Comments on: Selphy CP510 under Linux http://knolleary.net/2006/12/10/selphy-cp510-under-linux/ taking my thoughts for a walk Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:33:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: nol http://knolleary.net/2006/12/10/selphy-cp510-under-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-349 nol Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:48:51 +0000 http://knolleary.net/2006/12/10/selphy-cp510-under-linux/#comment-349 Chris, I have used the Canon utilities on Windows, so I do know what I'm missing. But you are right, I don't want to run Windows. The biggest stumbling block I used to have was needing to use Lotus Notes at work (because my company makes it!). But that problem has largely gone away thanks to <a href="http://www.ibm.com/software/workplace" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Workplace</a>. I mentioned in the original post that I also bought an HP printer for general printing. The reason there isn't a blog post describing the hoops I had to jump to get that working is that there weren't any; HP offer very good linux support. They even have a <a href="http://hp.sourceforge.net/" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">SourceForge</a> project that contains lots of useful drivers and tools for a wide range of their products. In particular, the <a href="http://hplip.sourceforge.net/" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">HPLIP</a> project was the one that worked first time. I agree that generally manufacturers need to do more. But the harsh reality is that linux has too small a market share at the moment for it to be worth their investment. The most effective lobbying is going to come at the coporation level. If, for example (although be sure to read the disclaimer in the sidebar...), IBM were to put more emphasis on moving to a linux based desktop, there would be a far more compelling reason for companies to make sure their peripherals worked. Thanks for the comments, Nick Chris,

I have used the Canon utilities on Windows, so I do know what I’m missing. But you are right, I don’t want to run Windows. The biggest stumbling block I used to have was needing to use Lotus Notes at work (because my company makes it!). But that problem has largely gone away thanks to Workplace.

I mentioned in the original post that I also bought an HP printer for general printing. The reason there isn’t a blog post describing the hoops I had to jump to get that working is that there weren’t any; HP offer very good linux support. They even have a SourceForge project that contains lots of useful drivers and tools for a wide range of their products. In particular, the HPLIP project was the one that worked first time.

I agree that generally manufacturers need to do more. But the harsh reality is that linux has too small a market share at the moment for it to be worth their investment. The most effective lobbying is going to come at the coporation level. If, for example (although be sure to read the disclaimer in the sidebar…), IBM were to put more emphasis on moving to a linux based desktop, there would be a far more compelling reason for companies to make sure their peripherals worked.

Thanks for the comments,

Nick

]]> By: Chris Neal http://knolleary.net/2006/12/10/selphy-cp510-under-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Chris Neal Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:24:05 +0000 http://knolleary.net/2006/12/10/selphy-cp510-under-linux/#comment-348 Hi, I too use Linux (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, because my company makes it!), and own a Canon Selphy CP510. Having wasted countless hours in the past trying to get peripherals like this working properly under Linux I have now given up, and instead use a virtual copy of Windows XP Professional running under VMware. You need to purchase a copy of Windows, but VMware Player or VMware Server are free downloads. I know you probably don't want to run Windows, which is why you run Linux in the first place, but in cases like these there really is no substitute for the software that ships with the printer. Canon Easy PhotoPrint for Windows is simplicity itself to use and gives me exactly the results I want from this printer, every time. What Linux users like us should do is spend the time normally wasted on hunting around Google for a workaround, on lobbying vendors like Canon to produce Linux drivers and Linux versions of their software. Good luck, and happy printing. Chris Hi,

I too use Linux (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, because my company makes it!), and own a Canon Selphy CP510.

Having wasted countless hours in the past trying to get peripherals like this working properly under Linux I have now given up, and instead use a virtual copy of Windows XP Professional running under VMware. You need to purchase a copy of Windows, but VMware Player or VMware Server are free downloads.

I know you probably don’t want to run Windows, which is why you run Linux in the first place, but in cases like these there really is no substitute for the software that ships with the printer. Canon Easy PhotoPrint for Windows is simplicity itself to use and gives me exactly the results I want from this printer, every time.

What Linux users like us should do is spend the time normally wasted on hunting around Google for a workaround, on lobbying vendors like Canon to produce Linux drivers and Linux versions of their software.

Good luck, and happy printing.
Chris

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