I have been brought a Kodak PSC that I can not use due to lack of support from Kodak. It will have to be returned. My question is does anyone have a recommendation for a good all in one, that plays ball with Ubuntu (64bit) Below is a response from Kodak after I asked why they offer no support to Linux.


Customer Reference Number:


Dear

Thank you for your e-mail regarding your Kodak All-in-One Printer and the issue you are experiencing.

Please be advised that Kodak does not make drivers for Linux or any other open source operating systems for the fact that they are open source and thus open for any kind of editing.

This kind of free reign over operating systems makes it very hard not only to design drivers but to support any issues that may or may not appear on that particular operating system once the drivers are installed or during the installation because any end user of the operating system can change the fundamental code of the operating system and thus the way it interacts with all future components, be it hardware or software related.

If we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us quoting your reference number above. Please also note that you can carry out full troubleshooting on your product and arrange repairs at http://www.kodak.com/go/itg (UK only). You can also contact us 24/7 by Chat at http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/chat/index.jhtml


Yours sincerely,

Chad

Kodak Digital Imaging Support Centre

I use a HP OfficeJet 6310 All-in-one with different Ubuntu/Linux versions (with Ethernet, not USB).

Under Windows Vista the official drivers only work with the USB interface... I tried zillions of how-tos, but I was never able to use the official driver out of the box with the Ethernet interface. With Ubuntu I only needed to add one missing package ('hplip' and/or 'hplip-cups' isn't installed on a default system; known dependency bug)... I found the solution with google pretty quick... after that everything worked "out-of-the-box" (over network, no USB).

When I got me a new scanner (Canon Lide 700F) I didn't check with Google... I don't know if it is supported, yet... but I don't care anymore...

The next device (scanner or all-in-on) will be googled first... but I think, it will be a HP device, again.

HP do seem to be the preferred company as they come up again and again in my searches, as I said I was given the Kodak psc and just assumed it would work, I am surprised that companies are not jumping at the Linux market.

HP make some fine products, however, for printing, I would always go for EPSON.

Why? Well check the replacement ink prices before you buy any printer.

With some printers, Lexmark springs to mind, its cheaper to buy a new printer, sell off the old one cheaply, than buy new ink cartridges.

I'm no regular Linux user and it all depends on which printer you end up with, but maybe This link will be of some help, now or in the future.

From where I sit, printing is the biggest remaining weakness with Linux. And unfortunately it is due more to the uninformed attitudes of companies like Kodak than Linux itself. Whilst the statement you quote above is not incorrect, it is a lame excuse IMO. Seriously how many Linux users are tweaking their systems to the point Kodak describe? If they wanted to provide drivers they would be well within their rights to say something like: 'This product us only tested to work with a clean install of Ubuntu xx.xx It may work on other versions or configurations of Linux but is not guaranteed or supported.' Then it would rest on the users and the community to realise ways to make it work beyond that (which they sem to be pretty good at IMO). Many other hardware manufacturers seem to be able to supply drivers for their hardware no worries, or provide the data required for open source drivers to be developed by the community.

Ok sorry for the rant! On to your question...

I am a regular Ubuntu user but have only had limited experience with printers. My sister has a quite new HP AIO which has been so painful to use on Windows XP and Vista, only after much searching, fiddling and downloading have I got it to work (on Win) and even still it often comes up with error messages (although it seems to work ok). One day (prior to having it all sorted on Windows) I plugged it into my Ubuntu box (via USB) and it just worked! She was shocked (she constantly tells me that Ubuntu is "ok" but its too "techy" for her!) I haven't tested the scanner but printing doesn't get any easier than that!

I have also had positive experience with a commercial Brother AIO (connected via ethernet) at work. It was a little painful to set up, but once sorted, works fine. The stumbling block for me, was that I was missing a step. After the drivers are installed (easy - they're in the repo) you also need to manually configure CUPS (very easy to do, but a pivotal step - the one I was missing) before it will work. Again though I have not tested the scanner and have read on the forums that some users have found it problematic (although other report it working fine). I have read that USB printing works just as well.

I have also heard good things about Epson and bad things about Lexmark (although that was some time ago). I have had mixed reports regarding Cannon although it seems to depend on the model. Both HP and Brother actually have Linux driver downloads available on their websites which I figure has to be a good thing. Regardless though I would double check the availability of drivers for a particular model prior to purchase. Once you get one and have it working nicely I think that it is probably worth a quick email to let them know. I think its good for them to realise just how many people are now using Linux and that it is worth their effort.

Good luck!

Just did some searching myself and found that Kodak has no support what so ever for linux...

What a silly thing for Kodak to say....there are closed source proprietary drivers available for Linux (nvidia springs to mind) the fact that the platform may be FOSS has no bearing on what is developed for it and how its deployed....

I've got a HP F4500 that installed in seconds.

I have now brought a fantastic HP PSC, installed and runs perfect with Ubuntu. I have since had similar issue with TOMTOM sat nav, no TOMTOM Home for Linux !! So I have to use my works PC to update my TOMTOM. It does not even work through wine.