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 <w7...@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. >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> PLUG mailing list >>>> PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org >>>> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug >>> _______________________________________________ >>> PLUG mailing list >>> PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org >>> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug >> _______________________________________________ >> PLUG mailing list >> PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org >> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug >> > > _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug