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After they infamously started going after clones, anything branded FTDI is automatically suspicious. USB-serial adapters are not particularly special. Dozens o
by userbinator 9mo ago
After they infamously started going after clones, anything branded FTDI is automatically suspicious.
USB-serial adapters are not particularly special. Dozens of other manufacturers make them.
- hakfoo 9mo agoThis was a huge own-goal for their brand image. If I buy a FTDI based adapter, it might brick, and I lack the detection skill or supply chain control to be sure that it won't happen. If I buy a CH340 or PLwhatever based adapter, that doesn't enter the calculus. Unless I had some explicit "only FTDI can possibly do it" need, I'm going elsewhere.
- alyandon 9mo agoExactly - the FTDI drivers refusing to work would have been reasonable and emitting a log or error message that my device was counterfeit would have actually been helpful. Instead, they vandalized end user equipment by permanently bricking the devices which is arguably illegal. I am not nearly sophisticated enough as an end user to spot a counterfeit FTDI usb-to-serial device so I am not going to risk buying that brand and end up with their drivers intentionally bricking the device.