Hey guys,

I am very sorry to write that I am unable to get my scanner (Epson Perfection 1670) to work with Linux (Suse Pro v9.2) for my wife's PC - yes, I tried all the usual suggestion made in many of the forums, I even downloaded snapscan and wrestled with it, I tried editing some of the conf files, but to no avail. It should not be this difficult. As a result, I am afraid I will have to go back to Windows. At least for now. If any of you have any suggestions on getting this scanner to work with Linux, please let me know. I will still practice with Linux, and, hopefully, in a year, or so, I can try again. It looks to me like Linux still needs to improve userfriendliness a bit more. Especially when it comes to installing some devices. It is a shame, because I got everything else to work for that machine under Linux. The laser printer was the one external device that my wife absolutely needed and that installed OK. I got the new version of Openoffice to work, and I installed Mozilla and got that to work, and I even got the Linux box to see, and be seen, from my Windows-based Ethernet network. The one piece of software I could not get to work was the KMail client. Even though I entered all the proxy settings (I am using a gateway machine as a proxy server with DHCP) in the places I am supposed to, the KMail client was still trying to connect directly, rather than through the proxy.

Anyway, I just thought I would put this info out there in case someone has any suggestions. Unfortunately, my wife cannot wait anymore, and I have to put an OS on her machine, so, for now, I will put on Windows 2000.

I have not given up on Linux. I just think it still needs to cook a little more to become a bit easier to install standard software and standard hardware, without the need to make all sorts of manual or obscure configuration changes.

I hope some of you will hit upon the correct combination of programs and configuration files to help me get the scanner to work, so please send any suggestions you might have.

Thanks guys (and girls.)

-Alex.

I don't have that scanner to assist you with it, and I
don't know WHICH steps you actually took to try and
get it working....

How good is your German? :)
http://linuxwiki.de/LinuxHardware/Scanner

Seems to be reasonably easy to get it working ...

As far as the hardware goes: I choose my hardware
after I make sure it works with Linux.


Cheers,
Tink

If you figure out how to get your scanner working put a post in the HCL. I would really like the HCL to support more products and become a better resource.

I do not recall all the steps now, I did this a couple of weeks ago, and it is just a jumble in my mind now. And I did check to make sure the scanner works with Linux - I checked the Sane website and they showed it as being compatible. Suse 9.2 Pro even recognized it at bootup, but I could not get Kooka or Gimp to see it.

And this is what I meant by userfriendliness - it should not be this difficult to install a standard piece of hardware. If it is recognized at bootup, then it should also configure and install properly, and do this automatically. Of course I do not know Linux very well yet, but if the hardware can be recognized at bootup, it appears there is some sort of script that does that - then it should not be a big step after that to configure itself properly using the same, or a similar, script. Alternatively, maybe a website, like the Sane website, can have scripts avialable for download to do this automatically for Joe Homeowner who just wants to get his PC up and running.

I am afraid my German is not that good.

But thanks anyway for responding.

-Alex

I have my scanner (epson perfection 1660 photo) work the first time when i installed fedora 3. However, after i install the special software for epson scanner ISCAN, my scanner can only capture pics from my TV tunner card instead of from the scanner.

In that case I'd suggest you bug Epson to
provide a Linux-driver.... as far as I'm concerned
there is no "standard piece" in terms of Linux.
If the manufacturer doesn't supply one you'll
have to wait 'til someone writes one. Can't
blame Linux for that, blame the manufacturer
or all other owners of the scanner who refuse
to write an easy to use driver for you. ;)


Cheers,
Tink

It was not my intention to "blame" Linux or anyone else, rather I was just stating my experience with the scanner. I do not expect anyone to do anything (write a driver) just for me. I wanted simply to state that if Linux is to be a more mainstream OS, it needs more work and/or support in order to be easily usable by the average computer user. How that work or development ocurrs is another matter.

Frankly, I think Linux is almost ready for the average home PC user, but I think it does need to be easier to install, set up, and configure new software and hardware. I am no friend of Microsoft, but I grudgingly admit that their OS is, at present, easier to use as far as installing new software and hardware.

And thanks for the responses.

-Alex.

Did you install the software for xsane???

Sane is used for scanning by the Gimp, etc.
If your scanner is a supported one, it shouldn't be hard to install the right software and take Yast2 through the hardwre setup.

I tried downloading the latest Sane, and installing the rpm, but came up with a conflict - a missing lib. However, I think I already have a version of Sane that came with Suse. Is Xsane the same as Sane?