I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color printer that can operate with Debian to:
+ operate completely duplex
+ scan to a PDF file
+ scan to a paper copy
+ able to operate independently on my local network with its own IP address
and ethernet port
Thanks.
-Tom


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 8:33?AM Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color
printer that can operate with Debian to:

Laser only, please, no inkjet.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

I'd suggest a Lexmark or Brother color *laser* printer. I'd recomend *against* bothering with any sort of inkjet printer.

At Sat, 28 Mar 2026 08:33:02 -0500 Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color printer that can operate with Debian to:

+ operate completely duplex
+ scan to a PDF file
+ scan to a paper copy
+ able to operate independently on my local network with its own IP address and ethernet port

Thanks.

-Tom

--
Robert Heller -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
Deepwoods Software -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Linux Administration Services
heller@deepsoft.com -- Webhosting Services


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 9:00?AM Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com> wrote:

I'd suggest a Lexmark or Brother color *laser* printer. I'd recomend *against*
bothering with any sort of inkjet printer

Thanks, Robert. I've had Brother printers before but never Lexmark.
-Tom




--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 3/28/26 10:23 AM, Tom Browder wrote:

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 9:00?AM Robert Heller <heller@deepsoft.com <mailto:heller@deepsoft.com>> wrote:

I'd suggest a Lexmark or Brother color *laser* printer. I'd recomend
*against*
bothering with any sort of inkjet printer

Thanks, Robert. I've had Brother printers before but never Lexmark.

-Tom

I have Brother B&W laser that was installed into trixie by the Brother
script for the model and os. No difficulties known.

Eddie

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color
printer that can operate with Debian to:

+ operate completely duplex
+ scan to a PDF file
+ scan to a paper copy
+ able to operate independently on my local network with its own IP
address and ethernet port

That makes it look like you're looking for two functions: printing and scanning. Is that correct, and if so, why insist on having them
combined?

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 10:33 <debian-user@howorth.org.uk> wrote:
?

That makes it look like you're looking for two functions: printing and scanning. Is that correct, and if so, why insist on having them
combined?

Because I don?t have room for two devices.
-Tom


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 10:46 Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com> wrote:

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 10:33 <debian-user@howorth.org.uk> wrote:
?

That makes it look like you're looking for two functions: printing and
scanning. Is that correct, and if so, why insist on having them
combined?

Because I don?t have room for two devices.

Can anyone recommend a specific, non-HP product?s model with my desired features?
-Tom


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

At Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:32:28 +0000 debian-user@howorth.org.uk wrote:

Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color
printer that can operate with Debian to:

+ operate completely duplex
+ scan to a PDF file
+ scan to a paper copy
+ able to operate independently on my local network with its own IP
address and ethernet port

That makes it look like you're looking for two functions: printing and scanning. Is that correct, and if so, why insist on having them
combined?

There are "Multi Function" printers, which compine a scanner and a printer,
and include firmware that implements a "photo copy" function (scanner => printer), as well as basic scan functions (scan => Computer). Many also
include a FAX modem and support scan to FAX and FAX to printer, although I don't know if anyone bothers with faxing anymore. Most (all?) laser printers have Ethernet and/or WiFi connectivity.

I believe the OP is talking about a "Multi Function" printer, which is pretty much the "common" option for scan functionally these days. While separate scanners are available, it might be more cost effective to just get a Multi Function printer (printer w/ built in scanner). Smaller desktop footprint and generally cheaper (than a separate printer and scanner). Also simplier in terms of software and operation eg making a photo copy (scan => print) is just a few button presses rather than multiple computer applications (many mouse clicks or cli commands).

Our local library has a low-cost little Lexmark "Multi Function" printer, that I originally set up with Ubuntu, so I know it will work with Debian (at least for printing). I have a B&W Brother printer (print only) that I bought over 10 years ago (probably going on 15 years now) and trivially set up with Centos 4 and sucessively with Centos 5, 6, Ubuntu, and most recently with Raspbian 11.

--
Robert Heller -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
Deepwoods Software -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Linux Administration Services
heller@deepsoft.com -- Webhosting Services


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com> wrote:

[-- text/plain, size 0.2K, charset UTF-8, 13 lines, encoding 7bit --]

I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color printer that can operate with Debian to:

+ operate completely duplex
+ scan to a PDF file
+ scan to a paper copy
+ able to operate independently on my local network with its own IP address and ethernet port

I have an Oki colour laser that does all the above, it even has a
duplex paper feed for the scanner. It's an MC342dn which cost about
œ150 way back in 2016 but still going strong.

--
Chris Green
ú

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 3/28/26 10:56 AM, Tom Browder wrote:

Can anyone recommend a specific, non-HP product\u2019s model with my
desired features?

Here's what I'm using with Debian, all networked:
Samsung ML-2955ND b/w laser printer without a scanner.
Full duplex double-sided printing. This is my reliable old workhorse.
Canon MF644Cdw color laser
Full duplex double-sided print/copy/scan/fax. This is my newest most
expensive machine, frankly, I'm sad I bought it as I have a lot of
trouble with print quality. Colored streaks on the prints worsen until
it is hardly legible, until I fix it by replacing the lightly used toner cartridges **again** sigh.
Canon MF236n b/w laser
print/scan/copy/fax Double-sided duplex prints on one side then commands
me to re-load the pages back into the tray to print the other side. What
a mess.
This one would get automatically configured for driverless printing but constantly caused me linux print driver problems until I downloaded and installed the linux print driver for this series from Canon's website.
Now it just works.
HP M426fdn b/w laser
Full duplex double-sided print/scan/copy/fax Sorry, this is my favorite.
I'm a big time HP fan because of this printer and the HP inkjet I used
before I got this one.
My very first printer was a Brother mfc inkjet. It sort of worked but
you won't catch me buying more Brother ink any time soon.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

* On 2026 28 Mar 12:22 -0500, Nate Bargmann wrote:

* On 2026 28 Mar 08:35 -0500, Tom Browder wrote:

I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color printer that can operate with Debian to:

+ operate completely duplex
+ scan to a PDF file
+ scan to a paper copy
+ able to operate independently on my local network with its own IP address and ethernet port

Last month I bought a Brother MFC-L8930CDW that does all of the above
plus 802.11A/BGN.

BTW, this is a laser. I learned my lesson about stinkjets decades ago.
"One and done", as they say.
- Nate
--
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."
Web: https://www.n0nb.us
Projects: https://github.com/N0NB
GPG fingerprint: 82D6 4F6B 0E67 CD41 F689 BBA6 FB2C 5130 D55A 8819


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

* On 2026 28 Mar 08:35 -0500, Tom Browder wrote:

I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color printer that can operate with Debian to:

+ operate completely duplex
+ scan to a PDF file
+ scan to a paper copy
+ able to operate independently on my local network with its own IP address and ethernet port

Last month I bought a Brother MFC-L8930CDW that does all of the above
plus 802.11A/BGN. It "just works" as a CUPS "driverless" printer with
Bookworm and Trixie.
I did have an issue on Bookworm where it wouldn't print duplex unless I
set duplex as the default in the CUPS printer options (administrative settings). I didn't see that issue on a couple of Trixie systems as
they would print duplex merely by the selection in the print dialog.
I've since updated all desktops to Trixie and am completely satisfied
with the printer.
I am quite impressed that without any effort on my part, GNOME and Xfce
on Debian (more likely CUPS) have installed the Brother color profile
for this printer. I have an Arch Linux installation that I had a bit of trouble getting to see this device through mdns. I finally got it
working by dumping the avahi daemon and using systemd-resolved. To this
point it has not installed the Brother color profile. A tip of the hat
to Debian for getting such a detail working.
For scanning, I have it set up to FTP to the desktops or to various
email accounts. Scanning and copying are duplex and the scans are in
PDF, though there is a selection for the file format.
It has a decent Web UI and color touch front panel.
At $650 (US) it is a nice addition to our small office.
- Nate
--
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."
Web: https://www.n0nb.us
Projects: https://github.com/N0NB
GPG fingerprint: 82D6 4F6B 0E67 CD41 F689 BBA6 FB2C 5130 D55A 8819


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 12:21?PM Nate Bargmann <n0nb@n0nb.us> wrote:

* On 2026 28 Mar 08:35 -0500, Tom Browder wrote:

I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color

printer

that can operate with Debian to:

+ operate completely duplex
+ scan to a PDF file
+ scan to a paper copy
+ able to operate independently on my local network with its own IP

address

and ethernet port

Last month I bought a Brother MFC-L8930CDW that does all of the above
plus 802.11A/BGN. It "just works" as a CUPS "driverless" printer with Bookworm and Trixie.

I'm looking at this printer and all the Brother reviews I read mention Brother's changed policy on getting the last bit of toner. Apparently there used to be some switch to keep printing after some low level warning.
For instance:
=begin negative review
1.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT buy. You can no longer reset the toner cartridge. Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2025
Style: Current Version: MFCL8930CDWPattern Name: NewVerified Purchase
DO NOT BUY. Brother has disabled the ability to reset the toner with this printer. If you are not familiar with how this works, Brother printers
complain they are out of toner when the toner cartridge can print another
500+ pages saving money.
Every previous Brother printer has had the option to press Back + Cancel at
the same time and Back again to access a menu to reset the toner. You can
then decide to keep printing and replace the toner only when you are
actually out of toner.
Brother has disabled this sensible feature as I found out when I plugged
the printer in and Brother support just confirmed as much.
We ALWAYS buy genuine Brother toner but apparently Brother has now decided
that the toner should be replaced when THEY decide you should buy more
toner than when you are actually out of toner.
I'm going to reward this greed by returning their printer and never buying another Brother printer ever again. Hope whoever that decided this greedy policy is happy with the outcome of a returned printer and losing a
customer.
=end negative review
Have you had such a problem?
-Tom


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 3/28/26 1:54 PM, Tom Browder wrote:

toner cartridge.

snip

Have you had such a problem?

-Tom

This is why I quit buying Brother brand 10 years ago. Back then my
problem was the Brother printer was wastefully discarding half of its
ink to the disposal compartment. Brother tech support informed me this
is how they manage to produce higher quality prints than any of the competition. I replaced it with an HP and was pacified.
Since that I bought a Brother label printer thinking they can't waste
ink on that thing, right? It insists on expending 20-50mm of extra label
tape every time I press 'print' The operator's manual describes this as
the 'tab' for easier handling of the label. >:(
My brother-in-law says Lexmark or Epson is the good kind. I don't
disagree, I have not yet owned either so I'm neutral on those.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

At Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:13:28 -0500 nwe <nwe@gitcoding.net> wrote:

On 3/28/26 1:54 PM, Tom Browder wrote:

toner cartridge.

snip

Have you had such a problem?

-Tom

This is why I quit buying Brother brand 10 years ago. Back then my
problem was the Brother printer was wastefully discarding half of its
ink to the disposal compartment. Brother tech support informed me this
is how they manage to produce higher quality prints than any of the competition. I replaced it with an HP and was pacified.

Since that I bought a Brother label printer thinking they can't waste
ink on that thing, right? It insists on expending 20-50mm of extra label tape every time I press 'print' The operator's manual describes this as
the 'tab' for easier handling of the label. >:(

The problem with inkjets is inheirent in the techology Inkjet ink is liquid
and water soluable. What this means is the ink will dry up in the nozzles and/or plumbing (tank models or really any cartridge printer where the cartridge(s) don't ride on the print head). This requires a "cleaning" cycle after the printer has been idle and may require cleaning cycles at other times as well. This "wastes" ink. How much ink is "wasted" varies between designs of nozzels and the coding of the firmware -- some printers waste more ink than others. I'm guessing Brother's inkjet firmware wastes more ink during cleaning cycles and/or are more "aggressive" with cleaning cycles. I don't know if
this is good or bad or if Brother's nozzle design needs more/longer cleaning cycles.

The solution/workaround: "continious" printing. Except if one really has that volume of printing a laser printer's higher [used to be] cost becomes justified. Since the price of laser printers (esp. *color* laser printers) has been coming down, inkjets are less of the cost savings.

My brother-in-law says Lexmark or Epson is the good kind. I don't
disagree, I have not yet owned either so I'm neutral on those.

--
Robert Heller -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
Deepwoods Software -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Linux Administration Services
heller@deepsoft.com -- Webhosting Services


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Please don't CC me, it is confusing to receive identical emails. I am subscribed to this list.
On 3/28/26 2:35 PM, Robert Heller wrote:

I'm guessing Brother's inkjet firmware wastes more ink during cleaning
cycles and/or are more "aggressive" with cleaning cycles.

It was stopping part ways through large print jobs to spend a couple
more minutes cleaning. After only the cleaning I noticed the ink levels consistently dropping from 'full' to '80%'.
I am not strictly differentiating inkjet vs toner as I have owned inkjet printers I genuinely liked. The time I went to Walmart and bought the
cheapest one I could find... I won't do that again. A while back one of
my friends claimed he opened a used Brother toner cartridge and it
contained a secondary chamber nearly full of toner.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

* On 2026 28 Mar 13:56 -0500, Tom Browder wrote:

Have you had such a problem?

Too soon to tell.
I do have to wonder if there were excessive warranty claims or other
issues Brother had to deal with due to this feature.
Having dealt with printers in an earlier professional life, I accept
that they're a necessary evil. If I get ten years out of this one
without a major issue, I'll be satisfied.
- Nate
--
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."
Web: https://www.n0nb.us
Projects: https://github.com/N0NB
GPG fingerprint: 82D6 4F6B 0E67 CD41 F689 BBA6 FB2C 5130 D55A 8819


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 12:02?PM Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com

wrote:

I'm giving up on HP printers. Can anyone recommend a reliable color print

er that can operate with Debian to:

+ operate completely duplex
+ scan to a PDF file
+ scan to a paper copy
+ able to operate independently on my local network with its own IP addre

ss and ethernet port

Item (1) is a printer function. And given (4), it sounds like you
want a network printer. I use an HP Color LaserJet M252dw at home.
It is a network printer, but it is not full duplex. I use IPP with
the printer and local workstations, and I don't have problems. See <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Printing_Protocol>.

Item (2) and (3) are scanner functions. And given (4), it sounds like
you want a network scanner. I recommend a HP ScanJet Pro 4500. It is
what I use at home, and it is a network scanner. The ScanJet Pro 4500
is stand alone, and works independently of the printer. So your
scanner will still work if the printer ink or toner is low, or using
third party ink or toner, etc (unlike many all-in-ones).

Be careful of newer HP printers. They have the (cough) security
feature (cough) that does not allow 3rd party toner cartridges. HP
calls it "Dynamic Security" and "Cartridge Protection" (among other
names). I recommend avoiding printers with the (cough) feature
(cough). See <http://www.hp.com/learn/ds>.

And I strongly recommend using IPP. I would not putz around with
custom print drivers nowadays. Find a printer that supports IPP,
which is most (all?) printers nowadays.

Jeff

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at 09:18:46AM -0400, Jeffrey Walton wrote:

Be careful of newer HP printers. They have the (cough) security
feature (cough) that does not allow 3rd party toner cartridges. HP
calls it "Dynamic Security" and "Cartridge Protection" (among other
names). I recommend avoiding printers with the (cough) feature
(cough). See <http://www.hp.com/learn/ds>.

There is a friend of mine whom I am helping decide on a new printer: NOT getting HP was the first thing that I said.

The reason that she will prolly need a new printer is that she has a machine running Windows 10. Rather than buy a new one to run Win 11 I have suggested Linux - she is receptive to this. Everything works (running off a bootable memory stick) except her printer: a Dell 1320c colour laser printer (a rebadged Fuji Xerox C525 A). I cannot find a CUPS driver for it, it looks as if it was available at some point but not any more.

If anyone can offer any hints I would be grateful.

Regards

--
Alain Williams
Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer.
+44 (0) 787 668 0256 https://www.phcomp.co.uk/
Parliament Hill Computers. Registration Information: https://www.phcomp.co.uk/Contact.html
#include <std_disclaimer.h>

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Robert Heller wrote:
...inkjet printing...

The problem with inkjets is inheirent in the techology Inkjet ink is liquid and water soluable. What this means is the ink will dry up in the nozzles and/or plumbing (tank models or really any cartridge printer where the cartridge(s) don't ride on the print head). This requires a "cleaning" cycle after the printer has been idle and may require cleaning cycles at other times
as well. This "wastes" ink. How much ink is "wasted" varies between designs of
nozzels and the coding of the firmware -- some printers waste more ink than others. I'm guessing Brother's inkjet firmware wastes more ink during cleaning
cycles and/or are more "aggressive" with cleaning cycles. I don't know if this is good or bad or if Brother's nozzle design needs more/longer cleaning cycles.

i have an ancient HP inkjet printer, the color cartridge
ran out of ink many years ago and the black ink ones keep
going but they can dry out from time to time between
printing because i hardly ever print anything at all if i
can help it. once a year a few pages for taxes is about
it these days.

however, to get the cartridge printing again i can use
a small container from recycling to heat up a little water
and then put the bottom in the water for a bit to and
then use a q-tip to rub on the bottom and it will usually
work after that. i probably use more ink in trying to
get it to print and the test pages than i use in actual
printing.

it's a HP DeskJet 930C, i've had various cartridges
refilled at times.


songbird

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Le 29/03/2026 … 16:40, alain williams a ‚critÿ:

[...] her printer: a Dell 1320c colour laser printer (a rebadged
Fuji Xerox C525 A). I cannot find a CUPS driver for it, it looks as if it was available at some point but not any more.

If anyone can offer any hints I would be grateful.

Hello,

- Xerox was one of the designers of IPP back in the 20th century, so
perhaps this printer is compatible more or less, with a driverless modus operandi
https://wiki.debian.org/SystemPrinting

- A guy has a page on the web with a script to install relevant PPDs
for the DELL 1320C on Ubuntu from 18.04 onward. You might take a look here: https://tech.leeporte.co.uk/dell-1320c-on-ubuntu-18-04/

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

At Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:21:57 -0400 David Niklas <deference@null.net> wrote:

On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:13:28 -0500
nwe <nwe@gitcoding.net> wrote:

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------eimwc9aX0B04Je402r0GO9EP
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

On 3/28/26 1:54 PM, Tom Browder wrote:

toner cartridge.

snip

Have you had such a problem?

-Tom

This is why I quit buying Brother brand 10 years ago. Back then my
problem was the Brother printer was wastefully discarding half of its
ink to the disposal compartment. Brother tech support informed me this
is how they manage to produce higher quality prints than any of the competition. I replaced it with an HP and was pacified.

Since that I bought a Brother label printer thinking they can't waste
ink on that thing, right? It insists on expending 20-50mm of extra
label tape every time I press 'print' The operator's manual describes
this as the 'tab' for easier handling of the label. >:(

My brother-in-law says Lexmark or Epson is the good kind. I don't disagree, I have not yet owned either so I'm neutral on those.

IIRC, Lexmark ink was the most expensive. Has that changed in more recent models of their printers?

Also, Epson, Brother, and everyone other than HP, IIRC, required
proprietary third party drivers. HP was moving that direction with their Hplip binary blob, which is auto downloaded. Has the Linux support of printers changed? Are binary-only drivers not the norm like they were a
few years ago across all manufacturers?

This is/was true for *inkjet* printers. Almost all *laser* printers are *PostScript*, although sometimes they have different names: eg "BrotherScript" is just Brother's in-house PostScript engine coded in the printer's firmware. The most in the way of "drivers" for laser printers is a CUPS script to grap the postscript file or stream [that was passed to lp] and shove in down the "pipe" to the printer (Tcp/Ip socket or USB dev connection, depending on identical "logic", except for the protocol handshake. As the price of laser printers continue to go down, there is little reason for anyone to seriously consider buying an inkjet printer. The newer "tank" types are kind of a last gasp of trying to "solve" the cartridge "expense" problem, but tank printers have their own problem -- because these printers use hoses to connect the
tanks to the print head, that need to be flushed, which wastes ink and eventually fills up a waste ink sponge and when the spong fills up, the
printer becomes e-waste. About the *only* things inkjets do better than lasers is printing color *photographs* on photo paper. And maybe large format printers, And printing on other than paper -- eg cloth, plastic, or metal (all requiring very special purpose printers).

Thanks,
David

--
RobertHeller -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364
Deepwoods Software -- Custom Software Services
http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Linux Administration Services
heller@deepsoft.com -- Webhosting Services



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at 1:27?PM alain williams <addw@phcomp.co.uk>
wrote:

On Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at 09:18:46AM -0400, Jeffrey Walton wrote:

Be careful of newer HP printers. They have the (cough) security
feature (cough) that does not allow 3rd party toner cartridges. HP
calls it "Dynamic Security" and "Cartridge Protection" (among other
names). I recommend avoiding printers with the (cough) feature
(cough). See <http://www.hp.com/learn/ds>.

There is a friend of mine whom I am helping decide on a new printer: NOT getting HP was the first thing that I said.

The reason that she will prolly need a new printer is that she has a mach

ine

running Windows 10. Rather than buy a new one to run Win 11 I have sugges

ted

Linux - she is receptive to this. Everything works (running off a bootabl

e

memory stick) except her printer: a Dell 1320c colour laser printer (a re

badged

Fuji Xerox C525 A). I cannot find a CUPS driver for it, it looks as if it

was

available at some point but not any more.

If anyone can offer any hints I would be grateful.

It looks like you can use the DocuPrint C525A driver driver for the
Dell 1320c. Is the C525A available from the Dell website? See <https://linuxsagas.digitaleagle.net/2013/08/06/dell-1320c-laser-printer-on -ubuntu-13-04/>.

Jeff

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 3/29/26 8:18 AM, Jeffrey Walton wrote:

Be careful of newer HP printers. They have the (cough) security
feature (cough) that does not allow 3rd party toner cartridges. HP
calls it "Dynamic Security" and "Cartridge Protection" (among other
names). I recommend avoiding printers with the (cough) feature
(cough). See<http://www.hp.com/learn/ds>.

Jeff, thanks for pointing that out. I just checked, I bought my current
HP printer close to 10 years ago. Wow, time flies! This means my
previous advise on HP is outdated.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 12:27 Nate Bargmann <n0nb@n0nb.us> wrote:
...

Last month I bought a Brother MFC-L8930CDW that does all of the above

plus 802.11A/BGN.

My local Office Depot has such a model in stock. ChatGPT tells me it is
about 10 lb lighter than the older model. Also the newer model may not be
as well supported as the older model. The newer model is about $100 more expensive and the toner is a bit pricier.
My main concern is Debian support. Have you had any issues with it?
-Tom


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

* On 2026 30 Mar 13:17 -0500, Tom Browder wrote:

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 12:27 Nate Bargmann <n0nb@n0nb.us> wrote:
...

Last month I bought a Brother MFC-L8930CDW that does all of the above

plus 802.11A/BGN.

My local Office Depot has such a model in stock. ChatGPT tells me it is
about 10 lb lighter than the older model. Also the newer model may not be
as well supported as the older model. The newer model is about $100 more expensive and the toner is a bit pricier.

My main concern is Debian support. Have you had any issues with it?

None with Trixie. With Bookworm I had to set the system print default
to duplex to get duplex to work.
CUPS supports it as "driverless". Oddly, I think it took a system
restart of each computer for printing to work and after that, no issues.
I'll have had it six weeks this coming Wednesday and it shows that 249
pages have been printed. It's not going to be used much more than that,
so I suspect the initial toner will last for some time although it is
reporting the CMY cartridges are at 90% and black at 100%. Of that page
count only 4 were B&W.
- Nate
--
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."
Web: https://www.n0nb.us
Projects: https://github.com/N0NB
GPG fingerprint: 82D6 4F6B 0E67 CD41 F689 BBA6 FB2C 5130 D55A 8819


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 18:58 Nate Bargmann <n0nb@n0nb.us> wrote:
...

* On 2026 30 Mar 13:17 -0500, Tom Browder wrote:

...

My main concern is Debian support. Have you had any issues with it?

...

On Sat, Mar 28, 2026 at 12:27 Nate Bargmann <n0nb@n0nb.us> wrote:

None with Trixie. With Bookworm I had to set the system print default

to duplex to get duplex to work.

...
Thanks a heap, Nate!
-Tom


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at 05:58:38PM +0200, didier gaumet wrote:

Le 29/03/2026 … 16:40, alain williams a ‚critÿ:

[...] her printer: a Dell 1320c colour laser printer (a rebadged
Fuji Xerox C525 A). I cannot find a CUPS driver for it, it looks as if it was
available at some point but not any more.

If anyone can offer any hints I would be grateful.

Hello,

- Xerox was one of the designers of IPP back in the 20th century, so perhaps this printer is compatible more or less, with a driverless modus operandi https://wiki.debian.org/SystemPrinting

- A guy has a page on the web with a script to install relevant PPDs for
the DELL 1320C on Ubuntu from 18.04 onward. You might take a look here: https://tech.leeporte.co.uk/dell-1320c-on-ubuntu-18-04/

Brilliant - thank you. I was with my friend this afternoon and downloaded the tarball that he gives to my laptop. It all worked easily & very well. This was the show blocker on moving her to Linux.

My next step is to loan her a laptop with Linux Mint installed, do a little teaching and hand holding, so that she can verify that she can do everything that she needs to do -- then wipe her machine & install Linux

She is running MS Windows 10, complaining that all her techie friends will have nothing to do with it and tell her to upgrade to Linux.

https://tech.leeporte.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/dell-1320c-linux.tar.gz

--
Alain Williams
Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer.
+44 (0) 787 668 0256 https://www.phcomp.co.uk/
Parliament Hill Computers. Registration Information: https://www.phcomp.co.uk/Contact.html
#include <std_disclaimer.h>

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)