Paying For Updated Drivers?

[woodbutcher]

I thought I would install an older Umax 1220U (USB) scanner on an XP comp.
The software (VistaScan) that comes with the scanner also contains the drivers but is not XP compatable.
Went over to Umax's site to DL the drivers before I hooked up the scanner to find this;

http://www.umax.com/download/index.jsp

All i'm looking for is the actual drivers for the scanner.

Thanks
WB

[EvilRick]

I believe they started doing that a long time ago. That's also one reason while I'll never purchase one.

[woodbutcher]

Well that makes no sense.
I can somewhat understand having to pay for updated software but not the drivers. Those should be a NC download. On top of it all they do not even offer a paid DL, you have to purchase the CD online and wait for snail mail to deliver it.


WB

[J-Excel]

You can get them free through their German site. Used to be able to anyway. I haven't looked recently.

[jmichna]

I use my trusty old Umax 600S connected to a PC running XP Pro. XP has sufficient drivers... there should be no need to install Vistascan (the only neat thing you lose is that "copier" utility within Vistascan). My MS Office 2000 apps, Paint Shop Pro, etc., all have no problems using the scanner.

[woodbutcher]

Thanks for the the replies.
And I feel DUMB.
Plugged it in and XP Pro loaded the drivers for it no problem.
I never use "Plug and Pray" drivers as I always DL the manufactures latest drivers.
LOL and behold it worked.

WB

[darrelld]

WB, I have a copy of the current drivers and the XP update if your interested.
I made many,many backups when I realized Umax charges for them. I will never buy another Umax product.

[darrelld]

They are about 16MB total, so I wouldn't ba able to Email(10Mb limit) I could send them through an IM though.

[woodbutcher]

Originally posted by darrelld
They are about 16MB total, so I wouldn't ba able to Email(10Mb limit) I could send them through an IM though.

Thanks
I would like to have the latest drivers, not sure what IM is though.
I cheated and googled IM, couldn't find out what it be.
Maybe you could PM me?

Thanks again
WB

[darrelld]

I just meant Instant Messenger, aka AIM,MSN,Yahoo,ICQ...Etc.

I'm going to try to get them in the download section here http://www.xtremepccentral.com/index.php

If you don't hear from me in a couple of days, PM me.

[darrelld]

Here they are, http://home.comcast.net/~darrelldb1/Umax.zip I managed to get it under 10MB after removing all other languages. The setup is in the disk1 folder, install, then apply the update patch.

[RedFury]

www.driversguide.com is a good place to find drivers....they ask you to register for free and they give out the same username and password to everyone: Drivers/All.

[Bovon]

Something we don't stop to consider many times when we are or were used to getting free updates and drivers. Every time M$ comes out with a new OS, and even sometimes after installing a service pack, we need new drivers. The larger software companies usually have several programmers sitting around that can do this..but the smaller companies do not..and in some instances have to hire the drivers to be written by outside programmers. These new drivers must be tested extensively to know there is no conflicts with other drivers etc. Can you imagine all of the different sound cards, modems, NICs, USB and many other cards or hardware that new drivers must be checked out against..not to mention the different OS's that have to be checked in as well. Its no 'cake walk' writing and testing new drivers. This is costly to these people, but I would prefer paying a small fee to get them rather than just have to S/C the item like I did a printer last year because I could not get updated drivers...absolutely nothing wrong with the printer..it just would not work with the new OS. I REALLY hated that, and swore off that company.

[woodbutcher]

Thanks again for the replies;

darrelld, The link to comcast didn't work but the one to XPC did.
Something is not right with the info on disk 6 of the set though, I had to skip a dozen files the install looked for but could not find. I ran the install 3 times with the same result and the scanner test would not find the 1220U scanner.
I do appreciate your taking the time to upload them for me, perhaps the upload to XPC was corrupted.
I ended up registering at driversguide.com and doing the link download from Umax in Germany (you were right J-Excel) and they installed without a hitch.

Thanks RedFury, diversguide is an excellent resource for drivers. In all the years i've been online that is the first time I visited that site.

Bovon, I consider the driver updates to be part of what I pay for when I purchase the product to begin with.
The bundled software upgrade charge is understandable to a point but IMHO the drivers should be a N/C DL.
IMO a good company will provide drivers N/C for the life of the product. To try and charge you for them as part of the software package is not a good practice. I can't think of one manufacture besides Umax that has this policy.
Imagine what would happen to nvidia if they tried this tatic.

BTW, as far as the printer you tossed for lack of specific OS support, had the same here.
Canon Multipass 5000 that when bought new was over $400.00 and the newest drivers for it are 98/Me. Liked the unit so I went out and spent another $$$$$$ for the Multipass 5500 so I could run it with XP. Damn thing went south just after the warranty period was up.
The original MP 5000 is still purring away after six years of use on an older 98se system.
Go figure.

WB

[Bovon]

Bovon, I consider the driver updates to be part of what I pay for when I purchase the product to begin with.
The bundled software upgrade charge is understandable to a point but IMHO the drivers should be a N/C DL.
IMO a good company will provide drivers N/C for the life of the product. To try and charge you for them as part of the software package is not a good practice. I can't think of one manufacture besides Umax that has this policy.
Imagine what would happen to nvidia if they tried this tatic.

Yes.. I understand completely where you are coming from here.. but on the other hand, lets look at this from a slightly different perspective.

When you first bought the scanner..it worked flawlessly on the OS it was designed to work with..right?.. and that company had (and may still have) compatible drivers for its product as originally sold...right?

Now, someone comes along and changes the rules..a new OS platform is available..you go for it. The scanner will no longer function because someone else changed the operation..meaning you and M$..is the company that originally sold the scanner responsible?...not in my opinion.

This may loosely (very) be compared to someone buying a fine $5000 mink coat... then two years later, the individual who wore the coat has gained weight..and the coat no longer fits. Is this the responsibility of the coat manufacturer or the fast food industry?..

[ale_x13]

Originally posted by Bovon
Is this the responsibility of the coat manufacturer or the fast food industry?..

neither, its the fault of the lazy bastard who wont exercise but keeps eating unhealthy food

[Bovon]

Originally posted by ale_x13
neither, its the fault of the lazy bastard who wont exercise but keeps eating unhealthy food

Yes...of course you are correct. I suspect then that you also agree that the scanner manufacturer, vendor, shipper, delivery company..nor anyone else in the example above is responsible for the use of the scanner once removed from the environment it was intended for in the first place...