Recommended Flatbed Scanner Under Linux?
Have to replace my old parallel port flatbed scanner, no Linux support. Need a basic flatbed scanner -- something on sale or just real reasonably priced. Will use it for typical scanning, passthru- to-printer copying, and faxing. Recommendations? Thanks! doc -- Micro$soft-Free Computers: Desktop PC: Linux-SuSE 8.0 & StarOffice 6.0 Handheld PC/PDA: Sharp Zaurus 5000d w/Linux OS Better, faster, more secure, less costly, user upgradable. "And God said, let there be light ... "
On Sunday 13 October 2002 00:40, doc wrote:
Have to replace my old parallel port flatbed scanner, no Linux support.
Need a basic flatbed scanner -- something on sale or just real reasonably priced. Will use it for typical scanning, passthru- to-printer copying, and faxing.
Recommendations?
Thanks! doc
Epson 640 usb. Solid cheap and works out of the box with 8.0. As do most of the other Epsons (the 1660 looks real good if you can afford it)
On Sun, 2002-10-13 at 00:52, steve wrote:
On Sunday 13 October 2002 00:40, doc wrote:
Have to replace my old parallel port flatbed scanner, no Linux support. (...)
Epson 640 usb. Solid cheap and works out of the box with 8.0. As do most of the other Epsons (the 1660 looks real good if you can afford it)
Yes, I got a 1660 (ignoring the fact I _cannot_ afford it *ggg*) but it seems to be to new still, see the thread on this issue 'Epson USB 1660 Photo on 8.1 - any ideas ??'. It works, but the system does not recognize it automatically. Cheers ... Wolfi ============================================= mailto:wolfi_z@gmx.net
Epson 640 usb. Solid cheap and works out of the box with 8.0. As do most of the other Epsons (the 1660 looks real good if you can afford it)
Thanks! doc -- Micro$soft-Free Computer: Desktop PC: Linux-SuSE 8.0 & StarOffice 6.0 "And God said, let there be light ... "
Everyone here is down with flu symptoms, church at home, sitting at the pc is medicinal for a geek!
Epson 640 usb. Solid cheap and works out of the box with 8.0. As do most of the other Epsons (the 1660 looks real good if you can afford it) steve
I tried to learn about Linux & scanners at: http://www.mostang.com/sane/ The 1660 doesn't show up on the SANE list, the 1650 does. The SANE man page http://www.mostang.com/sane/man/sane-epson.5.html notes that the Perfection 600 and Perfection 1250 are not supported -- no explanation why so no way to know what may be present in unlisted and/or new scanners that may render them similarly incompatible with SANE. Are you using SANE or some other Linux backend? What features are available and which are missing? I see 48 bit features at Epson but SANE appears to max-out at 24, what is your experience? I want to able to do basic scans, pass-thru scanner-to-printer copying, and scanner-to-fax. Have you been successful with all of these? Thanks! doc -- Micro$soft-Free Computers: Desktop PC: Linux-SuSE 8.0 & StarOffice 6.0 Handheld PC/PDA: Sharp Zaurus 5000d w/Linux OS Better, faster, more secure, less costly, user upgradable. "And God said, let there be light ... "
On Sun, 2002-10-13 at 17:36, doc wrote:
The 1660 doesn't show up on the SANE list, the 1650 does. The SANE man page http://www.mostang.com/sane/man/sane-epson.5.html notes that the Perfection 600 and Perfection 1250 are not supported -- no explanation why so no way to know what may be present in unlisted and/or new scanners that may render them similarly incompatible with SANE.
As far as I know, the 1660 is a fairly new model, so that would explain why it is not on the supported list. I seem to remember that the reason why the 600 and 1250 are not supported is that Epson did not supply info on them and the hardware works slightly different from the newer models (610 definitely works) Epson should have their own Linux drivers for the 1660, just check their site.
Are you using SANE or some other Linux backend?
I have been using an Epson 610 usb for a long time with Linux and SuSE (7.2 and 8.0) picks it up and configures it without problems. The SANE backend is used. I use XSane and GIMP with the sane plugin.
What features are available and which are missing?
I see 48 bit features at Epson but SANE appears to max-out at 24, what is your experience?
I want to able to do basic scans, pass-thru scanner-to-printer copying, and scanner-to-fax. Have you been successful with all of these?
XSane comes with all these features and I can use them all. I can scan up to 600dpi (which is the scanner's hardware limit - the supplied Windows drivers can apparently up the resolution to 1200 dpi with software enhancements) My experience with SuSE and this scanner has been very good. It works like a charm. With Epson supplying their own drivers for the newer scanners, I expect that they should work very will with Linux. HTH -- Andre Truter Software Engineer Registered Linux user #185282 ICQ #40935899 AIM: trusoftzaf http://www.trusoft.za.net <-------------------------------------------------> < The box said: Requires Windows 95 or better... > < So I installed Linux > <------------------------------------------------->
Epson should have their own Linux drivers for the 1660, just check their site. With Epson supplying their own drivers for the newer scanners, I expect that they should work very will with Linux.
Just did a site search at http://support.epson.com/ as well as looking at drivers and downloads for several models of scanners -- best I can determine Epson offers nothing for Linux. Are they buried somewhere that their site search cannot locate when "linux" is specified?
I have been using an Epson 610 usb for a long time with Linux and SuSE (7.2 and 8.0) picks it up and configures it without problems. The SANE backend is used. I use XSane and GIMP with the sane plugin. HTH
It is terrific news that the needed features are intact under Linux, even if Epson neglects to publicize this on their site. Time to go an get a new scanner! Thanks! doc -- "And God said, let there be light ... "
Dug down deeper -- Epson denies any control of, or responsibility for, Linux-related apps. Then they link off their site to: http://www.epsondevelopers.com/lscan.jsp purports to provide some full-featured Linux apps but one is denied access. Did a Google search and discovered: The Free Software Foundation (FSF) informed us that our "Image Scan! for Linux" software violates the General Public License (GPL). Although FSF's notice was focused on Image Scan! for Linux only, we have discovered that some of our "Photo Image Print System" models include sources that are not compliant with the GPL as is the case with Image Scan! for Linux. On this account, our download services of relevant models are temporarily closed as a provisional measure. Sigh ... doc -- "And God said, let there be light ... "
On Sun, 2002-10-13 at 18:29, doc wrote:
Just did a site search at http://support.epson.com/ as well as looking at drivers and downloads for several models of scanners -- best I can determine Epson offers nothing for Linux. Are they buried somewhere that their site search cannot locate when "linux" is specified?
It is kind of hidden. Looks like they have the general Epson site (www.epson.com) and then the company site (www.epkowa.co.jp) Here is the link. http://www.epkowa.co.jp/english/linux_e/linux.html Unfortunately, it seems that Epson violated the GPL, but they are working on the problem. Looks like Epson supports OpenSource and would like to rectify the GPL problem.
I have been using an Epson 610 usb for a long time with Linux and SuSE (7.2 and 8.0) picks it up and configures it without problems. The SANE backend is used. I use XSane and GIMP with the sane plugin. HTH
It is terrific news that the needed features are intact under Linux, even if Epson neglects to publicize this on their site.
Time to go an get a new scanner!
Thanks! doc
Hope you can get as much joy out of your scanner as I do. :-) I just hope Epson get their licensing sorted out soon, as I like their products and it would be great if they can expand their OpenSource support and contributions. :-) -- Andre Truter Software Engineer Registered Linux user #185282 ICQ #40935899 AIM: trusoftzaf http://www.trusoft.za.net <-------------------------------------------------> < The box said: Requires Windows 95 or better... > < So I installed Linux > <------------------------------------------------->
On Sun, 2002-10-13 at 09:36, doc wrote:
Everyone here is down with flu symptoms, church at home, sitting at the pc is medicinal for a geek!
Epson 640 usb. Solid cheap and works out of the box with 8.0. As do most of the other Epsons (the 1660 looks real good if you can afford it) steve
I tried to learn about Linux & scanners at: http://www.mostang.com/sane/
The 1660 doesn't show up on the SANE list, the 1650 does. The SANE man page http://www.mostang.com/sane/man/sane-epson.5.html notes that the Perfection 600 and Perfection 1250 are not supported -- no explanation why so no way to know what may be present in unlisted and/or new scanners that may render them similarly incompatible with SANE.
At the web page http://www.mostang.com/sane/ there is mention of a special USB table and a link. Follow the link and the reference there shows that the Epson 1660 is supported by the same backend as the 640 and 1650. I have no experience with the Epson scanners; I was just looking for some scanner information earlier today. HTH -- Ralph Sanford - If your government does not trust you, rsanford@telusplanet.net - should you trust your government? DH/DSS Key - 0x7A1BEA01
On Sun, 2002-10-13 at 11:36, doc wrote:
that the Perfection 600 and Perfection 1250 are not supported -- no explanation why so no way to know what may be present in unlisted and/or new scanners that may render them similarly incompatible with SANE.
The Perfection 600 and 1250 are not listed because they use the same proprietary chipset the Umax and some HP scanners use. They have no real sane support. I have a Umax 1250 I believe is the model and it does not work at all. Heck, it is one of the only reasons I keep my machine as a dual boot. The manufacturer refuses to give up information about the chipsets needed to write a proper sane backend. -- Johnathan Bailes BAE Systems ESI "UNIX was not designed to stop you from doing stupid things, because that would also stop you from doing clever things." - Doug Gwyn ---
participants (6)
-
Andre Truter -
doc -
Johnathan Bailes -
Ralph Sanford -
steve -
wolfi