imageCLASS Drivers ARM Compatibility

[dexman335]

With the upcoming release of Windows computers that are powered by new ARM chips/processors, the compatibility of drivers for imageCLASS and other Canon products comes to mind.

Some of these new computers look interesting, but if the Canon drivers won't work with these newer computers, then that is problematic.

So, I'll ask the $50k question. Are the drivers compatible? If not, will new drivers be introduced shortly to make the transition from x86 to ARM as seamless as possible? 🤔
If new drivers are required, how far back in the Canon office printer line will Canon go with rolling out the new drivers? 🤔

[mattbender]

Thankfully I don't print too much, but I had to print something in colour the other day and it wasn't working through the MS PCL6 driver for me.  Thankfully I work in IT and have plenty of computers at my disposal - it's a pain though to fire up another computer just for printing...

I agree that the right Canon people probably aren't monitoring this forum, or just don't care.

[Rick_Floyd]

The answer IS NOT to stay away from the new chip architecture.  I have the same issue with the newest software in my Mac mini.  Until Canon gets on the ball to resolve this, I WILL NOT RECOMMEND Canon printers to my photography associates.  Their lack of solutions has rendered my ProGraf 1000 printer useless after less than 1 year.  Because of their lack of support, we are no longer purchasing any Canon camera gear.  

[dexman335]

Right now, I'm looking at replacing my Microsoft Surface Laptop 1 as it is not eligible to upgrade to Windows 11. The current iteration of the S.L. features ARM processors for consumer/residential units, and Intel processors for business/commercial models.

I thought I read somewhere that Intel's Lunar Lake processor is much improved over current offerings. Windows Central contributor Zac Bowden recently revealed that Microsoft was testing a Surface Laptop powered Luner Lake processor. If things look good, I'll bite and try to order a business version to replace my current unit.

https://www.windowscentral.com/hardware/surface/next-gen-surface-laptop-8-with-intel-lunar-lake-chip...

I also own a Surface Pro 7 which is running Windows 11.

I agree that manufacturers of devices such as printers might want to start focusing on releasing drivers for WoA computers. 😐

[stevebar]

I would avoid Intel at all costs currently. Our most recent surfaces that utilize intel have been buggy and prone to high failure rates. If you view the "Moores Law is Dead" channel on youtube they have been reporting how some OEM's have been reporting high failure rates for 13th/14th gen Intel units. They quit innovating and just cranked clock speeds that burn out the CPU's quickly. 

The fix here is to buy a strix variant of an AMD business computer or a Qualcomm device. ARM has lift this time in the Windows space and Canon should get on board. The average consumer is not going to know the difference between architectures. HP has universal drivers that support ARM. I am going to dump the Imagerunner before I shy away from a CPU architecture that works for all of our LOB apps and other devices. Intel is going to cost us way more in support calls and issues and productivity loss. 

[dexman335]

I remember recently reading (Paul Thurrott?) that the 13th & 14th generation processors have been unreliable. Intel, according to Paul, is extending warranties for 13th and 14th generation desktop processors by two years.

I'm holding back until computers using the next generation processors are released & vetted. I think I can keep running my Surface Laptop 1 beyond Windows 10's retirement date without any negative side effects.

Microsoft may completely switch to ARM, but as noted, manufacturers of printers and other devices need to issue updated drivers that are fully compatible with those processors. 😐

[dexman335]

Hopefully this won't be too far up as side street. I searched articles concerning the 13th & 14th generation processors and it seems that the trouble has been largely affecting desktop processors, as opposed to mobile processors. 🤔

[stevebar]

Indeed, but I for sure have issues with the limited numbers I have. Not just hardware but software drivers are bonkers. 

[dexman335]

Hopefully drivers will improve sooner rather than later. I'm in no rush to jump to ARM computers, but if they can provide comparable performance, longer run times with less heat generation than Intel processors, then the change is inevitable.  😐

[intel1919]

Well, I bought a ImageCLASS MF753 in July 2024 as it was $200 off at Staples to replace a 8 year old HP Laser MF device.  Love it!!  My wife and I share it in our home offices to mostly print but also scan a lot directly to our respective Dell XPS docked laptops over the network to a shared file folder.  Fast, easy.

Well, come Xmas 2024, I bought my wife a new Dell XPS 13 - 9345 with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite CPU (ARM architecture) running Windows 11.  Super fast, works great -- except for the ability to use the network scan functionality.  The Master Setup download file will not run (which installs all of the Canon software).  It shows that the MF Scan utility is installed, but errors when I run it saying I don't have drivers installed.  Printing directly to printer via network works fine using Microsoft drivers, i.e. the Printer showed up using stardard Windows 11 "add printer" functionality.  I see that Canon has released a bunch of ARM drivers/software for the PIXMA and MAXIFY lines, but not ImageCLASS line?   Come on Canon -- get this built and released PLEASE!!

[dexman335]

An earlier comment noted that the driver incompatibility extends to the imageRUNNER platform as well. 😐