Due to the Counterfeit PL-2303HX chipset,
Prolific is DISCONTINUING (End of Life) Manufacturing and Support for that Chip Series.
Current Prolific USB Chipset Offerings
http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?pcid=41&showlevel=0041-0041PL-2303HX(Chip Rev A) and PL-2303X(Chip Rev A) Phase out Noticehttp://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=212&pcid=41Dear Customers,
Prolific Full-Speed USB to Serial bridge controller PL-2303HX(Chip Rev A) and PL-2303X (Chip Rev A) will be phased out (EOL) at the end of October, 2012. Both will be replaced by the new PL2303TA which is pin-to-pin compatible with PL-2303HXA and PL-2303XA PCB. Please refer to the PL2303TA PCN, Datasheet, and Migration Guide for more information.
Due to EOL (End-of-Life) policy, please note that PL-2303HX (Chip Rev A) and PL-2303X (Chip Rev A) will not have compulsory driver support for the coming Windows 8 operating system as it is not a supported OS mentioned in the chip datasheet.
So it is advisable to switch to the newer USB Bridge chips which will include support for Windows 8.http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?pcid=41&showlevel=0041-0041Please kindly inform your last order by the end of September, 2012. We already started supplying PL2303TA since the beginning of December, 2011.
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Warning Notice:http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41Please be warned that counterfeit (fake) PL-2303HX (Chip Rev A) USB to Serial Controller ICs using Prolific's trademark logo, brandname, and device drivers, were being sold in the China market. Counterfeit IC products show exactly the same outside chip markings but generally are of poor quality and causes Windows driver compatibility issues (Yellow Mark Error Code 10 in Device Manager). We issue this warning to all our customers and consumers to avoid confusion and false purchase.
Please be warned that selling counterfeit products are illegal and punishable by civil and criminal courts according to the trademark, copyright, and intellectual properties laws and regulations. Prolific will take proper and severe actions to cease and confiscate these counterfeit products. Prolific also prohibits the distribution of any PL-2303 drivers (including download links) without written permission from Prolific.
Prolific advices end-users to only purchase vendor branded cable products with company name contact information for service and support. Prolific does not sell cables with Prolific brand and packaging. In case you suspect a counterfeit chip inside, you may also contact Prolific to provide the vendor information.
--Prolific Support (Taiwan HQ)