Hi,
I'm awaiting my ordered n8 that I plan to use on a Dell laptop with a PCMCIA
firewire card (TI-based). OS is Windows XP (32-bit). I will use Cubase AI but
also Ableton Live and maybe Reaper. Motif ES is also used but I have no mLAN16E
for it (possible future upgrade though).

Which drivers and firmware shall I use?

In've come across the following names of drivers:
- n Drivers
- AI drivers
- WDM-drivers
- mLAN Driver/mLAN Tools
- Yamaha Steinberg FW Driver

Yamaha driver download page states the following about TOOLS for n V2.0.0 for
Windows Vista/XP 32bit:
"After updating the n8/n12 firmware, the n8/n12 will NOT be able to be used with
the n Driver, AI Driver or mLAN Driver/mLAN Tools. Also keep in mind that the
previous firmware version of the n8/n12 cannot be restored. If you use n12/n8
with 01X, i88x, mLAN16E (option for MOTIF ES and S90ES) and MY-16mLAN (option
for 01V/01V96, 02R96, DM1000, DM2000, AW2400 ) via mLAN, please do not use these
software update."

What will I be missing if don't do the update and which drivers shall I use
then?

Regards / Mattias