Ok so I am adding a new category to MikeNetPC where it will contain a few more blog like posts along with the informative articles I hope everyone enjoys. This category will be called “My Thoughts” and here I will discuss my thoughts on different topics that come up in the IT technology world or things I just think are a good idea.

So my first topic for this category will be Peripheral devices and driver CDs for them, how 1990s is a drive CD that comes with your printer. You get your new printer, camer, scanner, or what ever device you just bought and with it comes a nice little CD with all the drivers and software you need to get your device working. But what next you have to hang on to that CD so if you get a new computer or rebuild your computer you can reinstall the drivers and software. Most of us through those CDs away and now we have to download the drivers from the devices website, a hard task for some one still working with dial up or even 512kb DSL (yes they are still out there).

So what I am getting at with my thought, well manufactures listen up because this idea should be added to all of your new products.

Built in flash memory!!

We all know how cheap and how small flash memory is, why can’t HP put a little bit of flash memory chip in their printer to hold the drivers and software. So when a user takes a new printer out of the box and plugs it into their computer they will get a new drive letter and the autorun feature can launch the software install. 

As a network admin this would make my life so much easier when I am installing a printer on a users workstation. Without this feature I would need to go to the manufactures website and wait 20 minutes while I download 300mbs work of drivers and software.

HP is starting to come out with internet enabled printers where you can automatically download the drivers from the HP web site using the printer itself. But those printers are still a little expensive and assume that you have open wireless internet acccess which a lot of people still don’t have.

So tell me what you think about this idea and if it would possibly help or make your life a little easier.