| Matthew Rosewarne on 2 Feb 2008 18:41:16 -0800 |
|
On Saturday 02 February 2008, Bill Diehl wrote: > My goal too would be not to have any Windows machines. I have > to get comfortable with a Linux install before switching my other > family members' machines to Linux. I also have to learn how work > around "Windows Only" situations, like the webinar company that > requires XP (no Linux or Mac support). While it's certainly liberating to move one's own machine to Linux, it is a whole other ballgame getting someone else to switch. You'll probably find that almost everyone here has taken heat when trying to spread Linux. > The touchpad works as a mouse pointer only, which requires too > many strokes to move across 2 monitors. The scroll and zoom > zones as well as the 3 buttons are not functional without a driver. I > do not know if there is a way to change the pointer speed without a > driver. It is made by Cirque and is embedded in my keyboard > (Input Center). I contacted the company about a Linux driver and > was told one is in development with no release date. Usually, linux drivers aren't provided directly from the vendor, since they're either part of the standard distribution or non-existant. Most graphics cards are a notable (and extremely irritating) exception, as well as some other devices. You should certainly be able to change the pointer speed, but I'm only familiar with doing it through KDE. > > There's a KDE control panel for mouse settings, but I'm not sure what > > you'd use other than that. > > > > > Third, I would like to find a utility that replaces PaperPort, to > > > which I print statements and receipts to archive in digital format. > > > PaperPort creates .max graphic images, which may be bitmaps or TIFF > > > - I am not sure. Because I have so many of these images and it is > > > convenient to keep digital documents, rather than wasting paper, I > > > would like to find something compatible. If such is not available, > > > I could start using PDFs - which would lead me to find a good PDF > > > creator/converter/printer driver (I currently use PDF995 with > > > Win98SE). > PaperPort has a printer function that allows me to print documents > and web pages directly to it as if to a printer. I just have to decide > how important the conveniences that I have set up are or find Linux > equivalents. Oh, I misunderstood what PaperPort was. KDE or cups-pdf allow you to print anything to PDF. > These are all things I would have to relearn. Currently, pdf995 acts > as a printer driver to which I can print right from the Print window in > any application. If I recall, OpenOffice has a PDF converter built-in. Yes, that's how KDE's PDF & Fax printers work, they show up in the printer selection along with the real printers. OpenOffice has a PDF converter, but it it only works for OpenOffice. > That's good to know. Apparently there is a Linux solution for every > need. Well, unfortunately not for every need yet, but it does the job for most. > Yes, I did check out the sites that Kristian (thank you) provided. > Perhaps if I use one of the Ubuntu versions, this issue will be > handled. SANE drivers can be found in Debian inside the libsane package, which should be installed automatically if you install a scanning application. > Having Debian about 80% configured as I want it is what makes it > so hard to abandon. With a little help, I thought I could finish the > configuration and use it regularly. However, as others have pointed > out, I am spending too much time and energy trying to learn so > much and get things working that the frustration is draining and the > fun is gone. Thank you for your acknowledgement, though. > > Fortunately, I have one primary hard drive partition available and > plenty of free disk space to try other distros without wiping out my > Debian install. As I learn more, I may keep going back to it to see > what I can get to work without the pressure of needing it to work. Of course, having a computer isn't much good if you spend more time managing it than you do getting things done. Debian has a relatively high initial time cost and learning curve, but it can return the favour with its reliability. It is unfortunately not uncommon for distributions to recommend re-installing rather than upgrading when new versions are released, whereas Debian has a relatively anal development process to make sure that upgrades don't break your system. > Since I am pretty much homebound, attending meetings would be > challenging - thank you for the suggestion. I am not sure what > "#plug IRC channel" is, means, or how to access it. I would like > more help with completing my Debian install, even as I try Xubantu > or other variation. IRC is Internet Relay Chat, or online chatrooms. PLUG has a "channel" (ie. chatroom) on the Freenode IRC network. To connect to it, you need an IRC client. I use Kopete, most PLUG users are console junkies and use irssi, and there are numerous others such as X-Chat or Konversation. The advantage of IRC is the immediacy of the feedback, which can make the process of finding answers easier and much faster. Have a look at the IRC page on the PLUG site: http://www.phillylinux.org/irc.html Attachment:
signature.asc ___________________________________________________________________________ Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
|
|