From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Dec 3 18:13:42 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 915CF1065670 for ; Fri, 3 Dec 2010 18:13:42 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Received: from mx01.qsc.de (mx01.qsc.de [213.148.129.14]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 1B1EC8FC17 for ; Fri, 3 Dec 2010 18:13:41 +0000 (UTC) Received: from r55.edvax.de (port-92-195-8-222.dynamic.qsc.de [92.195.8.222]) by mx01.qsc.de (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9C1BB3D67B; Fri, 3 Dec 2010 19:13:40 +0100 (CET) Received: from r55.edvax.de (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by r55.edvax.de (8.14.2/8.14.2) with SMTP id oB3IDdDi001507; Fri, 3 Dec 2010 19:13:40 +0100 (CET) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2010 19:13:39 +0100 From: Polytropon To: Charlie Kester Message-Id: <20101203191339.61205ccb.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <20101203043805.GB8149@comcast.net> References: <20101203043805.GB8149@comcast.net> 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: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: printer recommendations? 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: Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:13:42 -0000 On Thu, 2 Dec 2010 20:38:05 -0800, Charlie Kester wrote: > My old HP Laserjet 4+ is broken and I'm thinking about buying a new > printer. In case you have been happy with your 4+, consider getting a used HP office-class laser printer. I can recommend the HP LaserJet 4000 (maybe including a duplexer, very handy). Interfaces are parallel and network - use network if possible. > I'd appreciate hearing recommendations from the list. Office-class equipment. Really. Don't mess with home consumer crap - it will turn out to be more expensive than you might think at the beginning. Used office-class hardware is okay. If possible, test it before buying. > My requirements: > > - Compatible with FreeBSD (obviously) Make sure it conforms to existing standards. Postscript is good, PCL is good. Both are well supported, and PS makes your life even easier. > - Laserjet preferred. Black & White only. I don't need to print photos > or business brochures. I'm using a HP Laserjet 4000 duplex for more than 5 years now at home, I'm happy with it, allthough it's a _huge_ printer with all the accessories, but I don't care for that. On a secondary system, I have a HP Laserjet 4 (the "normal 4"), which I own for more than 15 years now and did HEAVILY use it. I got it as a used printer, so I can't tell you what the pre-owner did with it. This printer is still FULLY FUNCTIONAL. This should give you an impression of HOW GOOD "old hardware" is - if you have the right one. > - Very light home usage. (Tax forms and the occasional printout of a > software manual for offline study.) Also a plus for a laser printer. Unlike regular home-crap ink, toner doesn't get solid. One toner cartridge should serve you many years. > - Low upfront and maintenance costs. Printers are like the old Gillette > razors: the money's in the blades (toner or ink cartridges), not the > device. Used office-class equipment, I can't emphasize it enough. The HP Laserjet printers have a good "eco-mode standby behaviour", so even energy costs are low, compared to the usual home consumer ink-pee stuff where a seperate power supply consumes energy even when the printer is "off" (haha). > - Any interface is OK. Parallel, USB, networked. Network is the way to go. USB *may* be okay. Parallel is not living anymore - allthough I'm still using it that way, but my home setting is a life support system for obsolete technology anyway. :-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...