Printers...

[tenfoot]

Both of the distributions I use (Sparky and Linux Mint) are based on Debian, albeit that Mint's Debian base is via Ubuntu.  My Epson XP-300 inkjet printer will not print, even though I have replaced the cartridges and gone through the whole maintenance procedure to try and get it to do so.  The same goes for an Epson Stylus NX4420.  So, I think it is time to change the brand.

I see that Sparky Forum now has well over 1000 members.  So may I have the benefit of your combined knowledge and ask:

(a) What brand of printer do you use?

(b) Was it easy to set up with Sparky?

(c) Have you experienced any problems since installing it?

Ideaally, I am after a color laser printer but am open to ay suggestions.

[seppalta]

HP is the safest choice.  They have drivers for most Linux systems readily available and other tools specially made to help get their printers working on Linux.  See, for example, https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/14.  For their special printer hook-up tool:  http://hplipopensource.com/hplip-web/index.html .

Years ago I bought a very nice Canon printer-scanner (pixma MP990) that did a great job (photos and print) but it was only recently that I could get a driver that worked with Linux, and then it only worked with a wire connection.  It was a real bother to crank-up a windoze system whenever I had to print something.  Don't buy anything until you know the drivers exist that will allow it to work with a Debian system. 

I lived with a photographer for awhile.  She had a couple of Epsons, forgot the models, but they cost over $2,000.  I did not like them - very complicated, easy for things to go wrong and usually very expensive to fix.  I couldn't afford her printers, and so we broke-up!  (:>)

[tenfoot]

Thanks for yor prompt reply, seppalta., and for pointing me to those websites.  I'll take a look andl report back when I have made a decision of which brand to buy.

[py-thon]

Why didn't you google first?
There seem to be drivers for the XP 300
http://www.openprinting.org/printer/Epson/Epson-XP-300_Series
as well as for the NX 420:
http://www.openprinting.org/printer/Epson/Epson-NX420_Series
Both are said to work perfectly.

[tenfoot]

Why didn't you google first?
There seem to be drivers for the XP 300
http://www.openprinting.org/printer/Epson/Epson-XP-300_Series
as well as for the NX 420:
http://www.openprinting.org/printer/Epson/Epson-NX420_Series
Both are said to work perfectly.

As I said in my original request, the XP-300 was working.  Let me outline the sequence of events.

I purchased the XP-300 nearly three years ago and immediately downloaded and installed the appropriate drivers.  It worked perfectly and I subsequently replaced the ink cartridges with third party products.  The computer did not complain and continued to work until the last set of cartridges I installed.  Now I get a message the the "Ink cartridges not recognised". I have removed and re-installed them several times but it makes no difference.  For the cost of the four Epson branded cartridges I can buy a new printer.

My son in-law gave me the NX 420 about three weeks ago.  He assured me that it only required the ink cartridges to be replaced and it would wok.  The only reason he was not using it was because he found it cheaper to buy a new printer than to replace the ink cartridges with Epson branded ones and, as he was a stickler to advice from the manufacturer, he was not prepared to use third party products.

I downloaded and installed the appropriate printer driver and, as the printer was out of warranty, purchased third party ink cartridges and installed them.  There were no errors upon installation but although the printer "printed" the colours were faint and black did not print at all.  I went through all the Set Up options: Nozzle Check, Clean Head, Align print heads and each reported that the process completed O.K.

However, when I next went to print a job, the printer icon appeared on the panel but the printer did not print.  I waited several minutes and then cancelled the job.  Uninstalled and then reinstalled driver but still no success in printing.

Invoked "trouble shooting" and saved the debugging output.  There are 900 lines of text and it is mostly way beyond my "pay grade" :-( but if you feel it would help, I'm happy to post it to the Forum.  Please let me know.

[py-thon]

As I said in my original request, the XP-300 was working.

Sorry, but you didn't say so. Your original request at the top of this page reads "My Epson XP-300 inkjet printer will not print, even though I have replaced the cartridges and gone through the whole maintenance procedure to try and get it to do so.  The same goes for an Epson Stylus NX4420." I thus supposed that it was a problem of drivers missing.

[tenfoot]

As I said in my original request, the XP-300 was working.

Sorry, but you didn't say so. Your original request at the top of this page reads "My Epson XP-300 inkjet printer will not print, even though I have replaced the cartridges and gone through the whole maintenance procedure to try and get it to do so.  The same goes for an Epson Stylus NX4420." I thus supposed that it was a problem of drivers missing.

:-[ My apologies.  I was certain that I had written the XP-300 had been working but obviously I hadn't.  My senior moments are increasing :'(