[NTLUG:Discuss] SANE XSANE - don't want to reinvent wheel

[Steve Baker]

Chris Cox wrote:

> I do not believe either of these is supported under Linux currently.
> UMax will not release the specs for the 600P (and other models
> as well) and the Officejet drivers.... MIGHT be available, but
> I wouldn't count it... unless HP has come forward with some
> drivers (I could be wrong on this one.. .might work with
> the sane-hp driver... I never seen one work with ethernet).

The UMAX Astra 610S (which is the version with the SCSI interface)
works OK - I have one and I've been using it without problems.  I'm
pretty sure the parallel port version doesn't work though - I originally
bought that version by mistake and had to exchange it for the SCSI
version.

I thought that HP had promised Linux drivers for their entire range
of printers and scanners - but I don't recall where I saw that.

It may be that their scanner drivers are not SANE-compatible
which would explain why they were not listed on the SANE compatibility
chart.  That might be a bit of a pain.

> Scanners is definitely an area where careful selection must be
> done to ensure Linux compatibility.

Certainly.  I printed a copy of the SANE compatibility chart and
took it with me as I went around the stores looking for a suitable
machine.

>  I love my Epson 2450 (USB)...
> other Epsons work well too.  The links above will show many
> more scanners that work well with Linux.
> 
> In the future, if it doesn't work with Linux... don't buy it :-)
> (I realize your purchases were probably made before you
> decided to try Linux)

Yes - that goes for quite a few peripherals.  Digital Camera's are
another 'gotcha' area.

The real problem here is that devices like these ship with Windoze drivers
on CD and hence do not have to conform to any kind of an interface standard.
That means that no two are really alike and it's very hard for Linux driver
writers to keep up with the rapid rate of product churn.

----------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------------
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