Vista Scan 3400/3.73 software and Windows XP

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@msgale wrote:

Two comments, the you can't use mathametics to compare two versions of software, it is not the way things work. If UMAX is the creater of the software, why would you expect Dell or anyone else tgo have thesoftware for free? They would have to pay UMAX to get it.

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Hmmmm....I see your point. I recieved the scanner as part of a promotion when purchasing a Dell computer. Even though the Soundblaster sound card in my Dell is made by another manufacturer, Dell does offer a upgrade for the XP driver. All I want to do is to upgrade the driver so I can use the scanner. I thought Dell might offer it. I not saying they should. In order for the XP driver to work, I have to have the 3.75 software.

I think what gets me concerned is that computer manufactures have to continuously offer upgrades in order to survive. Look at the 70's and 80's when computer companies made software and did not offer newer versions. They went out of business mighty quickly and they risked the possibility of another company coming along and offering software that was even better than the one they offered.

I see the business side of this but they should offer upgrades for a minimum price. I would have to dish out $30 to $50 to purchase the software in order to run the scanner. This is just about bad as purchasing a cartridge for your printer which you bought at a rock bottom price then realize the manufacturer is going to get thier money back when you purchase thier cartridge. I see they have to do this in order to survive, but do they have to gouge the public?

I am not saying that Dell HAS to offer the upgrade. What I am asking is IF they offer the upgrade? I am sorry you feel different than I do about the situation and you also have a right to your opinion. You also do not have to respond to the post either. I am sorry if I offended you or anyone else on this forum.

WaveMan

When you upgrade to a different OS, and in this case XP which has specific hardware and software requirements,  you should expect to come across problems such as yours.  There are many peripherals that are not XP compatible at all and in those cases the user's only recourse is to purchase a new XP compatible device. 

One thing to consider, the vendor(s) are really only responsible to support what the device was originally designed for, not future Operating Systems.  Some vendors, if their hardware is XP compatible, will make drivers available - some are free and some you have to pay for, but it's the Original Equipment vendor's, not a 3rd party such as Dell that are responsible.  It's no different than buying a DVD burner drive from some retail store such as Best Buy and then the DVD burner vendor makes a firmware upgrade available - it's not Best Buy's issue, it's between you and the drive vendor and whether it is made available at no cost or at some price, if you want it.