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Should Hardware Drivers be Region/Language Locked?

Posted by Cliff on from the questionable-barriers-of-use dept.

An anonymous reader asks: "Recently, I have purchased Sony's new Hi-MD player. I popped in their driver CD, and instead of installer launching, I was greeted by the message, 'Cannot install for this Windows language.' It seems like it rejected installation, because my default language setting is Japanese, although I am using English version of Windows. I got the response from Sony stating that: 'If you are using a different language set up for your computer, you will not be able to use the software supplied with the product. Unfortunately, currently there is no workaround for this issue. The only option would be to change the language setting of your computer.' Now I'm asking for my money back. The hardware device is practically useless without the software installation, and it seems like they are going too far, especially since this may affect anyone who uses more than one languages on their computer. Isn't this discrimination to multi-lingual people living in the targeted market? And isn't it unfair to impose such restrictions on software that is required to use hardware?"

9 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. What if my default language is... by monopole · · Score: 1, Funny

    1337 ?

    1. Re:What if my default language is... by OneDeeTenTee · · Score: 3, Funny

      Then you can write your own driver.

      --
      Stop the world; I need to get off.
  2. Yes it should be locked by AKnightCowboy · · Score: 4, Funny

    All hardware and software should be language locked to English. People need to get with the picture and stop using those other languages because I don't understand them. :-)

    1. Re:Yes it should be locked by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Damn right. Jesus spoke English, and that's good enough for me!

      (posted AC in case anyone thinks I'm actually that stupid..)

  3. Slashdot by NotoriousQ · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah! I am upset as well. I have been trying to post to slashdot in many different languages, and it does not work.

    I will try again:
    Cyrillic:
    Hebrew:

    It does not look like it is working properly. All I see is that it is changed to unicode characters that slashdot seems to filter when they are displayed. What do they think I am going to do with them? Construct a giant unicode version of ascii art goatse?

    I am very annoyed! I petition for slashdot to be multilingual.

    --
    badness 10000
  4. Re:Simple Solution by ForestGrump · · Score: 4, Funny

    how is that reply supposed to help? He bought it already,

    A better answer would be "I run an english localization of windows. Give me the MD player!"

    -Grump

    --
    Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
  5. On a similar note... by Andy+Smith · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why does Slashdot *still* block pound signs?

    Look, here's one:

    Did you see it?

    No?

    Because it isn't friggin' there, is it?!

  6. Why are you surprised? by unitron · · Score: 2, Funny
    Don't you feel silly expecting a company like Sony to be able to deal with the Japanese language?

    :-)

    (whadda ya bet somebody posts about Sony being a Japanese company anyway?)

    --

    I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.

  7. Ironic by sunderland56 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Isn't it ironic that a Sony device won't work because your language is set to Japanese??