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Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin"

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On 11/30/2016 10:57 AM, doark@mail.com wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Nov 2016 20:34:03 -0500 Jape Person <japers@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>> Hi.
>>
>> I'm getting ready to replace all of our old equipment that has
>> been used for well over a decade in our home network.
>>
>> I decided to try to do everything with FOSS -- open source Luxul
>> router, open-source-only drivers for everything on the libreboot
>> PCs. But I've run into a snag with the printer and scanner.
> Out of curiosity, why the printer? Is it failing? Ink unavailable?
>

The HP LaserJet 1300 is one of the best printers I've ever owned. It's 
very cheap to operate, and it has never jammed or exhibited any other 
sign of unreliability. The print quality is also outstanding.

But it wasn't the "n" model, so would require a DirectJet module to hook 
it up directly to the network. (I don't wish to hook it directly to a 
computer.) Someone I know has a use for it, so it's going to be a donation.

>> I was going to make life easy for myself and use hplip with
>> something like an HP MFP. But all of the new HP MFP and scanners
>> seem to make use of a "driver plugin". If I'm understanding
>> correctly, a user has to run the hp-setup program that comes with
>> hplip. That program actually downloads this proprietary blob during
>> installation of the printer. This is not at all what I want. So
>> far, the only MFPs and scanners I've found that don't use the
>> driver plugin are either FCC Class A devices so not really suitable
>> for home use or are at end of support. There are a couple of single
>> function laser printers that might work, but I'd still have to find
>> a scanner that doesn't require the blob. HP doesn't appear to make
>> one.
>>
> <snip>
>
> I hope I caught you in time.
>

I caught myself in time.

;-)

> Not to long ago I bought an HP LaserJet 200 color M251nw. As for a
> scanner, I bought the HP 8200. It's an older model, though, and
> support was just added in sane backends for it. Search for the
> thread: "Cannot get hp scanjet 8200 working" in sane devel.
>
> Beware of HP inkjets, HP recently had to change the code so that
> people could install ink cartridges that were not HP's and no,
> refilling the old ones did not work. So everyone had to have a
> firmware update.
>

Yes, it had been probably at least a decade since I had even thought of 
buying a new printer and/or scanner. This time around I was astounded to 
see the apparent changes in HP's attitude about the GNU/Linux community. 
Between the fiasco wrt the firmware and drivers requiring end users to 
use only HP ink cartridges and this relatively new ploy of requiring a 
"driver plugin" for practically all new devices that incorporate a 
scanner, I've become a little less enthusiastic about supporting HP. As 
a matter of fact, they state directly on their Web site that they intend 
to employ the driver plugin in more and more of their device designs -- 
especially inkjet MFPs, which were the ones where it notably hadn't been 
used yet.

> If you want you could try the Bother brand, there Linux support is
> getting good from what I've read.
>

Yes, I settled for a Brother MFC (MFC9340CDW) which is listed on 
openprinting.org as being supported, though still not officially 
included within foomatic. I suspect that their report of "perfect" 
support refers only to the printer, but I can make do with a printer and 
a copier if need be. The thing even does direct scanning to and printing 
from Android devices, so my wife's evil tablet can grab us a scan, if 
need be. And I do know that -- if I change my mind about using a 
proprietary driver -- I can always use the one that Brother supplies.

I had found an HP MFC that didn't require the plugin, but by then I was 
kind of appalled by the direction that HP seems to be taking, and the 
Brother was cheaper and got very good reviews from CNET and PC Mag. Only 
time will tell if it was a good choice.

> Epson is working to get support for their scanners working under
> Linux, but last I read (1 year ago), the software was still alpha
> quality.
>

ACK.

Thank you for your observations!

Regards,
JP

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Thread

hplip and use of the "driver plugin" doark@mail.com - 2016-12-03 00:00 +0100
  Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin" Doug <dmcgarrett@optonline.net> - 2016-12-03 00:20 +0100
    Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin" rhkramer@gmail.com - 2016-12-03 00:30 +0100
      Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin" Jape Person <japers@comcast.net> - 2016-12-03 01:30 +0100
        Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin" Marc Shapiro <marcnshap@gmail.com> - 2016-12-03 08:30 +0100
  Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin" Jape Person <japers@comcast.net> - 2016-12-03 00:40 +0100
    Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin" Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-12-03 12:20 +0100
    Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin" Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-12-03 20:10 +0100
  Re: hplip and use of the "driver plugin" Doug <dmcgarrett@optonline.net> - 2016-12-07 22:50 +0100

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