The Canon scanner problem

[MrPingo]

It's well known, that Canon gives a f*** about Linux.
Canon is very clear about, that they will not release any sort of drivers or assistance to there scanner products, running under Linux.
I've been trying to communicate with them for a couple of day's now and had an intense fight to try and make my CanoScan 8400F to work in Ubuntu 8.04.
With absolutely no succes !!!

And looks like help and experiences with Canon scanners are rare and fragmentet in the Ubuntu community.

Are there any worldwide atempts to try and put pressure on Canon, to be more helpful to the Linux-people ?

Originaly the scanner was bought (in my XP day's) because of the high quality of the scannings, and the ability to scan several different media types.
It's still an excelent scanner..., in Windows !
Well here I am now, with a pretty expensive scanner, that is absolutely of no use !
We need pressure on Canon !!!

BTW: How many eeePC's and alike have been sold, that can't connect to Canon equipment ?
To Canon, that's a lot of lost customers !

[HotShotDJ]

We need pressure on Canon !!!

You're not going to like my answer. The only pressure these companies understand is financial. As long as they are making money, they won't care.

So, how to put pressure on Canon? Don't buy Canon products. (That goes for Logitech, Microsoft and Lexmark, too). Also, when a product you purchase does not function properly on your Linux system, return it to the store and TELL them the reason.

[phidia]

You can try to get canon scanner owners involved maybe through the community forums here but there are many hardware makers who don't care for open source nor do they want to provide code for their copyrighted creations.

Have you gone to the sane site? Your scanner is listed here.
It is described as "unsupported" but that's better than untested.
The 1st link I provided has a mailing list and IRC channel link you might want to ask people there about your scanner. Open source devs often need equipment donations so that they can get a specific scanner working.

Off topic: IMO it's fine to be upset about the situation but it's usually better to work at the solution then to work on the problem.

[dronepower]

I just browsed the net to find out if anyhting has changed the past 2 years about the linux support for my 8400f.
I guess it is not. I work for canon and I asked around at dutch HQ about it. Answer is no, they will not support it.

The 8400F does support osx which is BSD - unix based. It wouldn't be that hard to make a linux variant i guess? :s

Best solution now is that you install virtualbox with a virtual XP, install you scanner drivers. Scan you documents in virtual XP, and then save them directly on your ubuntu partition.

[MrPingo]

Oh jæææs, I tried Sane.
Unsuported, as far as we are talking the CanoScan 8400F atleast, meens it dos'nt work !

We truely need an insider at Canon

I didn't know about the BSD, and I'm no good at trying to program anything like that...
But maybe someone knows how to convert it to Linux / Ubuntu ?

Keep posting.
I'm hoping to get a looong thread to send to Canon !!!

[vvvladut]

I'd just like to add my own complete dissapointment and discontempt for Canon: my 8400F scanner is the last Canon product I will ever buy!

[richg]

I have a Canon Lide 20 and Canon Lide 25. Both work fine with Kooka or Xsane.

Rich

[haduken]

I'd just like to add my own complete dissapointment and discontempt for Canon: my 8400F scanner is the last Canon product I will ever buy!

Same here... i discovered today that sadly canon cares not for its customers (ones using linux) and only cares about making that $$$ with the windows user , even if the supported linux 100% 2morrow this scanner will still be my LAST canon product. Booo canon!!!

[ivanvajar]

This is what we are all dealing with in one way or another. Unfortunately, if there is no serious money involved, they won't do it. We don't know if saying 'shame on you, you bas.*@ds' has any effect, but at least we can try. You have my 'vote'.

[Old *ix Geek]

So, how to put pressure on Canon? Don't buy Canon products. (That goes for Logitech, Microsoft and Lexmark, too). Also, when a product you purchase does not function properly on your Linux system, return it to the store and TELL them the reason.

I agree with the point of what you're saying, but I think there are better strategies.

For example, go ahead and buy a product you want. If it doesn't work with Linux, FIRST contact the manufacturer. If you've just purchased one of their products they're not only going to WANT to pay attention to you, but they'll also have a free support line/department. Now, once in contact with support, tell them you can't get the product working with Linux. Of course you're going to hear "...we don't support Linux...blah blah blah..." and that's when you ask for a supervisor. Tell them, "I'm going to return the product BECAUSE you don't support Linux, I'm going to tell everyone I know--including online--not to buy the product, and I won't purchase anything else from you until you *do* support Linux."

See the difference? If you tell the STORE, odds are that the reason you gave to the customer service clerk will never end up getting to the manufacturer--accurately. You might say "it doesn't work with Linux," but the clerk--having no clue what you're talking about--will write "it doesn't work." But at the manufacturer's end, you KNOW they've heard of Linux!

Also, just because a product doesn't explicitly say it works with Linux, it still very well might. I recently bought a Logitech Trackman Wheel, which gives no indication in any of its documentation that it works with Linux. But it does. Straight out of the box, no software/drivers needed. So it's worth it to buy a product you want even if you're not sure it'll work. If it does, great! If it doesn't, proceed as above.