Re: Inkjet printers meeting the following requirements? Durable, Linux-compatible (or Postscript or PCL in FIRMWARE (built-in interpreter)), quality text & graphics, low ink refill or cartridge costs

From: Don Allen (w9cw_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 08/09/04

  • Next message: T'aZ: "Re: pctv picture noise,brighter,lines shifted" 
    Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 06:36:03 -0500

    Yes, and sadly, practically all consumers want the cheapest price point
    on everything related to consumer electronics, not only computers and
    peripherals. Prior to computers becoming a mainstream and commodity
    product, prices were high for everything. Remember the days of a
    Seagate ST-225 20MB hard drive at a price point of $300???

    Without a doubt, Microsoft certainly has its faults. But, without the
    gang from Redmond, WA, we would all still be paying ultra-premium prices
    for everything related to computing. With the commodity mentality of
    computer marketing today, low-end products are everywhere, especially in
    the ink-jet printer market.

    I, too, remember paying high prices for such products as an Okidata 82a
    or 182a 9-pin dot matrix printer. My first laser was a HP LaserJet IIIp
    (circa 1993) with a cost of nearly $1500. Only 4ppm, but built like a
    tank and still functioning today.

    I came from the electronics field, and the name HP meant first-class
    quality in the test equipment market. The biggest marketing mistake HP
    ever made was to enter the consumer computer market using the HP logo.
    After years of success in that market, they had to change their original
    name for the high-quality test equipment market to Agilent Technologies,
    due to the quality perception of their consumer computer line.

    You can still buy high-quality industrial-strength products that meet
    the original poster's basic technical requirements, but you do have to
    pay the price. A high-quality color laser printer is the best solution,
    but be prepared to pay multi-thousand dollar pricing for it. However,
    it will outlast a myriad of cheap inkjets, and be ultimately cheaper to
    operate.

    Linux is a fine operating system, but it really needs to get its act
    together regarding up-to-date hardware compatibility and drivers. Much
    of Linux development tends to target European standards, and most
    consumer computer users here in the USA don't use Postscript-based
    printers - rather PCL-based printers. Up until recently, some Linux
    distros did not inlcude PCL drivers for popular HP LaserJets! And, if
    your using a 3Com/USR controller-based PCI internal dial-up modem, good
    luck on finding a proper driver under Linux.

    I've used practically every distro of Linux since its rollout, and
    although Linux is certainly improving with every version, it's not ready
    for "prime time" for the average consumer computer user - close, but not
    close enough. For the hobbyist, or computer geek, yes it's a fine and
    stable OS. But, for someone who just wants to play a DVD, output photos
    to a photo printer, or easily install updates, Linux has some work to do
    before its accepted as a viable alternative to WinXP.

    Don

  • Next message: T'aZ: "Re: pctv picture noise,brighter,lines shifted"

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