I work on 99% European and purchased my Gen 1 Verus in July '10 (not long before the Gen 2 as released ) and initially I was impressed with the software from SO because of the Component Test information, the 4 channel digital scope including the graphing multi-meter & many other features, which allowed me to confidently take on problem vehicles. Maybe I have become a little less reliant on the component test feature as my experience has increased but I am still using the scanner & scope as much as ever and I really like the ability to save data from both.
There seems to be so much potential for this tool but I feel that SO is lacking in fully utilizing that ability, including the severly dated hardware as mentioned in other posts. Realize that I am working on mostly Euro cars but I am starting to become less impressed with the call-in assistance offered by SO tech support and have never had any in-field assistance to speak of. The scanner software is full of omissions & uncompleted changes and although Tech Support says they will make a note of it I am starting to feel it is just "lip service." It's as if SO just did not bother to do a little more research to give complete information. Additionally bugs, which should be handled with a free (and I use that term loosely) "patch" require the purchase of the next release at significant $$.
I would think twice before commiting long term for the on-line Mitchell/Shop Key On Demand as again it has everything to do with customer service. If there is missing data check out the response you get from the support team. In the past AllData had SO beat hands down in that area. Yes it would be cool to hyperlink directly from the Verus to Shop-Key but since SO says NOT to run Windows auto-updates (I don't think they suggest any virus protection either) on Verus I stay off-line except to check for software patches. You will read that many guys have had to handle virus problems with their Verus units.
Buying the Verus is certainly an easy one unit that does alot and I must admit that the few times I have worked on a domestic vehicle I am amazed at the capability & speed of it so if that is what you work on most then my comments may mostly be irrelevant. Good Luck!
There seems to be so much potential for this tool but I feel that SO is lacking in fully utilizing that ability, including the severly dated hardware as mentioned in other posts. Realize that I am working on mostly Euro cars but I am starting to become less impressed with the call-in assistance offered by SO tech support and have never had any in-field assistance to speak of. The scanner software is full of omissions & uncompleted changes and although Tech Support says they will make a note of it I am starting to feel it is just "lip service." It's as if SO just did not bother to do a little more research to give complete information. Additionally bugs, which should be handled with a free (and I use that term loosely) "patch" require the purchase of the next release at significant $$.
I would think twice before commiting long term for the on-line Mitchell/Shop Key On Demand as again it has everything to do with customer service. If there is missing data check out the response you get from the support team. In the past AllData had SO beat hands down in that area. Yes it would be cool to hyperlink directly from the Verus to Shop-Key but since SO says NOT to run Windows auto-updates (I don't think they suggest any virus protection either) on Verus I stay off-line except to check for software patches. You will read that many guys have had to handle virus problems with their Verus units.
Buying the Verus is certainly an easy one unit that does alot and I must admit that the few times I have worked on a domestic vehicle I am amazed at the capability & speed of it so if that is what you work on most then my comments may mostly be irrelevant. Good Luck!
Comment