From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Sep 22 08:31:10 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 B9AA41065674 for ; Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:31:10 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from perryh@pluto.rain.com) Received: from agora.rdrop.com (agora.rdrop.com [IPv6:2607:f678:1010::34]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7C2ED8FC1B for ; Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:31:10 +0000 (UTC) Received: from agora.rdrop.com (66@localhost [127.0.0.1]) by agora.rdrop.com (8.13.1/8.12.7) with ESMTP id o8M8V9uO072269 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NOT) for ; Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:31:09 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from perryh@pluto.rain.com) Received: (from uucp@localhost) by agora.rdrop.com (8.13.1/8.12.9/Submit) with UUCP id o8M8V97n072268 for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:31:09 -0700 (PDT) Received: from fbsd61 by pluto.rain.com (4.1/SMI-4.1-pluto-M2060407) id AA00997; Wed, 22 Sep 10 01:27:15 PDT Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:27:14 -0700 From: perryh@pluto.rain.com To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Message-Id: <4c99bde2.5UNvzyPE5OFOH2jF%perryh@pluto.rain.com> References: <201009201716.o8KHGpxf013791@mail.r-bonomi.com> <20100921073722.49d49e98@scorpio> <4C98A210.4050106@stillbilde.net> <20100921085858.111b004f@scorpio> <20100921071621.0aab59e7@asus64> In-Reply-To: <20100921071621.0aab59e7@asus64> User-Agent: nail 11.25 7/29/05 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: Re: The nightmarish problem of installing a printer X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:31:10 -0000 > > > Personally, for bulk printing, and even more so for > > > intermittent printing (the kind where ink dries up and gets > > > tossed away when you use the printer once every blue moon), > > > most users would save a _LOT_ of money by looking at a laser > > > printer instead. +1 > > > Take a good look at Xerox'es "Phaser" line (used to be > > > tektronix phaser). They're no longer pawn-your-firstborn > > > expensive, they're reliable, and they basically speak every > > > standard protocol on the market (including both Postscript > > > and PCL). ... > > The cheapest multi-function laser recommended by you is the > > Phaser 6128MFP, an obviously loss-loser. The next version is > > $1500 ... The Phaser 6130 (which uses C, M, Y, and K toner cartridges rather than the wax sticks that Tektronix introduced) was $400 about 4 years ago. > > it would be total over-kill, and a gross waste of money, > > to install one in my home. I believe Gordon Bell, the founder of DEC, once said almost exactly that about home computers :) > A couple of years ago I got very tired of buying ink cartridges. > I search and found the Samsung scx-4725fn for a very good price. > Laser, network, all-in-one. It is not color but that was not a > requirement for me. > > Just hook it up to the network and create a simple /etc/printcap > and add the ip to /etc/hosts and away you go. > > A quick search shows it can still be purchased for under $300 US. Ditto for the Samsung ML-2571N, except that it is just a printer and it was about $60 a few years ago IIRC. (I am partial to the N model, which is directly network connected. Essentially the same printer, but without the network port, goes for maybe $10 less. IMO it's well worth $10 to just plug it in and have it work.)