We're not too sure why Creative wouldn't want their old products having proper cross OS support implemented. Sure, they do provide beta drivers, but word is they aren't to stable, plus we're guessing their newer, shinier and more expensive replacement devices have something to do with it. Frankly, those won't sell if some asshole is putting down his own, backward compatible drivers to bring old hardware up to speed. Checkout what Creative had to say below:

Daniel_K:

We are aware that you have been assisting owners of our Creative sound cards for some time now, by providing unofficial driver packages for Vista that deliver more of the original functionality that was found in the equivalent XP packages for those sound cards. In principle we don't have a problem with you helping users in this way, so long as they understand that any driver packages you supply are not supported by Creative. Where we do have a problem is when technology and IP owned by Creative or other companies that Creative has licensed from, are made to run on other products for which they are not intended. We took action to remove your thread because, like you, Creative and its technology partners think it is only fair to be compensated for goods and services. The difference in this case is that we own the rights to the materials that you are distributing. By enabling our technology and IP to run on sound cards for which it was not originally offered or intended, you are in effect, stealing our goods. When you solicit donations for providing packages like this, you are profiting from something that you do not own. If we choose to develop and provide host-based processing features with certain sound cards and not others, that is a business decision that only we have the right to make.

Although you say you have discontinued your practice of distributing unauthorized software packages for Creative sound cards we have seen evidence of them elsewhere along with donation requests from you. We also note in a recent post of yours on these forums, that you appear to be contemplating the release of further packages. To be clear, we are asking you to respect our legal rights in this matter and cease all further unauthorized distribution of our technology and IP. In addition we request that you observe our forum rules and respect our right to enforce those rules. If you are in any doubt as to what we would consider unacceptable then please request clarification through one of our forum moderators before posting.

Phil O'Shaughnessy
VP Corporate Communications
Creative Labs Inc.

Yes, the RIAA doesn't think the record companies are making enough and that musicians are clearly making too much. I mean, they get 13% now. Like they deserve 13% for writing and creating the music that people are paying for. Hogwash! Someone had to, you know, encode it. That's worth at least 40%. And hey, these shoes don't shine themselves! So they're pushing to get that rate cut down to a shameful 9%, giving artists even less of a slice of the pie than before.

Of course, Apple, Napster and other large online retailers make the RIAA look like a charity in comparison, with Apple pushing to cut the royalty rate down to an insulting 4%. Yes, Apple wants artists to get a 4% of wholesale royalty rate. Really looking out for those artists, aren't you Steve?

If there was ever a time for a band to try going completely independent, this is it. Why give over 90% of your income away to greedy sleazebags when you can sell your music online without the middleman? This industry needs to be burned to the ground and built back up again; it's broken and it seems less and less likely that it'll be able to be fixed. [Hollywood Reporter via Slashdot]

Considering people are falling over one another to get their hands on a Wii console for their kids, friends and lovers, it's distasteful practice by the boys at Slackers. Not only is it outright greed, but they are also violating Nintendo's terms of retail sale. We think Mario should jump on Slackers until they are a completely squashed retailer, which will hopefully make them realize the errors of their cash grabbing ways. [Ars Technica]

UPDATE: Slackers have issued a statement strongly denying the accusations; the full statement can be read below:

Dec. 21 - Official Statement

An Open Letter to Slackers Customers and the Game Buying Community

December 21, 2007

In a December 20, 2007 article posted on the on-line site Ars Technica, author Ben Kuchera wrote a sensationalist article about Slackers, in which he makes a number of sweeping and factually incorrect statements about Slackers' practice of selling Nintendo Wii Game systems on eBay. In his article, Mr. Kuchera claims that Slackers "stockpiles" its entire allotment of Wii systems from Nintendo and sells them exclusively on eBay at substantial mark-up. This article is factually inaccurate, and unfortunately, other sites are picking up this story and spreading the misleading piece. In his article, Mr. Kuchera claims that he attempted to contact me, Slackers' owner, multiple times to comment on his article. That is simply not true. Had Mr. Kuchera contacted me, I would have told him exactly what I am telling you in this letter.

Slackers is a small, 11 store chain in Missouri and Illinois selling music, movies and games. Slackers prides itself on its commitment to its customers, and offers great products with great service at a fair price. We are not big box, and our customers like that. They like that they get friendly, knowledgeable service when they come into our stores.

However, being small has its disadvantages. Unlike the big box retailers, we do not get an "allotment" from Nintendo. Rather, like all small independent retailers, we must buy our product from distributors. Since November of this year, the total number of Wii systems Slackers has been able to acquire from distributors this holiday season is 44 units - that's it. With respect to nearly all of these systems, the units are held for a specific individual, e.g. loyal customers, family members, business associates, employees and friends - 35 of the 44 units Slackers was able to acquire this holiday season went to such individuals at the suggested price of $249.99 (our cost). If one of these customers paid for the system with a credit card, Slackers actually lost money on the system as the credit card company takes up to 3% of the sale.

What about the other systems? One was donated to a silent auction with the proceeds ($450) going to St. Louis Children's Hospital. Slackers will be giving away another Wii system on the radio tonight on the Hipp Nights show on the Big 550 AM, KTRS (please tune in)!

Does Slackers' sell Wii systems on eBay? Yes. This holiday season, Slackers has sold a total of 5 Wii systems on eBay at a price of $399.99, while a couple units remain in stock. Why do we sell the Wii systems on eBay? Like all small retailers we are trying to improve our profile on the web. We have a website and an eBay store site. By offering even a small quantity of a hot system like the Wii on-line drives many hits to our sites. As for the price, Mr. Kuchera claims we are "scalping." At the price Slackers offers on-line, when you factor our cost for the unit and shipping, and after eBay and PayPal take their cut, Slackers makes less than $75 per unit we sell on-line. For this holiday season, we made a whopping $375 from the eBay sales - that's it. We gave away 2 systems at a cost of $500, and on every other system, we either broke even or lost money. Slackers does not make money on the sale of Wii systems.

Because of Mr. Kuchera's article, others on the web are using words like "gouging" and "repugnant" when referring to Slackers. I cannot begin to tell you how much this hurts. In this year alone, Slackers gave away more than $7,000 in product, gift certificates and donations to schools and churches in our community. Slackers is a good business citizen in its communities.

Had Mr. Kuchera taken the time to fully research his article, he would have a much different picture about Slackers' practices and what we are all about.

To our loyal customers, thank you for your continued patronage.

Happy holidays!

Kurt Jellinek
President, Slackers CDs and Games

This customer initially called AT&T to discuss other communications services. After she was transferred to Dish, the disaster policy Dish has in place was not followed. This customer will not be charged for service cancellation or equipment fees—that is our policy, and the policy of Dish, in times of natural disasters. We have spoken with this customer to clarify our policy, and we are committed to taking care of all customers affected by the fires. We are providing several no-cost options for fire victims to suspend their phone, broadband and satellite service, including a pause of service, with no equipment fees.

The EV1 will be replaced at the Smithsonian by an SUV, the robotic VW Touareg designed by Stanford University. Is it a coincidence that GM is one of the largest financial supporters of the Smithsonian, and its EV1 was mysteriously removed from that museum on the eve of the premiere of this GM-critical documentary? Hmm. Just asking. – Charlie White

Smithsonian Kills the Electric Car [treehugger]