July 2020 - WLUG - wlug.mailman3.com

Re: recommended printer/3-in-1 laser B+W for general (Linux and Windows clients)

by John Stoffel

>>>>> "Doug" == Doug Mildram via WLUG <wlug(a)lists.wlug.org> writes: Doug> Hi! Hope this doesnt start a HUGE preference debate, but I'm Doug> taking feedback on what some of you already know to be a "solid" Doug> not too big laser black+white, flatbed/top scanner+copier (no Doug> top sheet feeder please, adds too much space/width) BUT THE PAIN Doug> is always in the PRINTER drivers/software, win or linux, in my Doug> experience. So you want an MFC type device. I'm still using my Brother MFC-8860DN from June 2006 without major problems. It's the older BR2 postscript engine, and the SANE drivers aren't supported on new linux distros because they use a library that's not available any more. I should be able to fix it with some LD_* trickery, but instead I just SSH into an older box with the library and run the GUI over X. Doug> Honestly, been battling w/PDF's too long, to an old-ish Brother Doug> HL-L2395DW 3-in-1 Which driver are you using? It looks like it only support the BR3 PostScript, so make sure your driver is using that release. And make sure that you have cups configured with the right PPD for the printer. Doug> --I'm working mostly on Linux Mint 19 (a deviant ubuntu I highly Doug> recommend for ex-win users) Me too... Doug> --Printing most things OK. IIRC, didnt have to find Linux drivers the hard way. Yup. Every once in a while is flakes out on me too. Doug> --Printing PDF's gets iffy. LibreOffice sometimes cures my blues; Doug> DocumentViewer is probably the worst, "evince" also iffy, etc. Doug> Sometimes "Data received"....ends with a silent chirp, Doug> sometimes printer panel indicates a quick reject (nothing printed) saying "Out of Memory", Doug> BUT REALLY it's not the job == big, I think it Doug> must be a nasty runaway/leaky PDF->driver thing, but if I Doug> -- copy/email/send the nasty job to a win7 laptop and use AcroRead, USUALLY gets it done. Have you tried using one of the PDF to PDF converters to sanitize the output? Doug> Until today when ALL seemed to fail, I'm ready to cough up a few Doug> $hundred for a better beast, with wired ethernet+USB though I Doug> suppose it's pointless to avoid wireLESS interface as long as it Doug> does wired ethernet. Oh look! Today's impossible job just came Doug> out, from where! Losing my mind. I'd seriosuly be tempted with another Brother printer, using the latest BR4 PostScript engine. But I'd also go color laser too. Doug> Budget: since not color, I could go over $300 or so, where most Doug> of the decent ones sit. Been an HP fan for a long time, but Doug> things change, and I'm open to other solid models. Thx! Still recommend the Brother printers, they have Linux support for sure on their web site, so you have to give them that. John

July 8, 2020

recommended printer/3-in-1 laser B+W for general (Linux and Windows clients)

by Doug Mildram

Hi! Hope this doesnt start a HUGE preference debate, but I'm taking feedback on what some of you already know to be a "solid" not too big laser black+white, flatbed/top scanner+copier (no top sheet feeder please, adds too much space/width) BUT THE PAIN is always in the PRINTER drivers/software, win or linux, in my experience. Honestly, been battling w/PDF's too long, to an old-ish Brother HL-L2395DW 3-in-1 --I'm working mostly on Linux Mint 19 (a deviant ubuntu I highly recommend for ex-win users) --Printing most things OK. IIRC, didnt have to find Linux drivers the hard way. --Printing PDF's gets iffy. LibreOffice sometimes cures my blues; DocumentViewer is probably the worst, "evince" also iffy, etc. Sometimes "Data received"....ends with a silent chirp, sometimes printer panel indicates a quick reject (nothing printed) saying "Out of Memory", BUT REALLY it's not the job == big, I think it must be a nasty runaway/leaky PDF->driver thing, but if I -- copy/email/send the nasty job to a win7 laptop and use AcroRead, USUALLY gets it done. Until today when ALL seemed to fail, I'm ready to cough up a few $hundred for a better beast, with wired ethernet+USB though I suppose it's pointless to avoid wireLESS interface as long as it does wired ethernet. Oh look! Today's impossible job just came out, from where! Losing my mind. Budget: since not color, I could go over $300 or so, where most of the decent ones sit. Been an HP fan for a long time, but things change, and I'm open to other solid models. Thx!

July 8, 2020

Reminder, we've got a meeting next week!

by Tim Keller

Hey Gang, I hope you're having a happy and healthy safe 4th of July!! We've got a meeting next week! I'm going to give a quick demo on Min.io, we'll do a round table and I'm sure general tom foolery will occur! Our usual Jitsi haunt will be where we'll meet until things improve, though it's looking better for New England and worse for everybody else.. My hope is soon we'll be meeting at Technopia, but until then, we'll keep the candle burning anyway we can! Later, Tim. -- I am leery of the allegiances of any politician who refers to their constituents as "consumers".

July 4, 2020