen, I just hope it will be soon, in the meantime it's back to 'Starry Night' on the laptop, outside with a fully charged battery and many hours of guaranteed astronomical information at the touch of a mouse. The people who have provided Pro responses are surely blessed but having looked into across many internet sites it's 90% negative and the rest a mixture of the 'blessed' or those with a vested interest me thinks! Clear skies you all.