From owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Mon May 15 01:48:32 2017 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@mailman.ysv.freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) by mailman.ysv.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id EAD07D6C7EE for ; Mon, 15 May 2017 01:48:32 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Received: from mailman.ysv.freebsd.org (unknown [127.0.1.3]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D23021BCD for ; Mon, 15 May 2017 01:48:32 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Received: by mailman.ysv.freebsd.org (Postfix) id CEBF5D6C7ED; Mon, 15 May 2017 01:48:32 +0000 (UTC) Delivered-To: questions@mailman.ysv.freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) by mailman.ysv.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id CCB49D6C7EC for ; Mon, 15 May 2017 01:48:32 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Received: from mailrelay10.qsc.de (mailrelay10.qsc.de [212.99.163.152]) (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 (256/256 bits)) (Client CN "*.antispameurope.com", Issuer "TeleSec ServerPass DE-2" (verified OK)) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 3A6661BCC for ; Mon, 15 May 2017 01:48:31 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Received: from mx01.qsc.de ([213.148.129.14]) by mailrelay10.qsc.de; Mon, 15 May 2017 03:48:22 +0200 Received: from r56.edvax.de (port-92-195-103-69.dynamic.qsc.de [92.195.103.69]) (using TLSv1 with cipher DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by mx01.qsc.de (Postfix) with ESMTPS id C5AAD3CBF9; Mon, 15 May 2017 03:48:21 +0200 (CEST) Received: from r56.edvax.de (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by r56.edvax.de (8.14.5/8.14.5) with SMTP id v4F1mLax005980; Mon, 15 May 2017 03:48:21 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from freebsd@edvax.de) Date: Mon, 15 May 2017 03:48:20 +0200 From: Polytropon To: Chris Hill Cc: FreeBSD Questions List Subject: Re: Printer advice Message-Id: <20170515034820.bdf00cfb.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: References: Reply-To: Polytropon Organization: EDVAX X-Mailer: Sylpheed 3.1.1 (GTK+ 2.24.5; i386-portbld-freebsd8.2) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-cloud-security-sender: freebsd@edvax.de X-cloud-security-recipient: questions@freebsd.org X-cloud-security-Virusscan: CLEAN X-cloud-security-disclaimer: This E-Mail was scanned by E-Mailservice on mailrelay10.qsc.de with 2F567683B78 X-cloud-security-connect: mx01.qsc.de[213.148.129.14], TLS=1, IP=213.148.129.14 X-cloud-security: scantime:.1184 X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.23 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 15 May 2017 01:48:33 -0000 On Sun, 14 May 2017 20:40:43 -0400 (EDT), Chris Hill wrote: > Second, let me clarify that I would really prefer to stay away from CUPS > if possible. I use lpr and printcap, with occasional printing from > applications whose names start with "gn." What I'm after is a printer > that works out of the box with minimal hassle. So you'd be best prepared with a printer that understands PS or PCL. You can generate PCL easily with gs (called via printcap), and PS is no problem because it's the default printing output format of all applications anyway. > My main reason for hesitating on the HP M553n was that the specs claim > support for "HP postscript level 3 emulation," which seems to be not the > same thing as actual postscript. It would also be swell if I could avoid > complications like hplip. That printer also speaks PCL and PDF, which frees you from using hplip (which is primarily intended for HP inkpee printers). You can use gs to "preprocess" the printing program's output PS to fit the printer, and you can - if intended - incorporate PPD set-up instructions if you want to address specific printer facilities or behaviour. > One thing I like about > HP is that they seem to make consumables for many years after the > product is discontinued. Toner, fusers etc. are still available for the > old 4550N after these many years. Few years ago, I even got new "rubber parts" for a HP Laserjet 4! :-) -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...