What USB scanner will work with Linux?

TIA

Follow the link in my signature to the sane site. Choose something from their database.

Note that on Linux it often takes time for open source drivers to be produced, so you may not find support for the newest models.

One thing that I can say however is that the sane-epson backend offers basic support for most models, even if not specifically listed. But you'll generally always need to use their proprietary driver and program anyway for complete support, and it isn't all that good.

Finally, my usual advice. Asking "what works" is usually not a productive question. It's too open-ended. Most people only know about the few models that they have experience with. A better approach is to make a list of devices you'd be interested in using, then check to see which ones are supported on Linux. You can then also, if necessary, ask about what experiences people have had with specific models.

do you mean the brand?? my hp psc 1410 all in one works fine with ubuntu 8.10.

I don't own an HP scanner, but the hplip package supports multipurpose printers w/scanners. It might support a stand-alone HP scanner as well.

Also check out the LinuxQuestions HCL:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/

As I remember...

The last time I looked at the HP site for HPLIP support, there was a notice that HPLIP would not support a scanner alone.

Any HP multi-function machine might function as a scanner whether or not it functions, or you wish it to function, as a printer.

it is not hplip that supports my scanner in all in one, but xsane.

Scanner support in Linux is like a trial-n-error process, so one will work and the others will not work. Since scanners does not have standards, there is no way to be certain that any scanner will work.

I recommend browse through SANE's web site to get an idea of a list of scanners that work and a list a scanners that does not work. Each scanner uses a proprietary chip, so one scanner might work in Linux while others will not. If an scanner is obsolete, you can use that list when selecting the latest scanners.

Any scanner that you pick is good as my answer to what scanners work in Linux.

Probably it is better to go with MAC OS X when using scanners or use VMware running Windows in the virtual machine to use any USB scanner.

SANE - http://www.sane-project.org/

My idea...

I thought that it might be possible to gain the advantage given by the use of the HPLIP's scanner support on a HP all-in-one whether the printer worked or not. An older HP multi might be easier to find than a well supported stand alone scanner, as scanners in themselves are not as frequent as they once were.

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

Notice that there's also the proprietary VueScan available (link in my sig). It has excellent support for many of the most popular scanner models, and a good track record of adding new ones soon after they appear on the the market. I've given the trial version a whirl and was fairly impressed by it. It really is a quality program, and provides more fine-tuning control than sane usually does. It might be something to look into, if you're willing to go with something non-free (in both senses of the word).

Quoting the OP:
While you have all made time to answer abefroman's post here (and I thank you, even if he doesn't), he has posted another six Q's here on LQ without following up on this one (or, to date, most of the others):

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=748438
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=748438
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=748455
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=748508
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=748539
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=748324

Does that suggest anything to you

I think the best thing to do is pick a scanner you like, then google it. For example, I recently got an HP C4795 all in one, after checking that it was reputed to work with the latest HPLIP. Although the only thing that worked with it out of the box was Ubuntu's Koala, upgraded to the latest packages--even Fedora rawhide is a bit behind--I was able to get it working, without too much trouble, by downloading the latest version of hplip and manually installing it, even on CentOS, which uses older versions of many packages.

(HP's page lists Linux among operating systems on their drivers page for the device--but when you click on it, they simply provide a link to hplip's site.)

Many of them will work, but the very latest and greatest often won't, as was said above.

I have burned my fingers with a HP Scanjet 4600 which is not & probably never will be supported under linux. I have since purchased a Brother MFC-7840C multifunction printer / scanner which work very well. Brother's linux support seems very good. Look at:
http://solutions.brother.com/linux/s...e_drivers.html

Regards,
Stefan

PS An ethernet connected scanner makes life much easier compared to USB particularly if you have more than one computer in your office.