Does XP attached printer need to be linux compatable for linux to use it?
 

I have Fedora Core 4 installed and successfully printing to an Epson C84 that is USB connected to an XP-Pro PC. Well it was until the Epson went belly up. Since I am hanging the printer off the windows PC does it matter if there are linux drivers avaiable for it?
In other words, is the driver on the windows PC driving the printer even when printing from FC4 or is the windows PC just allowing all the linux stuff to pass on through to the printer and so I need a linux compatable printer even though it's physically connected to the windows PC?

When you boot windows, it's a windows pc. When you boot Linux, is't a Linux pc. You are running one operating system at a time, not both.

Unless you are also running vmware or xen, in which case you may be running both, but printing would by through the os you are using at the moment.

bigrigdriver, it sounds to me like he/she has two PCs. The one running Windows has the printer connected and he/she has another running Linux.

Thats how I read it aswell.

I'm not sure, but I think you might be ok with it either way, then again why not get a Linux compatable printer incase you decide you don't want to have to network all the time? Have a look in the HCL for what other people have found with printers :)

Thanks for the responses. Choosing a printer is a pain as they seem to have a short lifespan. My HP610 lasted about 4 years but this Epson died in 1.5 years, leaving me with 2 pricy black inks and 3 colors with I then blew trying to get the printer working. Very costly - most expensive piece of hardware to own. Add to that trying to decide which replacement printer my linux will also work with just drives me nuts. I was hoping to just open up all possibilities by not needing to be concerned about linux compatability.

At www linuxprinting org it says the HP and EPSON will work but good luck with any other brand. I was looking at a couple of Canons and hoping that Linux wouldn't care as long as the printer is connected to the Windows PC and being shared. If it has to be Linux compatable then I guess I'll look for an HP on sale before the kids need it for home work.

I have an epson that runs fine. Had it for years, only use compatable inks to keep the running cost down.

Thanks. I liked how my epson printed, including pictures. Maybe I'll just switch models. May I ask what model you have?

Epson, HP, and Canon are all well-supported in CUPS. I think on the CUPS website, you can find lists of supported printers

An old Color 760. USB, never tryed parallel. Can be a little aquad if you don't use the correct driver.

Basically any printer that supports post script *should* be ok.