Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin"
On Sat 19 Nov 2016 at 13:16:57 -0500, Jape Person wrote:
> On 11/19/2016 10:55 AM, Brian wrote:
> >
> >Why is it important for the printer to be blobless? Look at it this way:
> >
> >A printer is choc-a-bloc full of firmware. None of this firmware is
> >accessible to a user, even if something like an interpreter is based on
> >an open standard such as PostScript. Indeed, there may be a rasteriser
> >which itself uses a proprietary format such as URF.
> >
> >Suppose there are some bugs in the firmware; for example, the AirPrint
> >facility ceases to work reliably with an i-device. This has happened in
> >the past and the manufacturer provided a binary blob to fix it. What
> >would you do?
> >
> >Ok, I'll tell you what I would do. I would get the blob and upload it to
> >the printer to bring it back to a working state. I would do the same for
> >a troublesome PDF rasteriser. I see no difference between doing that and
> >getting an hplip plugin to have the printer (or scanner) working at its
> >full potential.
> >
>
> I'm just a little antsy about having the unknown executable residing on my
> system drive. I just don't see why they felt they had to *design* the danged
> thing to work this way. It reeks of someone trying to get his toe in the
> door.
>
> The firmware that resides in various places within the device itself at
> least has to restrict itself to interacting with the computer via the
> protocols used for printing, no? But the blob that resides on the system
> drive gets executed by the OS. Seems a tad too intimate for my taste.
>
> It may simply be my ignorance which compels me to feel this way, but --
> after all -- if I know that I'm ignorant of the possibilities, why shouldn't
> I be cautious? Yesteryear's printers and scanners had plenty enough features
> to suit me and didn't require the blob. I'd like to find a blobless wonder
> that will simply do what I need.
Another practical aspect is that the host-based plugin adds another
layer to the printing process. Bugs in it which turn a functioning
printer into a non-functioning printer are not unknown. Ok, they get
fixed but meanwhile.......
You have this one definite requirement and will have to firm up what
else you definitely want. I'll mention the HP OfficeJet Pro 8720
All-in-One Printer. It is relatively inexpensive, deals in PCL 3 and
has AirPrint. An interesting aspect of it is that it is claimed to be
an IPP Everywhere printer, meaning you need no drivers on the machine
you are printing from. But it is an inkjet.
--
Brian.
>
> Funny thing, apropos of nothing, I remember the last time I installed an MFP
> on a Windows machine at a friend's behest. Without so much as a by your
> leave, the installation DVD put 1.5 gigabytes of software on the target
> machine. (This was the "minimal" install. It was bigger than the OS, for
> pity's sake!) I checked the process list and found that it had started 11
> services. Yes. 11. Without. Asking. What the...
>
> I feel the need to go back to my shed in western Kansas with my '56 Buick
> Special and my land line and my three static-filled TV stations.
>
> Best,
> JP
>
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