LinuxQuestions.org
Visit Jeremy's Blog.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Hardware
User Name
Password
Linux - Hardware This forum is for Hardware issues.
Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Want to know if that peripheral is compatible with Linux?

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 01-06-2020, 01:13 PM   #16
m_yates
Senior Member
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Upstate
Distribution: Debian, Mint, Mythbuntu
Posts: 1,249

Rep: Reputation: 101Reputation: 101

I have used HP, Epson, and Brother inkjet printers with Linux. If you are planning to print directly from the computer using a cable connected to the printer, then I recommend Epson. Although Brother offers Linux support, the drivers are very outdated. For one of the Brother printers I installed, the drivers were 32-bit only and required me to enable multi-arch on my 64-bit linux system. After getting the 32-bit drivers installed, it still wouldn't print without the "gcc-multilib" package, and it was a headache to find that was what was missing. The Epson linux drivers are newer and offer more configuration options to fine tune printing.

Many newer printers offer network printing of some sort without needing to install drivers. For HP, many printers give you the option of emailing a file to the printer. The printer has its own email address. You send a file to it as an email attachment and it prints. If you have an option like that, you don't need to worry about the linux drivers at all, and you can print to it from anywhere in the world.

For all inkjet printers, including Eco-tank models, the business model is based on printers being basically disposable. Printers keep track of how many cleaning cycles and printing cycles you run. Every time the printer runs (and especially when running a cleaning cycle) excess ink is ejected onto an absorber pad inside the printer. The printer will eventually stop printing when it thinks the absorber pad is full. Usually the only way to get it working again is sending it to the manufacturer for service. Most of the time it is cheaper to buy a new printer instead. It is a scam, because it would be trivial for the user to replace the absorber pad with a new one or just soak up excess ink with a paper towel. For printers that use cartridges, the cartridges would be trivial to be made refillable and a lot of small aftermarket companies exist to do just that. However, the printer manufacturers make it purposely difficult. Many cartridges have a chip in them that make it stop working at some point. In many cases, it is impossible to re-set the chip yourself. You can buy a new chip for the cartridge to make it usable again, but it is often more cost effective to throw it away and buy a new cartridge. It is a terrible, wasteful business model that treats customers badly, but it is what it is.
 
Old 01-07-2020, 05:38 AM   #17
hazel
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Mar 2016
Location: Harrow, UK
Distribution: LFS, AntiX, Slackware
Posts: 8,143
Blog Entries: 20

Rep: Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736Reputation: 4736
I second all of that but I thought it was only HP printers that refuse to work with refilled cartridges. They can't refuse straight away because an American court declared that a restraint of trade, so they use the cartridge a few times without complaint and then stop. And there's nothing you can do about it. There are whole forums full of people wailing about this particular scam. When they complain to HP, they get told, "The cartridge is bad. What do expect when you don't use our cartridges?"

A lot of Brother printers use 32-bit drivers but they usually only need 32-bit glibc in order to run. I've installed two like that. Maybe the one you had needed 32-bit libstdc++ as well.

Last edited by hazel; 01-07-2020 at 05:40 AM.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
[SOLVED] My HP 2600 printer stopped printing and their isn't a printer model now in the settings? the error message says the printer is paused? sudo1 Linux - Server 6 04-02-2019 07:14 AM
Recommendations for a good Linux-friendly scanner and printer? R00ts Linux - Hardware 11 02-23-2005 10:04 AM
Laser Printer Recommendations Wanted ozar Linux - Hardware 2 08-04-2004 01:24 AM
Anyone have printer recommendations? XryanX Linux - Hardware 2 05-05-2004 03:00 AM
keeping printer on at bootup keeps printer from printing (some printer modules loaded TheOneAndOnlySM Slackware 1 10-17-2003 08:39 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Hardware

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:38 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration