On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:47:27 +0200, Registros Web wrote:

> Im about to buy a printer and want to make sure I get one that uses 100%
> free software, no blobs or proprietary drivers, so I can get on using it
> even if the manufacturer decides to cease support of the printer.

PostScript printers (laser/led) are usually the best ones to get that. In
the worst scenario (imagine the printer manufacturer closes their
business and stop making printers) you can still use a standard PPD
PostScript file and your printer will at least "print" :-)

> The thing is that I can't find a place where to look for such
> information.

(...)

> So if anyone can point me in the right direction, I'll be grateful.

"OpenPrinting" used to have a pile of faqs/guides and also a list of
linux-friendly and not-that-friendly printers, it maybe worth to take a
look:

http://www.openprinting.org/printers/

Also, openSUSE has a nice KB for this:

http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Printer_buying_guide

But there are many printer models out there and manufacturers put "5" new
models every 6 months so I would first select a printer device I'd like
(because of its technical specs, shape and the cost of its cartridges)
and then search for information on how it work in linux.

I personally like HP printers (all-in-one devices) but unless strictly
necessary, I would avoid inkjet devices and go for a laser/led based
machine.

Greetings,

--
Camaleón


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On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:17:58 +0300, Teemu Likonen wrote:

> Registros Web [2012-07-23 12:47:27 +0200] wrote:
>
>> Im about to buy a printer and want to make sure I get one that uses
>> 100% free software, no blobs or proprietary drivers, so I can get on
>> using it even if the manufacturer decides to cease support of the
>> printer.
>
> I suggest buying a PostScript printer with ethernet connection. They use
> simple PPD files (plain text files) which describe printer's features.
> The manufacturer should ship such file with the printer.
>
> Also, PostScript printers can be used with generic PostScript printer
> driver so you don't need to install any drivers.
>
> Ethernet connection allows you to plug the printer to your home
> NAT/router and use it from any computer behind the router. It also means
> web-based configuration.

Do you want free software inside the printer, in case you find you need
to reprogram the printer itself?

A fair number of printers that do postscript are actually ghostscript
printers. Technically, ghostscript is nonfree, but when I investigated a
while ago, each version of ghostscript remanins proprietary for about two
years, and is then released free.

But I don't know whether it is modified in proprietary ways to run inside
particular printers. It's possible there are proprietary device drivers
inside the printer to control the printer's own hardware.

-- hendrik


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On Mon 23 Jul 2012 at 14:11:57 +0000, Hendrik Boom wrote:

> A fair number of printers that do postscript are actually ghostscript
> printers. Technically, ghostscript is nonfree, but when I investigated a
> while ago, each version of ghostscript remanins proprietary for about two
> years, and is then released free.

A better way of looking at it is: Printers may come with PostScript
interpreters. GhostScript can generate the PostScript to send to them.

GhostScript has been released under the GNU General Public Licence for
some time now. The situation you describe (first releasing under a
non-free licence) no longer exists.


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On Mon 23 Jul 2012 at 08:29:49 -0300, Eduardo M KALINOWSKI wrote:

> On 07/23/2012 07:47 AM, Registros Web wrote:
> >Hi all,
> >
> >Im about to buy a printer and want to make sure I get one that uses
> >100% free software, no blobs or proprietary drivers, so I can get on
> >using it even if the manufacturer decides to cease support of the
> >printer.
>
> If you buy a printer that supports Postscript then you should be set
> without requiring any driver, as Linux applications generally output
> Postscript when printing.

All the major applications on the popular DEs are now geared up to
output in PDF format when printing.


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On 07/23/2012 07:17 AM, Teemu Likonen wrote:

Registros Web [2012-07-23 12:47:27 +0200] wrote:


Im about to buy a printer and want to make sure I get one that uses
100% free software, no blobs or proprietary drivers, so I can get on
using it even if the manufacturer decides to cease support of the
printer.

I suggest buying a PostScript printer with ethernet connection. They use
simple PPD files (plain text files) which describe printer's features.
The manufacturer should ship such file with the printer.

Also, PostScript printers can be used with generic PostScript printer
driver so you don't need to install any drivers.

Ethernet connection allows you to plug the printer to your home
NAT/router and use it from any computer behind the router. It also means
web-based configuration.



I second that Ethernet suggestion. I have an old HP LaserJet that
never heard of Ethernet, but I bought a hardware device that converts
Ethernet input to parallel for a printer, and now I can use that printer
from 3 computers that all connect to the same router. Then, just
recently, I bought a Canon all-in-one that has an Ethernet port, and
now I can use that from all three computers also. It's wonderful--
you don't have to know anything about networking, and the printer(s)
will work whatever the operating system might be on the source end.

--doug

--
Blessed are the peacekeepers...for they shall be shot at from both sides. --A.M. Greeley


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On 07/23/2012 07:51 AM, Registros Web wrote:

On Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 1:17 PM, Teemu Likonen<tlikonen@iki.fi> wrote:

Registros Web [2012-07-23 12:47:27 +0200] wrote:


Im about to buy a printer and want to make sure I get one that uses
100% free software, no blobs or proprietary drivers, so I can get on
using it even if the manufacturer decides to cease support of the
printer.

I suggest buying a PostScript printer with ethernet connection. They use
simple PPD files (plain text files) which describe printer's features.
The manufacturer should ship such file with the printer.

Also, PostScript printers can be used with generic PostScript printer
driver so you don't need to install any drivers.

Ethernet connection allows you to plug the printer to your home
NAT/router and use it from any computer behind the router. It also means
web-based configuration.


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PostScript sounds great guys but, how do I now if a printer is a
PostScript printer? Do you know of any brand that makes then?


It should say in the specs. Many, maybe most, HP printers do.

--doug






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Stan Hoeppner wrote at 2012-07-23 06:59 -0500:
> On 7/23/2012 6:17 AM, Teemu Likonen wrote:
> > I suggest buying a PostScript printer with ethernet connection.
>
> LEXMARK E260dn, monochrome laser:

I purchased a Lexmark E360dn, hoping for good Linux support. It prints
nicely, but does not give a good experience with regard to paper type and
tray selection. The only problem, as far as I can tell, is that there is no
correct PPD file: even the PPD provided by Lexmark is broken. I tried
writing one (PPDC), but did not have the time to learn the syntax, etc
(remotely deployed printer). With that fixed, I *think* it would work
perfectly.

I do wish there were more hardware manufacturers with a real interest in
making their products work well with Linux. HP is the best I have seen:
http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/recommended.html

On Mon, 2012-07-23 at 14:30 -0500, green wrote:
> HP is the best I have seen:
> http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/recommended.html

I only can speak for an outdated DeskJet 600. For this kind of low
quality printer you can get very good prints, if you find the Gutenprint
driver, which can take some time. But it has a serious drawback, with
one ink cartridge you only can print a few pages. This might be
different for modern HP printers.

Regards,
Ralf




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PS:
On Mon, 2012-07-23 at 22:28 +0200, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
> On Mon, 2012-07-23 at 14:30 -0500, green wrote:
> > HP is the best I have seen:
> > http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/recommended.html
>
> I only can speak for an outdated DeskJet 600. For this kind of low
> quality printer you can get very good prints, if you find the Gutenprint
the best
Gutenprint driver, not all for this printer are good
> driver, which can take some time. But it has a serious drawback, with
> one ink cartridge you only can print a few pages. This might be
> different for modern HP printers.
>
> Regards,
> Ralf
>
>




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> All the major applications on the popular DEs are now geared up to
> output in PDF format when printing.

Yes but CUPS should handle that for you automatically.


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