2008/2/20, Harold Fuchs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > On 20/02/2008 19:44, M Henri Day wrote: > > 2008/2/20, Harold Fuchs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > >> On 19/02/2008 14:02, A.Muller wrote:
<snip> > >> OK I'm going to start a controversy. By all means try a live "distro" > >> (horrible word) but do be sure before wasting many hours of effort that > >> you will be able to find software to run your hardware. I have three > >> "and a half" devices for which I have searched quite diligently for > >> Linux software but ... > >> > >> a) I have a fairly recent HP flatbed scanner for which I can find no > >> Linux drivers. The machine came with Windows and Mac software but not > >> Linux. It has three hardware buttons which are configurable to invoke > >> different software functions when pressed. One of those allows the > >> machine to be used as a "photocopier", printing via the software > >> directly to my HP printer. > >> > >> b) Ditto my fairly modern Nokia mobile phone. It came with (Windows > >> based) file management software that allows, among other things, > >> synchronising contacts etc. with a PC. Again, It seems I could get Mac > >> software that would do the job but not Linux. > >> > >> c) My PCMCIA wireless LAN card. There is a conversation in one > >> specialised forum that someone has been able to get my model to work > >> under that particular flavour of Linux but the author admits it was not > >> straightforward and required a lot of fiddling with options and > settings > >> in something called NDISWrapper. > >> > >> In addition, I think I can get my HP "All In One" printer to sort of > >> work under Linux but I *think* it would behave as a bare printer > instead > >> of the Printer/FAX/Scanner it was bought as, with integrated software > >> that also lets me maintain a directory of names and FAX telephone > numbers. > >> > >> I'd be very reluctant to lose all that functionality. > >> > >> I'll bet someone will say I could run Wine which is a sort of Windows > >> emulator (simulator? please let's not go there!) that runs on Linux. As > >> far as I'm concerned, the very existence of this software is an > >> admission of defeat. Less controversially, there is a considerable body > >> of Windows based software that won't run at all under Wine. > >> > >> Of course, you may not have these problems or you may decide that it > >> would be worthwhile [interesting, even] to see if you can overcome > them. > >> For me the investment of time and the risk involved are too great. > YMMV. > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Harold Fuchs > >> London, England > >> Please reply *only* to [email protected] > >> > > > > > > Like OOo, Linux distros are not for everybody. Some users are happy with > MS > > products, like Windows OS and MS Office, and should stick with them. But > it > > should, perhaps, be more widely known than it at present is that > > alternatives are available.... > > > > Henri > > > > > > It's not a question of "happy". In fact I'd much rather be using Linux. > It's a question of practicality. My own experience with the last four Ubuntu builds is that they have been quite practical, and that more and more peripheral apparatus work with the OS immediately and natively upon installation. As Harold points out, some equipment previously hasn't worked with Linux distros due to the fact that the manufacturers have not provided adequate drivers, but this seems to be becoming less and less a problem. For this reason, I do think it worthwhile for a prospective user to take the time to run a distro in which he or she is interested off a live CD (remember, however, that it will run more slowly than an installed version) to see if his or her equipment is, indeed, compatible. For example, my HP Photosmart 3210 All-in-One, successor to an earlier HP flatbed scanner, with which I did have difficulties, not only in Ubuntu but in Windows XP and Vista, works very well in Ubuntu 7.10.... Henri
