On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 20:13:21 +0000 MJ Ray mjr@dsl.pipex.com wrote:
It looks like the story so far is: Lexmark have patchy drivers; Canon are GNU/Linux-unfriendly; Epson have good drivers, but may rob you blind if the third party ink makers don't avoid the problem; HP have good drivers for most printers, but may do ink tricks too. I hate peripherals.
However I've had 2 Canon printers and both worked perfectly with Linux using CUPS and GimpPrint. I currently have a S400.
I think that this Windows only attitude is self limiting, because as the use of Linux becomes more widespread, then companies will have to produce Linux drivers or they just won't be able to shift their products. An occasional prod from existing Linux users probably wouldn't go amiss. :o)
Price of ink cartridges grates a bit but a colleague put me on to http://www.choicestationery.com. They sell 3rd party OEM cartridges which he has been using for a while now and he says he's quite happy with them. He did comment that they have less capacity than the Canon cartridges and that he felt the ink quality was not as good but when you compare the prices (for Canon ~2.50 vs. ~7.50) it doesn't seem to matter too much.
Anyway I've just ordered a complete set of cartridges for my printer an I'll let you know how I get on with them.
Keith