HP software support for "older" models

I have a DV5 1010tx, just over 12 months old. While I appreciate this is now considered an old model, I have found the support from HP in providing updates to drivers & software to be appalling. While I'm happy to locate newer versions myself, I'm sure there are many who haven't the experience to do this. For example, the video drivers provided for Win7 are from 2008, and interestingly are not compatible with HP Media DVD for playing BluRay.
Is this simply laziness on part of HP? I don't expect support for my product forever, but at least 2 or 3 years is reasonable.

 

Well, pretty much on par with what I have seen from HP. Unless there is a big issue(security or otherwise), once a product is not being actively sold software/driver support falls off quickly. In fact I dont think they are any worse than others, my T400 which is currently being sold (albeit being replaced by the T410) has shoddy drivers especially for Windows 7 and updates are infrequent from lenovo.

 

Then you have to consider that the unit worked fine with the supplied drivers and OS. Why would a company need to keep drivers up to date?

Other than fix errors and bugs, I don't see it as a company's responsibility to make sure a system sold is running optimally or is compatible with new hardware that didn't exist when the unit was sold. Especially when they sell arguably better performing systems every year.

Most computer users don't have a need to update drivers. It's mostly advanced or enthusiast users that do. And that group knows how to find updated drivers, fixes, and workarounds.

 

It's called customer service.. it results in repeat business. It's a recurrent theme here & would seem to be the biggest annoyance people have with their laptop.
I just don't understand why updates that are suitable are provided only for the newest models.

 

That's an arbitrary assessment. You have to admit that. Especially considering the pitfalls that can arise when customers do things themselves. A company doesn't know what hardware you've added and what software you're using. Your system could be materially out of original specification.

That said, to shift this from an arbitrary to a more concrete assessment, what would constitute a reasonable cutoff for driver updates and under what conditions? Especially considering that the computer worked as specified with the original drivers.

Let's be fair.

 

how about understanding what kind of hardware is really in your machine and then going looking for updated drivers based on that now 'generic' list?

 

after selling thousands of computers, I don't see the problem with providing drivers for computers that are 2 or 3 years old. When a new version of windows comes out, NOT supporting drivers ON THEIR website for one of their products is just inexcusable. At least have some USEFUL information about how to upgrade. If it wasn't for this great board, it would have taken me HOURS more time to find what I needed.

 

Well, since upgrading your OS is not necessary, why would it be necessary to provide support for doing it?

Plus your 2 to 3 year old computer is obsolete by a number of metrics. Check ebay for latest prices and you'll see just how much it has depreciated.

Like any manufacturer of any electronic product, they don't provide support for things that are not necessary for the product to function as specified. Firmware updates usually cease after 1 year unless they fix a major or potentially major issue that might cause the device to not function as specified.

That's why we're all here. And believe me, this community does a far, far better job than any manufacturer ever could when it comes to support.

So in the end, it works out perfectly.