Cheap Linux Printer

richlevy · 08-12-2007, 01:42 PM

Ok, so I want to be able to print while in Vegas. While the timeshare has free wi-fi, they do not have free printing. In order to print anything, I need to use the business center, which charges $7-8 for 15 minutes.

Since I may want to print coupons, itineraries, etc, I am considering buying and packing a small printer. I can buy a 'travel printer', but these are expensive and meant to be run off of battery power. All I need is a small cheap printer. I already own an all-in-one for home duty.

The added difficulty is that it should be Linux compatible.

The Canon Pixma iP1800 was my first choice. It was $50, and had a nice rectangle shape. It was only when I went looking for Linux drivers that I found that I couldn't find information which gave me %100 certainty it would work with Ubuntu, or even Debian.

I started looking at HP, since they have HPLIP, which supports many HP printers on Linux.

So I started looking at the HP Deskjet D1341. At $70, it's $20 more than the Canon, which is the price I'm paying for peace of mind with the driver installation.

But I also found the HP Deskjet 3940, this has a similar shell to the 1341, but it's half the price, mostly because of poor reviews about the size of the ink cartridge. However, it looks like it uses the same cartridges as the 1341. I don't understand why one printer would get tagged with that issue and another would not.

So, for about $30 I can get a Linux-capable printer which may be more a print hog than it's newer cousin.

Since I will probably print less than th 150 pages rated for this beast on my trip, I think this will resolve my issue.

Can anyone think why I should pay the extra $39 for the 1341?

08-12-2007, 01:42 PM	#1
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Cheap Linux Printer Ok, so I want to be able to print while in Vegas. While the timeshare has free wi-fi, they do not have free printing. In order to print anything, I need to use the business center, which charges $7-8 for 15 minutes. Since I may want to print coupons, itineraries, etc, I am considering buying and packing a small printer. I can buy a 'travel printer', but these are expensive and meant to be run off of battery power. All I need is a small cheap printer. I already own an all-in-one for home duty. The added difficulty is that it should be Linux compatible. The Canon Pixma iP1800 was my first choice. It was $50, and had a nice rectangle shape. It was only when I went looking for Linux drivers that I found that I couldn't find information which gave me %100 certainty it would work with Ubuntu, or even Debian. I started looking at HP, since they have HPLIP, which supports many HP printers on Linux. So I started looking at the HP Deskjet D1341. At $70, it's $20 more than the Canon, which is the price I'm paying for peace of mind with the driver installation. But I also found the HP Deskjet 3940, this has a similar shell to the 1341, but it's half the price, mostly because of poor reviews about the size of the ink cartridge. However, it looks like it uses the same cartridges as the 1341. I don't understand why one printer would get tagged with that issue and another would not. So, for about $30 I can get a Linux-capable printer which may be more a print hog than it's newer cousin. Since I will probably print less than th 150 pages rated for this beast on my trip, I think this will resolve my issue. Can anyone think why I should pay the extra $39 for the 1341? __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)