I have to have Win7 around for a few work related things, and to run the chip programmer. Add to that the Fujitsu ScanSnap software, which is very good indeed; there's no way I would replace that with SANE or anything.
Thanks, yes I had thought about trying that (I have another "currently good" E1-572P running 8.1). However IME a lot of MS official help looks very useful at first sight, but ends up not working at all. My latest instance was yesterday, apparently detailed instructions on how to download windows phone contacts to a .csf file, except that I couldn't get the phone to synchronise to any of my MS accounts, and even if I had, the MS account web pages have changed so that the download options are not where the original help said. I am rapidly running out of patience with MS. When another Windows ultrabook died recently (hardware fault, accepted by supplier) I ended up getting my first Mac as a replacement. (I do need to retain *some* windows capability because I sometimes use MathCAD and I have a windows license).
I have Linux Mint on what was an old WinXP box, the Canon A4 scanner was recognised and worked as soon as I tried using it. Maybe I was lucky and I realise that one working example does not refute any expertise in the subject that you may have.
I have an Artec flatbed scanner, and as long as I put the .cfg file where it can be found, according to the instructions, then SANE works just fine on my Ubuntu, vers. 8.04, 10.04, and 12.04.
My brother mfc wasn't. When I did get it recognised it wouldn't scan multiple pages from the adf or do double sided or anything else useful like working over the network only usb. Pretty cr@p really and not worth the effort when it just works on windows with paperport.
You cleraly haven't seen the software, then. Most of what needs doing can be automated; throw in a wad of paper and out comes one...or fifty...PDFs as required. Or a Word file, OCR'd. Yes, it can be done with other software....but not out of the box with one push of a button.
I installed the Windows 10 preview recently, quick easy install and all the hardware drivers were installed, including those for the networked inkjet printer/scanner. (I did try it on a old laptop here as well, and that was fine except for the video chipset drivers - I don't think makers have produced suitable driver, though it did work fine with the Win7 drivers - and this is the developer preview of Win10).
The only time it is an issue still IMe is for older hardware if there are not drivers for written for a particular version, or the company has disappeared.
But I've ahd problems with odd bits of hardware not working under Linux either (I've got a recent install of Mint on this machine, but I just never seem to get on with it enough to bother making the effort to switch)
And if manufacturers put their drivers into the Windows update system they will get offered through that - I get video card drivers occasioanlly, and a couple of other things IIRC.
Mostly, I see little problem in this area. But there are exceptions, like Datamax O'Neill label printers. And HP all-in-one devices, especially if wifi. You simply have to install the unbelievably huge software monster from the DVD, find out it doesn't work, download the latest version, find out it still doesn't work. Realise you have to connect using USB in order for wifi to work. And still it doesn't work (much of the time). Obviously that omits the need to upgrade firmware on the router to even stand a chance of seeing the device over the network.
For what I want to use the scanner for, my setup works fine. I don't need any of the other abilities I see mentioned here. So in this respect, I have no need of Windows.
My time is more precious than yours. The scanner software saves me a LOT of time. Being able to say "here is a bunch of sheets. Every pair of sheets is to be scanned in duplex and made into a 4 page PDF using this particular naming template, rotated through 90 degrees, geneerating PDF/A files, automatically checking for overlapping pages..."
That's when I don't want them OCR'd to a Word file.
Don't forget that you can make them searchable pdfs and have them indexed automatically too.
The trouble with some linux users is they keep telling you linux is free but never cost in how much time googling, compiling, writing scripts and general messing about it takes to get half the solution a £30 bit of windows software does (assuming you didn't get it free with the hardware).
Linux is fine for simple thing or for developing tour own systems but it just doesn't fit all whatever some linux users say. Why do they think it still doesn't sell when its free?
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.