Re: Laser Printer recommendation...
On Tue 04 Jul 2017 at 12:03:45 +0100, Brian wrote:
> On Mon 03 Jul 2017 at 19:15:19 -0400, Celejar wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 3 Jul 2017 14:46:08 -0400
> > Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> wrote:
> >
> > ...
> >
> > > A Brother with all of:
> > >
> > > - ethernet networking
> > > - duplex
> > > - BR/Script3 (Their PostScript clone, which I think is actually
> > > GhostScript)
> > >
> > > will not need a driver.
> > >
> > > Current examples: HL-L5100N ($170), HL-L6200DW ($250)
> >
> > Very interesting, thanks. Is this documented / explained anywhere? I
> > think I understand why 1 and 3 might be relevant to the need for
> > drivers, but 2?
> >
> > FWIW, my HL-2280DW meets 1 and 2, but not (apparently) 3, and indeed
> > does seem to require a driver.
>
> I do not see why 1 and 2 are in any way necessary to use a printer
> without a proprietary driver. PostScript or PCL6 emulation is, however,
> a pre-condition. The HL-2280DW has PCL6 emulation.
To explain further. Neither of these two printers have networking
capabilities (ethernet or wireless):
Brother MFC-8420 Printer Drivers / Emulations BR-Script 3
PCL 6
PostScript 3
Peripheral / Interface Devices USB port
Brother HL-L5000D emulation(s) PCL6
BR-Script3
IBM Proprinter
Epson FX
PDF Version 1.7
XPS Version 1.0
Standard Interface(s) Parallel, Hi-Speed USB 2.0
Both will (or should) print a PostScript or PCL 6 file which is sent to
them over a USB connection. BR-Script 3 is Brother's version of Adobe's
PostScript, is undocumented and has no connection with Ghostscript, as
far as is known; PCL6 is a documented HP product. Debian has enough free
software to produce both PostScript and PCL to enable a user to dispense
with a non-free driver.
With more recent printer models the situation can become murky. For
example, the Brother HL-3140CW is host based (no PCL6 or BR-Script3
emulation) but it has a wireless network interface. One would perhaps
think the Brother proprietary driver would be essential. However, it is
an IPP printer and Debian has the means for a user not to have to use a
non-free driver.
The provision of automatic duplex on a device is a matter of economics
and marketing and has no bearing on whether or not a free driver is
used.
--
Brian.
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