[GLLUG] Laser printers, or buying your next enemy...

[Marr]

On Tuesday 29 May 2012 22:24:01 Bert W. Carrier Jr. wrote:
> I'm in the market for a new laser printer. 

Hi, Bert.

For starters, you might want to check the GLLUG archives for Nov/Dec 2011 when 
Michael George was asking about this (Subject: 'laser printer for linux'):

http://mailman.egr.msu.edu/mailman/public/linux-user/

I posted back then with my mostly positive experiences with the Brother 
DCP-7040 (which is no longer sold, it seems, but it doesn't have Ethernet 
connectivity anyway). But my post is still very relevant, so please read that 
first:

http://mailman.egr.msu.edu/mailman/public/linux-user/2011-November/016539.html

Since that post, I've also bought a very similar multi-function Brother 
DCP-7065DN, which has USB _and_ Ethernet connectivity and duplexing 
capability. Like with the DCP-7040, I've installed the drivers (under 
Slackware 13.1) for both the scanner and printer functionality and both have 
worked fine. Both printers have a 35-page auto-sheet-feeder for the 
scanner/photocopier, which is a nice thing to have.

I haven't done a lot of printing with the DCP-7065DN so far (haven't even 
tried the duplexing yet) and I have no "long-term reliability" reports to 
make, but so far, I've been very happy with the Brother models. They are very 
Linux-friendly, IMHO. They come with a low-capacity toner cartridge, but you 
can buy a normal- or high-yield cartridge. The high-yield TN-450 cartridge 
supposedly prints 2600 pages and was about $45 last time I priced it (2 months 
ago).

The DCP-7040 sees a reasonable amount of use as a photocopier and has jammed 
twice in 1.5 years, but is otherwise reliable.

The only downside so far is that both Brother printers are sort of "plastic-y" 
(i.e. feel a bit flimsy in spots, like hinges on lids, etc). Nothing has broken 
on either printer, but I wouldn't want any roughnecks handling them. But I 
suppose that may be the case for a lot of low-end printers these days.

I got the DCP-7065DN in a "sweetheart" deal on sale at Office Depot 2 months ago 
for $99.99.  NewEgg is selling it for $171.99 + $1.99 S/H currently:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828113660

Not to get too political, but I avoid Lexmark like the plague because of this 
anti-competitive, DMCA-based lawsuit they initiated:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexmark_Int%27l_v._Static_Control_Components

There was also talk in Nov 2004 about Lexmark's spyware, sending printer and 
cartridge use information to their servers.  Google "Dan Ilett Lexmark" if 
you're interested.

For the record, I have no affiliation with Brother, Lexmark, HP, or any other 
printer manufacturer. I just have a strong pro-consumer attitude and hate to 
see the "bad guys" get any business.

I still have my 22-year-old HP LaserJet Series II and it still works, so I 
know what you mean about the "glorious '90s"! :^)  No experience with HP since 
then -- too leery of all the things I've heard about their quality decline.

P.S. Just read Clay's post and it reminded me that Brother implements a 
Postscript capability they refer to as BR-Script. I've encountered no problems 
so far with printing Postscript files. I use CUPS for printing and the Brother 
driver installation for Linux installs the requisite PPD file.

Hope that helps.... Good luck in your search! Holler if you have any 
questions.

Regards,
Bill Marr