OK Microsoft, what's the deal????

Earlier this year, I was given a ViewSonic V37 PocketPC as a gift. I decided recently to break it out of the box and start using it. I realized that it is running the 2002 version of the PocketPC OS. OK. Hmmmmm..... No problem. I guess I'll just have to upgrade this thing.

Let me see.....

I'll just run out to MSDN Subscriptions and look for the latest OS.........oh..................hmmmmm.............it's not here. I wonder why that is?

OK. I"ll just run over to the ViewSonic website and see what they have to say about it.

Hmmmmmm.............ah.............it appears that back in 2003, they offered an upgrade to customers for a very limited time. And apparently I am now out of luck. Gee Thanks!

OK. On to door number 3. I'll just email one of my regional MS buddies and see what he has to say about it...........

FINALLY!!!!! YES!!!! He was able to put me in contact with someone who could help me out! Wahoo! Why was this such a painful process? Why does this model work this way? Is there not a certain set of hardware standards that all PocketPCs must meet? Could there not be a standard OS upgrade for these things? Why does Microsoft push that off onto the manufacturers to deal with?

So anyway, there is a CD headed my way in the mail with the PocketPC 2003 upgrade. But guess what? Now there is PocketPC 2003 "Second Edition". Oh boy......here I go again......

What would it take for Microsoft to offer OS upgrades to any PocketPC user who wanted it? If someone wants to install Windows XP on theirPentium or Pentium II, they are certainly allowed to do that. But it seems that in this arena, it is the equivilent of forcing someone to purchase the latest Pentium 4 based PC if they want to run the latest Windows OS.

What's the deal?
Published 17 December 2004 01:00 PM by eking1013

Comments

# Pieter said on 17 December, 2004 02:10 PM
Can you give informaiton on how to get this?
Just like you I've got the same Pocket PC from MSDN, and I'm still trying to figure out how to get it upgraded. There is no bloody info on ViewSonic's page about it at all :(
# Paul Speranza said on 17 December, 2004 02:10 PM
Eric,

Let us know how you make out. I got one of those through my MSDN subscription and I would like to do the same.

Paul
# Steve Hall said on 17 December, 2004 03:32 PM
I tripped over that small lil' problem 7-8 months ago, made several phone calls to ViewSonic online store, then to their developer support hotline...only to be met with the same "well, we haven't offered THAT part for over 2-3 months!" and "you'll have to contact the person at Microsoft from whom you got this from...". Of course, they couldn't tell me who in Microsoft to contact...

Basically, it's had the exact opposite-desired effect on me concerning PocketPC development: it's proven to me that even if the platform is "ready for prime time", the hardware vendors certainly are NOT! Microsoft's free gift was a very kind gesture, but I thought it was supposed to ENCOURAGE development, not present us with obstacles. This "free gift" deal shouldn't have been treated like "swag": yeah, it's a cool little toy to play games on, but I'd rather do some development on it!

I have yet to find out who in Microsoft we can finger for this fiasco... If anyone can get someone to own up this problem, please forward me (and others who've posted here) their name and email/phone#.

At the least, the .ISO image of the upgrade CD should be placed onto MSDN for subscribers to download.
# Eric said on 17 December, 2004 03:54 PM
I think the support issue is different for every vendor / manufacturer.

Perhaps it's just the fact that we're dealing with ViewSonic in this case. It looks like the V37 was the last PocketPC that ViewSonic ever made. They were just quick to jump as far away as they could from that bandwagon.

The reason I started using the ViewSonic was because my Dell Axim was stolen earlier this year at TechEd. But here is what I just found out.....

Good news: (Well, for Dell Axim owners) The Axim I purchased was the X5 model. It came with the 2002 OS version. This was because I bought it before the 2003 even existed. BUT, even today, a proud Dell Axim X5 owner can call up Dell and order a CD with the 2003 OS upgrade.

Bad news: Apparently this CD is ONLY good for Dell Axims. Why is that? Does every PocketPC hardware vendor get a copy of the OS, and then tweak it so that it ONLY works with their hardware?

I'll tell you this much, this entire experience is putting a VERY BAD taste in my mouth when I start thinking about all of these new portable media devices running Microsoft's platform.
# Aaron said on 17 December, 2004 08:00 PM
Much of what has been commented here I have experirenced as well.

I am not pleased with ViewSonic's handling of the situation in any way.

I too have left my V37 to sit and rot while I wish I could explore development in the mobile arena.

If anyone finds some type of solution to getting ahold of the 2003 OS.

-Aaron
# Douglas Reilly said on 17 December, 2004 08:40 PM
Updating any Pocket PC is a disaster. It never goes smoothly, and ViewSonic is not unique in that respect. I have fried a number of T-Mobile Pocket PC phones trying to update to Windows Mobile 2003. And the update process is really rather scary, even for a geek. Lots of console mode screens, and lots of opportunities to fail.

And do not hold your breath for getting Windows Mobile 2003 SE to work on the ViewSonic...
# Adam Hill said on 17 December, 2004 10:21 PM
Welcome to the hell that many of us in the Media Center area are experiences. Getting OEM's to ship upgrades when it is technologically possible, is a big ass flaw in MS's OEM model (How I wish for the days, pre anti-trust :) )

It doesnt help that MS just plays a game of he-said, she-said on the forums. They should provide low cost upgrades available to us users whos OEM's have 'abandoned' us.

# Steve Hall said on 18 December, 2004 10:36 AM
Meanwhile, there's V37's for sale everywhere STILL....all with 2003 pre-loaded on them! (They've been advertised as "on sale" in Fry's ads several times in the past few weeks...)

This rather infuriates me! The least ViewSonic could do is offer a trade-up program for one of the 2003's from their remaining stock.

I pity the suckers that purchase a new one and expect any support out of ViewSonic...or try to buy accessories, etc. (I bought all the accessories a year ago, and have noticed that some of them have disappeared from the online store already...)
# Someone with the same problem... said on 30 December, 2004 09:22 AM
I found the V37 Windows Mobile 2003 ROM at this site in the "Download" section.

It's working on my device now, so it appears to be a good copy.

http://icandy.mine.nu/

Considering it is out of distribution and print by ViewSonic, I guess everyone wins if we upgrade to Windows 2003 Mobile and develop for the platform. But it is definitely falls into a a gray area concerning "legacy" software and licensing, et. al.
# Someone who tried the above link said on 07 January, 2005 08:32 AM
Wow! That upgrade worked! Thanks for posting the link! I upgraded my Viewsonic V37 in just a matter of minutes.
# Dido on the download link... said on 10 January, 2005 05:31 PM
Thanks for the download like....
# Sotirios said on 23 May, 2007 01:49 AM

Cool...

# Tasos said on 09 June, 2007 02:13 AM

Nice

# Herakles said on 10 June, 2007 08:43 PM

Sorry :(

# Andros said on 11 June, 2007 08:07 PM

interesting

# Koinos said on 12 June, 2007 04:41 PM

Nice

# Drew said on 19 July, 2009 03:31 AM

Sending up a flare to see if anyone still has a functioning download/link.

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