I have upgraded all of my Linux systems to version 9.04 of Ubuntu. I bought a flat bed scanner can't remember the name based on lowest price from New Egg and after I received it found out that it is not supported by any Linux distribution.

I gave it to my son and before I order another one I would like to find someone who has one working on their system. I want a USB interface, there are lots of units that work if you have a SCSI card, and prefer HP although I would go with Epson or a no name brand if it works. I searched the archives and the last conversation I found about scanners was from early in 2008 and said that some of the HP combo units that print and scan work. If I can I would like just a scanner due to the larger surface that you get for scanning with those units. I have a number of photos and QSL cards from my amateur radio hobby that I would like to get scanned into digital form. Thanks in advance for any help you can supply.

----Ken/WA3FKG

See http://www.sane-project.org/sane-supported-devices.html.

I have already been to this page and it seems that the technology out paces the updates. I have seen in another message thread here on LQ a combo unit that is currently in use with 8.10 that is not listed on the SANE page. And the posting is from 2008. I was hopping to find someone who is using 9.04 and has recently purchased a scanner and has it in use.

Also many of the units listed as compatible on the hardware list are pro units that are in the several hundred to several thousand dollar range.

I'm sure someone else is out there that is in the same position that I am in and has found an answer. If I have to I will buy the unit locally at Best Buy so that I can return it if it doesn't work and find out via trial and error. Thanks again for the reply.

----Ken

I have an HP Scanjet 6200C scanner that works. It's an older usb scanner, relatively inexpensive if you can find one.

Old...

It seems that older scanners are better supported than others. I have heard that a Canon LiDE 20 is supported, as well as is the older HP 5200c. Scanners are not in general a product in demand; the market for ordinary use is for all-in-one machines.

If you were to obtain a HP multi-function machine you would benefit from HP's good driver. With the driver the scanning function is supported along with the print function, but not scanning alone. You might find an older and ill loved machine with hard to find ink cartridges, used, for a good price and use only the scanning function.

http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/index.html

Note the link to the supported printers at the left, including the all-in-ones that work well with linux.

I have an hp officejet 5510 usb that works on Debian.