Printers for Linux

DarkStar · Oct 26, 2010, 13:29:13

I am looking for a new printer that is compatible with Ubuntu 10.10. I have an old HP Deskjet 3420 that will give me prints, but not of terribly good quality. I am looking for recommendations based on user experience if possible for something that just works, does not require me to perform in the terminal

Anything up to £100, but below £75 if possible - just a printer or an all-in-one will do.
It seems that the Canon Pixma MP480/490/495 all just work but I don't want to get one and find it doesn't.
Have looked at www.openprinting.org and a couple of other sites but none say, yes, this definitely works.

Glenn · Oct 26, 2010, 13:51:53

http://mp610.blogspot.com/ says the 620 & 630 work with the 610 driver but those printers are a fair bit more.

MisterW · Oct 26, 2010, 14:07:40

Support for HP printers in general seems to be pretty good. I've had a PSC 2610 ( networked ) for a while now and it just worked when I tried it with Ubuntu. Haven't got any direct experience of current HP printers though I'm afraid.

trophymick · Oct 26, 2010, 14:43:56

I have a Samsung ML2525 laser printer (Not wireless) running great on Linux Mint 9 (Isadora), it was £65 delivered complete with ink tank, which they say will print 1,500 pages.

As all Linux os, you have to download the 'Samsung Unified Driver Configurator', and install the package.
HP, Epsom and Samsung seem to be better for Linux.

nowster · Oct 26, 2010, 17:30:14

For anything you're lumbered with that doesn't work with an existing open driver, it's worth looking at Turboprint. http://turboprint.info/

If you were looking at laser printers, PostScript compatibility would pretty much guarantee it'll work with Linux.

With inkjets, HP and Epson are very well supported by open source drivers; Canon less so (hence my pointer to Turboprint).

Steve · Oct 26, 2010, 17:56:24

Although I've used this site for Mac OS X in the past the drivers are Linux compatible and the tarball is available for download http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/

DarkStar · Oct 26, 2010, 21:19:10

Many thanks for the replies. Have been a bit busy today so will work my way through them tomorrow.

DarkStar · Oct 27, 2010, 20:09:49

Had a look at the options this afternoon and this one got my Canon Pixma ip2702 going a treat.

Quote from: nowster on Oct 26, 2010, 17:30:14
For anything you're lumbered with that doesn't work with an existing open driver, it's worth looking at Turboprint. http://turboprint.info/

If you were looking at laser printers, PostScript compatibility would pretty much guarantee it'll work with Linux.

With inkjets, HP and Epson are very well supported by open source drivers; Canon less so (hence my pointer to Turboprint).

Printed off a sunset picture I keep in 'My Pictures' once I had run the calibration procedure and it is far better than I ever got from the same printer using Windows 7.
So, thanks for the link nowster

- one happy bunny again. I really cannot see me going back to Windows, Windows 7 seems like a bad dream now