Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Dave Jones]

KH wrote on 04/12/08 19:47:
> I have been told not to touch the Samsung drivers.  I am using
> net-print/foo2zjs.

foo2zjs works well with the cheap HP CLJ1600 laser printer.

Cheap, fast, no more expensive dried-up inkjet cartridges, good deal.

Cheers, Dave

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Dale]

Mark Knecht wrote:
> On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 11:52 PM, Dale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>   
>> Dominic Kexel wrote:
>> 
>>> That's right, i totaly agree. If you buy a HP-printer, you (almost) can't 
>>> do something wrong. I am using a HP Deskjet F2180 (40€). Printing and 
>>> scanning both work without problems.
>>>
>>> On Wed, 3 Dec 2008 22:00:28 -0800
>>> "Manuel McLure" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>   
>> I have a HP Deskjet D4260 that I got from newegg for less than $50.00.
>> It works very well.  Before that I had a little Deskjet 3820 which I had
>> for years.  It finally lost its head.  Turn it on and it just goes from
>> side to side until I cut it off.  The 4260 also has the option of using
>> the hi yield cartridges too.  It can print for a long time without
>> running out of ink.
>>
>> I think if you get a HP printer, you will do all right.  I wouldn't get
>> the latest thing unless I checked for drivers first tho.  Also, to get
>> my old 3820 to work, I googled for the ppd file and put it in the right
>> place for cups.  That was before hplip came out.  I don't remember
>> having to do that with the 4260.
>>
>> Hope that helps give you some ideas.
>>
>> Dale
>>
>> 
>
> Thanks Dale, and everyone who suggests HP. This is probably the best
> way to go if he decides to stay with an inexpensive ink-jet.
>
> I'm intrigued by Albert's suggestion to look for a $400 color laser
> printer. It's not a great solution for my house by my Dad's flush so
> he might like that sort of solution.
>
> A question I have about laser printers, from the old days whn I had
> one, is aren't they really pretty bad reliability for low print volume
> applications. My old laser printer, made by some off-brand company
> that was early into the Postscript clone game, was that the rollers
> very quickly got flat spots because we didn't print every day. When we
> would print the paper wouldn't feed correctly and the quality was bad.
> I don't think my Dad is going to print more than 2-3 pages/day on
> average and since they travel now and again it could sit idle for a
> week or two.
>
> I suppose I could make some sort of cron job that printed one page a
> day if that was a reasonable solution.
>
> Very interested in your ideas and greatful for all the responses.
>
> Cheers,
> Mark
>   

I have a friend that owned a business that was closed on weekends. 
Every Monday we had to fan the paper and take out the toner cartridge
and give it a little shake.  I have heard that if it is a humid location
that you either have to leave the printer on or print a lot.  The claim
was the toner would start to clump from the moister in the air.  I have
never seen that happen myself.

That was a long time ago and surely by now they have fixed those
"issues".  Laser is good but also keep your light bill in mind.  They do
use a good bit more electricity. 

Dale

:-)  :-) 

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[KH]

Mark Knecht schrieb:
> On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 10:18 AM, KH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>   
>> Albert Hopkins schrieb:
>> 
>> Some weeks ago I bought Samsung clp-300 color laser printer for less
>> than 130 Euros.  I use cups and I don't have any problems. Did not have
>> to by new "color" jet. I have been told I can print 7000 pages before I
>> have to :-)
>> You can go cheap and good. The model is from 2006 or so.
>>
>> kh
>>
>>
>> 
>
> Is it roughly this model?
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828112054
>
> Do you plug this into a PC via USB or run it over the network using
> the Ethernet port?
>
> Any comments on the roller problem I had on my old laser printer? do
> the paper rollers remain engaged when the printer isn't printing and
> thus potentially cause flat spots?
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
>
>   
I have the version without the network connection. I am running it over
the usb port.

I have no idea about the roller problem.

kh

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Mark Knecht]

On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 10:56 AM, Chris Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I've heard the some Samsung laser printers will only print a pre-set
> number of pages for each toner cartridge even if you have toner
> remaining.
>
> I would probably stay away from the 510s.
>
> http://www.dunfield.com/clp510/
>
>
> -Chris
>

Resourceful guy. Interesting page and interesting that he replaced it
with an HP 2605DN which is, as per one of my original comments about
buying printers, no longer available through NewEgg so it's not clear
to me what price range his printer was in. Clearly the cartridges are
expensive though.

These printers have short lifetimes in the retail chain...

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Chris Thomas]

I've heard the some Samsung laser printers will only print a pre-set
number of pages for each toner cartridge even if you have toner
remaining.

I would probably stay away from the 510s.

http://www.dunfield.com/clp510/


-Chris


On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 1:47 PM, KH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Arttu V. schrieb:
>> On 12/4/08, KH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>>> Some weeks ago I bought Samsung clp-300 color laser printer for less
>>> than 130 Euros.  I use cups and I don't have any problems. Did not have
>>> to by new "color" jet. I have been told I can print 7000 pages before I
>>> have to :-)
>>> You can go cheap and good. The model is from 2006 or so.
>>>
>>
>> I have bad experiences with Samsung, though not with that exact model.
>> Samsung proprietary driver may be some sort of world record of ugly
>> hacks and hairy stuff. See, e.g., Gentoo bug #139715 and all the
>> complaints from Samsung-trying Linux-users in the blogosphere /
>> Intertubes.
>>
>> But I'm glad if they've fixed their stuff recently.
>>
>>
> I have been told not to touch the Samsung drivers.  I am using
> net-print/foo2zjs.
>
> kh
>
>

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[KH]

Arttu V. schrieb:
> On 12/4/08, KH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>   
>> Some weeks ago I bought Samsung clp-300 color laser printer for less
>> than 130 Euros.  I use cups and I don't have any problems. Did not have
>> to by new "color" jet. I have been told I can print 7000 pages before I
>> have to :-)
>> You can go cheap and good. The model is from 2006 or so.
>> 
>
> I have bad experiences with Samsung, though not with that exact model.
> Samsung proprietary driver may be some sort of world record of ugly
> hacks and hairy stuff. See, e.g., Gentoo bug #139715 and all the
> complaints from Samsung-trying Linux-users in the blogosphere /
> Intertubes.
>
> But I'm glad if they've fixed their stuff recently.
>
>   
I have been told not to touch the Samsung drivers.  I am using
net-print/foo2zjs.

kh

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Mark Knecht]

On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 10:18 AM, KH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Albert Hopkins schrieb:
>> On Wed, 2008-12-03 at 19:44 -0800, Mark Knecht wrote:
>>
>>> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
>>> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
>>> Linux? I sure don't.
>>>
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>> My suggestion would be not go go cheap.  Nowadays you can get a color
>> laser w/ built-in PostScript for around $400.  The output is fast and
>> great (compared to ink jets) and It Just Works [tm] with Linux.  I'd
>> rather spend the extra money and be happy with my choice, but that's
>> just me.
>>
>> -a
>>
> Some weeks ago I bought Samsung clp-300 color laser printer for less
> than 130 Euros.  I use cups and I don't have any problems. Did not have
> to by new "color" jet. I have been told I can print 7000 pages before I
> have to :-)
> You can go cheap and good. The model is from 2006 or so.
>
> kh
>
>

Is it roughly this model?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828112054

Do you plug this into a PC via USB or run it over the network using
the Ethernet port?

Any comments on the roller problem I had on my old laser printer? do
the paper rollers remain engaged when the printer isn't printing and
thus potentially cause flat spots?

Thanks,
Mark

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Arttu V.]

On 12/4/08, KH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Some weeks ago I bought Samsung clp-300 color laser printer for less
> than 130 Euros.  I use cups and I don't have any problems. Did not have
> to by new "color" jet. I have been told I can print 7000 pages before I
> have to :-)
> You can go cheap and good. The model is from 2006 or so.

I have bad experiences with Samsung, though not with that exact model.
Samsung proprietary driver may be some sort of world record of ugly
hacks and hairy stuff. See, e.g., Gentoo bug #139715 and all the
complaints from Samsung-trying Linux-users in the blogosphere /
Intertubes.

But I'm glad if they've fixed their stuff recently.

-- 
Arttu V.

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Chris Thomas]

If you don't need color, I would seriously look at b/w personal laser
printers that are network-ready; newer HP models like the 1000 series
work very well and and can be found for less than $200. Older HP
lasers like the 5si models are built like tanks and are extremely
durable and long lasting.

-Chris

On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 1:18 PM, KH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Albert Hopkins schrieb:
>> On Wed, 2008-12-03 at 19:44 -0800, Mark Knecht wrote:
>>
>>> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
>>> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
>>> Linux? I sure don't.
>>>
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>> My suggestion would be not go go cheap.  Nowadays you can get a color
>> laser w/ built-in PostScript for around $400.  The output is fast and
>> great (compared to ink jets) and It Just Works [tm] with Linux.  I'd
>> rather spend the extra money and be happy with my choice, but that's
>> just me.
>>
>> -a
>>
> Some weeks ago I bought Samsung clp-300 color laser printer for less
> than 130 Euros.  I use cups and I don't have any problems. Did not have
> to by new "color" jet. I have been told I can print 7000 pages before I
> have to :-)
> You can go cheap and good. The model is from 2006 or so.
>
> kh
>
>

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[KH]

Albert Hopkins schrieb:
> On Wed, 2008-12-03 at 19:44 -0800, Mark Knecht wrote:
>   
>> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
>> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
>> Linux? I sure don't.
>> 
>
> [snip]
>
> My suggestion would be not go go cheap.  Nowadays you can get a color
> laser w/ built-in PostScript for around $400.  The output is fast and
> great (compared to ink jets) and It Just Works [tm] with Linux.  I'd
> rather spend the extra money and be happy with my choice, but that's
> just me.
>
> -a
>   
Some weeks ago I bought Samsung clp-300 color laser printer for less
than 130 Euros.  I use cups and I don't have any problems. Did not have
to by new "color" jet. I have been told I can print 7000 pages before I
have to :-)
You can go cheap and good. The model is from 2006 or so.

kh

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Mark Knecht]

On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 11:52 PM, Dale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Dominic Kexel wrote:
>> That's right, i totaly agree. If you buy a HP-printer, you (almost) can't do 
>> something wrong. I am using a HP Deskjet F2180 (40€). Printing and scanning 
>> both work without problems.
>>
>> On Wed, 3 Dec 2008 22:00:28 -0800
>> "Manuel McLure" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>
> I have a HP Deskjet D4260 that I got from newegg for less than $50.00.
> It works very well.  Before that I had a little Deskjet 3820 which I had
> for years.  It finally lost its head.  Turn it on and it just goes from
> side to side until I cut it off.  The 4260 also has the option of using
> the hi yield cartridges too.  It can print for a long time without
> running out of ink.
>
> I think if you get a HP printer, you will do all right.  I wouldn't get
> the latest thing unless I checked for drivers first tho.  Also, to get
> my old 3820 to work, I googled for the ppd file and put it in the right
> place for cups.  That was before hplip came out.  I don't remember
> having to do that with the 4260.
>
> Hope that helps give you some ideas.
>
> Dale
>

Thanks Dale, and everyone who suggests HP. This is probably the best
way to go if he decides to stay with an inexpensive ink-jet.

I'm intrigued by Albert's suggestion to look for a $400 color laser
printer. It's not a great solution for my house by my Dad's flush so
he might like that sort of solution.

A question I have about laser printers, from the old days whn I had
one, is aren't they really pretty bad reliability for low print volume
applications. My old laser printer, made by some off-brand company
that was early into the Postscript clone game, was that the rollers
very quickly got flat spots because we didn't print every day. When we
would print the paper wouldn't feed correctly and the quality was bad.
I don't think my Dad is going to print more than 2-3 pages/day on
average and since they travel now and again it could sit idle for a
week or two.

I suppose I could make some sort of cron job that printed one page a
day if that was a reasonable solution.

Very interested in your ideas and greatful for all the responses.

Cheers,
Mark

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Mark Knecht]

On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 11:18 PM, Heinrichs, Dirk (EXT-Capgemini -
DE/Dusseldorf) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Am Mittwoch, den 03.12.2008, 20:29 -0800 schrieb ext Mark Knecht:
>> Thanks for the idea. I'd not heard of them.
>
> TurboPrint is actually a port of an old Amiga software. They already
> were ahead of time in the printing area back then.
>
> OTOH, there was this article on german Heise Online (english version) a
> few weeks ago:
> http://www.heise-online.co.uk/news/Gutenprint-5-2-1-drivers-for-Linux-and-Mac-OS-X-improve-printer-support--/111788
>
> However, version 5.2.1 didn't make it into portage, yet.
>
> HTH...
>
>Dirk
> --

Thanks. No change in support for two of my currently unsupported
printers in earlier versions of Gutenprint. However it does look
pretty good on the surface.

Thanks,
Mark

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Mark Knecht]

On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 9:05 PM, Volker Armin Hemmann
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Donnerstag 04 Dezember 2008, Mark Knecht wrote:
>> On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 8:16 PM, Volker Armin Hemmann
>>
>> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> > On Donnerstag 04 Dezember 2008, Mark Knecht wrote:
>> >> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
>> >> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
>> >> Linux? I sure don't.
>> >
>> > forget the 'opensource' printers, and buy a turboprint licence. It rocks.
>> > It really does.
>>
>> I'll have to write them and get some answers. Can I run it on multiple
>> machines using a singe license. None of my printers were in their
>> supported list so do they support them or not? They should be able to
>> answer those sorts of questions.
>>
>> However, their list of supported devices is still much smaller than
>> the Open Source list so it begs the same question... Even though they
>> have support for a nice set of printers, which of those printers can
>> be purchased new today through normal retail channels?
>>
>> Thanks for the idea. I'd not heard of them.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Mark
>
> my story: I have a canon pixma ip3300. With opensource drivers I got either no
> picture, wrong colours or the paper was completly wet.
>
> I asked turboprint, shortly afterwards I was able to buy a licence for a
> driver perfectly supporting my printer on amd64.
>

They seem to be nice guys. Responded to my questions pretty quickly.
Basically it seems that they try to support new printers as soon as
reasonably possible. I guess they wait for requests and queue your
printer up or something. No input from them as to finding a new
printer that is supported out of the box.

They may be getting a bit expensive for me. Our printers are attached
to 3 different machines in different houses. Their single license only
allows me to run two printers on a single machine so I have to start
buying licenses for each house.

I will definitely keep them in mind.

thanks,
Mark

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Hazen Valliant-Saunders]

G'day;

Most Manufacturers support Post Script out of the box (it's a 30 year old
standard); you just need to make sure that your kernel has the appropriate
driver. And you have the appropriate sub-system installed.

(LPR, CUPS whatever).

HP makes a concerted effort to support all operating systems (linux,Unix,
BSD, Windows, QNX ...) you get the picture.

So get a low cost HP printer and you'll do fine; lexmark is also a very good
place to look but make sure that the printer is supported by whatever
subsystem you choose (let's say you choose CUPS then make sure it's
compatable with the model you are interested in first).

This is the bane of the linux camp; enjoy.

On Thu, Dec 4, 2008 at 11:25 AM, Albert Hopkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:

> On Wed, 2008-12-03 at 19:44 -0800, Mark Knecht wrote:
> > Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
> > actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
> > Linux? I sure don't.
>
> My first Linux printer was a *used* Apple LaserWriter (with serial
> port).  I knew it worked with Linux because it had built-in PostScript
> and they guy I bought it from actually used it on his Sun workstation.
> It weighed 600 lbs and printed 0.25 pages per minute but the output was
> awesome!
>
> My second Linux printer was a Lexmark LED printer.  I knew it was
> Linux-compatible because it actually came with a CD that had Linux
> drivers on it.  It was relatively inexpensive although the cartridges
> weren't.
>
> My third Linux printer was a Canon ink jet.  It would be my first and
> last ink jet printer.  I bought it because it was cheap, color and
> worked with Linux.  Big mistake.  I rarely print out color and the color
> jets dried out and were unusable.  Tossed it.
>
> My fourth (current) printer is a Ricoh color laser.  It was not cheap
> though.  I knew it worked with Linux because it has built-in PostScript
> *and* PDF, supports ipp, LPD, etc. and it's built-in OS is actually
> based on FreeBSD.  It also comes with PPD files on CD. Although the
> printer itself wasn't cheap, the cartridges are actually not bad.
>
> My suggestion would be not go go cheap.  Nowadays you can get a color
> laser w/ built-in PostScript for around $400.  The output is fast and
> great (compared to ink jets) and It Just Works [tm] with Linux.  I'd
> rather spend the extra money and be happy with my choice, but that's
> just me.
>
> -a
>
>
>
>


-- 
Hazen Valliant-Saunders
IT/IS Consultant
(613) 355-5977

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Albert Hopkins]

On Wed, 2008-12-03 at 19:44 -0800, Mark Knecht wrote:
> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
> Linux? I sure don't.

My first Linux printer was a *used* Apple LaserWriter (with serial
port).  I knew it worked with Linux because it had built-in PostScript
and they guy I bought it from actually used it on his Sun workstation.
It weighed 600 lbs and printed 0.25 pages per minute but the output was
awesome!

My second Linux printer was a Lexmark LED printer.  I knew it was
Linux-compatible because it actually came with a CD that had Linux
drivers on it.  It was relatively inexpensive although the cartridges
weren't.

My third Linux printer was a Canon ink jet.  It would be my first and
last ink jet printer.  I bought it because it was cheap, color and
worked with Linux.  Big mistake.  I rarely print out color and the color
jets dried out and were unusable.  Tossed it.

My fourth (current) printer is a Ricoh color laser.  It was not cheap
though.  I knew it worked with Linux because it has built-in PostScript
*and* PDF, supports ipp, LPD, etc. and it's built-in OS is actually
based on FreeBSD.  It also comes with PPD files on CD. Although the
printer itself wasn't cheap, the cartridges are actually not bad.

My suggestion would be not go go cheap.  Nowadays you can get a color
laser w/ built-in PostScript for around $400.  The output is fast and
great (compared to ink jets) and It Just Works [tm] with Linux.  I'd
rather spend the extra money and be happy with my choice, but that's
just me.

-a

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Dale]

Dominic Kexel wrote:
> That's right, i totaly agree. If you buy a HP-printer, you (almost) can't do 
> something wrong. I am using a HP Deskjet F2180 (40€). Printing and scanning 
> both work without problems.
>
> On Wed, 3 Dec 2008 22:00:28 -0800
> "Manuel McLure" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>
>   

I have a HP Deskjet D4260 that I got from newegg for less than $50.00. 
It works very well.  Before that I had a little Deskjet 3820 which I had
for years.  It finally lost its head.  Turn it on and it just goes from
side to side until I cut it off.  The 4260 also has the option of using
the hi yield cartridges too.  It can print for a long time without
running out of ink.

I think if you get a HP printer, you will do all right.  I wouldn't get
the latest thing unless I checked for drivers first tho.  Also, to get
my old 3820 to work, I googled for the ppd file and put it in the right
place for cups.  That was before hplip came out.  I don't remember
having to do that with the 4260.

Hope that helps give you some ideas.

Dale

:-)  :-)

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Heinrichs, Dirk (EXT-Capgemini - DE/Dusseldorf)]

Am Mittwoch, den 03.12.2008, 20:29 -0800 schrieb ext Mark Knecht:
> Thanks for the idea. I'd not heard of them.

TurboPrint is actually a port of an old Amiga software. They already
were ahead of time in the printing area back then.

OTOH, there was this article on german Heise Online (english version) a
few weeks ago:
http://www.heise-online.co.uk/news/Gutenprint-5-2-1-drivers-for-Linux-and-Mac-OS-X-improve-printer-support--/111788

However, version 5.2.1 didn't make it into portage, yet.

HTH...

Dirk
-- 
Dirk Heinrichs  | Tel:  +49 (0)162 234 3408
Configuration Manager   | Fax:  +49 (0)211 47068 111
Capgemini Deutschland   | Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Wanheimerstraße 68  | Web:  http://www.capgemini.com
D-40468 Düsseldorf  | ICQ#: 110037733
GPG Public Key C2E467BB | Keyserver: www.keyserver.net


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Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Dominic Kexel]

That's right, i totaly agree. If you buy a HP-printer, you (almost) can't do 
something wrong. I am using a HP Deskjet F2180 (40€). Printing and scanning 
both work without problems.

On Wed, 3 Dec 2008 22:00:28 -0800
"Manuel McLure" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 7:44 PM, Mark Knecht <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
> > actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
> > Linux? I sure don't.
> 
> Almost all HP printers are well-supported in Linux using the hplip
> open source drivers which act as a backend to CUPS and are developed
> with help from HP. hplip also supports features such as scanning on
> all-in-ones. hplip is available in most modern distributions. For a
> complete list of supported printers, go to
> http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/supported_devices/index.html  -
> there are over 1500 printers listed. In fact, there are less than 20
> HP printers that _aren't_ supported by the hplip drivers!
> 
> Thanks to HP's support of open source drivers for their printers I
> don't look anywhere else when deciding on a printer to buy.
> 
> -- 
> Manuel A. McLure WW1FA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
> ...for in Ulthar, according to an ancient and significant law,
> no man may kill a cat.   -- H.P. Lovecraft

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Manuel McLure]

On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 7:44 PM, Mark Knecht <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
> Linux? I sure don't.

Almost all HP printers are well-supported in Linux using the hplip
open source drivers which act as a backend to CUPS and are developed
with help from HP. hplip also supports features such as scanning on
all-in-ones. hplip is available in most modern distributions. For a
complete list of supported printers, go to
http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/supported_devices/index.html  -
there are over 1500 printers listed. In fact, there are less than 20
HP printers that _aren't_ supported by the hplip drivers!

Thanks to HP's support of open source drivers for their printers I
don't look anywhere else when deciding on a printer to buy.

-- 
Manuel A. McLure WW1FA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 
...for in Ulthar, according to an ancient and significant law,
no man may kill a cat.   -- H.P. Lovecraft

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

On Donnerstag 04 Dezember 2008, Mark Knecht wrote:
> On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 8:16 PM, Volker Armin Hemmann
>
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > On Donnerstag 04 Dezember 2008, Mark Knecht wrote:
> >> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
> >> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
> >> Linux? I sure don't.
> >
> > forget the 'opensource' printers, and buy a turboprint licence. It rocks.
> > It really does.
>
> I'll have to write them and get some answers. Can I run it on multiple
> machines using a singe license. None of my printers were in their
> supported list so do they support them or not? They should be able to
> answer those sorts of questions.
>
> However, their list of supported devices is still much smaller than
> the Open Source list so it begs the same question... Even though they
> have support for a nice set of printers, which of those printers can
> be purchased new today through normal retail channels?
>
> Thanks for the idea. I'd not heard of them.
>
> Cheers,
> Mark

my story: I have a canon pixma ip3300. With opensource drivers I got either no 
picture, wrong colours or the paper was completly wet.

I asked turboprint, shortly afterwards I was able to buy a licence for a 
driver perfectly supporting my printer on amd64.

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Paul Hartman]

On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 9:44 PM, Mark Knecht <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
> Linux? I sure don't.
>
> Over the past 10 years I've gone the route of looking at the ads,
> finding printers in the right price range and then looking at
> http://www.linuxprinting.org to determine if there is any support.
> Invariably what comes up is that printer life in the retail chain is
> so short that whatever Fry's is selling is too new so Cups doesn't
> have support, and by the time Cups does have support the printer is no
> longer for sale. No better shopping through NewEgg or Amazon, etc. as
> I run into the same problem...
>
> What's a guy to do? My folks need a new unit. (I guess!) It's not
> working anymore as it's always been an unsupported model as far as I
> can tell. It's a Canon MP310. I had it working a year ago with the
> MP150 driver but it no longer works with recent Cups releases so
> either it broke or it's truly unsupported now. I may have to go back
> to some old Cups release but we'd like to find a unit that's really
> supported if possible. My market is West Coast California or U.S.
> online sales.
>
> Anyway, how does one go about really finding a sub-$100 home ink-jet
> type printer that has Linux support?
>
> Thanks,
> Mark

It's not an ink-jet but I got an HP LaserJet 1020 for $80 on NewEgg a
year ago and it works fine in Linux with CUPS using the foo2zjs
driver.

I think Googling is probably your best chance of finding out what
works and what doesn't. Also going with older models will probably be
cheaper and easier to find info about.

On NewEgg what I have found useful is to use their review search to
look for the word "linux" within the reviews of an item to see if
anyone else has already tried it on the penguin. :)

Good luck,
Paul

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Mark Knecht]

On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 8:16 PM, Volker Armin Hemmann
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Donnerstag 04 Dezember 2008, Mark Knecht wrote:
>> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
>> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
>> Linux? I sure don't.
>>
> forget the 'opensource' printers, and buy a turboprint licence. It rocks. It
> really does.
>

I'll have to write them and get some answers. Can I run it on multiple
machines using a singe license. None of my printers were in their
supported list so do they support them or not? They should be able to
answer those sorts of questions.

However, their list of supported devices is still much smaller than
the Open Source list so it begs the same question... Even though they
have support for a nice set of printers, which of those printers can
be purchased new today through normal retail channels?

Thanks for the idea. I'd not heard of them.

Cheers,
Mark

Re: [gentoo-user] Buying a low-cost printer for Linux

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

On Donnerstag 04 Dezember 2008, Mark Knecht wrote:
> Does anyone have a good way of figuring out what printers that you can
> actually buy in the retail market place actually have support in
> Linux? I sure don't.
>
forget the 'opensource' printers, and buy a turboprint licence. It rocks. It 
really does.