[lug] CUPS question

[Bear Giles]

I've used lprng for years, switching to CUPS about six months ago 
because some app preferred it.  I can't even remember which one at the 
moment.

The HP LaserJet 1600/2600n is a dumb printer and HP hasn't put any 
effort into supporting anything other windows.  (or maybe windows & 
macs).  But it's hard to beat $300 for a color laser printer so there's 
been a strong motivation for people to find solutions.  (There are other 
cheap laser printers, but only one or two brands in your average OfficeMax.)

The solution works - don't get me wrong.  I'm sure it's at least as good 
(albeit a little muted) as what you'll get from mid-range inkjet 
printers, at a fraction of the per-page cost.  (I believe it's around 
$0.15/page for the laser printer (2000 pages @ $300 in toner), vs. well 
over $0.50/page for inkjet.)  You also don't have to worry about getting 
the paper wet.

... but I've done detailed image work in the past and my test cases are, 
well, test cases.  Esp. washes.  I remember the banding with my HPLJ4, 
how the banding disappeared with my LJ1200, and so it's shocking to see 
blocking and even some reverses in color mode on the LJ1600.  Monochrome 
mode is better, but still noticably worse than my old HPLJ4.

I know the printer can do better -- just look at the demo page -- and 
was tweaking the driver parameters when the driver locked up.

David L. Anselmi wrote:

> Bear Giles wrote:
> [...]
>
>> But I wanted feedback from the community.  I know that many people 
>> think that CUPS is much better than LPRng, but I'm underwhelmed to 
>> say the least.
>
>
> I use CUPS.  It's good enough that I haven't had to learn how Linux 
> printing works.  But that means I don't know much about fixing it.  My 
> main headache is that Mozilla doesn't print well (and hasn't for many 
> versions up to 1.7.12).  But that could easily be Mozilla (I see that 
> the Userfriendly page seems to preview fine, but the Risks Digest 
> (much simpler HTML) doesn't).
>
> When I first set up CUPS more than a year ago I had to fiddle with 
> some foomatic package to get the right driver, and then drop the PPD 
> in /etc/cups/something.  Then upgrades would usually mess that up and 
> I'd have to remember how to do it.  For the past 6-9 months I haven't 
> had that problem--upgrades don't break printing.
>
> So things are stable now, and if I were trying to add a printer like 
> you are I like my odds of it being easy.  Especially for a well known 
> brand.
>
> I'm sure LPRng has more howtos so it would probably be pretty easy 
> too, but probably more typing.
>
> Dave
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