I thought I would pass on a warning regarding older hardware drivers and new OS versions, in particular Win 7-64 bit.
I have the SpectraView II software for calibrating my NEC monitor and an older Monaco Optix XR (xRite DTP-94) colorimeter.
The SpectraView software installed just fine, but when I went to install the hardware driver for the colorimeter, the computer Blue Screened, saying the driver I was trying to install was incompatible.
The funny thing is, the driver I was trying to install was included with the SpectraView download, which is a new Win 7-64 bit compatible file.
So, after doing some research, I found that xRite has no driver that is compatible with my OS! So, basically, I cannot use my colorimeter with this machine!
I can still use it on my old Win XP machine, so I won't have another expensive doorstop, but I will have to shell out $200 for an iOne-Display-2 colorimeter!
In another scenario; through research I found that both Microtek and Lasersoft (Silverfast) do not have updated drivers for my Microtek 1800f scanner. Fortunately, I have installed Vue Scan, and that is working nicely.
<Minor Rant> To say this is a little frustrating is an understatement! There must be a pretty large installed base of older hardware out there that vendors have foresaken, forcing us to spend even more money to upgrade equipment that is in perfect working order.
I know I could (possibly) run this older stuff under a virtual machine running Win XP, but I don't need further complications and wasted time.</End Rant>
Bottom line if you are setting up a new, clean machine--Ensure software and device drivers are compatible with your new OS by going to the vendor's website and searching for compatible versions.
VueScan does a pretty good job of filling the abandoned hardware niche. I know it preserved by Nikon Coolscan 4000LS slide scanner, and it does a better job with my Canon flatbed scanner than the software that shipped with it. On the Mac side, VueScan has committed to preserving compatibility with the next Mac OS software upgrade (10.7).
I can understand the frustration with the forced upgrade. I am facing this myself with my now "legacy" powermac g5 and garmin handheld gps device!! not very "green" to have these "forced" upgrades imho. But I guess time and technology marches on.
I am concerned with my eventual upgrade (mac) for exactly the reasons you've experienced. It's taken me a long time to get where I am now(digital printing wise) and things work flawlessly, knock on wood!! Hopefully this will be your only headache and in the end it is worth it! I think! ;)
A-Yup! I'm pondering the purchase of a Color Munky because X-Rite isn't going to produce a driver for Windoze 7. The problem is not just that every OS upgrade requires a chain reaction of peripheral hardware up grade but they new peripherals are also more expensive than what yo had to replace. Remember when they told you digital photography was cheaper because you didn't have to pay to process film? They lied.
And it leers it head in other ways too, at least in the Mac world. My wife just slapped plastic to replace two of our older Macs, beautiful machines that still function perfectly. But they won't accept an OS upgrade to run new studio software that's mandatory for the business. That means additional investment in Adobe and Microsoft along with a driver hunt. The new studio software was expensive at $450 per machine, but I figure when it's all said and done we're spending an additional $7k just so we can run it.
It looks like I am in good company! I can surely sympathise with you all.
Jim, I looked at the Color Munki. It looks like a great tool, but the cost---yikes! So, I went with the NEC-branded iOneDisplay2 colorimeter from B&H. It is designed to work with NEC MultiSync monitors and SpectraView II. It should be here in a couple of days.
I just have to put in a plug, here, for Puget Systems. My new machine is a screamer, and works perfectly! I'm still moving files and installing my programs, but it is going smoothly--I'm almost back in business!
Discussion
8 repliesI have the SpectraView II software for calibrating my NEC monitor and an older Monaco Optix XR (xRite DTP-94) colorimeter.
The SpectraView software installed just fine, but when I went to install the hardware driver for the colorimeter, the computer Blue Screened, saying the driver I was trying to install was incompatible.
The funny thing is, the driver I was trying to install was included with the SpectraView download, which is a new Win 7-64 bit compatible file.
So, after doing some research, I found that xRite has no driver that is compatible with my OS! So, basically, I cannot use my colorimeter with this machine!
I can still use it on my old Win XP machine, so I won't have another expensive doorstop, but I will have to shell out $200 for an iOne-Display-2 colorimeter!
In another scenario; through research I found that both Microtek and Lasersoft (Silverfast) do not have updated drivers for my Microtek 1800f scanner. Fortunately, I have installed Vue Scan, and that is working nicely.
<Minor Rant> To say this is a little frustrating is an understatement! There must be a pretty large installed base of older hardware out there that vendors have foresaken, forcing us to spend even more money to upgrade equipment that is in perfect working order.
I know I could (possibly) run this older stuff under a virtual machine running Win XP, but I don't need further complications and wasted time.</End Rant>
Bottom line if you are setting up a new, clean machine--Ensure software and device drivers are compatible with your new OS by going to the vendor's website and searching for compatible versions.
Thanks for your indulgence in my rant.
--P
I am concerned with my eventual upgrade (mac) for exactly the reasons you've experienced. It's taken me a long time to get where I am now(digital printing wise) and things work flawlessly, knock on wood!! Hopefully this will be your only headache and in the end it is worth it! I think! ;)
When I read the title I had this vision of road hazards: Old men with hats driving large Cadilacs.
Sorry. Been one of those days.
--P
Jim, I looked at the Color Munki. It looks like a great tool, but the cost---yikes! So, I went with the NEC-branded iOneDisplay2 colorimeter from B&H. It is designed to work with NEC MultiSync monitors and SpectraView II. It should be here in a couple of days.
I just have to put in a plug, here, for Puget Systems. My new machine is a screamer, and works perfectly! I'm still moving files and installing my programs, but it is going smoothly--I'm almost back in business!
--P