Hello,

This is my first posting and I'm not even on Ubuntu as yet. I have had Ubuntu installed on my old MacBook Pro (single boot) and I'm experimenting with it several time a week in the evenings.

My ultimate objective to be able to quit the wonderful World of Apple but as virtually everything I have and do is registered on my Mac I would like to be sure that everything will function once I make the jump across to Ubuntu.

I have a Canon 5600F flatbed scanner which apparently doesn't function under Ubuntu. I can't test it for the moment but if more knowledgeable persons than myself can't make it work ( forums I've read) I'm sure I won't be able to either.

All of this to say that I've spent quite some time surfing, looking for a flatbed scanner (not an all in one) which is plugged in to the electricity socket (to save my portable batteries) and which is at best "plug and play" or at least will function, under Ubantu without much success.

Can anyone give me any pointers in which direction to look? I've tried the never ending Sane list but they all seem to be all in one as are other listings. Surely the Linux community must be big enough for manufacturers to realise they have a market?

Thanks for any information.

Garoolgan

SANE Project

This would probably be a great place to start.

http://www.sane-project.org/cgi-bin/...&bus=any&v=&p=

Looks like its not supported at this time, however if you look around there is probably some sort of scanner that will work with a version of Ubuntu.

I had a look at both the Canon north American site and the European site. Neither list a linux driver for this model.

That said, there are still things you could do, rather than spend money on another scanner.

Once you have Ubuntu installed, you could install Virtual Box and a supported OS. Since you are familiar with Mac, you could use that, or you could go with something like ( cough ) windows XP, installed in the virtual machine.

Install the driver for your choice of OS. Install your Canon scanner, and enjoy.

This was my approach with my HP flatbed scanner model G4010.

To run v-box, you need enough ram. Disk space isn't much of a concern. I run v-box and Win XP on a system with 3 gig of ram. 4 would be better, however, since I don't keep the virtual machine up all the time I get by with 3 gig of ram.

As far as what scanner will work with a linux driver, consult the manufactures web site before you buy. I have seen several posts claiming many multi-function scanners work.

Best of luck with your search.

The "completes" on JockvsJock's excerpt from the Sane listing are both Pixma's = all in ones.
My only reason for not wanting one is that they are too big to fit into the space I have for a scanner in my office corner of the second bedroom of our apartment.

Camorri's solution sounds possible but for the moment I'm not brave enough..... unless pushed! If after a while I can't find a scanner, I'll have all that v-box stuff explained "in words of one syllable" when I next attend the local Linux club meeting which only occurs a few times a year.

As said in my first posting my object is to leave Apple and I'm well into retirement which in my case means that at my age I'm not too keen on getting bogged down in techie stuff any more. Half of my working life was spent with those treacherous machines called computers (1985 to 2006) and now I really just want something that functions....

I'd still like to hear from anyone who knows of a scanner that functions under Ubuntu and I really can't understand, with the number of people using Linux, why manufacturers don't supply the necessary drivers for Linux users. Surely it's an additional market for them?

Garoolgan

Brother and HP have complete Linux support. Anything they offer will work under Ubuntu.

This is true for multi-function devices, but not straight flat bed scanners. Case in point, my HP G4010 has only limited support under linux. The film scan part does not work. nor do the buttons on the top work under linux.

The OP's scanner is film scan capable, and if that is a requirement, care need to be taken on the next purchase.

I get it. Ubuntu has online resources to install software from. Once you get a little experience, you will find it a point and click operation to install most software.

BTW, I'm retired too.

Here's an Ubuntu HCL for scanners (applicable to all Linux distros actually)

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupp...onentsScanners

Most of the models are not current, but I researched a couple of more recent models that are supported

HP ScanJet G3110 is supported by the hp3900 backend
Canon CanoScan LiDE 5600F, 700F, 200 all supported by the genesys backend

Brother offers support for some scanner models

Epson also have some Linux drivers available

http://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/se...search/?OSC=LX

For example - Epson Perfection V370

If it was me, I would be visiting a store and requesting to verify SANE support for the models of interest with a laptop first.

Hi Garoolgan...

Welcome to the forum

Here is a program that might allow you to use your Canon 5600F in Ubuntu.

Regards...

HP mine works great and is also a stand alone.

Yes, VueScan is proprietry (paid-for) software that is worth considering as an option for scanners not already supported by SANE, and they allow users to test with a trial version before purchasing. That said the genesys.conf file contains the following chipset entry
So, as long as this model has the the same chipset (as reported by lsusb), then all should be good with using the open source SANE backend.

Got a canon LIDE 220 works wonderfully

http://www.sane-project.org/cgi-bin/...&bus=any&v=&p=

Thanks all for your ideas of solutions to finding and making scanners function under Ubuntu.
I've copied the relevant parts of your replies to a text document and I'll dig into them when I can.
As any other retiree knows, and contrary to what others seem to think, we're very busy people !!
Thanks again
Garoolgan

You're welcome, I hope one or more of them works.

Regards...