Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2010 19:13:39 +0100 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: Charlie Kester <corky1951@comcast.net> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: printer recommendations? Message-ID: <20101203191339.61205ccb.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <20101203043805.GB8149@comcast.net> References: <20101203043805.GB8149@comcast.net>
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On Thu, 2 Dec 2010 20:38:05 -0800, Charlie Kester <corky1951@comcast.net> 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, ...
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