I'm really digging Ubuntu except for...

[rudeguy]

not being able to install hardware easily. I still can't get my lappy to recognize my printer after hours of messing with it and I can't get my bluetooth dongle to work. Also, apparently I need to find some random driver for my cell phone to be recognized by ADK. I realize the last one is a pretty advanced request that would be challenging even on a Windows PC, but the first two shouldn't be thins hard.

Is there a dumbed down way of installing hardware drivers?

 

[Fox5]

Well, if open source linux drivers (and sometimes even closed source) drivers are available, Ubuntu usually just auto detects and installs. If you're having trouble, it probably implies there are no drivers available.

As for the printer:
Ubuntu has a Printers administration menu. Start it up, click on New Printer, and try to add whatever type of printer it is that you have. If it's not listed, it probably doesn't have linux drivers.

Bluetooth usually just works in my experience, but I'm not sure if ubuntu has a bluetooth app installed by default, or what its capabilities are if it does. It's possible that your bluetooth adapter uses some odd hardware that's also not recognized.

The last one may be impossible, even on newer versions of windows. Cell phone drivers aren't usually kept up to date, if it's an older phone it likely doesn't even work in vista.

Unfortunately, while 95% of computer use can be handled by Ubuntu, that last 5% requires careful selection of compatible hardware. Lexmark has 100% linux compatibility I believe, but most other printer vendors are hit or miss.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Whatever you do, don't post details.

 

[Nothinman]

I've had no problems printing to the various networked printers we have at work and the only USB bluetooth dongle I have "just worked" when I plugged it in.

 

[rudeguy]

Whatever you do, don't post details.

lol...I was more venting than anything.

I posted a thread about not being able to print from Ubuntu to my Canon MP620. I tried 3 different walkthroughs and still no luck. That isn't too big of a deal but it is frustrating.

I have a bluetooth dongle that Ubuntu doesn't see. I'm not sure what kind it is, its a cheap one that I use for over a year with Windows.

My cell phone is a myTouch that I wanted to play with ADK with. That's not a big deal at all. I can even live with not being able to print...I just want to be able to bluetooth files from my lappy to my phone. I mod my phone a lot and I get sick of connecting and disconnecting the cable a bunch of times.

Can someone link to a reasonable priced bluetooth adapter that for sure works?

 

[Nothinman]

I posted a thread about not being able to print from Ubuntu to my Canon MP620. I tried 3 different walkthroughs and still no luck. That isn't too big of a deal but it is frustrating.

I try very hard to avoid all of those all-in-one printers, they're usually crap even in Windows.

I have a bluetooth dongle that Ubuntu doesn't see. I'm not sure what kind it is, its a cheap one that I use for over a year with Windows.

That's odd, I thought virtually all Bluetooth dongles were the same like USB controllers. Does it have a usage light that does or doesn't light up when you plug it in? Does anything for it appear in the output of 'lsusb' after plugging it in? Does 'dmesg' report any errors after plugging it in?

 

[JD50]

I have a canon MP150 and it works really well with Fedora. I had problems in Fedora 11 and had to mess around to get it to work, but ever since Fedora 12 it just works. Even Fedora 13 Alpha recognized it and it worked without any extra configuration. I just had to install skanlite for the scanner portion to work. I haven't used Ubuntu in a long time so I can't say how it works with that distro.

 

[rudeguy]

I try very hard to avoid all of those all-in-one printers, they're usually crap even in Windows.



That's odd, I thought virtually all Bluetooth dongles were the same like USB controllers. Does it have a usage light that does or doesn't light up when you plug it in? Does anything for it appear in the output of 'lsusb' after plugging it in? Does 'dmesg' report any errors after plugging it in?

it lights up and blinks like normal.

You are saying just open terminal and run "lsusb" and "dmesg"?


EDIT
result of lsusb:

Bus 004 Device 002: ID 0a12:0001 Cambridge Silicon Radio, Ltd Bluetooth Dongle (HCI mode)
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

 

[Sylvanas]

Trying to get my Canon MP 490 connected and working with ubuntu 10.4 64bit. Basically, Cannon do supply drivers but only for 32bit OS. Fortunately I found a program called Turboprint which includes the Canon MP490 driver in 64bit form. It's installed and running and I can print no problem however theres no alternative for a scanner on the MP490. I'm stuck until I can find an alternative for that however at least I can print properly. I should be grateful Canon even have a Linux driver

 

[Mem]

I try very hard to avoid all of those all-in-one printers, they're usually crap even in Windows.



That's odd, I thought virtually all Bluetooth dongles were the same like USB controllers. Does it have a usage light that does or doesn't light up when you plug it in? Does anything for it appear in the output of 'lsusb' after plugging it in? Does 'dmesg' report any errors after plugging it in?

My brothers wireless HP C6280 all-in-one printer works great with default Ubuntu driver,just a case of selecting it and off you go.

Personally I'm a Canon fan ,however if you need an all-in-one printer then the HP model above works great with Ubuntu 9.10 etc...

 

[rudeguy]

ok...so apparently all I needed to do with the BT dongle was reboot with it connected.

Next step: OBEX push. I know I need a 3rd party program to do this...any hints?



(I'll tackle the printer after I get the BT working right)

 

[rudeguy]

My brothers wireless HP C6280 all-in-one printer works great with default Ubuntu driver,just a case of selecting it and off you go.

Personally I'm a Canon fan ,however if you need an all-in-one printer then the HP model above works great with Ubuntu 9.10 etc...

I love my printer. It connects to my main rig no problem, that's why I'm not too worried about it. I can always print from there.

 

[rudeguy]

woohooo! Found that the ROM I'm using has a built in BT FTP. Works like a champ!


Now for the dreaded printer.....