Microsoft Windows XP Upgrade Review

Overall Rating

Kodak PPM200 is good Software/hardware for windows 98se and previous versions

Kodak PPM200 will not accomodate Windows XP OS upgrade.

Cation: I had purchased a Kodak(lexmark) Personal Picture Maker 200 for digital imaging and printing. This is a cool device that allowed me to read my digital camera card in the printer and transfer it to my computer to edit through usb connection. When I upgraded to Windows XP (which is a great upgrade) all my other products were supported EXCEPT Kodak PPM200 cardreader. Furthermore, the printer driver upgrade was only available in Japaneese. When I wrote to the software engineers to address these two issues this was thier reply titled WERE HERE FOR YOU:

Unfortunately, the reader is not supported on WinXP. There is no driver for it, nor do we anticipate that one will be written. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Regarding the language issue, you can get support for your KODAK Personal Picture Maker PPM200 printer by calling 1-877-774-6837.

This is of course after the 1-877-774-6837 told me to cantact the software engineers.

In review, the feeling I get from Kodak is that they don't care or intend to invest the resources necessary to "Be there" for thier individual, low-end customers. They are easily willing to loose one consumer over a driver upgrade issue. They're idea of being there is pacification and RED TAPE. This is the result of large companies who shadow thier competition. In the future, I will support thier competition. I notified them and told them I will no longer support thier products. If your in the same situation, I suggest you pressure them with similar means and maybe they will make a real effort to upgrade thier product drivers to WINXP.

Members' Comments onbroman.'s Review

• TheDoctor. on 14th May 2003

  I really understand how you feel. When I bought Windows Xp and installed it on my machine, everying went fine until I started to install drivers. I noticed that the specialist mouse software that I use does not work properly and secondly my web cam does not work either. However, drivers for my mouse look like they shall not be appearing. Just one question is raised, why do new operating systems come out, when suppliers cannot support the operating system fully?
  
  

• alwejdan. on 1st Jul 2003

  YES, I strongly agree to upgrade this product since I have windows XP with my new laptop computer. So please upgarde this product since still this above mention printer are avialbe bere in KSA. In addition all computers come with XP now.
  
  Thank for your cooperation.
  
  alwejdan

• alwejdan. on 3rd Jul 2003

  This is the site i found about the software required to run the PPM200 printer. I did my search and I found this site.
  
  see the site. I did install it and found it working properly.
  http://www.lexmark.com/US/support/kodak/drivers.html
  
  Thanks for all

• macl1mes on 14th Nov 2003

  Thank you.
  Funny how Kodak in big rush to sell these, and their cameras of course, do not provide drivers for PC.
  Even when you contact them, they ask you to phone them, what little ol' me in UK phone USA?

• msslarson on 24th Nov 2003

  I have downloaded the XP driver and can't get it to work. I have contacted Kodak and received the same "we won't support this printer" now it is on the website as discontinued. I am so ready to throw the camera & printer away & buy something from anyone except Kodak. There are a few printer & camera packages by other makers. Does anyone know of a company that will continue to support it's products after stupid Microsoft does more upgrades?

• msslarson on 24th Nov 2003

  I have downloaded the XP driver and can't get it to work. I have contacted Kodak and received the same "we won't support this printer" now it is on the website as discontinued. I am so ready to throw the camera & printer away & buy something from anyone except Kodak. There are a few printer & camera packages by other makers. Does anyone know of a company that will continue to support it's products after stupid Microsoft does more upgrades?

• jasonla on 18th Apr 2004

  I have spent hours trying to get this to work. Kodak clearly does not understand customer satisfaction. I had the printer for only a year when I installed XP. I am going to open the window and throw it out.... I bought it because Kodak had a great reputation in photo printing... guess they have lost it... Kodak... rest in piece...

• imagio on 9th Aug 2004

  I a bought Kodak ppm200 just a couple of months back. After buying it, I tried to connect it to my PC with win xp os. I was very disappointed coz the drivers don't work. I downloaded a printer driver from the website but still the same no results. I am very disappointed with this. There should be a law that protects consumers like us from this kind of suppliers...the ppm200 is just an offline printer now in my studio...