JB>Hello THURSTON.

JB>17 Sep 04 22:30, you wrote to MAURICE KINAL:

JB> MK>> Sep 16 09:32 04, Jasen Betts wrote to Maurice Kinal:

JB> MK> JB>> I guess it could be the age of this hardware...

JB> MK>> Maybe.  Is your graphics card VESA2.0 compatible?  Then again it
JB> MK>> could be 2. kernel.  At the moment I am having some troubles
JB> MK>> compiling certain apps due kv2.6, such as the mga_vid module from
JB> MK>> mplayer.  Works great with later 2.4 kernels.

JB> TA> I hope there may be a simple answer to the simpleton question;
JB> TA> is the difference between the linux 2.4 kernals and 2.6 kernals
JB> TA> as great as the differences between Win9X and W2k/XPs ?

JB>No. that difference is closer to the difference between minix 1.x and linux

JB> TA> My question is prompted by the problems my SuSE 9.0 installation
JB> TA> is having not being able to handle a new USB feed Lexmark x73
JB> TA> 3in1 copy/printer(rather than the earlier parrall feed Lexmark 3200
JB> TA> printer 8-( and/or the new Thompson multimedia optical mouse (rather
JB> TA> than the earlier Micro PD1001 trackball 8-( (That both my W98se and
JB> TA> XP-home OSs resideing in the same Systemax Tiger 2.8 gHz P4 platform
JB> TA> accommodated with relative ease 8-((

JB>USB support seems to be pretty good,  getting drivers for some hardware bran
JB>is tricky.

JB>2.6 has improved support for USB input devices (keyboards, mice)

JB>I don't think lexmark is interested in providing printer drivers fopr linux.

I understoud Lexmark International is a German based concern, so I find
it a bit difficult to comprehend that possiblity.

JB> TA> I sense that if I upgrade to SuSE 9.2 with the 2.6 kernal, I may be
JB> TA> able to finally use my Lexmark X-73 and/or Thompson optical mouse;
JB> TA> but I may then probably have new problems with also existing older
JB> TA> Netgear R416 router, and/or Cable modem, and/or memory card reader,
JB> TA> etc.,etc.. that presently perform nicely with the SuSE 9.0 with its
JB> TA> 2.4 kernal.......

JB>can you just update the kernel and see if it helps befpre going the whole ho

Good thought. I will give it a try when I copy this 40 gHz HD to my new
80 gHz HD and have a backup available just in case Murphy strikes.

JB>typically printer drivers are handled by gs, (which again can be upgraded
JB>separately) and scanners are by sane - dunno how a 3-in-1 device is handled.

I have seen suggestions that the printer is same as the lexmark z42
but haven't worked that out yet either. Thanks for your response.

Ciao, Ack.
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 þ SLMR 2.1a þ If Murphy's law can go wrong, will it?