[gentoo-user] OT: new printer suggestions?

[gentoo-user] OT: new printer suggestions?

[James]

Hello,

I've mostly had HP printers over the years.
I have a HP officejet 8500 that is just cannot not do
everything I need. I have googled for hours
and only found what I like, in a Brother printer
(Brother MFC-J6710DW Inkjet All-in-One Printer)

I have never owned a brother printers....so

1. Does it work well with CUPS/linux?
2. Are they reliable for a small workgroup?
3. Are the color cartridges reasonable priced?

Here is what my needs are:

dual trays (letter size and 11"x 17")
prints envelops easily (#10 mostly)
dual sided printing
color

less than 500.00 and reliable for small quantity.


Any suggestions? It must work well with Cups over ethernet
as well as with winblows (7 and 8).....

thoughts?

James

Re: [gentoo-user] OT: new printer suggestions?

[Michael Trausch]

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Whatever you get, ensure it is PCL or Postscript, which will guarantee it
works with everything.
On Sep 23, 2012 8:50 PM, "James" <wireless@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I've mostly had HP printers over the years.
> I have a HP officejet 8500 that is just cannot not do
> everything I need. I have googled for hours
> and only found what I like, in a Brother printer
> (Brother MFC-J6710DW Inkjet All-in-One Printer)
>
> I have never owned a brother printers....so
>
> 1. Does it work well with CUPS/linux?
> 2. Are they reliable for a small workgroup?
> 3. Are the color cartridges reasonable priced?
>
> Here is what my needs are:
>
> dual trays (letter size and 11"x 17")
> prints envelops easily (#10 mostly)
> dual sided printing
> color
>
> less than 500.00 and reliable for small quantity.
>
>
> Any suggestions? It must work well with Cups over ethernet
> as well as with winblows (7 and 8).....
>
> thoughts?
>
> James
>
>
>

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Re: [gentoo-user] OT: new printer suggestions?

[Joseph]

On 09/24/12 00:34, James wrote:
>Hello,
>
>I've mostly had HP printers over the years.
>I have a HP officejet 8500 that is just cannot not do
>everything I need. I have googled for hours
>and only found what I like, in a Brother printer
>(Brother MFC-J6710DW Inkjet All-in-One Printer)
>
>I have never owned a brother printers....so
>
>1. Does it work well with CUPS/linux?
>2. Are they reliable for a small workgroup?
>3. Are the color cartridges reasonable priced?
>
>Here is what my needs are:
>
>dual trays (letter size and 11"x 17")
>prints envelops easily (#10 mostly)
>dual sided printing
>color
>
>less than 500.00 and reliable for small quantity.
>
>
>Any suggestions? It must work well with Cups over ethernet
>as well as with winblows (7 and 8).....
>
>thoughts?
>
>James

I'm using brother B/W laser printers and all I can say is that Brother have "CRAPPY" printer drivers.
Here is one of my experiences: 
http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-909052-highlight-brother.html

No, duplex does not work correctly with Brother printer divers on Linux.

-- 
Joseph

Re: [gentoo-user] OT: new printer suggestions?

[Michael Mol]

On Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 10:01 AM, Joseph <syscon780@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 09/24/12 00:34, James wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I've mostly had HP printers over the years.
>> I have a HP officejet 8500 that is just cannot not do
>> everything I need. I have googled for hours
>> and only found what I like, in a Brother printer
>> (Brother MFC-J6710DW Inkjet All-in-One Printer)
>>
>> I have never owned a brother printers....so
>>
>> 1. Does it work well with CUPS/linux?
>> 2. Are they reliable for a small workgroup?
>> 3. Are the color cartridges reasonable priced?
>>
>> Here is what my needs are:
>>
>> dual trays (letter size and 11"x 17")
>> prints envelops easily (#10 mostly)
>> dual sided printing
>> color
>>
>> less than 500.00 and reliable for small quantity.
>>
>>
>> Any suggestions? It must work well with Cups over ethernet
>> as well as with winblows (7 and 8).....
>>
>> thoughts?
>>
>> James
>
>
> I'm using brother B/W laser printers and all I can say is that Brother have
> "CRAPPY" printer drivers.
> Here is one of my experiences:
> http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-909052-highlight-brother.html
>
> No, duplex does not work correctly with Brother printer divers on Linux.

I'm using a Brother HL-2050 and a Brother HL-2150, and I love them
both. I haven't done anything with duplex, though (I don't have a
duplexer unit).

My last job had a SAMSUNG color laser printer that worked beautifully
with Linux. CLP-215 or CLP-315, I think.

-- 
:wq

[gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[James]

Michael Mol <mikemol <at> gmail.com> writes:


> > http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-909052-highlight-brother.html
> > No, duplex does not work correctly with Brother printer divers on Linux.

darn....


> I'm using a Brother HL-2050 and a Brother HL-2150, and I love them
> both. I haven't done anything with duplex, though (I don't have a
> duplexer unit).

good 2 kno....


> My last job had a SAMSUNG color laser printer that worked beautifully
> with Linux. CLP-215 or CLP-315, I think.


I'm not looking for a project (got too many of those).....

So now I'll have to think about all of this some more....
HP printers have worked for me for over 14 years with linux,
unix and bsd systems......

I just cannot find an HP printer that fits my previously
described needs...

I may just get 2 for less than 500.00 as the HP 7000 officejet
does handle the large 11x17 (A3 ledger) paper......

thanks to all for the input; other can still make some suggestions.


James

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Peter Humphrey]

On Monday 24 September 2012 18:45:29 James wrote:

> So now I'll have to think about all of this some more....
> HP printers have worked for me for over 14 years with linux,
> unix and bsd systems......
> 
> I just cannot find an HP printer that fits my previously
> described needs...
> 
> I may just get 2 for less than 500.00 as the HP 7000 officejet
> does handle the large 11x17 (A3 ledger) paper......
> 
> thanks to all for the input; other can still make some suggestions.

I don't remember what you said you wanted, but I have a Kyocera FS1020-D 
mono laser which has performed faultlessly these last five years or so. 
It has a duplexer which also is driven properly. I also have a next-to 
useless HP D4260 inkjet. It purports to work properly but it's used so 
seldom that I can't get an even ink deposition.

HTH.

-- 
Rgds
Peter

Re: [gentoo-user] OT: new printer suggestions?

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:32:56 -0400, Michael Mol wrote:

> > No, duplex does not work correctly with Brother printer divers on
> > Linux.  
> 
> I'm using a Brother HL-2050 and a Brother HL-2150, and I love them
> both. I haven't done anything with duplex, though (I don't have a
> duplexer unit).

I have a Brother MFC-7460DN network laser AIO. Both printing and scanning
work fine, using modified ebuilds from b.g.o. Duplex printing also works
as expected.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

If you shoot a mime, should you use a silencer?

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Matthew Marlowe]

On Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 3:08 PM, Peter Humphrey
<peter@humphrey.ukfsn.org> wrote:
> On Monday 24 September 2012 18:45:29 James wrote:
>
>> So now I'll have to think about all of this some more....
>> HP printers have worked for me for over 14 years with linux,
>> unix and bsd systems......
>>

Both Xerox and HP have had good cross platform support and make some
sturdy reliable printers that can last decades.
The problem of course is that they both have their good/bad years and
can be relatively expensive for the laser MFP's and associated
supplies.

I used to buy HP laserjets only, but then their costs went sky high
while reliability and features went down.  I switched to using Xerox
Workcenters....but Xerox has a tendency to end-of-life troublesome
models early and requires active support contracts for any real
support after the initial purchase support period.  On the other hand,
the color laser MFP purchased in 2006 for the home office is still
going strong.

To my knowledge, Brother had a better reputation decades ago but
recently is known more as a low-budget competitor.

I'd definitely second that you focus any evaluation on the printer
implementation of postscript...postscript is the true universal
language in this industry.

If you don't have any major feature needs, than also pay attention to
the standby power usage, time to warm up for prints, power needs
during startup, and cost per page for color and b/w prints.  My MFP
draws a huge amount of power briefly when it begins the day, uses
solid ink that normally lasts me 9-12 months and then about every 2
years I have to spend ~$150 for an updated maintenance kit(toner?).  I
can live with all that, but I'll probably be paying more attention to
power util on the next purchase 5-10 years or so from now.

Matt

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Pandu Poluan]

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On Sep 25, 2012 5:55 AM, "Matthew Marlowe" <matt@professionalsysadmin.com>
wrote:
>
> On Mon, Sep 24, 2012 at 3:08 PM, Peter Humphrey
> <peter@humphrey.ukfsn.org> wrote:
> > On Monday 24 September 2012 18:45:29 James wrote:
> >
> >> So now I'll have to think about all of this some more....
> >> HP printers have worked for me for over 14 years with linux,
> >> unix and bsd systems......
> >>
>
> Both Xerox and HP have had good cross platform support and make some
> sturdy reliable printers that can last decades.
> The problem of course is that they both have their good/bad years and
> can be relatively expensive for the laser MFP's and associated
> supplies.
>
> I used to buy HP laserjets only, but then their costs went sky high
> while reliability and features went down.  I switched to using Xerox
> Workcenters....but Xerox has a tendency to end-of-life troublesome
> models early and requires active support contracts for any real
> support after the initial purchase support period.  On the other hand,
> the color laser MFP purchased in 2006 for the home office is still
> going strong.
>
> To my knowledge, Brother had a better reputation decades ago but
> recently is known more as a low-budget competitor.
>
> I'd definitely second that you focus any evaluation on the printer
> implementation of postscript...postscript is the true universal
> language in this industry.
>
> If you don't have any major feature needs, than also pay attention to
> the standby power usage, time to warm up for prints, power needs
> during startup, and cost per page for color and b/w prints.  My MFP
> draws a huge amount of power briefly when it begins the day, uses
> solid ink that normally lasts me 9-12 months and then about every 2
> years I have to spend ~$150 for an updated maintenance kit(toner?).  I
> can live with all that, but I'll probably be paying more attention to
> power util on the next purchase 5-10 years or so from now.
>
> Matt
>

Just to add my experience re: Brother...

In my previous employment, we had a Brother MFP Color LED printer, its
operating cost was far lower than HP Laserjet Color (toner cartridge is 100
USD, about 40% as expensive as HP's, but each cartridge lasts significantly
longer, like, about twice the life of the latter). Support is great,
probably because we bought one of the premium models.

Unfortunately, it was a Windows-only environ, so I can't tell if it has
good Linux support.

Rgds,
--

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[gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[James]

Neil Bothwick <neil <at> digimed.co.uk> writes:


> I have a Brother MFC-7460DN network laser AIO. Both printing and scanning
> work fine, using modified ebuilds from b.g.o. Duplex printing also works
> as expected.


So I started looking at the drivers at the bgo overlay,
I did fine: brother-mfc-j265w-drivers-1

http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/download_prn.html#DCP-J315W

Is that the drive you used?
How will I know it works with the printer I'm looking at?
(MFC-J6710DW )

Will I have to hack an ebuild to get my specific printer to work?
And I ended up here:

http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/download_prn.html#MFC-J6710DW


Since I did not see a specific overlay for the 
MFC-J6710DB, I did browse the brother linux drivers
here:

http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/download_prn.html

So, I guess I'm looking for advice on rolling my own hacked
ebuild for this brother printer, or did I miss how all Brother
printers are supported on gentoo?

Looking in CUPS, I did not see

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Michael Mol]

On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 12:01 PM, James <wireless@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
> Neil Bothwick <neil <at> digimed.co.uk> writes:
>
>
>> I have a Brother MFC-7460DN network laser AIO. Both printing and scanning
>> work fine, using modified ebuilds from b.g.o. Duplex printing also works
>> as expected.
>
>
> So I started looking at the drivers at the bgo overlay,
> I did fine: brother-mfc-j265w-drivers-1
>
> http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/download_prn.html#DCP-J315W
>
> Is that the drive you used?
> How will I know it works with the printer I'm looking at?
> (MFC-J6710DW )
>
> Will I have to hack an ebuild to get my specific printer to work?
> And I ended up here:
>
> http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/download_prn.html#MFC-J6710DW
>
>
> Since I did not see a specific overlay for the
> MFC-J6710DB, I did browse the brother linux drivers
> here:
>
> http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/download_prn.html
>
> So, I guess I'm looking for advice on rolling my own hacked
> ebuild for this brother printer, or did I miss how all Brother
> printers are supported on gentoo?
>
> Looking in CUPS, I did not see


For my Brother printers, having net-print/cups and
net-print/foomatic-filters, is sufficient. I'm not doing anything with
scanning or the like, though.

Isn't there a page on one of the Gentoo wikis for this? At the very
least, there's the printer compatibility database[1] at the Linux
foundation. (Apparently, that's where linuxprinting.org went.)

[1] http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting/database/databaseintro

-- 
:wq

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Chris Stankevitz]

On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 9:15 AM, Michael Mol <mikemol@gmail.com> wrote:
> For my Brother printers, having net-print/cups and
> net-print/foomatic-filters, is sufficient. I'm not doing anything with
> scanning or the like, though.


Michael,

Are you saying that you were able to print to your brother printers by
more or less following these steps:
1. buy a computer, install gentoo
2. buy a brother printer, plug it into computer via usb
3. emerge net-print/cups and net-print/foomatic-filters
4. Visit the local cups webpage, add new printer, select "brother"
5. print

Notably missing from my list is a visit to brother's website (or any
other website) to download drivers/binaries/confs/etc.

Thank you,

Chris

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:01:05 +0000 (UTC), James wrote:

> > I have a Brother MFC-7460DN network laser AIO. Both printing and
> > scanning work fine, using modified ebuilds from b.g.o. Duplex
> > printing also works as expected.  
> 
> 
> So I started looking at the drivers at the bgo overlay,
> I did fine: brother-mfc-j265w-drivers-1
> 
> http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/download_prn.html#DCP-J315W
> 
> Is that the drive you used?
> How will I know it works with the printer I'm looking at?
> (MFC-J6710DW )

I looked at the Brother site to find the driver to use, then looked at
the wiki and bgo and found an ebuild for the previous model, which I
edited to use the drivers for my printer.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Love and Trust: Oral sex between cannibals.

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Re: [gentoo-user] OT: new printer suggestions?

[Thanasis]

Have you checked EPSON as an option?

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Michael Mol]

On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 4:13 PM, Chris Stankevitz
<chrisstankevitz@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 9:15 AM, Michael Mol <mikemol@gmail.com> wrote:
>> For my Brother printers, having net-print/cups and
>> net-print/foomatic-filters, is sufficient. I'm not doing anything with
>> scanning or the like, though.
>
>
> Michael,
>
> Are you saying that you were able to print to your brother printers by
> more or less following these steps:
> 1. buy a computer, install gentoo
> 2. buy a brother printer, plug it into computer via usb
> 3. emerge net-print/cups and net-print/foomatic-filters
> 4. Visit the local cups webpage, add new printer, select "brother"
> 5. print
>
> Notably missing from my list is a visit to brother's website (or any
> other website) to download drivers/binaries/confs/etc.

More or less. The Brother printers happen to be attached to a Debian
box, but the Gentoo box doesn't require any additional drivers in
order to feed the content to the Debian box over IPP. (And the Debian
box isn't doing any PCL->Brother or PostScript->Brother translation.)

-- 
:wq

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Michael Trausch]

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To add to the list of recommendations, I have used Lexmark lasers (mono and
color) for a long time and been very happy with them. They work with
standard PostScript drivers out of the box, with duplex support for those
models that have it. Their inkjets are crap, but then again they all are; i
don't use ink jet printers at all.
On Sep 24, 2012 6:15 PM, "Peter Humphrey" <peter@humphrey.ukfsn.org> wrote:

> On Monday 24 September 2012 18:45:29 James wrote:
>
> > So now I'll have to think about all of this some more....
> > HP printers have worked for me for over 14 years with linux,
> > unix and bsd systems......
> >
> > I just cannot find an HP printer that fits my previously
> > described needs...
> >
> > I may just get 2 for less than 500.00 as the HP 7000 officejet
> > does handle the large 11x17 (A3 ledger) paper......
> >
> > thanks to all for the input; other can still make some suggestions.
>
> I don't remember what you said you wanted, but I have a Kyocera FS1020-D
> mono laser which has performed faultlessly these last five years or so.
> It has a duplexer which also is driven properly. I also have a next-to
> useless HP D4260 inkjet. It purports to work properly but it's used so
> seldom that I can't get an even ink deposition.
>
> HTH.
>
> --
> Rgds
> Peter
>
>

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Chris Stankevitz]

On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 1:45 PM, Michael Mol <mikemol@gmail.com> wrote:
> More or less.

Hrm.  I have the same printer and I had to visit brother's website and
download some kind of binary to get it working.  I was hoping to
emerge cups and have it "just work" but that was not the case for me.
Then again I don't even know what is PCL, IPP, PostScript, foomatic,
hplip, ppds, etc.

Chris

[gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[James]

Michael Mol <mikemol <at> gmail.com> writes:


> > Are you saying that you were able to print to your brother printers by
> > more or less following these steps:
> > 1. buy a computer, install gentoo
> > 2. buy a brother printer, plug it into computer via usb
> > 3. emerge net-print/cups and net-print/foomatic-filters
> > 4. Visit the local cups webpage, add new printer, select "brother"
> > 5. print

> > Notably missing from my list is a visit to brother's website (or any
> > other website) to download drivers/binaries/confs/etc.

> More or less. The Brother printers happen to be attached to a Debian
> box, but the Gentoo box doesn't require any additional drivers in
> order to feed the content to the Debian box over IPP. (And the Debian
> box isn't doing any PCL->Brother or PostScript->Brother translation.)

Wow, when I go into CUPS, I do not even see brother
listed. (localhost:631) on a gentoo system.

this link:

http://www.openprinting.org/printers

did list many brother printers,but not the
one  I'm interested in :

Brother MFC-J6710DW Inkjet 


What did you do to your cups to get it to show (flags?)
brother printers as an option to install a brother printer?

Here are my flags:

Installed versions:  1.5.2-r4^t(00:11:27 09/13/12)(X acl dbus filters gnutls
java jpeg ldap pam perl png python slp ssl threads tiff usb -avahi <snip>

Maybe the debian system has other additional software installed
besides cups?
James

[gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[James]

Neil Bothwick <neil <at> digimed.co.uk> writes:



> I have a Brother MFC-7460DN network laser AIO. Both printing and scanning
> work fine, using modified ebuilds from b.g.o. Duplex printing also works
> as expected.

OK, well, I cannot find any other printer close to the price/feature list,
as I really need 11x17 (ledger size paper) to print drawings, schematics
and 1/4 scale cad files (22" x 34") is the common autocad files I have
to create; 11x17 is 1/4 that size and they fold up nicely into a 
standard 8.5x11 report.


If I get in trouble with this hack, I'll drop you a line......
If you run across a wiki basically outlining the process,
let me know.


James

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Michael Mol]

On Thu, Sep 27, 2012 at 11:53 AM, James <wireless@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
> Michael Mol <mikemol <at> gmail.com> writes:
>
>
>> > Are you saying that you were able to print to your brother printers by
>> > more or less following these steps:
>> > 1. buy a computer, install gentoo
>> > 2. buy a brother printer, plug it into computer via usb
>> > 3. emerge net-print/cups and net-print/foomatic-filters
>> > 4. Visit the local cups webpage, add new printer, select "brother"
>> > 5. print
>
>> > Notably missing from my list is a visit to brother's website (or any
>> > other website) to download drivers/binaries/confs/etc.
>
>> More or less. The Brother printers happen to be attached to a Debian
>> box, but the Gentoo box doesn't require any additional drivers in
>> order to feed the content to the Debian box over IPP. (And the Debian
>> box isn't doing any PCL->Brother or PostScript->Brother translation.)
>
> Wow, when I go into CUPS, I do not even see brother
> listed. (localhost:631) on a gentoo system.
>
> this link:
>
> http://www.openprinting.org/printers
>
> did list many brother printers,but not the
> one  I'm interested in :
>
> Brother MFC-J6710DW Inkjet
>
>
> What did you do to your cups to get it to show (flags?)
> brother printers as an option to install a brother printer?
>
> Here are my flags:
>
> Installed versions:  1.5.2-r4^t(00:11:27 09/13/12)(X acl dbus filters gnutls
> java jpeg ldap pam perl png python slp ssl threads tiff usb -avahi <snip>
>
> Maybe the debian system has other additional software installed
> besides cups?

Looking at dependencies, these may be relevant packages installed on
the debian box:

cups-driver-gutenprint
foomatic-db
foomatic-engine

So, I may be wrong about my print server not doing translation. Or
maybe my print server is providing IPP clients with the appropriate
PPD file to generate printer commands. I really don't know. My setup
seems to just work.

You might poke net-print/foomatic-filters-ppds and
net-print/gutenprint. Really, I'd suggest you try
net-print/foomatic-*; it's easier to shotgun it and reduce to a
minimal working set than attack it from the other direction.

-- 
:wq

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: new printer suggestions?

[Chris Stankevitz]

On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 2:08 PM, Michael Trausch <mike@trausch.us> wrote:
> I have used Lexmark lasers (mono and
> color) for

> They work with
> standard PostScript drivers out of the box

Michael,

Are you saying that you were able to print to your Lexmark laser printers by
more or less following these steps:

1. buy a computer, install gentoo

2. buy a lexmark mono or laser printer, plug it into computer via usb

3. emerge net-print/cups

4. Do something with "standard postscript drivers" (??? please
elaborate on this)

5. Visit the local cups webpage, add new printer, select "lexmark"

6. print

Notably absent from this list:
PCL, IPP, foomatic, hplip, ppds, binary, drivers, manufacturer website
visits, etc

Thank you!

Chris