| 1 |
On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:24:52 +0000, Stroller wrote: |
| 2 |
|
| 3 |
> It should be mentioned that these virtual CDs can be immensely useful |
| 4 |
> if your operating system doesn't ship with drivers for the unit - |
| 5 |
> think home users of Windows. |
| 6 |
> |
| 7 |
> The virtual drive appears as a standard CD drive, supported by all |
| 8 |
> operating systems, and contains the needed software. |
| 9 |
> |
| 10 |
> It is unfortunate, then, that the use of this has been extended from |
| 11 |
> things like wifi & 3G cards, for which drivers are often essential, to |
| 12 |
> hard-drives, which should appear as standard mass-storage devices, |
| 13 |
> anyway. I assume this allows the manufacturer to ship the Clever |
| 14 |
> Backup (tm) software which their marketing department deemed necessary. |
| 15 |
|
| 16 |
I've always suspected that the main reason for these is cost. Instead of |
| 17 |
having to include a CD with each device, they simply include it in the |
| 18 |
formware image. However, there is a convenience factor for users and |
| 19 |
you'll never lose the driver CD, which often includes a PDF manual too, |
| 20 |
unless you lose the device... and then it becomes unnecessary. |
| 21 |
|
| 22 |
|
| 23 |
-- |
| 24 |
Neil Bothwick |
| 25 |
|
| 26 |
Vital papers will demonstrate their vitality by moving to where you |
| 27 |
can't find them. |
Archives