Printer?

Hi Travis,
I'm an extreme greenhorn but try this link:
http://h10018.www1.hp.com/wwsolutions/linux/products/printing_imaging/index.html#multi
I was looking at it the other day as I would like to find an all-in-one as well. I'm not familiar with other printers, but I'm also open to suggestion.

Good luck!
AnnieO

Annie:

We've got an HP PSC 1400 (actually, it's the PSC 1410, but it shows up as the PSC1400). It's an inexpensive multi-function printer, and it can copy even without a PC.

How much do you print? It's pretty bad on supplies (worse than other HP printers I've owned). But, at least the print heads never clog with HP printers like they do with most other brands.

This multi-function printer does not work on older versions of Mepis (and I couldn't get it working trying to update HPLIP either).

You'll need to upgrade to a newer Release Candidate to get it running. But, once installed, you can print or scan with it fine (and the HPLIP tool box also lets you check ink levels, align print heads, etc.).

I'm downloading 3.4.3 RC4 now, and I'll let you know if it works OK with this printer in a little while.

My younger brother has an HP PSC 2110, and it works fine with Mepis, too. This one might work on older Mepis releases OK (since I got it working with the first release candidate, that didn't work with the newer PSC 1400). But, I don't know if you'd still be able to find the HP PSC 2110 or not (it's a discontinued printer).

Jim C.

Hi Jim,

I've installed 3.4.3 RC3 (only just last night; wonder if I should just go ahead and install RC4?). I noticed that the PSC 1400 is still available and is only $79.99 (I guess Travis would be interested in this price; he actually started this topic). The PSC 2110 is discontinued, as you said, but they have a link to its replacement, the PSC 2350 at $179.99. I don't want to spend a whole lot, either. I don't do all that much printing, but want it to be reliable.

Thanks!
AnnieO

Annie, Travis (sorry about that, I didn't see who started the thread originally):

I just finished burning a CD with SimplyMEPIS 3.4.3 RC4. I booted from the Live CD and was able to use this printer (HP PSC 1410) with it. I know it will not work with 3.3.x releases of MEPIS (at least I couldn't get it working).

Newer RC's won't see it automatically. But, it's easy to install. Just go to the System, Settings menu choice and you'll see the HP Printer Toolbox (HPLIP).

When you click on it, it will say no HP printers found. But, you'll see a button to add a new printer using the CUPS web interface. Press it and it will load the utility to add one in a browser (Firefox by default). You don't need an internet connection to add a printer.

Make sure to select the first HP Printer it sees (it shows up more than once). It will be the 3rd entry in the list (at least on my PC), well before the rest of the choices start. It shows up as hp:/usb/psc1400.... (with a bunch of stuff in the line that looks like a serial number, etc.).

Then, when you continue to the Mnnufacturer screen, make sure to select HP-HPLIP (versus just HP). Then, select the PSC1400 from the list and continue through the prompts until it's added

It works fine (scan or print) and you can see it OK using the HPLIP toolbox to check ink levels, etc. too.

This printer does not have a built in modem for faxing (it's scan, copy or print). But, it works OK for what it costs (other than ink cartridges, of course).

I got this one at one of the local office supply stores (Office Depot). It actually says HP PSC1410 on the box and on the printer. But, it shows up as the HP PSC1400 when you add it to MEPIS.

Jim C.

Jim,

Wow, thanks for the good review and install instructions! Sounds like a good choice! that would be good for us too because we specifically didn't want fax capability included.

Thanks,
AnnieO

Well, if you get one, don't blame me for the supplies costs.

The cartridges are a bit "skimpy" (and of course, they get a premium for replacements).

BTW, this thing will continue printing for a long time after HP's utilities tell you the ink is low. I've been out of ink for a while now (according to HP's utilities and graphics, and it's still working (I've probably gone through at least 50 pages of text so far). It's not the utilities specific to Linux (HP's printer stuff under XP also shows them as low).

I think they do that deliberately (show them low before when they still have quite a bit of ink left in them).

So, perhaps the consumables costs aren't as bad as I think (unless you replace the cartrdiges when it shows low ink). I'll keep printing on the supposedly empty ones until it starts acting up. Then, I'll replace 'em. LOL

Jim C.