USB devices are still a problem for Windows 2000 even if you have had 
good luck for yourself. You need the latest Service Pack installed for 
the best results. On Microsoft platforms your best USB support will come 
with Windows XP.  USB support on Linux is very complete and the source 
code for it is totally open and available.

As to The Gimp being available for Windows, you can get binaries only 
from here:

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/

But you are better off using Linux as your platform because you have 
access to other, related free software. For example I can edit a photo 
in the Gimp and then put it into the OpenOffice.org Impress application 
which is like Microsoft PowerPoint. Binaries for OpenOffice are also 
available for Windows. Also you can recompile the application from the 
source code easily and at no cost. You should not need to pay for 
software. Source code is available from here:

http://www.gimp.org/downloads/

Bob

Jake Anderson wrote:

>2k has been fine for all the USB stuff i have done so far
>and Gimp is availablle for windows.
>
>
>
>  
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu]On Behalf
>>Of Robert L Cochran
>>Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 11:57
>>To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
>>Subject: Re: [OT] Kodak "Easyshare Software" on Win2K?
>>
>>
>>My wife is the picture expert in the family -- she has tens of thousands 
>>of photos, all taken with digicams using compact flash cards.  I don't 
>>think Windows 2000 works well with USB devices which is what most card 
>>readers are. (I have a drive with Windows 2000 installed, but don't use 
>>it at all. It's sitting on my shop table right now.) You are much, much  
>>better off using either Linux or Windows XP.
>>
>>I suggest using Linux because photo editing and management software like 
>>The Gimp is free and is better tested than commercial software.  For 
>>example, my wife has Adobe Photoshop 5.5. She is afraid of upgrading to 
>>the current Photoshop version because it would cost her USD $700. I can 
>>do pretty much the same stuff to pictures in The Gimp as she does in 
>>Photo Shop, but my cost is $0.
>>
>>Bob
>>
>>Bob Axtell wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Gosh, that's a great idea. I forgot this would take SD/MMC cards.
>>>No wonder you get the big bucks, William...
>>>
>>>--Bob
>>>
>>>William Chops Westfield wrote:
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>On Oct 17, 2004, at 3:42 PM, Robert L Cochran wrote:
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>>All I want to do is load drivers to read my camera,
>>>>>>            
>>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>I've virtually given up on plugging cameras directly into computers,
>>>>instead using a third-party card reader.  This is usually faster, more
>>>>flexible, allows a wider range of picture-management software, and
>>>>provides a much-needed "sameness" if you happen to own several vendors
>>>>and/or several generations worth of digital cameras...
>>>>
>>>>BillW
>>>>        
>>>>
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>>
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