Ubuntu QA:
BlogBrainstormPackage status
Log in
Ubuntu QA
The Ubuntu community has contributed 22700 ideas, 138270 comments, 2629576 votes
Idea sandbox Idea sandbox
Popular ideas Popular ideas
Ideas in development Ideas in development
Implemented ideas Implemented ideas

Contributor seshomaru samma on the Hardware support category

Name of brand-new hardware is not recognized  
Written by stoffel the 2 May 09 at 18:41. Global category: Hardware support. New
Several hardware devices are using standardized hardware protocols. Linux supports these protocols and this hardware will thus work automatically.

However, when this device was very recently released by the hardware manufacturer, Linux will not know its name. Instead of showing the name of the device, it will use some general identification.

Example:
* "PTP2 camera detected" instead of "Canon CoolShot 450C detected"
* "USB Mass Storage device detected" instead of "Western Digital MyBook detected"

Disadvantages:
* Looks less polished
* Looks less professional
* Harder to understand for end users
250
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Ask hardware manufacturers to send hardware ID's before hardware release
Written by stoffel the 2 May 09 at 18:41.
Set up a central website, mailing list, or whatever kind of channel were hardware manufacturers themselves can submit device ID's. Then persuade hardware manufacturers to contribute device ID's before or at device release date.

Ubuntu also should regulary distribute these new ID's using the package manager.
317
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Solution 1 + hardware manufacturers can submit more information
Written by stoffel the 2 May 09 at 18:50.
Hardware manufacturers should be able to optionally submit more information such as:
* URL to support page with dedicated Linux information on the website of the hardware manufacturer
* Picture of hardware device (Ubuntu can optionally download this image and show it in the OSD notification when the device is detected)
* Link to optional closed source software that the user can install to access the hardware device (e.g. demo of OCR software when a scanner is detected). Ubuntu then can suggest the user to install this demo when the device is detected.
* Link to firmware updates that Ubuntu then can install on the hardware device.
-52
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Ask user to contribute device name
Written by stoffel the 2 May 09 at 19:25.
When an unknown hardware device is connected, ask the user via a text field to contribute the name of the device.
41
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Provide a passive place for entering information
Written by cyberix the 18 May 09 at 15:23.
Asking users to provide information is ok as longs as it is user who decides to help and we are not forcing her to help. Make it possible to post the hardware name from a device manager, but don't ask the user to do this. Collect all name suggestions and validate them against each other before actually using them.
-8
votes
up equal down
Solution #5: Ask the user if they would like to provide a name + Upload that name
Written by adem3311 the 26 May 09 at 22:42.
Have Ubuntu ask the user if they want to provide a name. If they provide a name for the device, Ubuntu uploads that name to an online server and when another user uses the same hardware Ubuntu suggests the most used name for the device out of all the names uploaded online.
18
votes
up equal down
Solution #6: Provide GUI to browse hardware in hierarchical tree
Written by weblordpepe the 28 May 09 at 12:10.
I don't like having to drop to console to do the following:

Scan the hardware buses to find devices
Find which drivers match XYZ hardware
Load kernel module
Unload kernel module

I would like to see a graphical, Ubuntu-native hardware manager which can provide a graphical, end-user way to turn on/off or blacklist drivers. Or scan for hardware. dmesg? Yuck. modprobe? Yuck. Waiting for next user-friendly kernel to arrive so my webcam works? Yuck.

Windows 95 had this sorted (bugs aside). And windows has the ability to easily switch between built-in Windows drivers or third party drivers on a disk. Ubuntu only lets you do this for proprietary things or Monitors it seems.
10
votes
up equal down
Solution #7: Improve Device-Manager
Written by Avantarius the 1 Jun 09 at 09:39.
The Device-Manager (sudo apt-get install gnome-device-manager) already shows hardware in a hierarchical tree and lets you change some settings.

However, it could be made more user-friendly. Also, some features mentioned in #6 could be added.

Add a comment or propose a solution >>

Support for 3D printers in linux (maybe via CUPS)  
Written by Auzy the 24 Mar 08 at 00:55. Global category: Hardware support. New
I don't think we have a single 3D printer working in linux at the moment.

We should investigate improving CUPS to support 3D printers in a standardised way for starters.

Our first printer to support should probably be fab@home which is a totally open source (open circuit design printer), thats cheap, and we can easily support and afford to test (you basically can probably buy the parts from mostly anywhere to build it, or get their kit. http://fabathome.org/ .

3D printing will certainly take off in the future, and we should definately get a infrastructure in caser to properly support them (prferably before Apple and Microsoft get one). So that by the time fab@home model 3 is out (which hopefully will be the same cost as a current inkjet, although I doubt it), we are totally ready, and we become the platform of choice for 3D printing

88
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #5536
Written by Auzy the 24 Mar 08 at 00:55.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #5536 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 11 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 3 Oct 08 at 18:08) >>