Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2017 21:23:21 +0200 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: galtsev@kicp.uchicago.edu Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Best printer makes (manufacturers) for FreeBSD Message-ID: <20170715212321.cbf11003.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <57789.76.193.16.143.1500143031.squirrel@cosmo.uchicago.edu> References: <57789.76.193.16.143.1500143031.squirrel@cosmo.uchicago.edu>
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On Sat, 15 Jul 2017 13:23:51 -0500 (CDT), Valeri Galtsev wrote: > Recent discussion about replacing old printer prompted me to start this > thread. Basically, which makes (or manufacturers) do you use on your > FreeBSD boxes? Mostly HP laser (and a few inkpee) printers here with great success. That leads me to the assumption that with educated choice _before_ paying money, HP is always on the "nice" list. > What would you recommend to watch for and avoid when > choosing the printer. Connection: preferred via network (cable or WLAN), USB only if no other choice. Printer language: PDF, PCL or PS (at least one; if none, avoid). Being able to use PS or PDF usually indicates you don't need any printer driver at all. ;-) For HP printers _always_ check: http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/supported_devices/index.html Make sure it's supported. Integration of HPLIP and CUPS is easy, but you can use it with system LPR, too. A PPD file is always welcome. > (I personally would prefer one manufacturer not even > mentioned: Xerox. I'd like to add Canon here. :-) > They went bad several years ago, and are banned wherever > I have a voice to affect the choice... So if you tell good story about > Xerox I definitely will reply with my bad one - enough for having my > attitude). This one? :-) http://www.dkriesel.com/en/blog/2013/0802_xerox-workcentres_are_switching_written_numbers_when_scanning > In one of recent threads two manufacturers were mentioned: Brother and HP > (Hewlett Packard). What prompted me to start this is suggestions that for > some model of Brother printer you need to install Linux support and use > Linux diver. Check the technical (!) properties page (not the home consumer marketing speak page). Does the printer _really_ require a Linux driver? Doesn't it speak PS, PCL or PDF natively? > In the Department I support I use HP printers (mostly high end like Color > LaserJet CP4020-CP4520; Color LaserJet 4650, but have one low end LaserJet > ColorPro 400 m451). I must confess as Linux refugee, I am not total > refugee yet, so my setup is probably only partly relevant. Namely, all > print jobs go to printers through CUPS print server, the last is still on > Linux - hadn't chance to migrate it to FreeBSD. However, when I set up > printing on FreeBSD, the only things I have to do is: install CUPS, drop > wherever CUPS keeps printer drivers a bunch of .ppd files (you can > download these at linuxprinting.org site, basically PPD is PostScript > Printer Description file, and these can be extracted from postscript > printer driver manufacturer supplies, and it doesn't matter which system > the driver is designed for). The P in PPD suggests that it's portable. ;-) > I would like to hear about other good printer manufacturers, especially > cases then you set up printer as hassle-less as HP postscript printers are > for me - just curious what is good out there and what is not. I also use a color laser printer here, a Samsung CLX-2160 with the SPLIX language (foo2qpdl-wrapper -> /dev/ulpt0, even though CUPS printing is also possible). The printer works, but I cannot recommend it due to the low quality. -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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