dial-up web connection good enough?

blotch · 09-12-2005, 05:25 AM

Hi All,

I sent off for a job lot of Linuxes, which has included FreeBsd, v 5.3. Then I found the FreeBsd documentation which has impressed me no end.

Before I try it, there's a few things I need to know. I'm not clear on just how much I would have to download from the internet to get something useful going. I've only got a dial-up connection with a 'two hour cut-off and redial' facility. Assuming that I'd have to download applications like Abiword, Scribus, Gnucash, etc, besides updates, is this going to be enough?

I've only got and need one pc - no servers or networks.

I have an Oki B4250 mono laser printer. Is this supported, anyone know?

Thanks,

mgmax · 09-12-2005, 07:26 AM

for the OKI printer, please look here.

mgmax

mgmax · 09-12-2005, 08:46 AM

I wouldnt recommend you to do a web install via a dialup connection.

Either buy cds somewhere or look for someone (at a local LUG for example) who downloads it for you.

blotch · 09-12-2005, 01:38 PM

Hello mgmax,

Oh dear, I googled relentlessly for hours looking for the Oki B4250 driver. It doesn't seem to exist. So, really, your Oki link to effinggoogle is unnecessary.

I eventually got the B4250 working on Libranet by using a driver supplied for another Oki model. Perhaps I don't have the full facilities, I don't know, but I can print out my work which is all I really want to do.

I should have made it clearer that I already have FreeBsd cds. What I'm concerned about is installing the system and then finding that, for whatever reason, I can't use my printer. In addition, my very limited experience of Linux is that I sometimes haven't been able to download the software I want because all the dependencies take the download over the two hour maximum I'm restricted to.

Perhaps someone could advise me on this, please?

mgmax · 09-12-2005, 02:10 PM

For Linux youll find the driver this way:
go to the 4th result, click on "messages sorted by thread" and select the first one in this thread.
There you'll read this:

Quote:

Manufacturer's name: Okidata

Model name: B4350

Mechanism type (as laser, inkjet, dot matrix, ...): LED page printer
(laser)

Color or black-and-white?: Black and white

Maximum resolution claimed by the manufacturer and obtained by you with
free software: 1200 x 600 (claimed); 600x600 (achieved)

Connection types (Parallel, USB, Ethernet, ...): Parallel (USB also
available, network available as add-on package)

Maximum paper size: A4/Letter

Special functionality (multi-function device, finishers, ...): None

Type of consumables/refills (as "one black and one color cartridge",
"toner/drum unit", ... not only "cartridge(s)"): Separate toner and image
drum.

How did you get it to work? Which driver(s) did you use and with which
option settings? Which driver do you recommend? Did you apply special
tricks (as hacking the driver's code, using an aditional filter, ...) to
get the printer to work?:
Works best with lj5gray diver. User Fedora system-config-printer. B4350
isn't listed under Okidata printers, but can use Okipage 14e. *NOTE*
pxlmono is recommended driver, but it results in *very* slow printing of
images. lj5gray produces output that's just as good, and is much faster
with images. If this printer is included in newer version of footmatic,
I'd recommend lj5gray as the preferred driver.

What is your impression of the results? Categorize your printer in one of
the levels described on the database introduction page.
Mostly - it only falls short on the lack of full 1200x600. Text output is
still nice, though - very sharp.

HTH

mgmax

blotch · 09-12-2005, 05:19 PM

Hello mgmax,

I've found that site in the past but couldn't winkle out the driver I needed from it. It may be there but I failed to find it.

Anyway, I've decided to leave the idea of installing FreeBsd to a later date. I've just read a couple of somewhat uncomplimentary reviews about version 5.3, the one I have, and couldn't cope with the difficulties. We beginners need things to be as simple as possible.

Thank you for trying to help. I'll pursue Linux for a while.