USB Device Drivers

I just bought a new scanner. It's the same story you've all been through... check the docs because some USB devices say "Install the CD first" while others say "Connect the device to your computer, then install the CD when prompted for drivers". Neither one is the magic "plug it in and it works" that we were promised when USB first came on the scene.

But why can't it be? I can be. There's an obvious solution. Sure, it takes a little bit of programming, but once it's done, the same solution can be re-used by every manufacturer.

Here's how it works: The USB device (printer, scanner, coffee maker, etc) has some flash memory (in today's ad, Fry's is selling 512M for $2). In that flash memory is everything they would have put on the CD. When you connect the device to your computer, the flash memory shows up as a standard USB mass storage device (just like your USB keychain does). At the same time, when your OS sees the new device, it also has the drivers available. Want an update? The files in flash include a URL to check for updates.

How hard is it? On the technical side, in order for the one physical device to show up as two (mass storage and a printer) it has to claim that it's a USB hub with two devices attached. Yes, it's possible, but nobody's bothered to do it (at least not that I've seen).

Just imagine: You buy a new USB toaster, plug it in and the drivers are installed automatically.