HP Fingerprint Reader is absolute rubbish and other disappointments!

[wrighty18]

I am very disappointed in HP for three reasons!

1.) Excessive Fan Noise!

2.) The Fingerprint Reader not working!

3.) Power outlet being on the side that you use a mouse if you right handed!

They put a fingerprint reader on my dv6 laptop and then get companies to create the software which is meant to work with it and it is does not!

I currently use Egistec's version of HP Simplepass which the most up to date version is 7.1.5.9 which supports Internet Explorer, and Firefox up to version 6.0. Firefox is currently on version 9.0 and no update since 6.0 was released and firefox 10 is coming out on January 31, 2012! So if they bring it out now, it would be compatabile for 2 weeks! Absolute rubbish!

Before people suggest turning off compatibility check in Firefox, please don't! I spent £900 on this laptop and expect all its features to work! I liked the concept of the fingerprint reader but don't think I will buy another laptop with one or buy another HP for that matter!

Next disappointment, The temperature and fan noise, If I work the computer hard (I use CAD Design software) the area of the Q, W, and E keys gets really hot to the point it is too hot to touch. I have read on other parts of this forum that reducing the processor speed via the advance power settings can reduce the temperatures. I did not buy 90% of an Intel i5 processor, I bought 100% of one! HP, design the laptop to be able to deal with all the possible temperature outputs of the processor, it ain't that difficult! With my old sony (bought in 2005 for a similar cost as my HP) I have never had to regularly clean the fans as suggested you do with an HP! It never had excessive fan noise and I never had to reduce the processor power! Come on HP what you doing!? This post will probably get ignored by customer service as it is difficult to deal with but if HP want to create credible laptops get decent designers and engineers! I am a masters educated mechaincal engineer who is currently job hunting and it annoys me that something can be so poorly designed by people with more experience and skills than me! I understand the chassis are the same throughout the range but the RAM, processor, hard drive etc is what varies the cost throughout the dv6 or any other range.

My third and final disappointment with my HP DV6 i have is that the power connection is done on the side, right where you want to use a mouse, ain't that stupid!

My challenge to HP and their customer service is what are you going to do about it?

In summary:

1.) Sort out the HP Simplepass stupidity, get the updates out quicker (all other developers seem to manage it) and get it working through HP Support Assistant.

2.) Design laptops which don't overheat or design stupid things like putting power inlets where your mouse goes, really common sense!

If you have annoyances with your HP feel free to have a rant!

[wrighty18]

Just recieved this from Egistec after talking to their customer support:

  Dear Mr. Wright,
Thank you for your email.

HP SimplePass will not be update to support higher Firefox. But you can download the similar product BioExcess from EgisTec's official website. They will keep update. By the way, they are not free.
The link is:http://www.egistec.com/en/products/bioexcess-freetrial.aspx

If you need any further assistance, please contact us.

What a joke! So I bought my laptop just over a year ago and now the software is out of date. Why does HP not just pay for licences for bioexcess, instead of paying for stupid half hearted programs to be created?

My Suggestion to HP is to use Egistec's Bioexcess program but just put an HP logo on the splash screen or likewise, saves alot of money in development for both Egistec and HP! Can't see this small change taking more than a couple of days to impliment, can't be that hard for a professional programmer to change a splash screen? Can it?

[Dj_Ziio]

I understand your annoyance with the fingerprint reader and temperature of your laptop. Firstly, do you have the HP Coolsense technology on your laptop. My Dv7 came with it standard and there is a big difference of temperature when i use it on a laptop mat compared to on my lap.  As for the number keys getting hot, this seems like a manufaturors defect more than anything, the heat from the laptop should be vented and drawn off from the bottom, even after 24 hours of use with heavy audio editing programs my laptop has no heat transfer to the keyboard or anywhere on the top, the bottom is quite warm to the touch though. You might research getting a replacement or find some people with the same model number and ask if they have the same issue. As for HP simplepass, after reading way to many posts, i've found a work around, if you get HP Simplepass 2011 build 288 and use firefox 9 with the compatibliy checking plugin enable (disables compatibility checking) it works like a charm.  I have yet to test it with firefox 10 but if i've read correctly firefox is doing away with compatibiliy checking in firefox, since 90% of the issue is that the extension is written with a certain version # coded too its, say firefox 9, and it only stop working because firefox 10 is looking for that # to be a 10.  So as far as i can ascertain, the hp simplepass 2011 build 288 should work with every firefox after 9 with no issues.  This doesn't excuse the fact the hp released a product with no support, serioulsy we have to use Firefox 6 or IE 6, both of which are full of securtiy holes, to use your software, and yea, firefox updates a lot, but IE updates much slower and there is still no support, not to mention chrome, one the fastest growing browsers not even being supported.  As for the bioexcess program, I'm gonna see if i can find a pirated version to test out, not dropping $30 for another program that doesn't work, if its works for firefox 10 or is better than hp simplepass 288 i'll drop another post.

[Dj_Ziio]

Ok i've jsut read that bioexcess, egistec replacement for simplepass (which was sold to hp with the hardware, then they stopped updating it to force users to switch intentionally so they could make more money, which they make plenty of by selling the fingerprint reader to hp) only supports IE9 and Firefox 8, so unless you use IE (about 40% of users) its as useless as what comes preinstalled.  Looks like hp just put this on there laptops as a gimmick, they don't force the manufacturer to even support the hardware they sell.  If i was HP i would stop buying these and puting these in my laptop until egsitec started actually supporting it with software that worked and was updated occationally.  If Simplepass 2011 288, a build thats 3 generations back in updates, works better with the new firefox than the 2012 version then something doesn't add up.  Its like hp buying a bunch of dvd rw drives that don't have drivers for windows 7, its rediculous.  HP, put your foot down with Egistec or don't buy there **bleep**, but don't give us crap we can't even use, I spent 3 WEEKS looking for a workaround for firefox, which will probably be broken as soon as firefox updates again.  And why can my fingerprint software start a webpage with a finger swipe but not program.  HP time to man up and build your own program, or find someone who can.

[wrighty18]

Hi Dl_Ziio,

I hope this answers your questions!

I have a DV6 and do not have HP Coolsense.

I am also using HP Simplepass 2011 build 288 and it worked fine with firefox 9 and surprisingly firefox 10. I however think it is rubbish in comparsion to Egistec HP Simplepass/Bioexcess. My understanding is that the HP Simplepass software is made by one of three companies: Digital Persona, Authentec or Egistec. Digital Persona have since quit making the software so are out the picture. Authentec make the HP Simplepass 2011 build 288 and the 2012 version where as Egistec make a seperate version completely which is based off their program Bioexcess.

I am definintely a supporter of the Egistec verison of HP Simplepass despite the incredible slow updating of their software for the reasons below:

1.) Unobtrursive, no dialog boxes popping up to tell you to login which has to be closed manually via a close button, all that is shown is a large icon which is moveable and gives you the option to login via your biometric reader. This makes the reader "ignorable" and does not need constant user interaction with it, i.e. closing it, you just navigate away the page and the icon disappears.

2.) Nicer management console that the Authentec Version(s) of HP Simplepass

3.) File encryption, the software can be used to encrypt files/folders and "unlock" them with your biometrics.

4.) No false logins, what I mean is when I login to a website I seem to get asked again once I have logged in to login again when the page loads, i.e. logging into my facebook account as the feed page loads I get asked if i want to login once I already have! Very annoying when coupled with having to close dialog boxes all the time!

5.)The egistec version of HP Simplepass/Bioexcess can start programs btw

My suggestions to Egistec is instead of logging into a website, why not login into a profile? Similar in nature to the Norton Identity safe toolbar for browsers. This is very quickly updated and works as a backup for me when the HP Simplepass software fails due to me updating my firefox browser!

I hope this answers all your questions, Dl_Ziio

Cheers

wrighty18