Hmm. Linspire, while derived from Debian, is a different distro.
Go to
http://localhost:631 and see if you can set up your printer there. This is a web interface of the CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System), which most Linux systems use to set up printers. If nothing shows up at this site, install
cupsys and
cupsys-client (and maybe
cupsys-bsd). A generic CUPS driver might work for this. Most of these drivers exist in the package
foomatic-filters-ppds (note, this is a big package). First, though, try the specific driver offered by the Lexmark site.
So, try this (keep in mind my initial disclaimer from post two):
Code:
apt-get install cupsys-client cupsys cupsys-bsd alien
Note: If it gives a bunch of warnings about removing its current printing system for CUPS, then hold off on installing CUPS (Linspire may use something else). Instead, just install "alien" for now (which is used to install the Lexmark driver).
Then, go to the
Lexmark site, and download the RPM for Lexmark Z605 (closest I could find).
Now, in your terminal, go to the directory where you downloaded the z600llpddk-2.0-1.i386.rpm file (I'll assume your home directory at robeec:~#.) Run the following command:
Code:
robeec:~# alien z600llpddk-2.0-1.i386.rpm
This converts the rpm package into a debian package. You'll get a message something like this:
Code:
z600llpddk_2.0-2_i386.deb generated
Now, install this:
Code:
robeec:~# dpkg -i z600llpddk_2.0-2_i386.deb
If Linspire has an "Add printer" wizard, try it, since you now have the driver installed. Perhaps simply rebooting would work at this point. If not, then now be sure to have CUPS installed, and try the following:
Then, in your web browser, open
http://localhost:631. Click on Administration, and Add Printer. Follow the steps. If you do not see your printer listed, try the closest one.
If this doesn't work, try installing
foomatic-filters-ppds, and then go back to your web browser, at
http://localhost:631. There will now be dozens of drivers to choose from. Select the closest one, and give it a try.
For the trackball, try installing
dasher. I don't know much about this, but I did a quick search for "trackball" in Synaptic, and the program
dasher came up. When you're looking for stuff, Synaptic is a great tool. Anyway, Synaptic described "Dasher" thusly:
Quote:
A graphical predictive text input system
Dasher is an information-efficient text-entry interface, driven by natural
continuous pointing gestures. Dasher is a competitive text-entry system
wherever a full-size keyboard cannot be used - for example,
* on a palmtop computer
* on a wearable computer
* when operating a computer one-handed, by joystick, touchscreen, trackball,
or mouse .....
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You can create pdf (Acrobat) files using OpenOffice.org word processor. This program allows you to save files in Acrobat format (you can't edit pdf files, though; so, it's useful to save them in odt format also for later editting (or doc, if you prefer).
Good luck.
