How long they update drivers?

Does Sony ever update there drivers for each laptops? Or do they usualy just make one or two and then leave everything alone for years?

 

Or does Sony update them for a while and then abandon them?

 

This.

They typically update drivers when a new refresh in the series comes out, but not always.

Basically, don't hold your breath if you want to have the latest drivers.

 

OEMs lag behind the actual component manufacturers.

I would just find which components your laptop uses and download them separately from the manufacturer's website, avoid Sony's outdated drivers.

 

Ryan, that's always possible because of the proprietary Hybrid graphics system in some Sony laptops that require custom Nvidia+Intel drivers. This need might be mitigated by hacking BIOS and disabling dynamic video switching or using a 10-year old OS (Windows XP).

 

So if you have a hybrid then you need to use OEM drivers and if you just have one GPU like Intel HD only then use Intel's website right?

Just wondering but if you have a hybrid and can only use OEM then does that mean you are out of luck and have no choice but to use OEM drivers even if they are outdated? Since it seems like you guys are saying that OEM drivers are always out dated. I guess you did say you have to hack it but that won't be easy for most people unless you know about computers alot.


But eatherway if you have a single IGP then use drivers from Intel, Nvidia, etc right? Meaning don't use Sony drivers forsure.

 

Does Sony update there drivers slowly? Or do they never update them after a while? Since I noticed that my video driver was last updated on Sep of last year and there are no new updated since then. I wonder if Sony will ever make a new driver or will they abandon it or already have maybe.

 

^ are you seriously going to start another thread about OEM vs manufacturer's drivers? remember, a moderator closed your other thread because everybody was saying the same thing over and over to you and you kept asking the same question over and over?

 

They've been hacked. Check the threads for this. Look for "Leshcat".

 

So basicly for hybrid systems you have to hack them in order to use drivers from like Nvidia.

Eatherway I just wanted to know that does companies like Sony in general continue to make new drivers for video, sound etc or do they abandon them after a while? Since if they are just slow but will update then that's a good thing since it's better than no updates. But I do know that drivers from like Nvidia or Intel etc update faster but I just wondered if OEM do get updates too just very slow that's all.

No one has said yes they abandon them or no they do continue to update them but it seems like from what you guys said that they will update them forever but just it's slow right?


I' am not asking which is better I just want to know if OEM drivers are just slow but will update forever like Nvidia does.

 

In the case of the Z1, the hybrid driver has been abandoned but you need to read the hybrid graphics thread (at least Nautis's original post, which is excellent) to understand why that is. Nowadays its Optimus and AMD switchable graphics which both nVidia and AMD can fully support.

In general, proprietary technology is something consumers want to avoid if at all possible because industry standards are usually supported long after the product ceases to exist at retail. With proprietary stuff, you tend to be on your own. Its not so bad if it stays in retail but Sony is putting out new proprietary notebooks every year. Sometimes they surprise you, like Z1 got a bios update in November but yeah. Don't hold your breath.

You can run the latest drivers with bios hack (thought you lose switching without having to reboot). See Computercowboy's thread on how to do that. This community has a number of unsung heros that DIY driver updates long after the hardware ceases to be supported, though Z1 community supported drivers ran into a wall with the removal of nvbridge from recent driver sets.