Mobility Site - View Single Post - Why cant Dell release a 2002 ROM for 2003? Answer here...

madmunki · 07-21-03, 07:39 PM

I have seen this question asked so many times, I decided to address it.

Q: Why can't Dell release a firmware downgrade for 2003 users?

A: Because Windows Pocket PC 2002 is a different product and this would cause software licensing issues. Just like a license of Windows XP does not come with a license of 2000, 98, 95, WIn31, DOS, etc. If you want to install 98 instead of XP, you will have to purchase a 98 license even if this is a DOWNGRADE. Dell purchases ONE license for each AXIM they produce from Microsoft. If Dell decided to release a firmware downgrade, they would have to buy a 2002 license for every AXIM that this ROM could be installed on. There is probably 3000+ AXIMs that shipped with 2003, and purchasing a 2002 license (~$15?) for all of these would be at least $45,000! Why would Dell do this when they expect a fix within 2 - 6 weeks?

In short, it's a licensing issue.

07-21-03, 07:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
madmunki Aximsite Rookie Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 85 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Why cant Dell release a 2002 ROM for 2003? Answer here... I have seen this question asked so many times, I decided to address it. Q: Why can't Dell release a firmware downgrade for 2003 users? A: Because Windows Pocket PC 2002 is a different product and this would cause software licensing issues. Just like a license of Windows XP does not come with a license of 2000, 98, 95, WIn31, DOS, etc. If you want to install 98 instead of XP, you will have to purchase a 98 license even if this is a DOWNGRADE. Dell purchases ONE license for each AXIM they produce from Microsoft. If Dell decided to release a firmware downgrade, they would have to buy a 2002 license for every AXIM that this ROM could be installed on. There is probably 3000+ AXIMs that shipped with 2003, and purchasing a 2002 license (~$15?) for all of these would be at least $45,000! Why would Dell do this when they expect a fix within 2 - 6 weeks? In short, it's a licensing issue. __________________ Dell Lat D600: 1024MB RAM; 64MB Video; Bluetooth/WiFi INT Combo card; Windows 2003 Server. Dell Dim 8300: 2048MB RAM; ATI Radeon 9800 pro 128MB Video; Windows Media Center 2005. Dell PE400SC: 1024MB RAM; XTasy 9600 256MB Video; Windows XP Pro. iMate JAM