Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

benali72 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 259

Can anyone help me find which printer I should buy?

It must be --

1. An All-in-One printer (with COPY function etc)

2. Able to print when ONLY Black ink catridge is filled
(I don't want a printer that won't print because one of the color cartridges is empty or old)

3. Run with Linux (Puppy and Unbuntu 11.x) and Windows XP

4. Cheap (preferably under $150 US)

Thank you for any advice!

rcrsn51 · Posted: Thu 03 Nov 2011, 16:10 Post subject: Re: Which Printer Should I Buy?

benali72 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 259

Thanks for the feedback, @rcrsn51.

From the two I've Epson All-in-One's I've looked at, you're exactly right. Neither will work without ALL cartridges having ink.

After looking into this for awhile, I've decided I really do not need color printing at all. What I want is the modern version of the old HP LaserJet 5L/6L/7L -- reliable, Black-and-White printing only.

Right now I'm looking at the HP LaserJet Pro P1102w Printer (CE657A). It has a big black ink cartridge like the old reliable HP LaserJet 5L/6L/7L did.

If anybody has comments on HP vs Brother vs Canon for B&W printers, please let me know!

Thank you.

rcrsn51 · Posted: Thu 03 Nov 2011, 22:38 Post subject:

I have tested an HP P1102W in Puppy, but there are some caveats. First, I had to do an initial setup using Windows before Puppy could detect it. Then I had to use the foo2xx driver in Puppy instead of the usual HPLIP. I never tested it as a wireless device, so I don't know how Puppy detects it. You can only set up the wifi from Windows.

I have had very good luck with Brother laser printers and they have Linux drivers for all their models.

Regarding scanning: I recently tested a Samung SCX-3200 laser AIO. There are Puppy drivers for both printing and scanning. However, I have found that many old AIOs will work in Puppy as scanners even when their ink is empty. You can then use Peasyscan's Copier mode.

starhawk · Posted: Thu 03 Nov 2011, 22:52 Post subject:

A pity you need all in one capability... i've got a canon bj-100 that AFAIK still works. Bit old, been sitting in a closet for the past decade...

...that said, our only older printer (seikosha dot matrix behemoth) is still operational, and it was in the same closet for far longer! BTW, canon printers are amazingly well built devices (well, the older ones are, not sure about the ones they're selling now. Friends don't let friends buy sub$100 printers!)

FWIW you can still get ink for that bj-100, staples has it. Not as cheap as some other printers I could mention, but that's supply & demand for you Wink

Master_wrong · Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 455

@benali

my printer HP Deskjet F2235 fit the bill
It must be --

1. An All-in-One printer (with COPY function etc)
YES

2. Able to print when ONLY Black ink catridge is filled
(I don't want a printer that won't print because one of the color cartridges is empty or old)
???
EDIT: i'm not sure
I think as long as the cartridge is attached the printer can be used, i never try btw

3. Run with Linux (Puppy and Unbuntu 11.x) and Windows XP
YES

4. Cheap (preferably under $150 US)
YES

i use these driver from http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=59015
then open browser and type http://localhost:631/ to add new printer

rcrsn51 · Posted: Thu 03 Nov 2011, 23:05 Post subject:

rcrsn51 · Posted: Thu 03 Nov 2011, 23:53 Post subject:

I was looking at the specs for the Brother wifi-enabled laser printers. Their ink-jet AIOs have an LCD control panel for setting up the wifi, but the laser models do not. In Windows, you would use the setup CD to configure wifi, but I'm not sure how you would do this in an only-Linux environment.

It may be possible to first connect the unit via Ethernet, have it get an IP address via DHCP, then go to the printer's internal HTTP web page interface to configure the wifi.

But I'm guessing.

calexand · Joined: 20 Nov 2009 Posts: 87

I use a Canon MP250 purchased for US $39.99 that does everything you requested...
I love it!
CA

Master_wrong · Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 455

@rscn
https://answers.launchpad.net/hplip/+question/135694
above link has info about wifi printer, and how to use

@benali
googling review like this could be helpful
http://reviews.cnet.com/multifunction-devices/?filter=100021_9231531_&tag=mncol;page

just make sure you google its linux useability then...

about the ink... my old canon can print black only when the color are dried up, but its not multifuntion. maybe you can ask the sales about it if you do consider canon.
hp has better linux driver btw

benali72 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 259

Thanks for all the responses. Thinking about them I realized I really don't need even all-in-one capability, all I really need is an inexpensive, reliable B&W printer that works under both Linux and Windows.

So I bought an HP Laserjet P1102W. It is black-and-white only, the direct heir to the famous old HP Laserjet 5L - 6L - 7L series.

It was only $95 US and has good ratings at Amazon. Reviews say it is reliable. I found it feeds paper well (haven't had a printer do that in years!). The printer is compact, the same size as the old 5L - 6L -7L printers.

Setup was easy under Linux and Windows (Ubuntu 11.04, Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, Windows XP SP3, Puppy 5.x).

For Linux users, HP finally has a really nice website and setup program here -- http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/index.html. They use a program called HPLIP that installs drivers for nearly all HP printers under Linux.

The only all-in-one capability I need is scanning and copying documents. So I got an old HP Scanjet 5400C scanner ($5 at a rummage sale). I use it for scanning in docs and print them to the new printer for my Copier function.

Details on this printer are here at Amazon --
http://www.amazon.com/HP-LaserJet-Printer-CE657A-BGJ/dp/B0036TGGVO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1321219217&sr=1-1

Thanks again for all your comments, the feedback helped me figure this out.

Ernest · Joined: 19 Oct 2011 Posts: 3

As someone who was in the computer hardware business for years (though I rarely sold printers since I couldn't compete with the crazy rebates) I have always recommended Epson. The print quality is excellent, even on plain paper. I have photos I printed on a 640 about ten years ago hanging in my office which still look good, though not as good as the ones from the CX8400 on glossy paper. The warranty is excellent. For a year, Epson will express-ship a replacement and pick up the old one. I had one customer who needed this. He called one afternoon and had the replacement two days later. Another client bought a Canon. It needed two repairs within a few months. Each time it was taken to the repair center, then picked up a few days later. This client runs a specialty printing business and this really hurt. They have since bought an Epson CX5000 and have had no down time since.
All name brand ink is expensive, but you can get cheap new replacement cartridges for Epson (not refills which I never recommend) for under $5 at http://ccs-digital.com/ink.asp I have been using these for years.
The RX595 scanner/copier/printer prints on DVDs. It uses 5 colors plus black and has high photo quality. It's OVERPRICED for $80 after $55 instant rebate.

linuxbear · Posted: Mon 05 Dec 2011, 16:00 Post subject:

My Lexmark S605 i great on Windows, Mac and Ubuntu. The software which comes with the printer is fabulous. Unfortunately I have not been able to get the printer to work with Puppy Sad

rcrsn51 · Posted: Mon 05 Dec 2011, 16:30 Post subject:

ndujoe1 · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 616

I have used an HP PSC 1210. Works well in PUppy I print with black ink only and leave an empty color cartridge in it. I didn't print color that often so stopped.