[linux-audio-user] Suggested laser printer for score printing?

[Gavin Stevens]

Hi Malcolm,

I use an HP LaserJet 4000 N for printing & I am always pleased with the
quality. Not bad for £50 s/h a couple of years ago.

Even better, I have never had to do anything regarding setting it up
from within the system. Both Debian & Ubuntu seemed to recognise it
instantly during installation & it is just always there, ready to go.

I think that most straightforward laser printers should be fine.
Personally, I would recommend HP based on experience, but if looking to
buy second hand, avoid the HP 4050 printer/fax - I do remember from
reading at Linux Printing that this will not work at all with Linux.

Gavin.

> Message: 10
> Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 22:32:18 +0100
> From: "Mr. Spock" <spock at canopus22.demon.co.uk>
> Subject: [linux-audio-user] Suggested laser printer for score
> 	printing?
> To: linux-audio-user at music.columbia.edu
> Message-ID: <20050812213218.GA1343 at canopus22.demon.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> Hello,
> 
> [I've just delurked and re-enabled Mail Delivery for this list for a 
> while to ask this question; there's usually too much traffic for me
> to keep up nowadays, sadly.]
> 
> I Googled and looked at the archives but there's not much here about
> printing music notation. I'm needing to buy a printer that will be
> ideal for score printing and also plays well with Debian/DeMuDi.
> Since I don't really need colour, I'd prefer a laser printer.
> I'll stick with black+white A4 for now for cost reasons -
> I'm looking to spend about 200-300 UK pounds (about $300-500) max.
> 
> I've not yet used Lilypond or any other scoring software, but believe
> that Postscript is a major plus. I know that Ghostscript exists to
> convert Postscript documents, but figure that if my printer natively
> understands PS it will be quicker and save processor time.
> Is Postscript Level 3 required, or will Level 2 suffice? PJL? PCL5?
> I also want a networkable one to share over my (wired) LAN.
> 
> I've looked at the very informative pages about Linux Printing:
> 
> http://www.linuxprinting.org/suggested.html
>  
> ...and am considering getting a Kyocera Mita FS-920, FS-1010N or
> FS1020 or maybe something else by another penguin-loving company.
> 
> Since I do have a fondness for old lo-tech gear, I did entertain ideas
> about a refurbished HP LaserJet 4 or 5 (fond memories from college
> days) after the high praise these old tanks got on Slashdot a while
> ago, but am thinking they may be a bit slow/tired compared to modern
> kit. My main considerations are reliability, build-quality,
> cost-per-page, speed and looks. I won't be printing reams and reams,
> and I can always manually re-enter pages to do duplex (both sides)
> printing.
> 
> Sorry if this seems Off-Topic, but I wanted to check firstly that
> a Postscript mono-laser is a good choice for music. If necessary I'll
> take the discussion elsewhere to ask about specific models, unless
> anyone here has any good recommendations/horror stories to share.
> 
> 
> Thanks for your suggestions,
> -- 
> Malcolm Smith 
> http://www.canopus22.demon.co.uk/