On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:56:01 -0700, Tony29 <Ton29@xxxxxx>
wrote:
Quote:
> Given that there are many posts related to the eye-opening realisation that,
> if you have a printer that works beautifully on XP (Or earlier) you will not
> be guaranteed that same full functionality of the printer once you adopt
> Vista, what is going to be done about it? I have an Epson CX3650 that Epson
> state will never have a full functioning Vista driver developed by them - I
> can no longer do draft prints (and a whole pile of other problems to which
> people have already referred on this forum). So, who is our printer driver
> supplier now - Microsoft?
>
> It's no use saying - use the Microsoft auto install; use the drivers
> supplied by the manufacturer - there is no tecnical solution to overcome this
> disregard for the client community which is being demonstrated by Microsoft
> in collaboration with printer manufacturers.
>
> The question to the forum is - how do you get Microsoft to provide fully
> functioning drivers for printers that they (for marketing purposes) want to
> have in their pool of In-box drivers? Is there an anti-trust issue here?
This has nothing to do with Microsoft. They don't write the drivers.
The issue is with the printer manufacturers. They are ones who develop
(or not) the needed drivers when a new operating system comes along.
It also has nothing to do with Vista. Exactly the same situation
occurs with every new operating system. Each printer (as well as other
devices: scanners, etc.) manufacturer decides for itself whether or
not to incur the trouble and expense of developing new drivers for its
older products. If the product is in current production, it probably
will develop them. If it's a little older, it may or not. And if it's
old enough, they will probably decide that's it doesn't make economic
sense to develop a driver for the new operating system.
No printer manufacturer will sell you a printer with a guarantee that
it will work with today's operating system and also with all new
operating systems that may be released in the future.
So whenever you buy a device like a printer or scanner, buy it with
the realization that although it may work with today's operating
system, it may or may not work with tomorrow's. For many people, the
lack of needed drivers for older hardware is a factor that stops them
from upgrading their operating system. And before upgrading,
*everyone* should make sure that they know whether all their hardware
is supported in the new operating system.
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
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