On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:24:52 +0000, Stroller wrote: > It should be mentioned that these virtual CDs can be immensely useful > if your operating system doesn't ship with drivers for the unit - > think home users of Windows. > > The virtual drive appears as a standard CD drive, supported by all > operating systems, and contains the needed software. > > It is unfortunate, then, that the use of this has been extended from > things like wifi & 3G cards, for which drivers are often essential, to > hard-drives, which should appear as standard mass-storage devices, > anyway. I assume this allows the manufacturer to ship the Clever > Backup (tm) software which their marketing department deemed necessary.
I've always suspected that the main reason for these is cost. Instead of having to include a CD with each device, they simply include it in the formware image. However, there is a convenience factor for users and you'll never lose the driver CD, which often includes a PDF manual too, unless you lose the device... and then it becomes unnecessary. -- Neil Bothwick Vital papers will demonstrate their vitality by moving to where you can't find them.
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