Re: What's up with Microsofts poor support for their own hardware?

In article <1157574783.147034.155850@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"Dave Fritzinger" <dfritzin@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

MuahMan wrote:
"Dave Fritzinger" <dfritzin@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1157568674.424110.319000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

MuahMan wrote:
"Sandman" <mr@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:mr-8FA47B.20303106092006@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
So, I once bought a Microsoft Sidewinder Strategic Commander [1] and
was given a Microsoft force feedback Sidewinder steering wheel [2].

Microsoft has chosen to EOL their Sidewinder product line, which I
have no problem with, but they have also cut off pretty much all
support for their products.

So. www.microsoft.com -> Downloads -> Search "strategic commander" ->
One hit: "Strategic Commander Profile Pack 2".

I want the damn drivers!

Ok, on the result page. Search for *nothing* in the Product/Technology
"SideWinder".

3 results:

- SideWinder Game Device Software for Windows 95 and 98
- Strategic Commander. Profile Pack 2
- SideWinder 3D Pro for Macintosh 1.0

But I want the drivers for Windows XP! I want the driver for the
steering wheel and strategic commander (the first hit doesn't cover
the commander, by the way)

As it is, I have the installation CD for the strategic commander, so I
can get that one to work. Windows XP wants to auto-detect and install
the steering wheel, and correctly detects that it's a SideWinder
wheel, but it doesn't work correctly in games. The throttle pedals
doesn't work and neither does the force feedback.

In comparison, a cursory search on Apples sites quickly finds the
drivers for their LaserWriter products [3], which are EOL:ed a long
time ago. Still available for download. And I'm sure I could find
drivers for even older hardware.



[1] http://journal.mycom.co.jp/news/2000/09/29/03l.jpg
Yeah, it looks silly, but it's pretty ok in some games, where
you have to control the map

[2] http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0000794KX.03.MZZZZZZZ.jpg
Decent wheel, nothing wrong with it. Comes with pedals.

[3] http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58308
Whether or not LaserWriter is support natively in OSX is
unimportant, really, since Apple does provide - unlike MS -
drivers for their own hardware for the platforms the drivers was
written for. I don't expect neither Apple nor MS to update old
driver for discontinued products to work with newer versions of
their operating system.
--
Sandman[.net]

Please put OT in the subject of blatantly off topic threads such as this.
This grouup is for Mac basing and Macintard bashing only!!

Brian, I didn't think it possible, but you have managed to become even
more of a jerk than you had been before. You are unable to stay
on-topic, and have absolutely nothing to offer other than insults. I
suggest you take a vacation, from this group, at least. As it is, if
the EPA were to read this group, they would declare it a supersite,
from your posting alone.

Now, before you comment, look up what an EPA supersite is. I'll give
you a hint. Toxic and waste.
--
Dave Fritzinger
Honolulu, HI


It's been raining alot here and no surf. No surf, no motorcycling makes me
grumpy. So instead of kicking my beloved dog, I kick you toolbags! I'll be
going to the Outer Banks this weekend for the Florence swell so I may not be
here to work on my science project for a few days! Does that disappoint you?

Only if you come back...

Maybe he'll get swept away!. There's a cheery thought! Swept away to
South America where he gets adopted by a tribe of Jivaros and has to
marry the chief's 400 pound toothless daughter and is never heard from
again. The only downside to that is the poor girl, she has to marry a
Pratt.

--
George Graves
The health of our society is a direct result of the men
and women we choose to admire.
.

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