How do I install a Wacom Bamboo Fun?

Question

I own a Wacom Bamboo Fun CTH-661 and would like to know how I make it work on Ubuntu 10.10. I am a Linux newbie trying to migrate from Windows, so it would be wonderful to have a step-by-step answer.

Many thanks!

Answer 1

Unfortunately, the wacom configuration is not one of the things that has made it to "automatic plug and play" level yet with Ubuntu, but I'm very happy that we have working drivers at all.

Most wacoms will work out of the box with ubuntu 9.10+. This means pointer and pressure-sensitivity, and default configuration for the buttons.

As Ryan said above, xserver-xorg-input-wacom is the wacom driver that comes installed by default in Ubuntu 10+. However, this will not necessarily mean all your buttons are working how you want them to be. To get everything else working, there is a little bit of configuration involved, and you may have to do some googling to figure out how to get your particular model working.

This is something that can be *(Hopefully!) solved with the Linux-wacom-project's wacom-tools package; this is an extra utility that allows creates specific settings for your wacom tablet.

I was using this up until ubuntu Karmic, but I have not determined wether this is yet working on ubuntu Maverick. Last I checked, it wasn't working for me.

But for starters:

1. Google your question.
   See if anyone has already gotten your model of wacom working yet in Ubuntu Maverick.

2. Go to the Ubuntu wiki Wacom page: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wacom.

3. Check out the Ubuntu forums for the same question.

   -- Edit: -- See this forums thread: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1423278&page=1

4. --IF-- someone has gotten their Bamboo fun working with wacom-tools/xsetwacom, head to the linux-wacom-project howto page and figure out how to change the settings for your various buttons and inputs.

5. Please post here if you get any answers!

Answer 2

I just got my Bamboo "Pen" working on 10.10.

As suggested by Chris Jester-Young, the driver in the kernel isn't new enough.

See: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wacom/LatestDriver

Use the ppa:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:doctormo/wacom-plus
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install wacom-dkms

Answer 3

There is a software package called "xserver-xorg-input-wacom" that provides support for the Bamboo and other Wacom tablets. On Ubuntu 10.10, that package comes pre-installed.

To verify this for yourself, go to System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager, then search for "wacom" in the field in the upper right hand corner. If the checkbox next to "xserver-xorg-input-wacom" is green, then your computer is already prepared to use your Bamboo tablet.