Ok well

This is the Samsung I am using.. which I know works perfectly well for $210.00 with Ethernet network interface Samsung ML-2251n - 5000 pages per cartridge

But you want to move away from Samsung due to your bad experience, I can respect that.. (don't ever ask me to use a MSI motherboard, they don't understand warranty replacement. "that will be $150.00 for RMA repair !!" WHAT ??)

Brother has good Linux support for their printers, and so does HP. I can't provide specific models but I would avoid anything that uses USB connectivity only, that seems to cause the most grief. Brother, HP and Samsung all provide Linux drivers for their printers, There are not too many other manufacturers that do (as far as I'm aware.) Brother has drivers on their website for download. HP has the hplip driver already available in most distributions, Samsung provides drivers on their site, and I just grabbed the .ppd from the mac driver for use on my Linux box rather than install the full proprietary driver..

Get a printer with a real parallel port interface or something with an Ethernet network interface. I highly recommend a network interface if you can. Setting up lpr printing in Linux and windows and sharing you printer on the network is pretty much ZERO challenge.. and you don't need ot leave a PC on so other people can print.

Shop around a bit for those brands

Use openprinting.org to check the status of printers you are looking at, and how their reported functionality is. also look for the .ppd download links in the driver listings on openprinting.org as you look up the printers..

Best of luck in your search .

farslayer, that was an awesome response, thanks a lot.

If you don't mind me asking what do you do/use for cartridges in the ML-2231N. average number of pages you get per cartridge, cartridge cost, any problems at all?

I've had no issues with the ML-2251n..
I'm still on my first cartridge in the printer I have at home, currently at 1078 pages or so after 8 months..
(I do my large print jobs on the 60ppm Digital Copier @ work, it has Duplex, hole punch, fold, spindle, & mutilate options.)

the cartridge for this printer should do about 5000 pages, based on 5% coverage, but should be pretty close and it runs $75.00 for the original Samsung cartridges from provantage.
There are generic toner cartridges available, but if you go that route, buy one from a company that guarantees the cartridges, (tally Genicom $58.00 , Radian Imaging, Rhinotek, etc.. )

There is also a Postscript Module you can add to the printer for $140.00 if you want true postscript support in addition to the PCL support the printer comes with.

A second paper tray (250 Sheet) option for $120.00 if you want to be able to load a full ream of paper at a time.

Both or either option could be added later.



I've noticed the multifunction machines from Samsung (SCX-4720fn, SCX-5530fn) have a "Low Toner" light on the machine. If the cartridge for the printer does 5,000 pages, that light comes on after you have printed about 3,000-3500 pages. when you hit the 5000 page mark the printer shuts down and refuses to print until you change the cartridge (prevents unreadable lost faxes)

The normal printers (ML-2XXX) do not do this.. they will keep happily trying to print on an empty cartridge, you'll know the cartridge is low when it leaves light streaks on the page. Pull the cartridge and shake it from side to side and get a couple hundred more pages out of it before changing, Unless you are printing resumes or something important (hey I'm cheap what can I say ? )


So why did I pick this printer ?
1. Network interface
2. Linux Support from the Manufacturer
3. Paper tray. (too many cheap laser printers don't have a paper tray these days.. just a stupid fold out shelf YUCK !
4. PRICE.. Holy smokes a NETWORK printer for under $250.00 !! that's about the price of an HP Jetdirect card without the printer
5. Print speed. (20 ppm) My HP laserjet 4p (4ppm) just wasn't cutting it.. It worked great but took a long time to print, I wanted to push it off the desk so it would break and justify the purchase of a new printer.. but I couldn't bring myself to harm an innocent, perfectly functioning laser printer, that wasn't evil like the Fax Machine from 'Office Space' Gave it to the wife instead for next to her PC. She's happy she doesn't have to run downstairs to my office to get her printouts anymore.



Just looked at Provantage again and the ML-3051n (network)30ppm is $167.00 and the ML-3051nd (network and duplex) is $199 Looks like these support postscript out of the box.. and are most likely the replacement for the model I currently own.

These use a ML-D3050A ($80.00) 4000 page or ML-D3050B (95.00) 8000 page yield cartridge..


Both are listed on Openprinting.org as working perfectly..
http://www.openprinting.org/show_pri...msung-ML-3051N
http://www.openprinting.org/show_pri...sung-ML-3051ND

You want to buy my old ML-2251n so I can upgrade for the faster printing and Duplex option ? Crap..

Farslayer, you really know your stuff, thats obvious as heck!!

Keep in mind I'm printer illiterate, though!

Last night I deleted the printer from the system. I then went into YaST (guys at this site taught me) to hardware/printer and let YaST configure almost everything using the drivers I had downloaded from the Samsung site. I did the best I could with what I know and what seemed logical. Now, it's printing again! I set it for "Toner Save"and density to light. I'm almost positive this is all done through something called "CUPS". Whether these settings will hold or revert is a question at this point I can't answer.

It appears if you try to set up things through the LCD interface on the front of the printer (for setting up the printer) it gets scrambled somehow with the CUPS instructions. I don't really know but this is what appears to be going on.

I really do want to have the functionality of a Laser Multifunction printer thats why I bought this thing and not a plain laser jet. One quick reason: In my area to send a fax costs $3.50 to $4.00 per page, not kidding!!

Everything you told me like shaking the cartridge or only getting generics from sites with a guarantee, I didn't know!

I think I better spend some time at the printer link you gave me to become more familiar with printers and what the heck I'm doing.

I just want you to know I really appreciate everything you have told me!

One more question if you don't mind: Is there a "works perfectly" multifunction printer with the interface connections you suggested, and long cartridge life?

This may work for you Yodar... follow the link to SpliX

I've not tried a multifunction unit with my Linux box, but I've seen a lot of people report good results with the HP Multifunction devices using hplip and sane. Skim through the supported device list for hplip, most of the multifunction machines have MFP after the model number.
http://openprinting.org/show_driver.cgi?driver=hpijs

You will have to check the printer specs to see if it's laser or InkJet and then check the toner specs for that unit to see the reported capacity of the cartridges..


also note the entry for your printer.. apparently you're doing pretty good since you got it to print at all..
http://openprinting.org/show_printer...msung-SCX_4200

on the Samsung side the SCX-5530fn is listed as working perfectly but it's a bit beyond the price range we discussed earlier. ($525.00) not to mention not very many vendors carry toner for this machine for some unknow reason.. It is a very nice multifunction machine
http://openprinting.org/show_printer...ung-SCX-5530FN

Farslayer, would you believe this piece of samsung is out again, flat won't print, no notes, that's it!!!

I put the new cartridge (Genuine NEW Samsung) in (second one) went back into YaST and set CUPS up again. unplugged the usb connection waited about 5 minutes, plugged it back (it printed everything that was in Q) then, tried to print something, It printed like OK!

I don't have any proof but I'm starting to get the feeling that the chip Samsung puts in there cartridge is the underlying culprit. I don't think any of my cartridges ran out under 5oo pages! Well this will be the last cartridge/refill I get from them. If I can't get a decent print life out of this one (keep in mind it's the second new one).
Forget the above, this thing is a piece of CRAP !
Feel like I'm talking to myself, but maybe someone will get something from my rambling!

Don't know why you are having those difficulties.. if you are using samsung cartridges I would give them a call and ask what is up.

Their tech support is good, they even RMA'd a defective printer I had for 15 months.. 3 months past the warranty period, at no charge and they offered to do it.. I didn't even have to ask.

I really don't know what to say about your issue.. it's completely contrary to my experiences with their products.
We all get a lemon occasionally though..