IDNetters Forums

Technical News & Discussion => Unix/Linux News & Discussion => Topic started by: DarkStar on Oct 26, 2010, 13:29:13

Title: Printers for Linux
Post by: DarkStar on Oct 26, 2010, 13:29:13
I am looking for a new printer that is compatible with Ubuntu 10.10. I have an old HP Deskjet 3420 that will give me prints, but not of terribly good quality. I am looking for recommendations based on user experience if possible for something that just works, does not require me to perform in the terminal  :po:
Anything up to £100, but below £75 if possible - just a printer or an all-in-one will do.
It seems that the Canon Pixma MP480/490/495 all just work but I don't want to get one and find it doesn't.
Have looked at www.openprinting.org and a couple of other sites but none say, yes, this definitely works.
Title: Re: Printers for Linux
Post by: Glenn on Oct 26, 2010, 13:51:53
http://mp610.blogspot.com/ says the 620 & 630 work with the 610 driver but those printers are a fair bit more.
Title: Re: Printers for Linux
Post by: MisterW on Oct 26, 2010, 14:07:40
Support for HP printers in general seems to be pretty good. I've had a PSC 2610 ( networked ) for a while now and it just worked when I tried it with Ubuntu. Haven't got any direct experience of current HP printers though I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Printers for Linux
Post by: trophymick on Oct 26, 2010, 14:43:56
I have a Samsung ML2525 laser printer (Not wireless) running great on Linux Mint  9 (Isadora), it was £65 delivered complete with ink tank, which they say will print 1,500 pages. :thumb:
As all Linux os, you have to download the 'Samsung Unified Driver Configurator', and install the package.
HP, Epsom and Samsung seem to be better for Linux.
Title: Re: Printers for Linux
Post by: nowster on Oct 26, 2010, 17:30:14
For anything you're lumbered with that doesn't work with an existing open driver, it's worth looking at Turboprint. http://turboprint.info/

If you were looking at laser printers, PostScript compatibility would pretty much guarantee it'll work with Linux.

With inkjets, HP and Epson are very well supported by open source drivers; Canon less so (hence my pointer to Turboprint).
Title: Re: Printers for Linux
Post by: Steve on Oct 26, 2010, 17:56:24
Although I've used this site for Mac OS X in the past the drivers are Linux compatible and the tarball is available for download http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/
Title: Re: Printers for Linux
Post by: DarkStar on Oct 26, 2010, 21:19:10
Many thanks for the replies. Have been a bit busy today so will work my way through them tomorrow.
Title: Re: Printers for Linux
Post by: DarkStar on Oct 27, 2010, 20:09:49
Had a look at the options this afternoon and this one got my Canon Pixma ip2702 going a treat.

Quote from: nowster on Oct 26, 2010, 17:30:14
For anything you're lumbered with that doesn't work with an existing open driver, it's worth looking at Turboprint. http://turboprint.info/

If you were looking at laser printers, PostScript compatibility would pretty much guarantee it'll work with Linux.

With inkjets, HP and Epson are very well supported by open source drivers; Canon less so (hence my pointer to Turboprint).

Printed off a sunset picture I keep in 'My Pictures' once I had run the calibration procedure and it is far better than I ever got from the same printer using Windows 7.
So, thanks for the link nowster  :thumb: - one happy bunny again. I really cannot see me going back to Windows, Windows 7 seems like a bad dream now  ::)