On Wed 23 Nov 2016 at 12:59:05 +0100, to...@tuxteam.de wrote: > On Thu, Nov 24, 2016 at 12:21:21AM +1300, Richard Hector wrote: > > On 21/11/16 08:52, Brian wrote: > > > Considering HP say they do not offer Linux support directly, you are > > > doing well. > > > > Comments like this (those from HP and other vendors, not this one from > > Brian) bug me. > > > > I don't want HP to support Linux; I want printers to use open, published > > (by them or anyone else) protocols that _any_ OS provider can choose to > > support. Not that there's anything wrong with them providing hplip or > > whatever _as_well_. > > Very much this. Put in other terms: *I don't want HP to actively sabotage > free software/open systems* > > Phew. Had to be said.
Both sentiments are noble but the reality is that many LaserJet MFPs need a plugin for printing. If they don't they will probably require one for scanning. HP sell printers, not Linux printers, and at least provide the plugin software. I think if I was intending to purchase fifty such printers for my company for use with my Debian systems the source code for a plugin being available might be a bonus, but its lack would not be a blocker. If there was worry about the affect of the offending libraries on the rest of the system wouldn't sandboxing (about which I know nothing) be a possible solution? -- Brian.
