Re: [PLUG] Printer reccomendation

[Adam Turoff <ziggy@panix.com>]

On Mon, Jun 09, 2003 at 09:08:48AM -0400, Michael Leone wrote:
> Adam Turoff said:
> > I had a very bad experience with my HP Printer (a color deskjet).
> 
> A 1300 is a laser model, not an inkjet model, tho, if that makes a
> difference.

My experiences relate to the design and workmanship of the printer,
and quality of product support.  Perhaps the laser printers are
simply better designed and don't have as many manufacturing defects.
If that's the case, go for it.

But I'm personally very hesitant to deal with HP ever again.  If there's
a defective part in a printer, it will likely be more cost effective to
throw the damn thing out than deal with customer support and get a
replacement part[*].  

Those are not the kind of products I want to be purchasing, nor is that
the kind of company I want to support.

> > Based on my experience with HP, I'd think very carefully about giving
> > them any more business.  There are other cheap laser printer
> > manufacturers, like Lexmark, that I'd seriously investigate before
> > buying HP again.
> 
> Lexmark printers are all WinPrinters, aren't they? (well, the personal
> sized ones, anyway) requiring a special device driver, like the HP
> Deskjets?

Last I checked, cups/ghostscript supports some HP deskjets, including the
color ones.  I honestly don't remember whether the Lexmark printers are
supported as well.

Nevertheless, it's something I'd investigate when the time comes.  If they
are all in fact WinPrinters, then I'd look elsewhere, like Canon or Xerox
or Epson.  *Someone* must be making Linux-friendly printers besides HP.

Z.

*: In my case, it took longer than 7 days to realize that my unit
   was defective, and the store's return policy wouldn't accept it
   for replacement/refund.  That's fair, and that's why there's a
   90-day manufacturer's warranty.

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