I found this software today via a simple google search.
I installed it on openSUSE 11.1 64bit version and it detects my Lightscribe drive and runs.
I can’t say that it actually works because I ran out of Lightscribe capable DVDs :(.
It’s nice to see a company writing and releasing Linux software, of course it’s a closed source app (well, I guess it is), but I’m glad to have the Lightscribe functionality available now under Linux.
On Wed, 2009-02-04 at 19:06 +0000, growbag wrote:
> I found this software today via a simple google search.
yes, been using it for years now. Works well.
The 4L program is good for doing picture labels, you
can get the generic lightscribe package if you just
want some text in a circle with some minor flair.
Newsuse33 wrote:
> Yeah, but is it free software? Are we free to view and modify the source
> code, and share it with our neighbors?
>
>
It’s free to use, all that matters to me.
Thanks, those links are useful to have if I need to recommend the technology to a Linux user.
I’m afraid I’m too cheap to pay more for Lightscribe media. Besides most of the time I’m the only one who reads the labels on my disks so a marker pen works fine for me.
No, it’s not opensource, hence the line “of course it’s a closed source app” in my original post, but it is cost free and it functions under Linux. And as far as I can tell it contains no advertising or nasties ;).
If this wasn’t available I would not be able to utilise the disk labelling function of my drive. Something I quite like because it makes self-written disks look a lot neater.
I’m a “neat freak”, sorry ;).
The labels are of course in monochrome, so no flashy colours, and you have to buy the Lightscribe capable disks, but it’s a cheap, reliable, safe, and easy way to label disks. Safe because it doesn’t make your disks unstable like those awful stick on labels so soften do.
I posted this even though it is quite old “News” because I have searched the forums for Lightscribe and found nothing.
I could have been happier a little earlier if I had found something, so I just wanted to help someone else out who might be interested :).
I have been using using both the LightScribe simple labeler and Lacies label software for several years now. Have been very happy with it, just used it this morning on some new Memorex Colored DVD’s, works great.
Growbag,
I also like my disks to look a little better then scribbles with a marker. That is the reason I use lightscribe, not to mention that all of my laptops in the past few years have come with these drives, and I enjoy having full use of my hardware.
Yah, stickers are evil. But another way is to print on the disk using an inklet printer with a special carrier. DVDs with inkjet suitable surfaces can be had for normal prices.
But I’m too cheap to own an inkjet printer either. (The mfrs make obscene profits on ink and almost give away the printers.)
On Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:06:01 +0000, ken yap wrote:
> growbag;1939467 Wrote:
>> Safe because it doesn’t make your disks unstable like those awful stick
>> on labels so soften do.
>>
>>
> Yah, stickers are evil. But another way is to print on the disk using an
> inklet printer with a special carrier. DVDs with inkjet suitable
> surfaces can be had for normal prices.
>
> But I’m too cheap to own an inkjet printer either. (The mfrs make
> obscene profits on ink and almost give away the printers.)
I’ve thought about trying printing on those labels, but my Deskjet 882c
isn’t really constructed to let the media through - I’m waiting for the
new “flexible media” option DVDs.
I’ve been using the lacie program for a couple of years also, and it works well.
Has anyone come up with a quick and easy way to make a CD label with this? So far the best I’ve come up with is editing a screenshot of the k3b window with kolourpaint.
Veering off the track a little, what do you use for printing cheaper than an inkjet? I’m using a couple relatively old ones for which I can refill the cartridges without much hassle, but they are giving signs of wanting to be retired. I understand that lasers cost-per-page are cheaper, but I don’t print that much.
I have a mono laser printer. If you don’t print much and you refill ink cartridges, it may work out cheaper for you with an inkjet; you have to do the calculations.
It’s crazy, I can now buy a new Brother laser printer for less than the replacement cartridge of my several years old Lexmark laser printer. When the toner runs out in maybe 1000 pages from now, I have to decide whether to refill the cartridge or to junk a perfectly good laser printer because it’s cheaper to buy a new one. But also bearing in mind that they give you half-full starter cartridges with new printers.
On Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:56:02 +0000, ken yap wrote:
> hendersj;1939568 Wrote:
>> I’ve thought about trying printing on those labels, but my Deskjet 882c
>> isn’t really constructed to let the media through - I’m waiting for the
>> new “flexible media” option DVDs.
>>
>> Jim
>
> A few minutes in the oven will fix that. Not that it’s good for much
> else afterwards.
Yeah, that would be a problem - and hot plastic would probably gum the
printer up…
Good point. Last time I looked at it, about a year ago, it was much cheaper to refill the cartridges, the black ones are easy and can be used 3-4 times. These printers cost almost the same as 1 black + 1 color + 1 photo cartridge, each cartridge with only 17 milliliters of ink. More expensive than the best champaign or perfume.
For years now I’ve considered first the cartridge price/capacity and how easy it is to refill. The printer cost comes a distant second…
Today I guesstimate:
Printer life: 3 years
Initial cost (with half-capacity color and photo cartridges) = US$ 150
New cartriges for refill: 6 black (type b) + 3 color, no photo = US$ 250
Pages per month: about 120
That would give a cost per page of about US$ 0,09. Any idea if this is much different from mono laser cost?
Well to put that in perspective, a replacement toner cartridge for an average printer, say a Brother, costs around $50. It’s good for around 2500 pages. So that comes out to $0.02 per page.
But laser printers have higher idling power costs, take longer to warm up and would be beaten by inkjets in that regard if you leave the printer on all the time just in case you want printout in a hurry.
(The mfrs make obscene profits on ink and almost give away the printers.)