Driver Installer Database/Tool - General

Hey Facepunch, So I'm doing a huge assignment in my general marketing class, it's worth a total of 900 marks. The assignment is basically to create a product, market it, create advertisements, choose a demographic; think up everything. You need to create a functional prototype and write a few full business style reports. It's a very, very big project and my passing or failing of this class relies on this. The assignment will be complete in around April. The prototype can be literally anything, from some innovative cookie design to edible socks that taste like Carrie Underwood's asshole. One of my ideas was essentially a USB memory stick, full of nearly every single common driver you could think of. The stick has autorun software on it, which opens up a simple interface directing you through manufacturers -> part type -> model -> driver. You choose your driver and then hit the install button, which then prompts you for a regular driver installation. Software which downloads newly updated drivers is also included; it would be recommended that you run this software every week to make sure that you're up to date; likely a notification would be built in, to tell you new drivers are available. This tool would be used by computer technicians, IT guys; really anyone who works with computers, installing, replacing, repairing; and I believe it would be an extremely useful tool to have on your key-chain if this is your line of work. If you don't have internet connection, you have the drivers with you, if you don't have the CDs, you have the drivers with you; and of course all sorts of other tools such as RivaTuner, nTuner, Alienware exclusive software and others. [B]So my questions, Facepunch, would you use this tool? How much would you pay for it?[/B] [B] Does something like this already exist?[/B] [B]What are your thoughts on the possibility of the creation of such a thing? How many drivers could fit on a 16GB drive? [/B] The only big problem I see is the software; which although isn't very advanced, I'd need to find someone who could help me create it. Also a few ideas I've had for names and slogans would be something like: "DRiVE - because even hardware needs a pilot" -- the advertising and PR stuff/presentations would often use the metaphor of how vehicles need drivers or pilots, and hardware does too, because without drivers, video cards and sound cards and such are useless.

Yes I would use this. I hate not being able to install drivers without access to the internet. I would pay probably the same amount as a 16gb flash drive, but only if there were regular updates. I'm not sure how many drivers could fit on 16gbs, but since most of them are less than 1mb (in my experience), 16 gb would be enough for pretty much all of the common ones.

They kinda already have this: [url]http://www.driver-soft.com/[/url]

This is too hard and obscure to do. There are too many drivers out there.

[QUOTE=Hackintosh;19520283]They kinda already have this: [URL]http://www.driver-soft.com/[/URL][/QUOTE] Thanks for the information, but this seems to be more of a personal tool for you to backup YOUR drivers for future use. My product would be a UNIVERSAL tool for people who work with computers and need to install drivers often. Also, this is just an application; this is an actual device that stores all the drivers on its own disk. [QUOTE=Master117;19520314]This is too hard and obscure to do. There are too many drivers out there.[/QUOTE] What if only the top manufacturers and brands were on it? All of the common Dell, IBM, nVidia, ATI, XFX?

[QUOTE=Hackintosh;19520283]They kinda already have this: [URL]http://www.driver-soft.com/[/URL][/QUOTE] I think that needs an internet connection to download them.

[b]So my questions, Facepunch, would you use this tool? [/b] I would not buy it to only use it on my home computers. If it was my job I would consider it. [b]How much would you pay for it? [/b] I think a maximum of 100 $. [b]Does something like this already exist? [/b] Only software asfar as I know. [b]What are your thoughts on the possibility of the creation of such a thing? [/b] If it can auto-detect which drivers I would need to install, it would be great. Choosing manually is not always what an "average" person is capable of because they do not know the name of the components nor how to find out the name. [b]How many drivers could fit on a 16GB drive? [/b] Can't answer this. For starters, you should fill it up with well-known brands.

[QUOTE=Cuel;19520432][B]So my questions, Facepunch, would you use this tool? [/B] I would not buy it to only use it on my home computers. If it was my job I would consider it. [B]How much would you pay for it? [/B] I think a maximum of 100 $. [B]Does something like this already exist? [/B] Only software asfar as I know. [B]What are your thoughts on the possibility of the creation of such a thing? [/B] If it can auto-detect which drivers I would need to install, it would be great. Choosing manually is not always what an "average" person is capable of because they do not know the name of the components nor how to find out the name. [B]How many drivers could fit on a 16GB drive? [/B] Can't answer this. For starters, you should fill it up with well-known brands.[/QUOTE] Thanks for actually answering all of those questions like that! And as for $100... That's outrageous! The final market price wouldn't even be anything CLOSE to that. The auto-detect thing is interesting, but I'm not sure how possible that is. I already said that software could be a problem, trying to do something like this could make my life even harder.

[QUOTE=Nova25;19521307]Thanks for actually answering all of those questions like that! And as for $100... That's outrageous! The final market price wouldn't even be anything CLOSE to that. The auto-detect thing is interesting, but I'm not sure how possible that is. I already said that software could be a problem, trying to do something like this could make my life even harder.[/QUOTE] Perhaps it's a little low. But I bought my 16gb USB stick for 40$ [editline]06:33AM[/editline] wait did you think it was high?

Driver Magician auto detects what drivers you need. However you do need an internet connection to get ahold of them.

[QUOTE=Cuel;19521798]Perhaps it's a little low. But I bought my 16gb USB stick for 40$ [editline]06:33AM[/editline] wait did you think it was high?[/QUOTE] Yes, very high.

In that case I agree with you.