Linux and Digital Camera's

From: Ed (ed_at_nottobefound.com)
Date: 03/03/04 

Date: Wed, 03 Mar 2004 13:33:07 GMT

I have been shopping for a digital camera to us with my Fedora Core. I
really would like a good camera to work with Linux. Below is a response
from Kodack to my inquiry about one of their camera's It to me seems a
bit disconcerting. I really want a digi cam but I am not giving up on
my Linux.

"Greetings Ed,

Thank you for your recent visit to the Kodak web site and question about
the KODAK EASYSHARE DX4900 Zoom Digital Camera.

We would like to address your inquiry regarding Kodak support for Linux
OS in Kodak products. Our Kodak software engineers are well aware of
the Linux OS. We appreciate your concern for this operating system and
interest in enabling Kodak products to work with it.

Kodak continues to follow the Linux Operating system. We noted, as far
back as March 30, 1999, that Linux announced support of a Linux-USB
driver that only worked with UHCI controllers. Since UHCI controllers
represent only a portion of the PC market, Linux-USB was very limited
and was very preliminary even six months ago.

We had the same situation in the past with preliminary Microsoft-USB
drivers and now version 2 USB as well. Sometimes, the availability of
these drivers simply does not match our product release dates. Even
after the support is there, as is the case with Microsoft version 1, we
still have to update our Kodak web site with the latest driver patches
to keep in step with Microsoft-USB patches. In addition, Kodak has
worked very closely with the USB IF Working Group on the USB standard
participating in numerous USB "Plug Fests" where we test out our
hardware and software on a variety of computers with various "chip
sets".

In the past, prior to the release of Microsoft Windows 98, Kodak worked
intensely with the staff at the Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) to
achieve "Windows Logo". This was no small feat with the USB technology
forming the basis of the DVC323 and later products and the Windows 98
operating system. As a result, the DVC323 passed all USB compliance
testing with Windows 98. I am not sure that there is such a rigorous
test standard for Linux-USB. If not, this has serious implications on
our technical support staff and the cost for providing a Linux-USB
driver.

We understand the issue with devices based on the CPiA chip set and once
again are faced with a problem with Linux-USB support in that
isochronous transfer is not yet fully implemented. There is a distinct
difference when a company claims "USB support" it does not always mean
"full USB support". Kodak relies on full support for UHCI and OHCI host
controllers as well as their corresponding USB transfer types. The
support for this simply is not there yet.

As Linux-USB becomes fully implemented and released with the Linux OS,
Kodak may investigate the technical feasibility of developing Linux-USB
drivers for future products. I am confident that our technical teams
would be able to provide support once Kodak analyzed the business case
for such support.

If you need to reply to this email, please reply 'with history' (include
any previous e-mail) so we can expedite our service to you. If you have
future questions about Kodak products or services, please be sure to
revisit our web site as we are continually adding information to enhance
our services.

Regards,

Reggie V.
Kodak Information and Technical Support"

Tell me it ain't so.

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