On 09/09/2014 11:06 AM, ken wrote: > In need of a new printer, having done a bit or research, and > considering either the Canon PIXMA mg5420 or the HP Photo Smart 7520. > > There are Linux drivers for the Photosmart which are supposed to > handle both the printer and the scanner. But in my research I haven't > found (yet) anyone who's gotten the scanner to work with Linux on the > Photosmart, let alone the sheet feeder for it. Allegedly there are > instructions and requirements for using the fax on Linux. But I'd > like to hear from someone who has actually gotten all of this working > on Linux (either debian or centos) and which version of which distro > is needed. > > The Canon PIXMA mg5420 doesn't have a fax or a sheet feeder for its > scanner, but I'm guessing it's even dodgier to get just its > single-sheet flatbed scanner and its printer working with Linux. So > has anyone had success with that? > > I've also read horror stories about the how often new ink cartridges > are required, that basically you pay for the printer a second and > third time buying cartridges (not to mention how often a print job is > interrupted by a trip to buy new cartridges). Any first-hand reports > on that? > > Whoever thought spending money would be so tough? > Yeah No experience with the specific models you mention, however I have used both HP and Cannon inkjet/scanner/fax type machines. Yes, inkjets are cheap to buy, and you mortgage the house and your firstborn to keep buying the cartridges to keep them going. I also use laser machines, and find these considerably cheaper per page (I'm talking color - as I used to run a business where we printed dozens of full color pages per day) and over 10,000 full color per year + 35,000 b/w. Observations: HP does give support for Linux drivers, although it normally takes some digging - CentOS is normally reasonably up to date with the hplip and hpijs packages, at least in CentOS6 - had no problem doing multipage scans with a PSC2200. Cannon has been a little tougher, but I am using a PIXMZ mp820 fine at present - need to load a specific package to get the scanner working : scangearmp - it is barely adequate - doesn't do multiple pages into one file and produces huge hi-resolution files - great quality but hopeless if you need to scan something and email. Brother actually seem to do a bit better in support of Linux. I also use OKI C51xx and C52xx laser machines - cheap to buy second hand and I've put probably 100,000+ pages through a couple of these machines - my cost per page, full color including initial capital cost of the machines was US$0.07. It does work out cheaper to buy a new machine once the belt needs replacing. HTH - YMMV > Thanks for your knowledge and experience. > > _______________________________________________ > CentOS mailing list > CentOS at centos.org > http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos