[PLUG] Cheap printer for Raspberry Pi idea

Larry Brigman larry.brigman at gmail.com
Mon Aug 14 06:14:07 UTC 2017


I find that cups will support anything that supplies a ppd file.  On the
printers at work, we found the ppd file in the mac drivers package for the
canon printers.

On Sun, Aug 13, 2017 at 9:58 PM, Dave <W7DAL at comcast.net> wrote:

> Thanks Tyrell for that valuable link. I will also take a closer look at
> HPLIP with regard to some other printers here.
>
> I ordered an HP Deskjet 1112 from Amazon for this application. It claims
> to have full support for Linux Debian (RPi?) and Mint via USB. For $29
> it's worth a try. :-$. If it works, it should be a perfect small
> addition to a stand-alone RPi student learning station.
>
> -Dave
>
>
> On 8/13/2017 8:47 PM, Tyrell Jentink wrote:
> > It's been a while since I plugged in my HP printer... I have one of the
> > OfficeJet Pro L7680, stopped using it because I don't print frequently
> and
> > so Laser printers are better suited to my needs...  But when I was
> > researching the purchase, I referenced HPLIP, the HP Linux Imaging and
> > Printing project:
> > http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/supported_devices/index.html
> >
> > The HPLIP project is initiated and led by HP directly, and in my
> > experience, they are pretty good about keeping their lists up to date.
> >
> > I am not fluant in CUPS, and my understanding may be fundamentally
> > flawed...  But it is my understanding that CUPS only supports a short
> list
> > of printers directly, but provides a common API for drivers for other
> > printers to be written.  When it comes to HP printers, I believe the
> go-to
> > driver is HPLIP, and I believe HPLIP depends on CUPS.
> >
> > I suspect other printers are supported indirectly in a similar manner,
> and
> > thus they may not show up on the Pi CUPS list...  Even though they are
> > indeed supported, potentially out of the box...
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Aug 12, 2017 at 5:38 PM, Dave <W7DAL at comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Tom-
> >>
> >> Thanks for your thoughts.
> >>
> >> I have owned a LOT of printers over the years. Starting with an early
> >> Centronics in the '70s that sounded like washing machine and cost a
> >> fortune! Also had an Epson MX-80 before it was released to the public. .
> >> Then wrote the tutorial book that went in the box. 8-).
> >>
> >> Had a few really good printers over time, but a number of
> >> disappointments too. Too many have not worked well with Linux thus my
> >> caution here.
> >>
> >> For this little learning application I just want something that
> >> definitely works with the Pi. Am checking the Pi CUPS list here now
> >> against the offerings of WalMart, Office Depot, Costco etc and have not
> >> found even one that is on the list. Most CUPS listings are for obsolete
> >> printers it seems...
> >>
> >> -Dave
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 8/12/2017 5:05 PM, Tom wrote:
> >>> I am great fan of HP printers and multifunction devices - because they
> >>> just work on Linux (with some rare exceptions).
> >>> My current one HP 8600, in the past: HP 3510, HP 1505N, .....
> >>> Generally, it just prints and also scans with some minor love.
> >>> I have also owned Epson C88 (I think) - the printer worked just fine in
> >>> Linux - it wasted as much ink as the HP printers, but it would not work
> >>> with EU bought ink - which was major pain.
> >>> Just look up the printer in CUPS list before buying it - it is trivial
> >>> to carry the list in the smart-phone avoiding two trips to store.
> >>> If fact, I would not hesitate returning the printer if it would not
> >>> work with Linux - it is their problem to solve if they do not bother to
> >>> write a statement for Linux users on the box.
> >>> I do not expect much from a printer these days 50-100 pages a year -
> >>> hence my bias - some years are 3x depending on moves/relocation
> >>> WARNING: Customary rant about printers
> >>> I hope that I am not starting something bigger by expressing my
> >>> opinion:
> >>>    - there is not such thing as cheap inkjet printer these days due to
> >>> ink cost coupled with regular head cleaning cycles.
> >>>    - I do not print a lot - there have been couple instances that I
> have
> >>> printed about 20-30 pages per 4x cartridge set due to time passage and
> >>> regular cleaning cycles.
> >>>    - My wife prints a lot (work related) and went trough $150 ink per
> >>> month in her cheap ~$60 HP printer. We got expensive, enterprise
> >>> printer with low per page cost to fix that.
> >>>    - Without calculating it - owning reliably functioning inkjet
> printer
> >>> can costs as much as $80 per year in ink printed or wasted.
> >>> Tomas
> >>> On Sat, 2017-08-12 at 14:19 -0700, Dave wrote:
> >>>> I'm looking to buy a a small cheap inkjet printer to dedicate to a
> >>>> Raspberry Pi. USB connect, no multipurpose, and actually has a driver
> >>>> in
> >>>> the CUPS list. Ideas appreciated.
> >>>>
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