printers compatible with Gnu&Linux

Hi :slight_smile:
I keep asking this question in various places (such as linuxquestions or in ubuntu forums) but never seem to get any useful responses.

Many large offices have at least one large "photocopier" that often also does printing.  It's usually so large that it has a lot of trays for different sizes of paper (or as back-up for when 1 tray gets emptied).  Typically about chest high or just over waist high (depending how tall you are).  Usually got a multi-feed thing on the top to plonk 50 pages in and leave it to feed them all though.  Often with extra features such as collating and stapling bundles of pages (although the stapler usually breaks quite quickly).

Does anyone know of companies that do product-lines that are easily compatible with Gnu&Linux?

Usually answers to this question give links to specific one-off photocopiers being sold through ebay in a specific country and delivery charges would be astronomical.  What i am looking for is a reliable manufacturer so that i can look through several different types of machine and then buy through normal channels, like Viking Direct or Staples or something.  Errr, i am in England, not the USA.

It's not really a LibreOffice question but i thought some people here might work in offices and might have dealt with the problem before.

Regards from

Tom :slight_smile:

http://software.canon-europe.com/
it says: "Printing from UNIX, Linux, AS400, iSeries, Citrix & SAP"

they provide drivers for Linux

W dniu 2013-06-07 12:50, Luuk pisze:

http://software.canon-europe.com/
it says: "Printing from UNIX, Linux, AS400, iSeries, Citrix & SAP"

they provide drivers for Linux

Really Cannon? Have you got any experience with Cannon on the Linux?

Click on your link and next on the "for bussines box" as you typed "Printing from UNIX, Linux, AS400, iSeries, Citrix & SAP" gives me page:
http://www.canon-europe.com/For_Work/Solutions/enterpriseprint/

next click:
     [Linux Printing <http://www.canon-europe.com/Default.asp?URI=tcm:12-885840&CONTEXTURI=&FILTER=Data&ITEMTYPE=16&MODE=OpenModeEditWithFallback#Linux%20Printing>]

and I see:

  Page not found

As long I remmeber always was problem with Cannon printers on the Linux.

W dniu 2013-06-07 12:33, Tom Davies pisze:

Does anyone know of companies that do product-lines that are easily compatible with Gnu&Linux?

See as begining http://www.openprinting.org/printers/manufacturer/HP/ - remember - sometimes you will have to (re)install driver manually, sometimes replace the driver from distro (HP P1100 & Mandriva).

For work I use HP and Konica - both work. Tested on Debian 4-7 and Mandriva up to 2012.

I divide the Konica in two groups - full version (my models: C253, 4695MF) works in PCL&PS and version light - chipper but risk to work.

Silimar is problem with HP - see CUPS documentation for support. Generally HP works out of the box (my private HP-8500 multifuction I connected via USB and Debian7 autoinstalled), but some models don't understand PCL and/or PS. The HPijs also doesn't support all models.

If you want to use the special function like autorotation paper-sheet function Landscape=>Portrait (eg Ricoh multifunction devices) - first download PPD file and see is this function exists or not. If you need other languages in print dialog-box than english the translate messages in PPD file is the easier way.

Forget about Brother if you use 64bit distro, the drivers works OK only in 32bit version. Of course you can install on 64bit but it gives more problems that can be imagine in different kind like moved print-content always 5cm up and cut from the bottom.

Resume:
     + if printer support PCL and/or PS and/or hpijs
     + is PPD on the OpenPrinting website with remark "Perfectly"
     + is printer as vendor+model+connection-kind described in CUPS docs

W dniu 2013-06-07 12:50, Luuk pisze:

http://software.canon-europe.com/
it says: "Printing from UNIX, Linux, AS400, iSeries, Citrix & SAP"

they provide drivers for Linux

Really Cannon? Have you got any experience with Cannon on the Linux?

Click on your link and next on the "for bussines box" as you typed
"Printing from UNIX, Linux, AS400, iSeries, Citrix & SAP" gives me page:
http://www.canon-europe.com/For_Work/Solutions/enterpriseprint/

next click:
     [Linux Printing
<http://www.canon-europe.com/Default.asp?URI=tcm:12-885840&CONTEXTURI=&FILTER=Data&ITEMTYPE=16&MODE=OpenModeEditWithFallback#Linux%20Printing>]

and I see:

  Page not found

This has nothing to do with printing, its just an error on their website...
If you scroll down, in stead of clicking you see the info on 'Linux printing'

As long I remmeber always was problem with Cannon printers on the Linux.

When was the last time you tried? and your 'm' and 'n' keys on your keyboard are broken....

Hi :slight_smile:
Thanks :)  Cannon have a reasonably good reputation but Hewlett Packard have much better but all that seems to be for small printers that are meant to be run for 1 or maybe 2 desktops.  I'm really looking for something a lot more scaled up, to be run on a network of only about 20 desktops right now but possibly a whole lot more later on. 
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

This is not for 1, maybe 2 desktops:

http://www.canon-europe.com/For_Work/Products/Office_Print_Copy_Solutions/Office_Black_White/imageRUNNER_ADVANCE_6265i/

and.... i'm not working for Canon, and i seem to be advertising them here...... hmmmmm where did that come from ..... :wink:

Hi :slight_smile:
Brilliant answer!  Thanks :slight_smile:

The Konica C253 looks about the right size.

I've not had much luck with the Cups website nor the OpenPrinting one but it looks like they might have reorganised it, or else you are better at using it.  My money would be on the latter if i had to make a bet on it.

Thanks and regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

Hi :slight_smile:
That looks right too.  Don't worry about advocating for Cannon.  If you find something works it doesn't seem bad to say so, especially on mailing lists where other people can chip in with their thoughts/recommendations.  It's not like telephone support where no-one else can comment about your suggestions and the whole "conflict of interests" or dubious motives might be a factor.  It was interesting to see the link didn't work but scrolling down got there.  For some reason that give me more confidence than a website that is too perfect.

If i can go back to my boss with 2 or 3 manufacturers and recommendations from the list it's good for me.

Mieszko's might even help me fix our current Oki and Ricoh printers which would be a double-plus in my favour. 
Thanks and regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

For Linux printing - i.e. via LO

My use of this driver set for the HP laser has more than the strictly "postscript" version.

HPLaserjet2300pcl2,hpcups3.1.3.4

There are many more tray options, including the types of paper in the trays.

In the USA, I found it hard to find Linux drivers for my Canon printer.

So the key would be to find out which Printer has the best Linux driver[s] with the most tray options, from the tray number to the types of paper in that tray.

So far, HP may have the better options for me.

What it is like in Europe with its printer options and availability of Linux drivers, I have no clue. But I would look into the drivers thoroughly. I wonder if you can install the drivers without having the printers installed so you can test the drivers for their options within LO.

The same "hpcups" driver would not give me tray options when printing an email using Thunderbird, as it did with LO. SO, it is important to test the drivers with the packages you will be needing.

As for the big, copy/printer/collate/stapling machine, They have it on the office downstairs. IT is also a FAX machine. These are the type of all-in-one machines that many offices choose and we really need to make sure that LO, with the OS's drivers, can access all of the needed functions included withing that office printing device.

I get the impression that the op is not looking for a _printer,_ per se, but for a copying machine that can be used as a printer, also.
That's a novel idea (to me). Do such things exist?
--doug

I think there is a need for that office to beable to use the "tall" office copier/printer/FAX machine that holds several large [and/or small] trays dedicated for different paper types and sizes. That is the type that is in many of the offices I have been in. On device to all of their needs.

The key is that Windows drivers would have access to all of the device's options. What is needed is to find one that has Linux drivers to do the same thing. It is no good using Linux if you cannot use all the need functions of the printer for your office needs. Sometimes having both Linux and Windows computers attached to the office network that the large multi-function office printing device is connected to.

I searched for the best one for the HP laser printer that I use, for the tray and paper options, so I would not have to do too many option manually or need to run my laptop in Win7 mode. I have to do that with my HP wide format printer, but I do not want to do the same with the laser printer when I want to print anything other than letter paper in the "default" tray.

Hi :slight_smile:
Yes, that is exactly right.  I'd forgotten the old name for them.  Before they started being plugged into computer networks a few years ago they were called copying machines.  They generally cost a lot less to run than smaller printers that sit on the desktop.  The toner-costs/page are a lot lower and they are usually a lot faster and less noisy (at least when they are new and if they are working properly).  There are colour ones around now but offices still often get the b&w ones for the extremely low cost.

At my place we have an excessively high quality colour printer separately but it really should only be used for flyers, posters and other marketing materials.  Our old copier is such a pain to use that everyone has started using the colour one for trivial things and the toner for that costs "an arm and a leg" 
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

Hi :slight_smile:
Actually just being able to print to A4 would be plenty.  It would be a huge bonus to the current state-of-play and is about the main way we would use the printer anyway.

It's very rare for us to need the other trays and sizes.  Generally for that there would be someone standing by the machine coaxing it to work.  Also we have no idea how to use the stapling function from the desktop machines or even while standing at the machine (hence why the staple function breaks quite quickly every time it's ever been fixed).  So a new machine wouldn't need to do any more than the basics. 
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

Look at Kyocera TASKalfa Series...

Stefan

fifteen years ago, Kyocera was crap.....
I sure hope they improved their stuff since that time.

I think I have seen this brand here in the Northeast USA.
HP is one of the major brands for the "big" office printer, copier, fax, collating, stapling and multi-tray office machine. There are others, but so far it seems that the driver for Ubuntu with "HP CUPS" has the most printer tray and paper/envelope sizes/styles of all of the other brands of printers I have tried on my system.

I really think the key will be which brand and model of "big office printer" has the best driver, with the most options, for Linux. That is in the subject line after all. I have had [and have] some nice printers that currently have no proper Linux driver[s]. My HP 7000 wide format will print letter size [8.5 by 11 inches] but will not print the 11 by 17 inch paper, for which I bought it. I have to use my Win7 "boot" of my dual booting laptop to use that printer.

EDIT

I just got the HP 7000 printer to work with Ubuntu. Current driver from HP's Linux site is "3.13.5"

The Ubuntu 12.04 repository has version "3.12.2" so I installed or reinstalled;
hplip
hplip-gui
hplip-cups
printer-driver-hpijs
printer-driver-hpcups
hplip-ppds
and all of their associated packages.

Now it works. It seems that the newest version that HP's Linux driver page does not want to work, or I needed one or more of the listed packages that were not installed by doing "sh hplip-3-13-5.run".

W dniu 07.06.2013 15:03, Tom
      Davies pisze:Mieszko's might even help me fix our current Oki and Ricoh printers which would be a double-plus in my favour.I haven't got experience with OkiLinux - maybe I am wrong but
      if printer uses PostScript should works.Long time ago I had Ricoh - didn't remember model, but in PCL
      worked OK with Debian 4 including select trays, paper dimension,
      single/double sided printout, etc.In PPDwas described all
      functions and worked.--

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    <small><font color="#003300" face="Verdana">W dniu 07.06.2013 16:35,
        Kracked_P_P---webmaster pisze:</font></small>
    <blockquote cite="mid:51B1EFBF.9010906@krackedpress.com" type="cite"><small><font
          color="#003300" face="Verdana"> I wonder if you can install
          the drivers without having the printers installed so you can
          test the drivers for their options within LO.
          <br>
          <br>
          The same "hpcups" driver would not give me tray options when
          printing an email using Thunderbird, as it did with LO.  SO,
          it is important to test the drivers with the packages you will
          be needing.
        </font><font color="#003300">
        </font><font color="#003300" face="Verdana"><br>
        </font></small></blockquote>
    <small><font color="#003300" face="Verdana"><br>
        For TEST exists functions: (be carrefull, made copy of old PPD
        file)<br>
        <br>
        I don't know what is your distro and which version of CUPS do
        you use.  Based on my Debian - from about CUPS version 1.2 is
        possible for test install ANY printer driver.  Download
        your-desired-model PPD from OpenPrinting and replace the file by
        hand in folder /etc/cups/ppd/old-file.ppd as overwriting. 
        Restart CUPS+LO (or reboot your computer) and you can test
        printer functions.  Of course the real printout on the paper can
        be not possible.<br>
        <br>
      </font></small>
    <blockquote cite="mid:51B1EFBF.9010906@krackedpress.com" type="cite"><small>
        <font color="#003300" face="Verdana">As for the big,
          copy/printer/collate/stapling machine, They have it on the
          office downstairs.  IT is also a FAX machine.  These are the
          type of all-in-one machines that many offices choose and we
          really need to make sure that LO, with the OS's drivers, can
          access all of the needed functions included withing that
          office printing device.
        </font></small></blockquote>
    <small><font color="#003300" face="Verdana"><br>
        For FAX function from printer connected via USB in the past I
        used Kfax from KDE3.  Has anyone experience with any new/modern
        multi-function device-printer connected via IP address?  I have
        got 2pcs devices but none can be connected to telephone line.<br>
        <br>
        <br>
      </font></small>
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attachment contains confidential and proprietary information of WETZEL Holding AG and/or its affiliates and may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, reliance or distribution by others or forwarding without express permission is strictly prohibited and may cause liability. In case you have received this message due to an error in transmission, we kindly ask you to notify the sender immediately and to delete this email and any attachment from your system.</font></span></p></body>
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