USB: Present Imperfect

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(No Transcript)
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USB Present Imperfect

• Bill Machrone
• Ziff Davis Media

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Industry Focus
• USB 2.0
• Windows 2000, ME
• Newer host and peripheral chips
• Latest drivers

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Consumer Focus
• USB 1.1
• Existing hardware
• 1-3 years old
• On-the-shelf peripherals
• Existing operating systems
• Blocked upgrade paths

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Product Support
• High frustration factor
• Consumers
• Tech support
• Cant replicate user experiences
• What does it cost to care?
• Are there even solutions?
• What does it cost not to care?
• Got em over a barrel?

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Gotcha!
• Cant use modem on Fujitsu laptop if USB is
  active
• MS Intellimouse Explorer
• W98 rejects install CD
• Cant be uninstalled PP installs its own
  drivers
• Breaks USB scanner install
• Consumer solves problem with USB to PS/2 adapter

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Gotcha! 2
• Mac G4/OS 8.6
• Mouse loses vertical pulses
• Unplug-re-enumerate solves problem
• Imation disk Unplug/replug to see icon
• ECP/EPP Printers
• Maybe USB isnt really bidirectional??
• Feature set/support software disappears
• Too many smarts required in adapter boxes?
• Cant figure out the drivers?

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Gotcha! 3
• Sony Memory Stick Camera
• Change Memory stickW98 hangs
• HP loses a lifetime (12 printers) customer
• Why do it at all if it doesnt work?
• Cable clutter has moved from behind the machine
  to the desktop
• Microtek Scanner fades
• Insufficient bandwidth?!

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USBPresent Imperfect

• The Good News!
• A lifesaver
• 2 printers, scanner, Palm pilot, Coolpix 950,
  external HD
• Fewer BSODs
• Everything works!
• Webcam, mouse, scanner, joystick
• but not all at once

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Good News 2
• Guess Im just lucky
• 7-port hub, modem, Iomega Zip Drive
• Kodak DC265, CompEye scanner, Epson 740 printer
• HP 5L via USB-parallel converter
• USB-Ethernet converter, Alaris WebCam
• But lost 2-way communication on the 5L

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Where is Windows 2000 Support?
• Fujitsu Lifebook
• Kodak cameras
• Any USB modem
• Sony Spressa CD writer
• Host controller chipsets
• HP Photosmart printer
• Canon scanners
• Various serial/parallel expansion hubs

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Where is Windows 2000 interest?
• We may look at it in 2-3 years
• Too many old, incompatible systems, run NT4 OK
• Win2K Good News
• Overall, very pleased
• If Palm had it, 90 of peripherals would be USB
• But users have learned not to use too many
  devices simultaneously

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USBPresent Imperfect

• USB 2.0 Concerns
• Some premium audio manufacturers still have
  reservations
• Will USB mikes interoperate?
• USB 2.0 is NOT FireWire
• Watch the marketing messages
• Consumers clearly want both
• Concern over driver maturity, device support
• Will only consider post-2.0 devices
• No faith in backward compatibility

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USBPresent Imperfect

• USB 2.0 More concerns
• Will universal hubs finally be universal?
• Will games enumerate all devices, and will they
  remember their settings?
• Will OS upgrades go more smoothly?
• Disappearing devices
• Unsupported devices/chipsets
• Will we still be cycling the power and
  reinstalling devices to get them to enumerate?
• Will USB 2 be sensitive to the install order of
  devices?

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USBPresent Imperfect

• Even More USB 2.0 Concerns
• Will drivers be easier to write?
• Will vendors learn how to write them?
• BSODs
• Reboots
• Trashed hard disks

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USBPresent Imperfect

• People with USB 1 problems
• One-word descriptions
• Angry
• Hosed
• Despite your best intentions