-For starters, part of the reason it took them so long to get solid Vista drivers out (and why they did not release them for some cards) was the fact the Windows audio stack had recieved a MAJOR overhaul. They still should have had them out sooner, better quality, and for more devices, especially considering a 3rd party managed to do it. That's not ceasing support on products though...that's called not wasting development money on an old product line that hardly anyone uses anymore.
-They made him take down the drivers because he was enabling certain licensed technologies on cards that were capable, but Creative did not pay the licensing fees on those models sold (they sold them as lower-end models). They royally messed up though, by very harshly demanding the driver modder take down ALL of his drivers, instead of politely asking to remove the few offending packs.
All I'm saying is it's not fair to completely demonize Creative for that fiasco. They sure as hell should have handled it better, but there were some very legitimate reasons (i.e. Dolby was probably threatening to sue them or would have soon enough) for what they did.
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A few things, in defense of Creative:
-For starters, part of the reason it took them so long to get solid Vista drivers out (and why they did not release them for some cards) was the fact the Windows audio stack had recieved a MAJOR overhaul. They still should have had them out sooner, better quality, and for more devices, especially considering a 3rd party managed to do it. That's not ceasing support on products though...that's called not wasting development money on an old product line that hardly anyone uses anymore.
-They made him take down the drivers because he was enabling certain licensed technologies on cards that were capable, but Creative did not pay the licensing fees on those models sold (they sold them as lower-end models). They royally messed up though, by very harshly demanding the driver modder take down ALL of his drivers, instead of politely asking to remove the few offending packs.
All I'm saying is it's not fair to completely demonize Creative for that fiasco. They sure as hell should have handled it better, but there were some very legitimate reasons (i.e. Dolby was probably threatening to sue them or would have soon enough) for what they did.