Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:23:20 -0600 From: David Kelly <dkelly@hiwaay.net> To: Roland Smith <rsmith@xs4all.nl> Cc: Andrew Gould <andrewlylegould@gmail.com>, FreeBSD Questions Mailing List <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: [OT] printing question Message-ID: <20081118192320.GB16944@Grumpy.DynDNS.org> In-Reply-To: <20081118185147.GB73692@slackbox.xs4all.nl> References: <d356c5630811180849n527c6feex44de962885d9b724@mail.gmail.com> <20081118185147.GB73692@slackbox.xs4all.nl>
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On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 07:51:47PM +0100, Roland Smith wrote: > On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 10:49:44AM -0600, Andrew Gould wrote: > > Time to buy a new printer. I don't print much from FreeBSD; but the > > need occasionally arises. Most of my printing is done while using > > Mac OS X. The Epson Artisan 800 is looking awfully nice; but it's > > not in the Linux printing database yet > > (http://openprinting.org/printer_list.cgi). > > > > Question: Since Mac OS X uses CUPS, if I share the printer on the > > Mac, will I need to worry about FreeBSD compatibility of the > > printer? I only need printing functions (not scan, etc) for the > > FreeBSD computer. > > I'm not sure that apple uses a non-modified CUPS. It is conceivable > that they have incorporated extra (not open) drivers that aren't in > the standard distribution. MacOS X will share a printer with Windows. I don't know how the driver thing is negotiated. The Mac may happily accept Postscript and then do whatever is needed to print. > If you want to be safe, buy a printer that understands PostScript. > That will work on FreeBSD (and all other UNIX variants). Sounds like the OP is looking for color. If B&W is enough my favorite inexpensive printer is the Brother HL-5250DN. Speaks Postscript-clone, PCL-5 and PCL-6. Direct network connection so each computer speaks directly to the printer. Duplex. About 25 ppm. Third party toner reloads cost about $25 for 5,000 pages. The printer sells for $150 to $250 depending on sales and whether you can find a refurbished unit. Years ago I had access to an HP 5000N that would print photo quality matte (not glossy) B&W on plain paper. Not quite sure what it is about the Brother (or printer drivers because this was pre-MacOS X) but I enjoyed wonderful cheap B&W prints off the HP but the Brother isn't nearly as good. Text and line graphics are excellent. -- David Kelly N4HHE, dkelly@HiWAAY.net ======================================================================== Whom computers would destroy, they must first drive mad.
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