Absolutely hate the fact that their drivers and firmware updates (for servers) are stashed away behind ludacris support contracts.
Have a simplivity stack at work, and for two nodes with an off site DR, needed an $8,000 support contract just to get the latest drivers and firmware to upgrade to the latest VMware version simplivity supports.
One shot deal, as we are already planning the move away from VMware and getting plans together for budgets to do so...
Maybe they all do this...? Admittedly I've not had to go looking for drivers or firmware updates on the few dells we have as they are air gapped systems that just run for a very specific purpose... So I honestly am not sure. But HP absolutely sucks in this regard as far as Im concerned.
I got one for you:
You're on a tightrope of balancing security and your pocketbook, because a firmware update might also include DRM to brick any aftermarket toners you might have purchased.
Oh, you don't wanna pay out the nose for gEnUiNe HP??
What's your threat model look like?