From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Sep 21 16:00:13 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 56425106564A for ; Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:00:13 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Received: from mx02.qsc.de (mx02.qsc.de [213.148.130.14]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 16ECB8FC19 for ; Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:00:12 +0000 (UTC) Received: from r55.edvax.de (port-92-195-157-147.dynamic.qsc.de [92.195.157.147]) by mx02.qsc.de (Postfix) with ESMTP id 24B6E1ED2C; Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:00:12 +0200 (CEST) Received: from r55.edvax.de (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by r55.edvax.de (8.14.2/8.14.2) with SMTP id o8LG0BOE001567; Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:00:11 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:00:11 +0200 From: Polytropon To: FreeBSD Message-Id: <20100921180011.9159676d.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <20100921073722.49d49e98@scorpio> References: <201009201716.o8KHGpxf013791@mail.r-bonomi.com> <20100921073722.49d49e98@scorpio> Organization: EDVAX X-Mailer: Sylpheed 2.4.7 (GTK+ 2.12.1; i386-portbld-freebsd7.0) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: Jerry Subject: Re: The nightmarish problem of installing a printer X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list Reply-To: Polytropon List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:00:13 -0000 On Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:37:22 -0400, Jerry wrote: > The bottom line is that installing and running a printer on a Window's > machine is usually far easier than on a *nix variation. Even sharing a > printer on a network in a Windows environment is simpler. But much more expensive, and especially if we're talking networked settings, more complicated to manage (think about offices for example), which makes it more expensive again (support). Additionally, using ink-pee printers in office settings usually is considered a no-go, as it is very unprofessional, inefficient, and did I mention it? Expensive. :-) > On a separate note, I have friends who claim that the Ubuntu printer > installation routine is similar to the Window's one and works quite well > for most mainstream printers. I read something a few months ago that > Ubuntu was working on using Window's printer drivers directly in Ubuntu. > I cannot confirm that; however, it would certainly be a worthwhile > avenue to explore. That sounds interesting. Users coming from a "Windows" background could then easily put in the printer CD (if they didn't throw it away already) and install drivers. Of course, that's not how UNIX does things - here, all the things you need to interact with hardware are provided by the OS ideally, or by packages you can install if needed - with less forced inter- action. But that's reality, not a happy UNIX dreamland where you would just plug in the printer and let the kernel and userland deamons make it available for printing and scanning immediately. :-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...