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If you have a notebook with HD 2000, HD 3000, or HD 4000 series ATI mobile GPU you have probably noticed that almost all notebook vendors are not keeping up with ATI's monthly graphics driver update scheme.

Notebook vendors are justifying their lazyness through their usual cost of re-testing/re-certification mantra. But, is that justification acceptable?

In my opinion — no, it is not.

Whether you know it or not, those notebook GPU parts are just cut-down versions of standard desktop GPUs manufactured with low power consumption in mind, and even though they do allow some degree of customization by the notebook vendor, mainly in the area of external connectivity and the amount of VRAM, they can still use the same graphics drivers as the desktop GPUs.

Each new release driver version is first submitted to Microsoft for WHQL certification before being released for download on ATI website — it means that notebook vendors do not need to re-test/re-certify them, because Microsoft already does it. Regardless of that, notebook vendors still do not publish new drivers on their website as they become available from ATI. Shame #1 goes to notebook vendors.

If you have tried Windows 7 Release Candidate, you have probably noticed that ATI has added Mobility Radeon drivers download for HD 2000, HD 3000, and HD 4000 series of mobile GPUs for this operating system. But what about Windows Vista and Windows XP? Yes, you guessed it correctly — no drivers for those.

ATI could add Mobility Radeon support for HD 2000, HD 3000, and HD 4000 series of mobile GPUs to their drivers for Windows XP and Windows Vista simply by editing the .inf files in their driver packages to include PCI and VENDOR IDs used for those mobile parts. Why they aren't doing it? There is no rational way to justify this other than to think of a conspiracy with Microsoft to popularize Windows 7. Shame #2 goes to ATI.

What can you as a customer do about it? Unfortunately not much — you can either modify the .inf files yourself, and add the IDs for your particular GPU which will invalidate .inf signature making unattended driver installation impossible, or you can email ATI asking them to provide support for your ATI mobile GPU in their driver out of the box, and hope that they will do it if enough people ask them. So, what are you going to do?