At Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:21:57 -0400 David Niklas <[email protected]> wrote:
> > On Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:13:28 -0500 > nwe <[email protected]> wrote: > > This is a multi-part message in MIME format. > > --------------eimwc9aX0B04Je402r0GO9EP > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > > > On 3/28/26 1:54 PM, Tom Browder wrote: > > > > > toner cartridge. > > snip > > > Have you had such a problem? > > > > > > -Tom > > > > This is why I quit buying Brother brand 10 years ago. Back then my > > problem was the Brother printer was wastefully discarding half of its > > ink to the disposal compartment. Brother tech support informed me this > > is how they manage to produce higher quality prints than any of the > > competition. I replaced it with an HP and was pacified. > > > > Since that I bought a Brother label printer thinking they can't waste > > ink on that thing, right? It insists on expending 20-50mm of extra > > label tape every time I press 'print' The operator's manual describes > > this as the 'tab' for easier handling of the label. >:( > > > > My brother-in-law says Lexmark or Epson is the good kind. I don't > > disagree, I have not yet owned either so I'm neutral on those. > > > > IIRC, Lexmark ink was the most expensive. Has that changed in more recent > models of their printers? > > Also, Epson, Brother, and everyone other than HP, IIRC, required > proprietary third party drivers. HP was moving that direction with their > Hplip binary blob, which is auto downloaded. Has the Linux support of > printers changed? Are binary-only drivers not the norm like they were a > few years ago across all manufacturers? > This is/was true for *inkjet* printers. Almost all *laser* printers are *PostScript*, although sometimes they have different names: eg "BrotherScript" is just Brother's in-house PostScript engine coded in the printer's firmware. The most in the way of "drivers" for laser printers is a CUPS script to grap the postscript file or stream [that was passed to lp] and shove in down the "pipe" to the printer (Tcp/Ip socket or USB dev connection, depending on identical "logic", except for the protocol handshake. As the price of laser printers continue to go down, there is little reason for anyone to seriously consider buying an inkjet printer. The newer "tank" types are kind of a last gasp of trying to "solve" the cartridge "expense" problem, but tank printers have their own problem -- because these printers use hoses to connect the tanks to the print head, that need to be flushed, which wastes ink and eventually fills up a waste ink sponge and when the spong fills up, the printer becomes e-waste. About the *only* things inkjets do better than lasers is printing color *photographs* on photo paper. And maybe large format printers, And printing on other than paper -- eg cloth, plastic, or metal (all requiring very special purpose printers). > Thanks, > David > > > -- RobertHeller -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364 Deepwoods Software -- Custom Software Services http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Linux Administration Services [email protected] -- Webhosting Services
