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468 lines
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Graphics Muse
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<!-- =============================================================
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This Page Designed by Michael J. Hammel.
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Permission to use all graphics and other content for private,
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non-commerical use is granted provided you give me (or the
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providing the Graphics Muse for a fee must contact me,
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Michael J. Hammel (mjhammel@csn.net), for permission.
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============================================================= !-->
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<A NAME="musings">
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<table>
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<tr>
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<td>
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<H2>More...</H2>
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<IMG SRC="../gx/hammel/musings.gif" ALT="Musings" ALIGN="left"
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HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="247" HEIGHT="52">
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</A>
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<BR clear=both>
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<table>
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<tr><td>
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<UL>
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<LI><A HREF="#1">Scanner Report</A>
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</UL></td>
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</table>
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<IMG SRC="../gx/hammel/cleardot.gif" ALT="indent" ALIGN="left"
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VSPACE="5" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1">
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<FONT size=1>
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© 1996 <A HREF="mailto:mjhammel@csn.net">Michael J. Hammel</A>
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</FONT></td>
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<tr>
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<td bgcolor="#000000" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 valign=top>
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<IMG SRC="../gx/hammel/cleardot.gif" ALT="indent" ALIGN="left"
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HSPACE="0" WIDTH="0" HEIGHT="0"></td>
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</table>
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<P>
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<A NAME="1">
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<H4>
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Scanner Report
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</H4>
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</A>
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<BR>
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In December my brother called me to let me know he had a possible Christmas
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gift for me: a Compaq Keyboard Scanner. He works for Compaq and they had
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a special for employees. Knowing I might not have a Linux driver for this he
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called to ask. I didn't know, so I started to investigate. I checked the
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one place I knew I could ask questions like this and get reasonably accurate
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answers - the Gimp Developer and User mailing lists. I posted a message
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asking if anyone knew about scanners and this scanner in particular.
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Quite a few people answered. It turns out this particular scanner is
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actually an OEM'd version of the Visioneer keyboard scanner. The protocol
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this scanner uses in not publicly available and apparently its rather
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difficult to get on the developers list to get the information. So much
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for getting support for this little device.
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However, the amount of information I gathered about other scanner devices,
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about 14 pages of printed material, turned out to be a real windfall.
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I decided to summarize it here in the Muse.
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<P>
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First, lets list the set of scanners known to have support. This list is a
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compilation based on what the drivers say they support and what individuals
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have said they are specifically using.
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<UL>
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<LI>HP scanners
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<UL>
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<LI>HP ScanJet IICX
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<LI>HP ScanJet IIC (predecessor to CX)
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<LI>HP 4C
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<LI>HP ScanJet 4P
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</UL>
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<LI>A4 Tech scanners
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<LI>Nikon color (SCSI)
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<LI>Mustek
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<UL>
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<LI>M105 scanners
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<LI>Mustek Paragon 6000CX
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<LI>Others supported via a Generic SCSI interface
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</UL>
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<LI>MicroTek (aka mTek) scanners
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<UL>
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<LI>ScanMaker E3
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<LI>ScanMaker E6
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</UL>
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<LI>Logitec hand-held
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<UL>
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<LI>The old Logitech Scanman - A B&W-scanner fixed to 200dpi
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<LI>Logitech Scanman32 (aka Scanman+)
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<LI>The Logitech Scanman256 -
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A 100-400dpi Greyscale-Scanner with 1,4-,6- and 8-bit
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resolution without dithering.
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</UL>
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<LI>Epson scanners
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<BR>As of Nov '95, serial I/O had not been added
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but parallel and SCSI are said to be supported
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<UL>
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<LI>Epson GT-5000WINS
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</UL>
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<LI>UMAX scanners
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<UL>
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<LI> UMAX Vista S6
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<LI>Vista S6 (NOT S6E at this time, hopefully that will change)
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<LI>Vista S8
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<LI>UC630
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<LI>UMAX scanners that might or might not work with it include
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<UL>
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<LI>Vista S12
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<LI>UG630
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<LI>T630
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</UL>
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<LI>UMAX scanners that are known not to work with
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it at this time include
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<UL>
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<LI>PowerLook
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<LI>Vista S6E
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</UL>
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</UL>
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<LI>Genius hand-held scanners (a few flavors)
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<UL>
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<LI>Genius GS-B105G
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<LI>Genius GS4500 and probably the GS4000 and GS4500A
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</UL>
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</UL>
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The HP scanners appear to all require a generic SCSI interface, such as an
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Adaptec AHA 152x board and its associated driver, and the hpscanpbm user
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level driver. The SCSI board that comes with some (or possibly all, I'm
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not sure) of the HP scanners is not supported at this time.
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<BR clear=both>
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Knowing which scanners are supported is one thing. Now you need to find a
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driver that goes with them. The information I got was provided by the
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son of a coworker of my brother. Apparently he had some free time and had
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gone out and gathered this list on his own.
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Not all the information was complete and I filled in the rest by perusing
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the sunsite and tsx-11 archives. I also received information on some of
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the drivers from the developers.
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<P>
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<CENTER>
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<table border=2 width=500>
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<tr>
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<th align=left>Driver/Application
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<th align=left>Supported scanners
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>hpscanpbm-0.3a.tar.gz
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<td align=left valign=top>User level driver for HP Scanjet II series
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>a4scan.tgz
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<td align=left valign=top>Drivers for A4 Tech scanners
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>coolscan-0.1.tgz
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<td align=left valign=top>User-level driver for the Nikon CoolScan SCSI
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>mscan-0.1.tar.gz
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<td align=left valign=top>User level program for using Mustek scanners
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>xscan-1.1.tgz
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<td align=left valign=top>User-level X program for scanning with
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Mustek scanners that saves files as X Bitmaps
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>muscan-2.0.6.taz
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<td align=left valign=top>Driver for Mustek Paragon 6000CX
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>mtekscan-0.1.tar.gz
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<td align=left valign=top>Driver for MicroTek ScanMaker scanners
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originally written for ScanMaker E6, but will also work
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with the E3.
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>pbmscan-1.2.tar.gz
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<td align=left valign=top>Utility for Logitech scanners
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(including ScanMan 256)
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>ppic0.5.tar.gz
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<td align=left valign=top>Early scanning package w/ EPSON support
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</table>
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<B>Table 1</B>: scanner drivers for Linux available at
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<BR>
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<A HREF="ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/graphics/scanners">
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ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/apps/graphics/scanners</A>.
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<P>
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<table border=2 width=500>
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<tr>
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<th align=left>Driver/Application
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<th align=left>Use
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>gs105-0.0.1.tar.gz
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<td align=left valign=top>Genius GS-B105G 400 dpi greyscale handheld
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scanner
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>gs4500-1.6.tar.gz
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<td align=left valign=top>Genius GS 4500 hand scanners and
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compatible models
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>logiscan-0.0.4.tar.gz
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<td align=left valign=top>Logitech ScanMan+ 400 dpi handheld scanner
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driver
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>scan-driver-0.1.8.tar.gz
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<td align=left valign=top>M105 handheld scanner driver
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or clone with GI1904 interface
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<tr>
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<td align=left valign=top>umax-0.4.tar.gz (v0.5 may be out by now, which is
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reported to be very much improved over v0.4)
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<td align=left valign=top>UMAX scanners
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<BR>
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This one is written by Michael K. Johnson and he reports that
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there is sufficient documentation in the distribution for any
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one to add new UMAX support if they so desire.
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</table>
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<B>Table 2</B>: scanner drivers for Linux available at
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<BR>
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<A HREF="ftp://tsx-11.mit.edu/pub/linux/ALPHA/scanner/">
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ftp://tsx-11.mit.edu/pub/linux/ALPHA/scanner/</A>:
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</CENTER>
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<P>
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I don't know what the difference between the pbmscan and logiscan packages is
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but suspect the pbmscan package is a front end to the logiscan package.
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The logiscan package has a front end called gifscan that uses SVGALIB
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(not an X interface) and saves the input into GIF files. The pbmscan
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package scans directly into PBM formatted files.
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<P>
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<B>
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Commercial Scanner Products
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</B>
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<BR clear=both>
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There is only one commercially available product for scanners - XVScan
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from <A HREF="http://www.tummy.com/">Tummy.com</A>,
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which contains a graphical front end and supports a number of scanners.
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XVScan runs for about $50US which includes the $30 registration for XV.
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<UL>
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<LH>Supported Devices (that I know of, there may be others)</LH>
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<LI>IIp
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<LI>IIc
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<LI>IIcx
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<LI>3c (reported to work) Note: According to the HP ScanJet 4c web page
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the 3c and 4c 10-bit and 30-bit scanning modes are INTERNAL only.
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This combined with X and XVs inability to handle other than
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8-bit and 24-bit images means that you can't scan or display a
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10/30-bit image.
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<LI>4c (seems to be the same scanner as the 3c)
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<LI>HP ScanJet Plus
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<LI>HP ScanJet 4P (reported by a user, Tummy.com doesn't list it)
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</UL>
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<UL>
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<LH>Not Supported
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<LI>Centronics-type interface ScanJets (mostly early models)
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<LI>ScanJet 4s (4bpp greyscale single-page scanner)
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<LI>ScanJet 4Si (high-volume network interface scanner)
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</UL>
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<P>
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<B>
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Application Interfaces
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</B>
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<BR clear=both>
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<A HREF="http://www.azstarnet.com/~axplinux/sane/">
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SANE v0.42</A> - http://www.azstarnet.com/~axplinux/sane/ -
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is a project to create a Universal Scanner Interface. SANE, which stands
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for Scanner Access Now Easy, supports the following backends (device
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drivers):
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<UL>
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<LH>Supported Devices</LH>
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<LI>Mustek flatbed scanners using a generic SCSI interface
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<LI>PBM-Pseudo-Driver (demo implementation)
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<LI>DL-Meta-Backend for multiple-scanner support
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<LI>A Network based backend to support scanners across a network
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<LI>Connectix Color QuickCam
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</UL>
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<UL>
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<LH>Work in Progress or Planned</LH>
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<LI>UMAX scanners
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<LI>Linux Handscanner ioctl interface bridge
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<LI>HP scanner support (might be a port from xvscan)
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<LI>MicroTek (aka mTek) scanners
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</UL>
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There are a couple of front ends to this tool as well:
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<UL>
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<LI>xcam - a front end to the Color QuickCam driver
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<LI>a Gimp plug-in front end, which can also be compiled as a
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standalone GTK application (GTK is the X Toolkit used by
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the upcoming version of the Gimp)
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<LI>a command line interface
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</UL>
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<P>
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This package makes use of the GNU Configure mechanism. Unfortunately it
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doesn't quite build right out of the box (there are some linking options
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which aren't supported by the Linux ld program).
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I couldn't test the programs or drivers out, unfortunately
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since I don't have a QuickCam or any scanners yet.
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Feel free to donate either, of course.
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<P>
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There are notes in the distribution about ongoing work for support for
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non-Unix platforms, but I have little interest in that so didn't really
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read through it.
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<P>
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<B>
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What people are saying
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</B>
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<BR clear=both>
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And of course, what would a scanner review be without some user
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testimonials. These are taken from the discussions on scanners in the Gimp
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User and Gimp Developer mailing lists. I didn't keep track of email
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addresses so all I have are the first names of the respondents. As with
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any unverifiable testimonials, take these with a grain of salt.
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<P>
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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I've been using XVScan with my
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ScanJet 4P and Linux for about 9 months, and I'm very happy with it.
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It worked perfectly out of the box, no tweaking or anything.
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XVScan costs $50, but that includes the $30 registration fee for XV
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and is produced by Tummy.com. Their web site is, of course,
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<A HREF="http://www.tummy.com/">http://www.tummy.com/</A>.
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- Scott
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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I'm using an Epson GT-5000WINS (JP model?) with a hand-made GIMP 0.54
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plug-in driver. The driver is not for general use yet, but is
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available on-web.
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- Kaz Sasayama
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<<A HREF="http://www.spice.or.jp/~hypercor/hyperplay/">http://www.spice.or.jp/~hypercor/hyperplay/</A>>
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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I'm using an HP Scanjet IIC (predecessor to the CX) with Linux and Gimp,
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and am very pleased with the results. I've a feeling (unsubstantiated),
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that not much changed between the two models other than the driver
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software that HP shipped with each.
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There's a good HP scanner driver for Linux called 'hpscanpbm' - available
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from the usual sources. It's command-line driven, but offers very good
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control over resolution, brightness, contrast etc. Output format is pbm
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only, unfortunately. So far, it's the only HP driver for Linux that I've
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seen.
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- Andre
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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I'm using a Mustek Paragon 600II-SP, and it works quite well (just don't
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expect to share the SCSI bus with anything else). It's sold here (in
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Austria) at around $300US
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- Andreas
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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I'm using a HP Scanjet IIcx, with the Adaptec AHA152x driver and
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the "generic" SCSI
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interface. No changes to the driver were necessary. Currently using the
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hpscanpbm program to do all scanning.
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- Rob Jenkins
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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I'm using an HP IICX with hpscanpbm. Installation was completely
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painless. I added it to my scsi bus, rebooted and once I figured out
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which generic scsi device it was and set the permissions appropriately
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it worked. Probably 10-15 minutes, including compiling hpscanpbm.
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- Stew
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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I have a Microtek ScanMaker E3, which is a 24-bit flatbed scanner with a
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300x600dpi optical resolution, that can be had for right around $300. It
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comes with some pretty decent image editing software for the Mac and for
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Windows, and there's a (command-line-driven) driver available for Linux
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(mtekscan). With any luck, the SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy) project will
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have a driver available in the not-too-distant future (if I ever find time
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to write the driver, that is. :) The SANE driver will allow standalone
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scanning as well as a GIMP plug-in. The driver will probably work with
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other Microtek scanners as well (mtekscan was actually written for a
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ScanMaker E6 but works with my E3). - name unknown
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<BLOCKQUOTE>
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As for Musteks, I was considering a 30-bit, 400x800dpi Mustek scanner (I
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don't remember the model), until I read a review which compared that
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scanner to a few other scanners (mostly 24-bit). The Mustek wasn't
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particularly impressive; I finally decided to go with the Microtek--even
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though inferior "on paper" it still received a much better review.
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In any case, you can't go wrong with a Microtek, I think. I've also read
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good things about the UMAX (which are also rather inexpensive), a Canon (a
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little more expensive), and of course HP scanners are generally top-notch,
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although they also command premium prices. If you have the bucks, go for
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an HP, but if you want to save a few dollars and still get an excellent
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quality product, there are other options. - name unknown
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</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<P>
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<B>
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Other OS's
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</B>
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<BR clear=both>
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A few people responded to my request for information on the Gimp mailing
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lists with information for non-Linux systems. I normally don't write about
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these, but I'll go ahead this one time. Note that I don't want to write
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about other OS's - not because they aren't any good, but because Linux
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works for me and I don't have the time to wander around the OS world
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looking for yet another OS.
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<UL>
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<LI>FreeBSD - apparenatly has a port called <I>hpscan</I> that
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needs a link to /dev/scanner from the device the scanner
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uses. <I>hpscan</I> saves images in JPEG format.
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</UL>
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<P>
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Thats it. Hopefully this information will help you get started looking for
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a scanner and the appropriate software to use with it. I have high
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expectations for the SANE project to be the primary interface for low-level
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and user-level drivers for all scanners in the future. Once a generic
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interface is defined it should be easier to develop applications that can
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make real use of the scanners.
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<P>
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<table width=100%>
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<tr>
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<td colspan=4 bgcolor="#000000" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 valign=top>
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<IMG SRC="../gx/hammel/cleardot.gif" ALT="indent" ALIGN="left"
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HSPACE="0" WIDTH="0" HEIGHT="0"></td>
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</table>
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<table width=100%>
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<tr>
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<td align=right>
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<FONT size=1>
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© 1996 by <A HREF="mailto:mjhammel@csn.net">Michael J. Hammel</A>
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</FONT>
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