Best xsane scanner for linux
 

Hi, I'm looking for a flatbed scanner for use with Linux. I want to scan documents, pictures, negatives and slides. I have xsane and kooka installed in kubuntu 710.
I would appreciate suggestions.

I have an HP G4010 and a Visoneer 9420 both of which only run on windows.
(I prefer the visioneer over the HP incidenly)

thanks

I have an HP 3100 all in one printer/scanner/fax. The scanner works flawlessly. Actually, the whole thing works flawlessly.

Thanks, I'll take a look at it, but I am really looking for just a flat bed scanner

Again thnks

So, look at HP. Given the price of a scanner vs an all in one, might as well get the whole thing.

I looked at the 3100 you suggested, but, as I said, I prefer separate units, less complexity, I'm 82 and as my office is setup I would have to get up every time I wanted to use the printer. I use it all the time, while I don't use the scanner very often.

But I may get a used 3100 to use until I find what I really want.

again thanks

You could buy an HP all in one and only use the scanner feature. Why not?

Myself, the last time I went shopping for a scanner, I didn't see anything worthwhile for a price I was willing to pay. I bought the all-in-one because it was actually cheaper. Mostly I don't use the printer portion of it; I have a nice color laser so why use an inkjet except for photo printing?

The point is that the industry has been moving away from the separate platforms for printer and scanner, at least for the home market. So by limiting yourself to a scanner-only, you both raise your cost and decrease your capability.

If you don't want to pay much for it, and are ok with the quality of the less expensive scanners, you could just as well get one of those all-in-one printer-scanner-devices (HPs tend to work with Xsane at least), or if you really don't need a printer, any other "low-cost" scanner mentioned in sane-project.org/sane-supported-devices.html.

But if you want the quality to be good, as I suppose you would want if you want to scan negatives etc., then I suggest you start the othe way around - make a list of few scanners that are good (you want to read some reviews available online), then see which ones of them are supported by sane. There are differences in the quality of scanners (or rather the image they produce), so if it matters at all, make your selection based on hardware reviews - checking out the sample pictures - and not money. More importantly, if you consider the work quality is more important than a penguine logo, you'll get a scanner first and consider the operating system after that - if it means buying a copy of Windows XP (OEM), it is worth it. Of course it's better if the scanner works outside Windows (i.e. has drivers for non-Windows OS too), but the image quality should be the primary thing, not the software.

Thanks, I already have a a modern HP scanner (G4010) and "XP". What I want is a comparable scanner that will work in Linux!!! I have searched several internet sources for example
http://www.buzzard.me.uk/jonathan/scanners-usb.html
With this post I am looking to my LQ friends who have a modern linux flatbed plotter for help in finding/selecting one for myself

(Apparently HP no longer opens there hardware products so opensource drivers could be written by outsiders if HP didn't want to. I suspect collusion with MS!!!)

Again thanks

Why do you think your scanner won't work with linux? Have you tried?

It could be that there is not a driver listed for that particular model, but a driver listed for some other model would work find. In fact, I would kind of expect that, unless there is some peculiarity of that particular scanner.

Thanks. my current scanner is an HP G4010 that is listed for XP, Vista and 2000 ONLY!!!!!.
the URL posted above does not list it as being compatable with Linux or do any of the other sources that I've looked at.

If you know of a source for a linux driver I would be most grateful for the info.

If you are interested in getting another flatbed scanner, the Epson Perfection 4180 might be similar to what you have. I've got one to work with FC5 and FC7. It may be a tad more expensive though, I'm not sure. Epson/Avasys has a list of their supported scanners http://www.avasys.jp/lx-bin2/linux_e/scan/DL1.do

Thanks, but I have given up. If I ever get around to setting up a Samba network, I should be able (I think) to use my HP G4010 scanner on my XP box from my Kubuntu box. But right now I have some more pressing chores.
Thanks anyway, I appreciate your effort.
pete