Re: Looking for ratings of all-in-one printers for Linux (Ubuntu in particular)
On Mon, Jul 09, 2018 at 06:16:59PM -0400, Stefan Monnier wrote:
> > If you meant hplip drivers, which are available from Debian
> > repository, then I wonder what actually makes them so much "from
> > Debian"? IMHO, their avalability from Debian repository does not
> > really make them particulary "Debian". They are still developed by HP
> > or their development is sponsored by HP, aren't they?
>
> The issue is not who writes the code. The issue is whether the code is
> available under a Free license such that it can be integrated cleanly
> into the OS distribution I use, e.g.
> - It works on all the architectures supported by Debian
> - The Debian maintainers will take care of compatibility between
> different versions of packages. So I won't have to choose between
> sticking to some old version of CUPS (for example), or having to buy
> a new printer, because the printer manufacturer stopped updating their
> driver for printers older than 5 years (say).
> - I don't have to check the manufacturer's web-site for bug-fixes and
> security updates: `apt-get` does it for me.
>
> > And BTW HP allegedly native to Debian support was always crappy in my
> > personal experience (as HP printers themselves). Especialy if compared
> > with Brother propriatory drivers, which are flawless.
>
> To each his own. I find such software to be a maintenance hassle.
>
> For that reason I do not have an opinion on HP-vs-Brother in terms of
> technical quality of their drivers or their hardware: I haven't had the
> opportunity to try Brother's drivers, and I won't as long as it's
> proprietary (and IIUC they don't provide drivers that work on my
> ARM-based CUPS server anyway).
>
> > The interesting point is that Linux community is always and rightfully
> > upset by the fact that manufacturers do not care to provide Linux
> > support. IMHO we should then appreciate and support the manufacturer
> > when it cares about Linux users, shouldn't we?
>
> I think it's stupid for a printer manufacturer not to provide its
> drivers as Free Software and collaborate with the community. It might
> make sense not to provide drivers for GNU/Linux at all, but if they have
> to go through the trouble of writing the driver, they might as well make
> it Free Software. It just makes a lot of commercial sense.
You're both missing the main point, which is that a Brother
printer with BRscript/3 is essentially a Postscript printer, and
you can treat it as one. No drivers needed.
-dsr-
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