Windows Vista drivers for a 3Com 3C902

For those of you contemplating the upgrade to Windows Vista I strongly encourage you to visit the manufacturers website to see if all components of your computer have Vista drivers. I started playing around with Vista on my Dell Inspiron 4150 laptop only to find out that 2 components (the 3Com network card and fax modem) were not detected.

Even though the score of Vista came out to 1.0 (because of the score on the integrated ATI Radeon Mobility 7500 M7 video card) it still generally runs ok - although I soon picture moving back to Windows XP.

For those curious to get this laptop running with Windows Vista you will soon enough find out that no drivers can be detected for the 3Com 3C902 network card. Well, I'm not sure if it's because network technology between Vista and XP hasn't changed but you can install the Windows XP drivers found HERE to get it running in Vista. Download the file 3c90x1.exe and double-click. Once the files within that archive have been uncompressed to a new directory, have Vista search the newly created directory.

Windows Vista drivers for a 3Com 3C902

For those of you contemplating the upgrade to Windows Vista I strongly encourage you to visit the manufacturers website to see if all components of your computer have Vista drivers. I started playing around with Vista on my Dell Inspiron 4150 laptop only to find out that 2 components (the 3Com network card and fax modem) were not detected.

Even though the score of Vista came out to 1.0 (because of the score on the integrated ATI Radeon Mobility 7500 M7 video card) it still generally runs ok - although I soon picture moving back to Windows XP.

For those curious to get this laptop running with Windows Vista you will soon enough find out that no drivers can be detected for the 3Com 3C902 network card. Well, I'm not sure if it's because network technology between Vista and XP hasn't changed but you can install the Windows XP drivers found HERE to get it running in Vista. Download the file 3c90x1.exe and double-click. Once the files within that archive have been uncompressed to a new directory, have Vista search the newly created directory.

New Ford Escape

I think Ford's acquisition of a partial stake in Mazda did wonders for both companies. Mazda now has some additional funds to play around with new models, and Ford can infuse some design cues from Mazda models ... not much to be said of Ford styling. I think they hit the jackpot with the Ford Escape - Mazda Tribute (I still wonder if the designs for each were switched ... the Tribute seems ugly enough to be a Ford model).

I'm very surprised there aren't more Ford Escapes on the road today ... with the unbelievable lease rates on 24 month terms, and the low-$20,000 pricetags ... and it wasn't that bad-looking of an SUV. Perhaps there were some issues with the Duratec engine (sounds like a brand-name electronic accessory you'd get at Walmart).

Now the 2008 model year is coming out completely redesigned ... wait a minute, it's looking alot like the old Ford Explorer. You have to wonder if some old fart in the Ford upper ranks has an itching to re-use the Explorer moniker. Perhaps it's the same fart that wants to rename the Ford 500 the Taurus. Let the names rest in peace guys ... I don't think anybody wants to relive the memory of those cars.

New 2008 Pontiac G8

MSN Autos has an interesting read on some of the new 2008 automobiles coming out for the North-American market. Among them is the 2008 Pontiac G8 based on the design aspects of Holden, GM's Australian subsidiary. I'm surprised GM of North America hasn't enlisted some of Holden's designers earlier.

I made a trip to Australia in 1998 and had wondered the same thing. Holden had some very stylish cars even for 1998 ... although the price of the Holden Commodore was well into the $40,000 AUD range (this was at a time when the Australian dollar was hovering above the Canadian loonie, and when gas in Canada was around $0.50 a litre.)

I've got to hand it to Pontiac for coming out with some more stylish cars and SUVs ... the G5, G6, Torrent ... and in some strange way the Montana mini-van (yes, I said mini-van). Hopefully their interior designers took a cue from their exterior designers and got rid of those rounded curves and clunky dash parts.

Hooray for getting rid of that body side cladding that was a Pontiac trademark of yesteryear.