getting off windows in any form

[Joergsattler]

Finally getting of the windows platform.
It's getting to darn ridiculus and dificult to maintain.
Old or new machine seems not to make any real difference, and even assuming that the will finally be getting it "right" with this upcomming version 7, it is to late for me ,
Currently am using Mepis ver 8 and have gotten everything to work for me exept my scanner and my webcam. Though of elderly vintage those two devices are old enough by tech standards to almost qualify for retirement, on the other hand there ought to be a better than even chance to find drivers for them. Webcam is by Creative model VF0050 webcam live, the scanner is Epson Perfection 3170 Photo. Any help optaining drivers would greatly appreciated.

Have experimented with versions of linux since 2000 but never felt the need to switch until now.
Windows XP Pro, as "stable" as it was was becomming a genuine pain to maintain.
Would also love to find a driver for my tablet computer thats using a wacom tablet.
its a Fujitsu ST5112 currently running Widows Vista Business with drivers provided by Fujitsu to run the write/ draw on the screen system by WACOM

[minthaka]

This is really a matter of decision. And never look back. I know the difficulties the "newbies" are facing with. There's a constant temptation to give up, that means to give up the learning, and to switch back to something you feel safe within. I know some guys, who are desperately seeking ways to run Office on Linux, although there is a fairly better solution for it. If you're hardware parts are old, maybe you could find the proper Linux drivers for them, just keep searching for them. Anyway, greetings!

[Joergsattler]

Having used computers since 1981 in one form or other , starting with the simplest of machines a radio shack color computer to the latest a Fujitsu/Siemens ST5112 pen input Tablet. I have tried most OS's that have been out there. As you pointed out, my sticking with Windows in its various incarnations was a matter of maintaining a certain level of comfort in what i had gotten used to as well as a matter of available, easy to operate, applications that did what i wanted , when I wanted.
The liability of maintaining a windows based machine has just become to much an investment of time and resources, in addition my needs have grown a lot less complicated and demanding.
That is not to say that Linux is any less capable than any windows or Mac Machine.
First time ii installed Linux was on a 286 machine by AT&T and trying to use Red Hat. The total lack of usable drivers was a turnoff.
Now with Mepis Linux starting with V 3 and recently upgrading to V 8 things have become lot more attractive and eminently usable.
Some of my hardware is 2 to 3 years old but i won't fix that until it breaks to an irrepairable state.
I am a tinkerer and fix it type person, that applies to hardware as well as software, so digging into a problem, or perceived problemis my normal mode of opperation. Jumping out of Windows , so to speak, os perfectly logical to me given the impossible task of maintaining a stable , easy to operate, secure environment.
Seeking ways to make windows based programs (Office) work in Linux is on the face of it ludicrous and a lost cause. As having a totaly functionally compatible program in Open Office available FOR FREE. or if so inclined a modest donation of far less what Office cost's.
But no matter , i am NOT GOING BACK TO WINDOWS for any reason the would make rational sense.
I will keep looking for Linux to do all i need and for drivers that will let me do that.

[bigtomrodney]

Ubuntu comes with Wacom drivers out of the box and with MEPIS being Debian based I can imagine it won't be too hard to get it going. I can't offer anything beyond that as I have never used a Wacom device.

It's a similar story for the Creative Webcam. Ironically I've had more trouble getting mine working in Windows than in Linux.

I see your Scanner was working at one point in Linux but I'm not sure about now...the packages all seem to be RPM based

Epson Perfection 3170 Photo Installation with Ubuntu Linux
http://www.avasys.jp/lx-bin2/linux_e/scan/DL2.do