[Analogus]

Carolingian

I think you are are overacting...

1) Batteries are discharging over time even when not used. I regard a loss of 2 bars over 4 weeks as more or less normal.

4) Windows not recognizing something sadly is 'normal' too. Maybe the reader is defect, maybe not.

5a) If MS would answer every question concerning something not beeing recognizes on someones PC they would have to level up their employees stock a significant amount.

5b) Battery could be flat because you turned off your PC and let your reader connected to it. That would drain the battery empty because power now runs the other way round - from the reader into the PC.

8) Yes, I agree with you that Sony and a lot of other brands (for example Apple with their Ipods and Macbooks) think you should throw away your product and buy another (newer) one when something is defect. And it WILL be defect because it's intentioned partly by design. Sad but true. To give consumers the impression that they COULD repair defect things, they have a repair service. But with very high fees.

A.