Anyone use Canon with Vista, windows 7?

[classic33]

"Thank you for contacting Canon UK Support.

We regret to inform you that there are no drivers available for operating systems released after Windows XP.

We would like to give you some additional information regarding Canon's policy towards the provision of drivers for new operating systems.

At the time of launch of a new product, Canon generally provides drivers so that the product in question will operate on all existing and known future planned operating systems.

When the launch of a new operating system is announced, Canon reviews our existing product range to see which of these products can be considered for the provision of compatible drivers.

There are many different factors that may influence this decision. These can include (but are not limited to) such factors as the technical compatibility between the new operating system and Canon product, the cost of driver development, the cost of supporting utility software product updates, the issue of certification of the developed driver by the operating system in question, the expected lifetime of the Canon product and costs associated with Quality Assurance.

Canon respects the right of our customers to decide to upgrade their operating systems and we attempt to make it clear at the time of purchase which products will function on which operating system.

Furthermore, we always advise our customers to check compatibility of their associated Canon products prior to the upgrade of an operating system and we make our consumer Helpdesk staff available to assist customers with such enquiries.

Thank you for having provided feedback on this matter and we appreciate you having taken the time to do so.

Should you have any further queries with regards to this matter or wish to reply to this e-mail within the next 5 days, please click on this link.

Yours sincerely,

Canon Consumer Support"

Reply from Canon with regards compatibility of printers with vista & windows 7. It seems that if your printer works with either you might just have been lucky.

 

[ian turner]

Which printer and how old ?
My employer replaced their printer, fax and photo copier with an HP all in one which wasn't the newest model but still being sold and they took their time about releasing windows 7 drivers.
Printer manufacturers are notorious for either not releasing drivers for older models or taking ages to do so.

 

[ttcycle]

Mine works with no issue. If it's new and doesn't work with your OS return it.
Bit daft isn't it not to upgrade to current windows op systems

 

[numbnuts]

my cannon works OK

 

[classic33]

I just find it odd that a major manufacturer, Canon, is still making electronic items, that work with a computer(cameras included), but are not providing the drivers for the newer operating systems.

As I said asked about printers & I got the answer that they are not providing drivers, for anything, after windows XP. If current drivers work ok on anything newer, fine. But you may end up with something for which they don't.

 

[classic33]

Mine works with no issue. If it's new and doesn't work with your OS return it.
Bit daft isn't it not to upgrade to current windows op systems

Having worked through from Windows 3.1.1, five versions of windows 95. What went onto become windows 98, 98 & 98se, ME, 2000, NT & two versions of XP. I think I'll stop with what I have.

 

[ian turner]

what printer are you using for which they are not providing drivers ?

 

[classic33]

what printer are you using for which they are not providing drivers ?

W8200 large format printer & BJC-6500, industrial A3 printer. The large format one isn't going to be cheap to replace, if I upgraded the OS.

Current drivers might work on newer than XP but no guarantee. Even if there showing as available they have only been tested on the newer OS's, not developed for them.

Also, its not just for their printers. Its across their range which seems odd.

 

[ian turner]

Well the bjc is 11 years old and the other 5 years old. They probably consider continued support would
undermine sales. Plus given the length of time they take to produce drivers for new printers for a new OS
I suspect you'll find it's the same across all manufacturers.

 

[classic33]

Well having checked for newer printers(less than a year old), the same story. Windows XP seems to be the last operating system that drivers were developed for. Everything else has them tagged on.

As for the large format printer. How often can you expect people to be able to replace a printer that size, when it works ok. Operating system aside.

It seems odd for a manufacturer to say that they have not bothered with the last two major operating systems.

 

[ian turner]

Find any hardware where they will release updated drivers for that long outside of the generic all in one graphics card drivers or chipset drivers where they're covering later devices as well. Likewise you won't get software updates to major software packages that won't run on a new OS.

If by tag on you mean no drivers solely listing windows 7 that won't happen as they are all in one driver packages.
The drivers for the MG6150 for instance won't support xp without sp3 which implies post xp development

 

[classic33]

Find any hardware where they will release updated drivers for that long outside of the generic all in one graphics card drivers or chipset drivers where they're covering later devices as well. Likewise you won't get software updates to major software packages that won't run on a new OS.

If by tag on you mean no drivers solely listing windows 7 that won't happen as they are all in one driver packages.
The drivers for the MG6150 for instance won't support xp without sp3 which implies post xp development

Bear in mind that its not one, but the last two operating systems, from a major manufacturer, that they (Canon) have said they will not offer drivers for. You could go out tomorrow & buy their latest home printer & find that it doesn't function fully. But you agreed to that when you installed the printer. And its not just printers Canon make. Cameras & scanners are two that spring to mind.

As regards the "tag on", these are drivers that have been found to work with Vista & 7. Not developed for either & there is no guarantee they will work, fully, with either operating system. Terms you have to agree with prior to download, have been changed to reflect this.

Post XP development is still only XP.

 

[ian turner]

Where in that statement you posted does it say they will no longer develop drivers for new products ? You claim it by saying devices that are less than a year old and Windows 7 is more than that. Whereas that statement says they will develop drivers for existing and soon to be released operating systems for new products.
Aside from which printers have a finite life expectancy dependant on suppliers willing to manufacture cartridges for them after the manufacturer stops. If you don't make allowance for devaluation of your hardware with respect to replacing them after a predicted life time then you're being wildly optimistic unless you are capable of keeping it running yourself.
Drivers for cameras ?
I just remove the cards and stick them in the laptop.
Saves on battery power.

 

[classic33]

Where in that statement you posted does it say they will no longer develop drivers for new products ? You claim it by saying devices that are less than a year old and Windows 7 is more than that. Whereas that statement says they will develop drivers for existing and soon to be released operating systems for new products.
Aside from which printers have a finite life expectancy dependant on suppliers willing to manufacture cartridges for them after the manufacturer stops. If you don't make allowance for devaluation of your hardware with respect to replacing them after a predicted life time then you're being wildly optimistic unless you are capable of keeping it running yourself.
Drivers for cameras ?
I just remove the cards and stick them in the laptop.
Saves on battery power.

"We regret to inform you that there are no drivers available for operating systems released after Windows XP."

For what its worth, I've an 12 year old printer that you can still buy the manufacturers cartridges for thats in use daily.

If the hardware isn't worth what I paid for it when new, in your case printers, thats fine. Why though would you replace a piece of equipment, thats works ok with one that costs more & isn't capable of doing the same as the one its replacing?

If however, your hardware would cost more to replace with one that isn't capable of doing the same as the one you're replacing, I'd say you're buying for the sake of buying.

As regards newer printers/OS, the statement made by Canon holds true.

 

[MossCommuter]

Why not get an old PC, does not need a great spec (spend 30 quid at a computer fair or something) and put a compatible operating system on it if it does not come with one and network it as a simple printer server,