I need to purchased a printer.


Here is what I need:
1. something with Built-in Ethernet Networking (no need for PC) connects directly to the LAN
2. configurable from any PC (Linux or Windows), preferably via a web browser
3. color


Here is the optional stuff, nice-to-have but I could live without:
a. USB connectivity
b. Duplex (2-sided) output


If you have had good experiences with a make/model, can you recommend it?
And/Or
Can you tell me what make/model to avoid?

Thank you.

I suggest color laser printers. Though it is better to place B/W laser printers on the network and then have one or two computers hooked up to separate ink-jet printers. Print color take about a few hours depending the quality and quantity of layers used in the image. Color print outs from one computer will not be the same as the other computer even if Pantone is used.

Konica Minolta color laser printers are good and they provide open source software. For color print outs, make sure you upgrade its memory or upgrade to a hard disk for idiots that do not flatten the image before printing.

Do not get HP laser printers because they have problems printing PDF documents.

My main printer is an HP Color LaserJet 2550n, which has a built-in eithernet adaptor. Works with CUPS and every distro I've tried using Postscript Level 3.

Prints PDFs great too BTW.

I'm getting an HP 5610 for Christmas. After I get it up and working, I'll add it to the HCL if it isn't there already.

Edit: Oops, sorry. No ethernet connection.

Since the end of pin printers, I gave up on all other brands of printers except HP printers. Now with Linux, I still have this conviction.

New network capable (ethernet) laser printers are expensive and so are inkjets. Don't know about wireless network printers since I've never used one. Used network printers are a gamble.

HP has the new model 6940dt deskjet color printer that is network (ethernet) ready for around $180.00 US. It has the duplex function built in. Also has USB connection. It is also supported as a Linux printer by HP at their Linux website. HP printers that I have used have a switch for Postscript printing for PDF documents.

lothario,

For 13 years I have been using duplex and lan printing (ibm 4039 12R) so those 2 conditions were a must. Now I wanted fast color and Adobe postscript 3. Many color printers use postscript emulation. These emulation work well but they are slow.
After some research and testing I end up with only one choice

Xerox Phaser 8550 DP

I got it about a year ago, I love it. One of my friend has a cardiology office. They have the same and they use it to print full color angios and do hundreds of prints a day. They also love it.
They support linux and they have some utilities but the only thing you need is the ppd file. When I got it (I had to wait because it was just coming out) I use the win2k ppd file. It works perfect.
I am running suse 10.1. (it also works under OS/2 and win)
The paper handling is excellent. I print all my envelopes also.

-=terry(Denver)=-

Everyone, Thanks for all the info. I am looking into all these suggestions.

terry, What is a ppd file?

lothario


The ppd file is a Postscript Printer Description file where all the characteristic of your particular printer are. For example a generic ppd file may work (or not) on your printer but may not support all the features. The one that comes with the printer in my case the Phaser ppd file support everything like printer quality, duplex, paper sizes, Adobe PS 3 etc etc.

-=terry(Denver)=-