hi,

im considering buying a printer, so that i can print out a few pages of a linux book every day and take it to work with me to look at in my lunch hour, and i was hoping to get some recommendations from linux users as i dont know much about printers. i do know that replacement ink cartridges can be expensive so the unit needs to be economical, and the printer ofcourse needs to work ok with linux. any recommendations?

I have multiple HP printers over the years with Linux as well with other OSes like OS/2 and Windows. Currently using a All-in-one P3310 connected directly to the network. I use the HPLIP package on the linux machines. I can print, scan, fax, and read and write to media cards with it. Also it uses the Vivero inks which are 5 color and one black. Cost about $10.00 each but take back to staples and $3.00 for each on empties. Walgreens is going to do something with ink cartiages but not sure of the details or cost. Just building one here.

Brian

For a list of supported printers, linuxprinting.org is your tool. So basically you just collect a smallish list of a few printers you like (ink cartridge prices, printer prices and properties judged) and then check out which ones of them are known to work in Linux without trouble. HPLIP and such come right out of the box in nowadays' Linux distributions for the masses, such as Ubuntu, so that shouldn't be a problem - it is still possible to buy a printer that does need some work to get it running under Linux, so better take a look at the site I mentioned first.

I've been using several kinds of HP printers, mostly cheap deskjets, and don't have much bad to say about them. They tend to work better on Linux than on Windows if you ask me, and take less time to "be ready" after you press Power. Right now using one of those all-in-one printer-scanner-things, working well, but can't remember it's model number (and I'm not in front of it right now). Anyway like I said, choose a few printers you like and check which ones of them are known to work, then decide among those which one you like the best - this way you can't miss.

I have a Brother HL5140 (monochrome laser) that works well. It is easy to setup. If you send hundred pages to it, it will print the job in two minutes. If you spill coffee or liquid on a paper that a laser printer printed, the text will not bleed. The quality of an output from a laser printer is far much better than ink printers, so it is easier to read.

Linux changes very fast. I suggest reading from an electronic device than a hard copy.

Both Brother and Samsung Support Linux with their printers.

I agree 100 % that inkjet cartridges are overpriced and under performing, which is why I do all my major printing using a laser printer. you can get a lowend brother or samsung laser for around $100.00. the print cartridge will have a life of around 3000 pages. compare that to the life of most inkjet cartridges which average from 300-500 pages even if it did 1000 pages it still falls far short of the laser cartridge.

although the laser toners seem more expensive up front they are actually much cheaper to operate in the long run.
toner won't dry out or expire from not being used.
Laser printers, print head doesn't clog.
you don't waste half your toner running cleaning routines..
A single toner cartridge usually lasts me about a year..

Yes, you found me out, I am not a fan of inkjets.. does it show ?

I mean look at this machine..

25 Pages a minute,
an actual PAPER TRAY instead of a little fold out ledge to put your paper on.
Parallel Port
USB Interface
10/100 Network connectivity (easiest by far to get working from ALL your machines)
PCL 6
Postscript 3

All for under $150.00
http://www.provantage.com/samsung-ml-2571n~9SAMQ066.htm $141.95

Toner cartridges
http://www.provantage.com/samsung-ml...3~7SAMQ04H.htm $68.00
http://www.provantage.com/tallygenic...4~7GENI0KW.htm $48.00


For an actual comparison the p3310 mentioned above has an ink capacity of 680 Pages @ $17.00 per black cartridge, and 350 pages @ $10.00 for color.

3000/680 = 4.4 ink cartridges
You know, that's not actually too bad for an inkjet..

the part that always kills me though is, color printers typically refuse to print black if one of the color cartridges is empty..

of course my suggestion will lose a color competition since it's a monochrome printer..


I now have a Network Samsung laser at home and have bought a variety of them from desktop, to network to multifunction for the office about a dozen printers ranging from $100.00 - 600.00 each and I must say, they work well.