Hardware that Just Works [LWN.net]

Hardware that Just Works

Posted Jan 11, 2007 12:15 UTC (Thu) by pointwood (guest, #2814)
Parent article: Hardware that Just Works

I would say that Linux in some ways are actually ahead! On Windows, I've seen driver installations that literally added several hundred MB worth of crap. All I want is a driver, but nooo - we really think all these extra applications are something you can't live without.

That's not only for printers though. My sister got a HP digicam and the driver required more than 400MB of disk space! On Linux I plug it in, choose it from the list of supported cameras in Digikam (uses gPhoto2) and download the images. It can't be much more simple than that.

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Hardware that Just Works

Posted Jan 11, 2007 16:44 UTC (Thu) by martinfick (subscriber, #4455) [Link]

Agreed! I laugh when I buy a device and open the manual to find screenshots of some weird windows app that supposedly helps you use your device. I then keeping flipping to the back where it finally gives you some details about the actual hardware (port #s, com settings...) so that I can use it with linux.

I am glad not to have to install a bunch a crap that will just litter my start menu with READMES, uninstalls and other weird stuff. I'm glad that my debian K menu isn't so easily disturbed and stays well organized (mostly by the kind folks at debian) with things that are actually applications and that I might actually use! No new useless shortcuts on my desktop, no new marketing icons in my tray... My pc is actually mine, what a concept!

I can tell you that while my wife may not appreciate the technical benefits of linux, but she does appreciate that we are in control of our hardware. I would say that means that she is a greater fan of RMS than ESR despite having never heard of either. :) Don't underestimate the power of freedom once experienced.

Hardware that Just Works

Posted Jan 18, 2007 7:59 UTC (Thu) by Cato (guest, #7643) [Link]

My record is 785 MB of random software for the HP 6310 all-in-one device on Windows, which took me a long time to uninstall after I mistakenly installed it on one box.

A shame, as this is actually a very good device that is incredibly compact (fits on a reasonably sized shelf and doesn't require much vertical clearance), includes Ethernet connection and USB, does print/scan/copy/fax, and is supported according to Linuxprinting.org - not yet tried with Linux but I'm sure it will work. Print quality is generally good, but the copier feature is quite a bit slower than a 'real' copier of the analogue sort, and quality not quite as good, e.g. copying of thin lines is not great.

For those using Windows, HP does also have a much smaller 'corporate driver package' that does what it says without the extra cruft.