adding usb hardware sucks

Forum: User Feedback
Topic: adding usb hardware sucks
started by: soultan

Posted by soultan on Sep. 06 2005,23:46

Being a noob to linux getting anything like my scanner or webcam to work is soo complicated I am considering going out and buying winxp just to stop having to read jibberish like make, compile library, wine apt repository update yadayadayada...everything else is sweet but id pay someone to get my stuff working it's just not very linux kernel noob friendly here

Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Sep. 07 2005,01:54

DSL is rather picky about what webcams it will work with, and there is no scanner support at the moment (still trying to coax SANE into working -_-).

If you want Idiot-Pruf™ linux, and have a relatively stout machine, you might try (K)Ubuntu.

< http://www.ubuntulinux.org/ >
< http://www.kubuntu.org/ >

Both are very newbie friendly. Kubuntu ises KDE, Ubuntu uses Gnome. Other than that, they are identical. Based on Debian, you have the wonderful apt system (with Kynaptic in KDE and gnaptic in Gnome) for package management.

Whatever you do, don't throw McGates & Co. $200 of your hard-earned money. I promise you there is a linux distro out there to fit your needs.

-J.P.

Posted by Your Fuzzy God on Sep. 07 2005,15:10

I agree. DSL may not be the right distro for you. This distro is geared more toward speed and older hardware. If you are looking to do scanning and imaging then check out Ubuntu, Mepis, or SUSE. They should all have the support you need.

Posted by Tux-Linux-Rox on Sep. 07 2005,19:42

You may also take a shot at Kanotix.

Read this:
< http://community.linux.com/community/05/08/31/1533252.shtml?tid=12 >

Posted by soultan on Sep. 08 2005,00:18

DSL has been my only linux experience thus far, I think it would be the best if unzipping/packing and configuring weren't such huge mysteries, the vernacular here makes things into more of a mystery.
What basics does a DSL user need to unlock the power and mystery that is debian linux hd installed (kernel, processor, etc.)
Is DSL HD installed capable of scanning a photograph via a usb with sane?
is dsl capable of having non-dsl extensions installed into the machine ie. drivers that tar.gz.
I realize that a huge part of linux is the user learning it through multiple trial and errors. but what are the absolute basics in terms of drivers, where they need to be saved, how to approach configuring them?
And how do I delete a driver once it doesn't work?

ps.
thanks for all of the new live distro links but
I can't get keb to burn a disc and i dont own windows so dsl is the distro for me!

Posted by davide on Sep. 09 2005,09:21

I would NOT recommed ubuntu for scanning. get mandriva, fedora, or whatever BIG linux distro.
down at my trashware organization we're having a lot of trouble in getting a canon scanner recognized and working with ubuntu, and man, believe me we've got real pro geeks there.

so. don't give up to winblows. you would probably repent sooner or later. linux is freely available and much more stable. just choose the right distro!