Logitech, Creative, NVIDIA driver disgrace

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James Bannan01 February 2007, 1:22 AM

Thinking of upgrading to Vista? Be prepared for the rude shock that a triumverate of the most common hardware manufacturersstilldon't have final-release Vista drivers available.

OK, time to rant for a bit. Vista is out and I’d like to be able to upgrade my main home computer. I’ve got the software – all I need to do is throw in the DVD and I’m away.

Why do I want to upgrade? Well, I’d like to be able to put forward loads of cogent arguments as to why Vista is such an incredible operating system for home users, but I’d need to ingest a few mind-bending substances before I could.

To be honest, other than some nice extra applications and a new look, I can’t think of a single, substantial reason for any home user to spend the bucks and move away from Windows XP.

I’m only considering it myself because I’d be letting myself down as an IT journo and desktop administrator not to.
And yet, I can’t upgrade. Why not? Well, I have this embarrassing problem of owning a Creative Audigy 2 ZS soundcard and a Logitech MX3000 keyboard/mouse combo.

They’re great products and I love using them, but apparently both vendors approach new operating systems with the same amount of trepidation as you’d approach a cobra.

The final, shipping version of Vista has been out for two months now to business and hardware vendors and now every version of Vista is commercially available.

And yet, Creative is still only offering beta drivers. Still, that’s better than Logitech, who aren’t offering ANY Vista solution for current devices using SetPoint at all. Actually, that’s not exactly true – there is version 3.3 of SetPoint available, which supports a couple of the very latest Logitech keyboard/mouse combos, but nothing for other, reasonably recent devices. Guess there’s little benefit to being a loyal Logitech customer.

Considering the sheer length of time manufacturers have had to get their drivers ready for Vista, it’s nothing short of disgraceful to find two apparent industry leaders caught in such a position – incapable of offering their customers a smooth transition to a new operating system.

Actually, make that three industry leaders – NVIDIA won’t have their final-release Vista drivers out for about another month. AMD had theirs out the same day Vista was released. Intel had the vast majority of their final release drivers out when Vista RTM was released. Pay attention the rest of you – it CAN be done! You’re just waaaaaay behind!

I’ve spent a lot of money on my system and I’m certainly not going to spend more on it just because a couple of manufacturers haven’t got their act together. Guess that Vista upgrade is just going to have to wait -- either that, or I upgrade my hardware to something compatible and vow never to buy Logitech, Creative or NVIDIA ever again!

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James:

I can completely agree with this article, I have an HP Scanjet 3500c and a DeskJet 6122 that either don’t work at all - or partially do with Vista. I actually give credit to Microsoft that all my "Internal" Pc components (Motherboard, Video and Sound) were updated with the right updates that Microsoft did exceptionally well with. However Hewlett Packard has been incredibly slack, and particularly when I see ad's for HP advertising their new machines equipped with Vista and all the drivers that needed to be created to support all their "New" hardware. They couldn’t even get their act together when Vista's been in the making for 6 years. A disgraceful effort, and also to mention that I’m a loyal Hp customer, and to get a response email that didn’t really give me any answers except a kick up the rear end and a URL to a "Get Ready for Vista" page. That’s an insult of my intelligence!

Cheers



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Scott:

You can add "Asus" to the list of disgraceful vendors. Can't even connect to the Internet using a basic WL-138g WiFi card. I need to buy WL-138g Version 2 card for another 40 bucks. It worked perfectly under XP.

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t4ct1c47:

You can obtain Vista wireless drivers from the manufacturer of the wireless to digital converter chip used by many manufacturers such as Asus, Belkin, LynkSys and NetGear.

www.ralinktech.com

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Spence:

And guess what, 200+ days later they STILL havn't addressed the issue with the V1 WL-138g xD

They suck, and i told them that on their deadly slow forum!

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barrygil:

James,
I am not a Microsoft user, having been on the old Linux since 1999 - mostly on Mandrake/Mandriva now 2006-version, but Mandrake recommended a HP-6110 OfficeJet back when it was new, and Linux-drivers were everywhere for functions that only existed in Microsoft-drivers, but not for Mac at the time.
Similarly, I recently felt a need to buy a good HP-LightScribe (laser disc-labeling) DVD-burner, and though the better-specificationed BenQ-DW1655 was not HP, the HP/LaCie/LightScribe Linux-application performed magnificently. It would seem that Linux has been getting applications and drivers simultaneously with the release of current generation hardware at the time of release. HP redirected me to the LaCie page for the download, even though I had purchased a BenQ-burner! Change of policy, perhaps?

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Easy Speed:

Funny there is a driver for my old HP990cxi but not for my new Epson photo R230 or my old Canon scanner 5000F.

The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor stated all should be well with my nVidia 7600GS but I not so sure now with all the bad reports about nVidia drivers.

A special thanks to all the new Vista testers who have paid Micro$oft for the privilege and I hope that by the time I upgrade when service pack 2 is out that you have got it right for me.

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raindog:

Why should there be an expectation that every vendor of every peripheral has an obligation to instantly support Microsoft's latest indulgence?
Each of these companies has their own suite of priorities and obligations to decide when and for what OS's they'll do development. It's their business model and the need for any vendor to be ready for a Vista release faces the same set of parameters, as does the decision to, or not to, develop a driver set for OS2, Beos or Throbbing Porcupine linux, particularly when you are talking legacy hardware support.
As of Feb 1 I'd hazzard a guess that the total number of operating Vista installs in real world homes and offices would be less than almost any other operating system, yes I am sure that situation will rapidly change and with it will likely come better driver support.
I am sure Microsoft's general contempt and attempts to keep a stranglehold on the industry apply to independant component vendors in the same way they apply to the end user. How much real support, finance and incentive has Microsoft provided to these vendors to ready drivers for launch day 1?
Curiously James you state you see no real need for a home user to upgrade to Vista and with that I can only concur, it would however be arrogant to assume that applied to every user and every home situation.
You state the need to stay up to date as an IT journo and that I can well understand. But once the release fanfare is over and the Ferrari Notebooks and free copies are all loaded and configured I do hope that the journos bloggers etc manage to stay in touch with the actual type and diveristy of machines, hardware and software that will be actually be doing the slog in all those offices and homes. They wont all be shiny new copies of Vista, no sir-ee.
Early adopters, go for it, you save the rest of us a fortune in cash, time and energy and bring the mature driver sets and discounted pricing closer to reality, but please dont bitch to us about the pitfalls. Fearing angels have little time for thse who jump in first.



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