Printer recommendation (color inkjet, low per-page cost, OS/2 and Linux compatible)

[Timur Tabi]

Hi,

My Lexmark Optra Color 40 has seen better days, so I think it's time
to buy a new printer. The printouts are slightly tilted to the left,
and I nothing I've tried has fixed it.

I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
are:

1) Excellent OS/2 and Linux support
2) Parallel-port interface (not USB)
3) Reasonably-priced cartridges (I'm not interested in printers that
are really cheap but use expensive cartridges)
4) No utility software required (my Optra 40 needs a "cartridge
utility" to change /align cartridges and clean the nozzles, and I
hate that)

Since I can't use USB, I know my options are limited.

 

[Matt Walsh]

Epson C-80 or 82
Matt

Hi,

My Lexmark Optra Color 40 has seen better days, so I think it's time
to buy a new printer. The printouts are slightly tilted to the left,
and I nothing I've tried has fixed it.

I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
are:

1) Excellent OS/2 and Linux support
2) Parallel-port interface (not USB)
3) Reasonably-priced cartridges (I'm not interested in printers that
are really cheap but use expensive cartridges)
4) No utility software required (my Optra 40 needs a "cartridge
utility" to change /align cartridges and clean the nozzles, and I
hate that)

Since I can't use USB, I know my options are limited.

Matt Walsh El Paso, TX
OS/2 Outpost....................
Computin' & Shootin in the dust.................

 

[ray]

Hi,

My Lexmark Optra Color 40 has seen better days, so I think it's time
to buy a new printer. The printouts are slightly tilted to the left,
and I nothing I've tried has fixed it.

I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
are:

1) Excellent OS/2 and Linux support
2) Parallel-port interface (not USB)
3) Reasonably-priced cartridges (I'm not interested in printers that
are really cheap but use expensive cartridges)
4) No utility software required (my Optra 40 needs a "cartridge
utility" to change /align cartridges and clean the nozzles, and I
hate that)

Since I can't use USB, I know my options are limited.

For linux it seems that PostScript or HPGL compatibility are good.

 

[Klaus Staedtler]

I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
are:

Canon i550 or i850

1) Excellent OS/2 and Linux support

For OS/2 omni.drv for Linux you have to buy Turboprint (although it can
be used in demo-mode, means with lesss options, quality, but it's worth
to pay the ~25$) http://www.turboprint.de/english.html

2) Parallel-port interface (not USB)

They have both

3) Reasonably-priced cartridges (I'm not interested in printers that
are really cheap but use expensive cartridges)

additionally colors can be replaced seperately, black-ink cartridges
(~350pages are around 12 $) and canon hasn't changed these catridges
(which can be used on many canon models) for quite a long time now

4) No utility software required (my Optra 40 needs a "cartridge
utility" to change /align cartridges and clean the nozzles, and I
hate that)

You might want to use the 'utility' delivered with omni.drv once to set
the printer to 'auto-on/off' (with a customable time). No utility
required for changing cartridges, but some head-cleaning tool (included
in omni.drv) is sometimes helpful.


Klaus Staedtler

 

[Klaus Staedtler]

For OS/2 omni.drv for Linux you have to buy Turboprint (although it can
be used in demo-mode, means with lesss options, quality, but it's worth
to pay the ~25$) http://www.turboprint.de/english.html

An addition: you may also want to try the Canon linux drivers for these
printers

http://cweb.canon.jp/drv-upd/bj/bjlinux220.html

Attention page is in japanese and I haven't tried the drivers myself
(yet ;-)

Klaus Staedtler

 

[Martin Törnsten]

Captain's log. On StarDate 12 Jul 2003 15:01:23 -0700 received comm from
"(e-mail address removed) (Timur Tabi) on channel comp.os.os2.misc ":


: I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
: are:

Suggestion, skip ink jet and go with a color laser instead.

: 1) Excellent OS/2 and Linux support

Get a PostScript one and you will have no problem.

: 2) Parallel-port interface (not USB)

No problem. Most of them has both.

: 3) Reasonably-priced cartridges (I'm not interested in printers that
: are really cheap but use expensive cartridges)

Toner cartridges are even cheaper than the most economical ink cart.

: 4) No utility software required (my Optra 40 needs a "cartridge
: utility" to change /align cartridges and clean the nozzles, and I
: hate that)

No problem with a color laser. No adjustment needed at all.

Best regards,

martin törnsten

 

[Snoopy]

Captain's log. On StarDate 12 Jul 2003 15:01:23 -0700 received comm from
"(e-mail address removed) (Timur Tabi) on channel comp.os.os2.misc ":


: I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
: are:

Suggestion, skip ink jet and go with a color laser instead.

Fantastic! Will you be ready to sponsor one for me, too???

One of the most common reasens for asking questions about linux
supporting InkJet-Printers is their price.

Most of the readers of such news-groups cannot afford a color-laser-printer!


Snoopy

 

[dave Stanton]

O

An addition: you may also want to try the Canon linux drivers for these
printers

http://cweb.canon.jp/drv-upd/bj/bjlinux220.html

Attention page is in japanese and I haven't tried the drivers myself
(yet ;-)

Klaus Staedtler

Are these genuine Canon drivers ?. I thought Canon got all huffy about
Linux.

Dave

 

[Paul Davis]

On 12 Jul, in article
<[email protected]>
(e-mail address removed) "Timur Tabi" wrote:

[snip]

I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements

[snip]

A similar discussion is taking place on uk.comp.os.linux. Subject line
is "Recommended printer". You can find it on Google Groups Search.
You'll see plenty of helpful suggestions there.
-Paul

 

[Excitable Boy]

Hi,

My Lexmark Optra Color 40 has seen better days, so I think it's time
to buy a new printer. The printouts are slightly tilted to the left,
and I nothing I've tried has fixed it.

I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
are:

1) Excellent OS/2 and Linux support
2) Parallel-port interface (not USB)
3) Reasonably-priced cartridges (I'm not interested in printers that
are really cheap but use expensive cartridges)
4) No utility software required (my Optra 40 needs a "cartridge
utility" to change /align cartridges and clean the nozzles, and I
hate that)

This may not be what you want, but the Lexmark Optra 45 / Xerox C20
were very common at one time. I still see them occasionally on eBay.
They are much sturdier than the 40 and I've been quite pleased with
mine. They don't have a big glitz factor, but do PCL and Postscript
both, like the 40, are bigger (11" x 17"), quieter, and better built.
Some people in these groups snagged several when they were selling
cheap on eBay, you may be able to get one with low hours for a good
price. I really love the Postscript feature. Many built-in utilities,
overall a much better printer than the 40 - and the 40 was mostly okay.

 

[Bob Eager]

This may not be what you want, but the Lexmark Optra 45 / Xerox C20
were very common at one time. I still see them occasionally on eBay.

Yes, I got mine for about $140 brand new...works well.

They are much sturdier than the 40 and I've been quite pleased with
mine. They don't have a big glitz factor, but do PCL and Postscript
both, like the 40, are bigger (11" x 17"), quieter, and better built.
Some people in these groups snagged several when they were selling
cheap on eBay, you may be able to get one with low hours for a good
price. I really love the Postscript feature. Many built-in utilities,
overall a much better printer than the 40 - and the 40 was mostly okay.

I have the Xerox version, but use the Lexmark cartridges as they are
easier anbd cheaper to obtain.

 

[Martin Törnsten]

Captain's log. On StarDate Sun, 13 Jul 2003 13:48:21 +0200 received comm from
"Snoopy <[email protected]> on channel comp.os.os2.misc ":

: Martin Törnsten wrote:
: > Captain's log. On StarDate 12 Jul 2003 15:01:23 -0700 received comm from
: > "(e-mail address removed) (Timur Tabi) on channel comp.os.os2.misc ":
: >
: >
: > : I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
: > : are:
: >
: > Suggestion, skip ink jet and go with a color laser instead.
: >
:
: Fantastic! Will you be ready to sponsor one for me, too???
:
: One of the most common reasens for asking questions about linux
: supporting InkJet-Printers is their price.
:
: Most of the readers of such news-groups cannot afford a color-laser-printer!

Now is the time!

HP recently introduced a new consumer series of color lasers for home users.

I just got so tired of buying expensive ink jet cartridges for my wife HP
Photosmart, so I bit the bullet and just bought a new colour laser printer a
couple of months ago. I haven't regretted that one second.

I use it to print almost everything except perhaps the pure digital photo paper
prints (laser printers doesn't support printing on photo quality glossy paper,
so if you want that type of reflective glossy look you still have to use an ink
jet photo printer).

As it's probably much less than 5% of all prints in our home who is done on
glossy photo paper I expect to not have to buy new ink cartridges for quite some
time (got both a new black and a new color cartridge just some weeks ago).

Also from a hassle and time consuming point of view I really look forward to not
have to waste energy on all the ink cartridges (usually they start to fade in
ink when you need to print things the most -- and typically the low ink jet
warnings comes too late, or you miss to pay attention to them).

I have only used it to print from Windows XP, but according to HP the printer
supports and works with OS/2 (but you have to download the drivers from IBM).

It supports both PCL (PCL5c and PCL 6) and PostScript (Level 1, 2 and 3), with
the latter good for not only OS/2, but also UNIX based system (Linux, BSD, etc).

It comes with both an USB and a traditional printer port (good for OS/2 users
if USB driver is a problem on some machines), and some of the more expensive
models also has an ethernet connection build in (my printer has an expansion
slot to insert such a card).

I think it's the first colour laser printer made for home (and home offices) and
it actually prints better than any of the professional (and 5x to 15x more
expensive) colour laser printers I have used in my office (an older QMS) and at
customers sites (both older and newer colour laser printers and really expensive
networked colour multi copiers/printer/scanners).

I'm very satisfied with both the print quality and the speed of it (even the
fastest ink jets are really *slow* compared to this printer).

I always wanted to have a laser printer at home, but was always turned off by
the fact that the affordable laser printers used to be only in black and white.

HP Color LaserJet 2500 series printers:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/ho/WF02a/18972-236251-236268.html
PDF (better technical info): http://www.hp.com/itrc_pdi/products/pdfs/81954.pdf

Highly recommended!

Best regards,

martin törnsten

 

[Martin Törnsten]

Captain's log. On StarDate 13 Jul 2003 17:33:07 GMT received comm from
"(e-mail address removed) on channel comp.os.os2.misc ":

: In addition, color lasers do not yet give photo quality, only
: 'brouchure' quality.

Yes, that's true.

: Look into dye-sub hot-melt solid-ink printers for real photo quality,
: esp in 4x6 smaller size they are reasonably priced. These reportedly
: do not plug up/dry up on you like the 'jets and results look just like
: PhotoMat or better.

Sounds like a good alternative for printing photos (my ink jet is over two years
old and technology and quality goes forward rapidly).

Personally I have started to use all the new photo stores and printing business
who can print photos quite cheaply (often using a more advanced laser/chemical
process from Fuji) and with perfect photo quality (as good as developing and
printing from traditional chemical film).

If you add the price for all the special photo papers, expensive ink, and not at
least all the hassle to print larger batches of photos, I think that kind of
services seems like a good option instead of your own dedicated photo printer,
and in many cases much cheaper as well.

But if one would need one to have some photos printed more rapidly than a day
(normal time for these kind of services) your above suggestion seems like a
worthwhile one to consider.

Best regards,

martin törnsten

 

[Jacob Westenbach]

Hi,

My Lexmark Optra Color 40 has seen better days, so I think it's time
to buy a new printer. The printouts are slightly tilted to the left,
and I nothing I've tried has fixed it.

I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
are:

1) Excellent OS/2 and Linux support
2) Parallel-port interface (not USB)
3) Reasonably-priced cartridges (I'm not interested in printers that
are really cheap but use expensive cartridges)
4) No utility software required (my Optra 40 needs a "cartridge
utility" to change /align cartridges and clean the nozzles, and I
hate that)

Take a look at the Epson Stylus C-80 printer. It meets all of your specs
except for cheap ink (I don't think there are any inkjets that will meet
that one). It is directly supported by cups or gimp-print. I can't recall
if there is a util needed for reset/alignment or not. Most printers require
this regardless of OS environment.

JW

 

[Jacob Westenbach]

Captain's log. On StarDate Sun, 13 Jul 2003 13:48:21 +0200 received comm from
"Snoopy <[email protected]> on channel comp.os.os2.misc ":

: Martin Törnsten wrote:
: > Captain's log. On StarDate 12 Jul 2003 15:01:23 -0700 received comm from
: > "(e-mail address removed) (Timur Tabi) on channel comp.os.os2.misc ":
: >
: >
: > : I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
: > : are:
: >
: > Suggestion, skip ink jet and go with a color laser instead.
: >
:
: Fantastic! Will you be ready to sponsor one for me, too???
:
: One of the most common reasens for asking questions about linux
: supporting InkJet-Printers is their price.
:
: Most of the readers of such news-groups cannot afford a color-laser-printer!

Now is the time!

HP recently introduced a new consumer series of color lasers for home users.


HP Color LaserJet 2500 series printers:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/ho/WF02a/18972-236251-236268.html
PDF (better technical info): http://www.hp.com/itrc_pdi/products/pdfs/81954.pdf

Highly recommended!

Still, for most of us spending $1000+ on a printer could lead to divorce
court (it would for me anyway).

JW

 

[Stanley Krute]

Hi Timur

To open up the universe of printer possibilities, you might
consider adding a USB 2.0 card to your system.

A nice one that I install in folks' older computers
is the Koutech F2580N. It has a 4-port front panel
that sits in a 3.5" bay. About $50 or so.

After more RAM, it's one of the best investments
for an older computer system. USB 2.0 is quite
delightful.

Stan

 

[TCS]

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Hi Timur

To open up the universe of printer possibilities, you might
consider adding a USB 2.0 card to your system.

usb2.0 is overkill for printing.

usb1.x @ 11mbps is faster than any printer's needs.

 

[B. Joshua Rosen]

Hi,

My Lexmark Optra Color 40 has seen better days, so I think it's time to
buy a new printer. The printouts are slightly tilted to the left, and I
nothing I've tried has fixed it.

I was hoping someone could recommend an inkjet to me. My requirements
are:

1) Excellent OS/2 and Linux support
2) Parallel-port interface (not USB)
3) Reasonably-priced cartridges (I'm not interested in printers that are
really cheap but use expensive cartridges) 4) No utility software required
(my Optra 40 needs a "cartridge utility" to change /align cartridges and
clean the nozzles, and I hate that)

Since I can't use USB, I know my options are limited.

Get a postscript laser printer. Stay away from ink jets, they cost a
fortune to operate and their ink jets clog if you don't use them
frequently. Laser printers cost more initially but in the long run they
are much cheaper. I've used a variety of HP and Lexmark laser printers and
they all work fine with Linux.

 

[Wayne]

I just emailed Canon about drivers in Linux for the S820. The reply
is that they don't ssupport Linux.

An addition: you may also want to try the Canon linux drivers for these
printers

http://cweb.canon.jp/drv-upd/bj/bjlinux220.html

Attention page is in japanese and I haven't tried the drivers myself
(yet ;-)

Klaus Staedtler

(e-mail address removed)

 

[Wayne]

Does Epson still provide excellent OS/2 support for its' printers?
If so check out these:

EPSON Stylus Photo 960
www.linuxprinting.org reports it /mostly/ works. Note it uses
individual color cartridges. They sell all these inks for $11.35 on
the Epson site.
Epson page: http://tinyurl.com/exk5

EPSON Stylus Photo 1280
www.linuxprinting.org reports it works perfectly. Note it uses a
single color cartridge. They sell the color cart for $28.45 and the
Black cart for $23.70 on the Epson site.
Epson page: http://tinyurl.com/gw0j

FYI, my next color inkjet will be one of the Epson printers. My HP
and Lexmark inkjet ink carts are *too* expensive. :-/ Caveat, I only
use Linux with the inkjets and have little experience trying to use
them on OS/2. I did run the Lexmark inkjet on OS/2 for a while but I
needed to print multipart invoices so it was moved to a Linux box. My
eCS 1.1 box (when I get it rebuilt <sigh>) uses an Epson LQ-570+
24-pin impact printer.

Read this before purchasing an Epson:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/31623.html

Cheers

Wayne