Linux drivers?

Question

Are we able to find a driver or a relevant software to run something in Linux?

For example, if we connect a new printer to our PC in Windows, we merely install the driver that comes with the printer. However, for Linux, we have to search the web for the driver.

However, is there a Linux driver equivalent for all Window drivers? If we were to connect something in our PC, can we automatically find the driver for it in Linux?

I hope I am clear in what I ask.

Answer 1

you do need to be a bit smarter when buying equipment for Linux (or Mac for that matter).



many devices come with Mac & Linux drivers

if you have to rely on finding an available driver look for slighgtly older products (ie not the most redcent devices) and look for products from big big companies (eg HP). that doesn't mena you cannot get a driver for modern equipment or from smaller companies.. it maybe harder.



many manufacturers equipment is compatible with previous generations. so for example more recnt HP pritners are braodly compatible withthe printer they have replaced, or other models in the current range... so if there isn't a precise driver for the printer you have try one from the rpevious range or one form the range beneath. (eg a 3500 series prnter may work fine with a 3000 series driver, or a 1600/2600 driver)



stick to buying stuff that is compatible with standards and youwill not go to far wrong

don't buy stuff that needs software ont he host computer (eg printer which use the computer from some work), stuff that interacts with the host computer eg multifucntion printers.



TWAIN scanners should be OK

Postscript printers should be OK

PCL printers should be OK



however in reality I found very few pieces of hardware that wouldn't work in Linux (they maynot be fully functional IE you cannot do everythign you coudl with the comparable windows drivers).

but quite often the support softwatre that used thise drivers was lacking or part finished

Answer 2

It is my understanding that what Windows and Mac calls a driver, is a "device" within Linux. I don't know about your distro of Linux, but in Ubuntu the device drivers come bundled. No problems if the device in question is USB. My USB Cannon flatbed scanner worked right out of the box with no additional driver. HP makes specific printer drivers and has pretty much included all their modern drivers into one package, again part of my distro. If you have a specific hardware and it doesn't work, go to the forums of your distro and ask.



The only problems I have noted online is Linux will only do video capture from the Firewire camcorders. And, the Firewire has to be activated. Linux can see USB memory sticks and those card readers that hold Flash memory cards.



Good luck!

Answer 3

This kind of open ended question is quite impossible. Will Linux provide driver for 'something in our PC' if it were connected? Even MS cannot promise to provide drivers for 'something' that you will chose to connect to your PC. Of course, what you ask is not clear, and quite unreasonable. Linux is Open Source and free, and no one is compelling any one to use it. If you are happy with Windows, just stay there in your comfort zone. If your 'something' you paid for has not Linux driver, you have to badger the supplier of that 'something' and not the Linux community.

Answer 4

The majority of drivers available for Linux are built in and don't need to be sought out.



It is only hardware that has new or experimental support that you need to go looking for drivers, and there isn't any real central place for that.