Uh oh, no more ROM updates?

06-25-03, 09:33 AM

I just thought of something after posting a similar reply in another thread. Now my brain hurts.

Dell has been releasing periodic ROM updates (currently A03) for the Axim. I guess A03 will be the last update for PocketPC 2002.

Here's the catch: Dell CAN'T release any newer ROM updates (at least, not the way they currently do.) Why?

ANY NEW ROM UPDATE WILL INCLUDE THE MOBILE WINDOWS 2003 SOFTWARE!

If Dell has to charge $29.99 for Mobile Windows 2003, they can't exactly offer the next ROM update for free to everyone. I'd have no reason to buy the update (and it would be illegal on Dell's part).

That either means that they will start locking ROM updates in some way, charging for them, or not do them at all. I sure hope there aren't any bugs in this new OS!

06-25-03, 10:02 AM

Is there a way for the installer to detect whether or not the Axim has PPC 2k2 or 2k3 on it?

06-25-03, 10:15 AM

I really don't know. That would be the logical choice, wouldn't it :)

If that's how it works, I guarantee someone will come out with a hack of some sort to make PPC2002 look like Mobile Windows 2003 to the installer. We'll see.

06-25-03, 10:29 AM

I would assume they could detect what OS you had. If they can tell if you have A02 or A03, PPC2k3 would be easy. I wouldn't bet that A03 will be the last one, but who knows.

deftech · 06-25-03, 11:02 AM

I agree, that the installer could most likely detect which OS is on the Axim. Another possibility would be that they will update your "user account" on the Dell website to reflect that you have purchased the new OS. By doing it this way, only registered Axim users who have purchased the new OS would be able to download the newer updates. Just a thought anyhow.

06-25-03, 11:27 AM

They will have a seperate catagory under "select an operating system" when you go to the drivers section. WHEN they come out with ROM updates for 2003, the update WILL detect what os you currently have installed. If you have 2002 installed, it will direct you to download the updates for 2002. I don't see us (DELL) not making updates for 2002. Though they may not be as frequent as it would have been if 2003 dod not come out, Dell will still fix bugs and issues through ROM updates

ceej13 · 06-25-03, 11:39 AM

It's possible that Dell will do both have the installer detect your current ROM version and update your user account as a precaution.

06-25-03, 12:03 PM

So sharing or giving direct links to new (PPC 2003) ROM update files will be illegal, if Dell is protecting them only by your service tags. That's going to feel strange after doing the same for the 2002 updates.

If the protection is from the actual installer, though, it won't be a problem. I guess that's really all I meant.

ceej13 · 06-25-03, 12:06 PM

I think it will be all right to give direct links. It's just that, you will have to enter your service tag # of your Axim and your password if you have an account set up to acquire it.

Fuzzy John · 06-25-03, 01:48 PM

Personally I don't think that future ROM Updates for PPC 2003 will have to include all of the OS. The installer would check the version and then allow the update to run or not. ROM Updates past the first one would be incremental. This can be done easily without including all of PPC 2003.

deftech · 06-25-03, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fuzzy John
Personally I don't think that future ROM Updates for PPC 2003 will have to include all of the OS. The installer would check the version and then allow the update to run or not. ROM Updates past the first one would be incremental. This can be done easily without including all of PPC 2003.

I've never seen a PPC upgrade done this way in the past, though. It has always just erased the ROM, and then written the new image to the clean ROM.

Fuzzy John · 06-25-03, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by deftech
I've never seen a PPC upgrade done this way in the past, though. It has always just erased the ROM, and then written the new image to the clean ROM.

Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong.

dumwaldo · 06-25-03, 02:00 PM

have you ever flashed the bios on your motherboard for your computer? do you know what happens when you use an incorrect flash for your bios? well just in case you did not know the wrong flash for your bios will render the computer useless.

the ROM updates are the same thing as a bios flash.

i would assume the ROM updates for PPC2002 wouldnt work on PPC2003 and any ROM updates for PPC 2003 wouldn't work for PPC2002.

peterbright · 06-25-03, 02:00 PM

It makes it much easier to do it that way. I'm sure that Dell & MS have this all figured out. What was the experience with 2000 once 2002 came out?

06-25-03, 02:14 PM

So...

How did Compaq or HP handle things after 2002 was released? Did they issue updated Roms for 2002?