Socket WLAN Desktop Drivers... Finally!

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.socketcom.com/support/support_wlan.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.socketcom.com/support/support_wlan.asp</a><br /><br /></div>If you're like me, you love the Socket CF card, but have been very unhappy about the inability to use it in your desktop PC. There were tricks to use the Symbol driver, but these were unsupported. Finally, though, Socket has posted a downloadable driver for their CF WLAN so that you can use it in Windows 2000 and XP systems! :D

[Merlion]

This is great news! Except that I don't really have any use for it now that my current notebook has built-in Wi-Fi & BT. I used to use Symbol's desktop drivers for my Socket WLAN CF card on my W2K notebook. Well actually, my old notebook is still being used as an extra computer at home, so I could still use it.

Thanks for the news!

[nobody]

I was also very unhappy when I found out that they charge for bluetooth cf card desktop driver! What a crook!

[Janak Parekh]

I was also very unhappy when I found out that they charge for bluetooth cf card desktop driver! What a crook!
I think that situation was different than this one -- apparently they built the desktop driver afterwards, at significant cost. In this case, I believe they were promising a WLAN driver for a long time now.

--janak

[whyPocketPC]

Nobody,

I have to disagree with you on this....

I was also very unhappy when I found out that they charge for bluetooth cf card desktop driver! What a crook!

....since they offer two products (one for CE only and one for CE and desktop/laptop) at different price points. If you only paid for the Windows CE version of ANY product, 'why' should you get the desktop/laptop drivers at no charge???? How could a company hope to stay in business following that approach?? :lol:

Regards,

whyPocketPC

[Ramin]

....since they offer two products (one for CE only and one for CE and desktop/laptop) at different price points. If you only paid for the Windows CE version of ANY product, 'why' should you get the desktop/laptop drivers at no charge???? How could a company hope to stay in business following that approach?? :lol:

& I have to disagree with you on this whyPocketPC....

Socket's Bluetooth Connection Kit for WinCE costs significantly more (Online Price: $159.00) than other competing Bluetooth CF cards which offer better Bluetooth profile support on both Pocket PC & Windows platforms with the latest WIDCOMM Bluetooth software.
BTW- One way a company could stay in business is by delivering products which offer customers decent value for money, rather than making us feel like we've been ripped off or shortchanged. You can't deny the fact that many Socket customers are upset by all this.

Getting back on track, doesn't anyone realise how long it took for these Windows drivers to materialise? :evil:

Socket Low Power Wireless LAN CF Card
Windows 2000/XP drivers only available since May 2003
vs
Symbol Wireless Networker CF Card
Windows drivers available throughout 2002 (& updated April 2003)

PS- I'd also appreciate it if Socket's Product Managers could show a little more enthusiasm about their products @ the Socket Forum (http://www.socketforum.com) and take into account the feedback from their loyal customers. It would certainly help.

[nobody]

Socket's Bluetooth Connection Kit for WinCE costs significantly more (Online Price: $159.00) than other competing Bluetooth CF cards which offer better Bluetooth profile support on both Pocket PC & Windows platforms with the latest WIDCOMM Bluetooth software.
BTW- One way a company could stay in business is by delivering products which offer customers decent value for money, rather than making us feel like we've been ripped off or shortchanged. You can't deny the fact that many Socket customers are upset by all this.

Couldn't say it better! I guess I am used to a piece of hardware supported on both platform. For symbol wireless card, which is as expensive as socket wlan card, the least they can do is include a driver for desktop!

[nobody]

If you only paid for the Windows CE version of ANY product, 'why' should you get the desktop/laptop drivers at no charge????

Exactly!!! Compare this to WLAN desktop driver, why should WLAN desktop driver be free?

[beq]

Hmm, strange, I thought the desktop driver for Socket WiFi CF card has been available since the beginning -- back when I bought the card a loong time ago they already had the CE-only and CE+desktop bundles :?:

I also agree I wished back then the extra driver didn't cost extra...

[whyPocketPC]

Ramin,

I do understand all points made above, but since the posts made here are from "whyPocketPC" and NOT from a Socket employee....

PS- I'd also appreciate it if Socket's Product Managers could show a little more enthusiasm about their products @ the Socket Forum (http://www.socketforum.com) and take into account the feedback from their loyal customers. It would certainly help.

....I am not able to really comment. I am sorry that you or other may feel let down (sorry for this thread Jason). Please be sure to send your frustrations and feedback to the right folks at Socket. As a private user spending my own money on technology, I accept responsibility for my purchasing habits and do not expect more from a vendor than is promised or advertised. Of course, I did serve 16 years in the US Army and I am used to things being made by the lowest bidder. :lol:

Remember that this post and all others are as whyPocketPC (aka - John Doub) the private mobility geek just as the rest of you and nothing else!!

Cheers.

[Stik]

Since I submitted this news for the sole intention of letting Socket WLAN card users know that they now had more capability at their disposal w/ an update, I am saddened to see this thread kinda degenerate into a Symbol/Socket brouhaha.

It's all your fault Janek, for using the word ' Finally ' in your subject topic title. :bangin: ( kidding :wink: )

I have a few points I'd like to make...

1. Symbol & Socket are technology partners in both WLAN and barcode products. They both put out superior products, and work together on those products.

2. Socket's R&D expenses over the years have been spent on connectivity products geared towards Microsoft OS handheld or portable mobile products, not desktop connectivity solutions.

3. Symbol employs over 5,000 people. Socket employs ( roughly ) 50.
( which is why Socket may not have product managers camping out and answering questions on their forum. Its a user forum, and thats clearly spelled out when one signs up to be part of that forum. I do agree that it would be nice if product managers did give general feedback there on occasion., but nice don't pay the bills. If a user can't get help w/their technical questions, they should direct those questions directly to technical support as was Socket's original intention. What other companies even give their customers the tool of a user forum?? )

4. I don't have exact R&D expenses for both companies, but I'd guess Socket's would be miniscule compared to Symbol's. I find it totally unreasonable for anyone to expect Socket to trump an 800 lb. gorilla in who does what faster w/ emerging technology.

5. Different companies can have much different pricing pressures. It amazes me that the Socket WLAN card is price competitive w/ Symbol's Networker Card, both considered to be among the best WLAN connectivity solutions on the market.

6. The term 'crooks' was unneccessary and very inappropiate, IMO. :twak: ( Not kidding about that! )

[Ramin]

I do understand all points made above, but since the posts made here are from "whyPocketPC" and NOT from a Socket employee....

whyPocktPC, I'd like to apologise if I've given you a harder time here... :oops: I'm just unhappy with the way these matters are handled. :( I don't want to go on & on about this. I just hoped that someone important @ Socket reads this and takes our feedback seriously.

[Janak Parekh]

Thanks, Stik. Ramin, I agree that this driver, for example, was released later than they had originally planned, and it's worth mentioning it. However, they did have Symbol as a partner to work with, and that's likely why they were able to do it for free.

The BT card is a different product entirely -- it's a total Socket thing -- and you've got a relatively small company working on it. I don't think there's anything wrong charging for all the labor that went into it. If you don't like it, then go with a competitor. ;)

As for your situation -- have you tried giving them a call or writing letters to higher-ups? If you have, and no luck, then by all means give feedback and your opinion, but let's keep it polite! :D

Thanks.

--janak

[nobody]

If you don't like it, then go with a competitor.

I would the next time. But I don't think this is a good business practice and a good argument. Besides they charge much higher price for CF Bluetooth already, isn't it enough for a driver? Anything over that, I would categorize it as greedy.

[Janak Parekh]

Besides they charge much higher price for CF Bluetooth already, isn't it enough for a driver? Anything over that, I would categorize it as greedy.
Not necessarily:

1. Socket doesn't sell at the same quantities as larger companies;
2. Their Bluetooth card is one of the few with an internal antenna.

I'd agree their Bluetooth card isn't cheap, but being greedy is another thing altogether. The desktop drivers weren't ever promised with the purchase of the card, they didn't exist back then, and the company had to develop them at an additional cost.

--janak