Microsoft Windows XP Upgrade

Cation: I had purchased a Kodak(lexmark) Personal Picture Maker 200 for digital imaging and printing. This is a cool device that allowed me to read my digital camera card in the printer and transfer it to my computer to edit through usb connection. When I upgraded to Windows XP (which is a great upgrade) all my other products were supported EXCEPT Kodak PPM200 cardreader. Furthermore, the printer driver upgrade was only available in Japaneese. When I wrote to the software engineers to address these two issues this was thier reply titled WERE HERE FOR YOU:

Unfortunately, the reader is not supported on WinXP. There is no driver for it, nor do we anticipate that one will be written. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Regarding the language issue, you can get support for your KODAK Personal Picture Maker PPM200 printer by calling 1-877-774-6837.

This is of course after the 1-877-774-6837 told me to cantact the software engineers.

In review, the feeling I get from Kodak is that they don't care or intend to invest the resources necessary to "Be there" for thier individual, low-end customers. They are easily willing to loose one consumer over a driver upgrade issue. They're idea of being there is pacification and RED TAPE. This is the result of large companies who shadow thier competition. In the future, I will support thier competition. I notified them and told them I will no longer support thier products. If your in the same situation, I suggest you pressure them with similar means and maybe they will make a real effort to upgrade thier product drivers to WINXP.

The Windows XP ungrade was easy to install, and it works great on my computer. I think Windows XP is great and much more user friendly.

The problem with the upgrade is that some of your software has to be upgraded as well, this menas spending more money. For example your antivirus software will not work with Windows XP, as you need Windows XP compatible software. Also, my sound card was not compatible, and I had to download an upgrade for that too.

Microsoft Windows XP is probably a great operating system for a 'designed for XP' machine. But the upgrade is not to be recommended. I have failed to get it working acceptably and consider the investment a waste of £85. There is currently very little software described as compatible with XP and with anything that doesn't state XP compatible it is something of a lottery as to whether it will work.

If your system works - stick to what you've got.