Today, I bought a new scanner - of course without checking linux compatibility : /
hp - a well known brand. Description says “Works with Max OS X, Win Vista, XP, 2000″.
Linux wasn’t mentioned, but that’s not unusual at all.

The default xsane backend package (<- v.1.0.19 [delivered with Ubuntu Hardy])
didn’t find a device, so I tried installing the beta release of the hp3900 sane backends (drivers).
This version is still beta status, but got my new scanner up and running : )


HP Scanjet G2710

HowTo:
Get the latest drivers from the sourceforge project:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/hp3900-series/

Unpack the files and change into the new directory:
tar xfz hp3900-series_0.12.tar.gz
cd hp3900-series_0.12/

Install the drivers:
sudo ./INSTALL.sh
application: 2 - SANE Backend
distro: 3 - Ubuntu

Add your username to the scanner group:
sudo adduser your-user-name scanner

Start XSane : )

PS: Fastest and best results with 200 or 300 dpi

Update June 22th, 2008:
I forgot to mention that it only works with resolutions equal and less than 600dpi