I've just bought a couple of new bits of hardware and was very pleasantly surprised how things have changed for the better.
I got a wireless trackerball and a UPS both with USB connections.
I plugged the trackerball receiver in, pressed the connect button and it started working. That wasn't a great surprise but obviously nice.
I plugged the UPS in and, before I had a chance to check that it had been detected and then look for software for it an icon appeared telling me the UPS was fully charged and also reporting on the batteries in the wireless trackerball.
For simplicity this beats having to install software from an accompanying CD in order to get the same features.
It seems when manufacturers adopt standard protocols or are more open about the protocols and interfaces they do use the pace of development increases dramatically.
Steve.
On Sat, Jun 27, 2009 at 09:59:49AM +0100, Steve Fosdick wrote:
I got a wireless trackerball and a UPS both with USB connections.
Which make/models? It might help people who are thinking of purchasing similar items soon.
For simplicity this beats having to install software from an accompanying CD in order to get the same features.
Which distro are you using?
It seems when manufacturers adopt standard protocols or are more open about the protocols and interfaces they do use the pace of development increases dramatically.
Oh yes, I keep remarking that I've probably not compiled a kernel for around 5 years as those that are supplied with most distros do everything I want. I have had to compile additional modules still but even so I remember when first playing with Linux over 10 years ago and for years after that having to build kernels to get even obvious bits of hardware into a working state.
Adam
On Sat, 2009-06-27 at 12:24 +0100, Adam Bower wrote:
On Sat, Jun 27, 2009 at 09:59:49AM +0100, Steve Fosdick wrote:
I got a wireless trackerball and a UPS both with USB connections.
Which make/models? It might help people who are thinking of purchasing similar items soon.
The trackerball is a Logitech Cordless Optical Trackman, P/N 804378-0000
The UPS is an APC Back-UPS BE550-UK. The BE-400 is the same series does not have the USB connection.
For simplicity this beats having to install software from an accompanying CD in order to get the same features.
Which distro are you using?
Debian squeeze.
It seems when manufacturers adopt standard protocols or are more open about the protocols and interfaces they do use the pace of development increases dramatically.
Oh yes, I keep remarking that I've probably not compiled a kernel for around 5 years as those that are supplied with most distros do everything I want. I have had to compile additional modules still but even so I remember when first playing with Linux over 10 years ago and for years after that having to build kernels to get even obvious bits of hardware into a working state.
Adam
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Adam Bower -
Steve Fosdick