Yet another positive Ubuntu experience
This time adding hardware.
In Windows XP - which I had before - it was quite a hassle to add my Minolta QMS 2300 DL color laser network printer. It required finding the drivers on Minolta's site, only they weren't really a driver, but a whole package of useless software (including one of my personal favorite hatewares - Crown Print Monitor).
Then you had to run the thing, which wouldn't actually install your printer.
Then you had to know how to add a local TCP_IP p0rt and configure it to attach to the printer, because the printer cannot be added as an actual network printer (which is what you would expect).
Every time I had to do this - once a year or so because of the number of computers in our household and how often they change - it was a 20 minute "scratch my head in puzzlement" type experience until I remembered the whole procedure, which required about 15 steps with at least 2 unusual twists.
Right now I wanted to add the same printer to my new Ubuntu installation. Here is how difficult it was:
Step 1) go into systems, administration, printing
Step 2) click on "new printer"
Step 3) let ubuntu look on our network and find the Minolta, click on it
Step 4) let ubuntu search the internet for the proper driver, then click OK
Voila!
Folks, as much as I am incredulous about this myself, I have to say it again - ubuntu is easier to use than Windows XP for a normal person. It is simpler to understand and friendlier for everyday operations. All the cliches about Linux being difficult for the Windows user to "get" are being proven wrong to me, day after day.
In fact, the only place where Windows currently still has a marginal advantage is in the world of legacy hardware devices - for example, I can't find a way to get my seven year old Corex Cardscan 500 to work. But as far as recent hardware support is concerned - from the last 3 years, say - ubuntu 8.04 is proving itself to be better than Windows XP thus far (and I am totally comparing apples and apples - the same exact machine, a thinkpad X61s, when installing XP vs. Hardy Heron).
Scratch one very popular myth about Linux.
In Windows XP - which I had before - it was quite a hassle to add my Minolta QMS 2300 DL color laser network printer. It required finding the drivers on Minolta's site, only they weren't really a driver, but a whole package of useless software (including one of my personal favorite hatewares - Crown Print Monitor).
Then you had to run the thing, which wouldn't actually install your printer.
Then you had to know how to add a local TCP_IP p0rt and configure it to attach to the printer, because the printer cannot be added as an actual network printer (which is what you would expect).
Every time I had to do this - once a year or so because of the number of computers in our household and how often they change - it was a 20 minute "scratch my head in puzzlement" type experience until I remembered the whole procedure, which required about 15 steps with at least 2 unusual twists.
Right now I wanted to add the same printer to my new Ubuntu installation. Here is how difficult it was:
Step 1) go into systems, administration, printing
Step 2) click on "new printer"
Step 3) let ubuntu look on our network and find the Minolta, click on it
Step 4) let ubuntu search the internet for the proper driver, then click OK
Voila!
Folks, as much as I am incredulous about this myself, I have to say it again - ubuntu is easier to use than Windows XP for a normal person. It is simpler to understand and friendlier for everyday operations. All the cliches about Linux being difficult for the Windows user to "get" are being proven wrong to me, day after day.
In fact, the only place where Windows currently still has a marginal advantage is in the world of legacy hardware devices - for example, I can't find a way to get my seven year old Corex Cardscan 500 to work. But as far as recent hardware support is concerned - from the last 3 years, say - ubuntu 8.04 is proving itself to be better than Windows XP thus far (and I am totally comparing apples and apples - the same exact machine, a thinkpad X61s, when installing XP vs. Hardy Heron).
Scratch one very popular myth about Linux.
posted by Blinkered at 9:17 PM
2 Comments:
Can u tell me from where i can get TCP_IP Port.
Install Printer
In Windows XP, the way you do this is NOT by running Minolta's tool (figures). Instead, go to "Printers and Faxes", click on "Add Printer", then choose "Local Printer" but UNCHECK "automatically detect my plug&play printer". Also do NOT choose "network printer" even though it IS a network printer (strange, huh?)
Then on the next screen you need to ignore Windows recommended option, and instead "create a new port", picking "standard TCP/IP port". This will run ANOTHER wizard, in which you will need to type in the IP address of the Minolta. If you've made it thus far, the next few steps are simple clickies.
Note that this process is completely unintuitive, it contradicts the printer status as a network device and the recommended options are wrong every step of the way. Windows also has no capability of detecting this several years old network printer whatsoever.
Ubuntu on the other hand requires no technical acumen - just tell it to find the printer on the network and install it, and you're done. Cool, huh?
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