My cheap Linux printer

[greggh]

Since this epsiode talked a bit about printing in Linux I just wanted to brag about my super cheapo Linux printer. I got the Epson Stylus 880 inkjet for something like $40 four years ago and its still going strong. The best thing about this printer is that it uses the cheapest no-name refill cartiges of any inkjet.

$0.79 for black
$1.49 for color

http://megatoners.com/epson-stylus-colo ... r-880.html

That's cheaper than buying one of those refill kits with the syringes. I just bought 40 black and 12 color cartridges from megatoners for a total of $53 shipped. I think I'm good for another couple of years now.

[allix]

i have a cheapo hp photosmart 7450 which just works, hp do a good job, there also available for FreeBSD. Open source too, All of the maintenance tools included like checking the cartridge heads, ink level , test print etc..

The real problems are as the guest presenter mentioned are Lexmark printers, a lot of printers bundles with dell are just them repackaged.
What with dell selling linux pre-installed with some of there machines, hopefully they change there printers or release some sort of driver, if not open source , at least something to get started. Its a real stump in the road for the average user.

[Patrick]

I picked up a used HP4M LaserJet with a Jet Direct card for $25 at a local computer show. The seller had bought a lot of them from a local school district auction. It works great and I have had no problems with it.

[snarkout]

I have an overpriced crippled ip4000 (sold in us so it won't print on CDs/DVDs). The ink costs way too much, but the linux drivers are really surprisingly good - the only things missing are the head cleaning and inklevel stuff that.

[allix]

I have an overpriced crippled ip4000 (sold in us so it won't print on CDs/DVDs). The ink costs way too much, but the linux drivers are really surprisingly good - the only things missing are the head cleaning and inklevel stuff that.

I presume you meant hp laserjet 4000? if so HPLIP supports it with all the head cleaning and inklevel tools

[snarkout]

I presume you meant hp laserjet 4000? if so HPLIP supports it with all the head cleaning and inklevel tools

No, it's a canon pixma inkjet. It's a werd boxy little printer that my wife bought - it's very "you can make it so it doesn't look like a printer" in design. The european/asian versions come with a little tray that allows you to print on DVDs and CDs, but because of the RIAA/MPAA and the DMCA this feature was ripped out in the US models, because, after all, the only reason you'd ever want a nice looking disk is because you're planning on STEALING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chuck]

I presume you meant hp laserjet 4000? if so HPLIP supports it with all the head cleaning and inklevel tools

No, it's a canon pixma inkjet. It's a werd boxy little printer that my wife bought - it's very "you can make it so it doesn't look like a printer" in design. The european/asian versions come with a little tray that allows you to print on DVDs and CDs, but because of the RIAA/MPAA and the DMCA this feature was ripped out in the US models, because, after all, the only reason you'd ever want a nice looking disk is because you're planning on STEALING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So is the evidence that it's the RIAA/MPAA? I did a quick search and could not find any references to that.

I did find some more expensive models of Canon printers that are sold here in the US that will print to CD/DVDs. Perhaps those in the US are willing to spend more for the features than those in the European/Asian markets?

[snarkout]

Yes, there is evidence. They have said as much in replies that have been posted around on the net. This was a few years ago, so canon is now more forward thinking, apparently, but last time I checked I still couldn't get a firmware upgrade that addressed this issue.

[chuck]

Yes, there is evidence. They have said as much in replies that have been posted around on the net. This was a few years ago, so canon is now more forward thinking, apparently, but last time I checked I still couldn't get a firmware upgrade that addressed this issue.

So why did you spend the money on it if it was crippled and you knew about it?

If it was sold to you without representing itself as having that feature, it isn't really crippled as it does exactly what it said it did. If you want it to do more that's on you to get what you want.

[allix]

So why did you spend the money on it if it was crippled and you knew about it?

If it was sold to you without representing itself as having that feature, it isn't really crippled as it does exactly what it said it did. If you want it to do more that's on you to get what you want.

Is that true with drm and does winvista say you cannot share media files somewhere in the manual? if so , consumers can look elsewhere like linux.

We should not bitch about drm, just use other alternatives, because in the long run, media companies will see there media not selling and notice that drm free media is and perhaps remove the drm.

Am i a thinking on drugs?

[snarkout]

Yes, there is evidence. They have said as much in replies that have been posted around on the net. This was a few years ago, so canon is now more forward thinking, apparently, but last time I checked I still couldn't get a firmware upgrade that addressed this issue.

So why did you spend the money on it if it was crippled and you knew about it?

If it was sold to you without representing itself as having that feature, it isn't really crippled as it does exactly what it said it did. If you want it to do more that's on you to get what you want.

You have a genuine gift.

[chuck]

Is that true with drm and does winvista say you cannot share media files somewhere in the manual? if so , consumers can look elsewhere like linux.

Yes, it's true with DRM protected content and proprietary formats as well. If you do not agree with it do not support it. Vista will allow you to share any non-protected media content as you wish from my understanding. However if a content producer choses to use DRM Vista will accommodate them.

We should not bitch about drm, just use other alternatives, because in the long run, media companies will see there media not selling and notice that drm free media is and perhaps remove the drm.

Bitch about DRM to your hearts content. Make sure that the producers of the content hear you. Keep in mind that while you're bitching about it, if you keep purchasing protected content and proprietary formats you're sending two different messages to them.

[allix]

Bitch about DRM to your hearts content. Make sure that the producers of the content hear you. Keep in mind that while you're bitching about it, if you keep purchasing protected content and proprietary formats you're sending two different messages to them.

Exactly, thats why i think what fluendo are doing is not a positive message to drm media outlets, admittedly so far fluendo do not include drm support, but fluendo want linux to compete on the desktop with windows and macosx and the argument will be , we need to support drm. I am speculating because as vista just shipped its almost drm complete, apart from as you say the option to use non drm media content.

[chuck]

Bitch about DRM to your hearts content. Make sure that the producers of the content hear you. Keep in mind that while you're bitching about it, if you keep purchasing protected content and proprietary formats you're sending two different messages to them.

Exactly, thats why i think what fluendo are doing is not a positive message to drm media outlets, admittedly so far fluendo do not include drm support, but fluendo want linux to compete on the desktop with windows and macosx and the argument will be , we need to support drm. I am speculating because as vista just shipped its almost drm complete, apart from as you say the option to use non drm media content.

Personally I think that what Fluendo are doing is a great thing. With the options that they present users can chose to play proprietary codecs legally. At the same time when going the legal route, or at least finding the site when searching for a way to play back mp3's and such, more people will learn that there is an issue to be dealt with.

DRM must be supported if the media companies make that their choice and the Linux community wants Linux on the desktops.

At the end of the day you have control over what you install on your Linux system. Include or exclude codecs as you desire. It's about choice and everyone makes good and bad decisions, and decisions that you may not agree with. You can only hope for the best.

[allix]

Personally I think that what Fluendo are doing is a great thing. With the options that they present users can chose to play proprietary codecs legally. At the same time when going the legal route, or at least finding the site when searching for a way to play back mp3's and such, more people will learn that there is an issue to be dealt with.

DRM must be supported if the media companies make that their choice and the Linux community wants Linux on the desktops.

At the end of the day you have control over what you install on your Linux system. Include or exclude codecs as you desire. It's about choice and everyone makes good and bad decisions, and decisions that you may not agree with. You can only hope for the best.

I understand that freedom is to do what the user wants to, but we should be guiding them in the correct line, and not necessarily by preaching, but by using free codecs without them knowing. What i mean by that is, when your friend visits you, play some media content that you have a strong sense he/she will enjoy, and offer them a copy, they will have to get a free codec in order to play it, and they might ask further questions like why has this file got ogg at the end of it.

DRM is the biggest compromise free software has ever made, if it takes that route, then the vendors have more control and linux will in turn suffer great loss.

Legality is not always something thats undeniably accurate or sensible. A perfect example is birth control, much around the world up until the second part of the 20th century it was illegal for woman to have abortions. Thankfully that has changed, a lot of woman did have them illegally in back streets in not very ideal conditions, but that was the best they could do .

There are plenty of other examples in human history where law has proven totally wrong for centuries after, i hope closed source software amongst other things will be seen that way aswell.