HP Deskjet 820Cse under Linux (by 2 users)

: In article <34266554.72883 @lucent.com>, "Jaime J. Maiz"
: <j @lucent.com> writes
: >Hi,
: >I recently purchased an HP 870Cxi printer and I love it. However, I have
: >not been able to get it to work in Linux. I followed this thread and
: >...

: I've got one of these printers going using the Red Hat 4.1 Xwindows
: printer set-up utility but as an HP DeskJet500 printing just simple
: stuff so far.

I've setup mine as a 550C (the driver came with the ghostscript stuff).
I use magicfilter as 'if' in my printcap, with
-sDEVICE=cdj550 -dBitsPerPixel=32.

Basically I can now print in color. GhostScript comes with some sample
postscript files. To tweak the gamma function I printed the colorcir.ps
as suggested in the Printing HOWTO. But you can take any gif or tiff file,
convert it to postscript with xv or some other tool, print it out, then
tweak the value until the printed version matches the original...

The following file helped quite a bit.

bruno.

----------------------- snip snip ------------------------------­-----
   Copyright (C) 1992, 1995 Aladdin Enterprises.  All rights reserved.

  This file is part of Aladdin Ghostscript.

  Aladdin Ghostscript is distributed with NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.  No author
  or distributor accepts any responsibility for the consequences of using it,
  or for whether it serves any particular purpose or works at all, unless he
  or she says so in writing.  Refer to the Aladdin Ghostscript Free Public
  License (the "License") for full details.

  Every copy of Aladdin Ghostscript must include a copy of the License,
  normally in a plain ASCII text file named PUBLIC.  The License grants you
  the right to copy, modify and redistribute Aladdin Ghostscript, but only
  under certain conditions described in the License.  Among other things, the
  License requires that the copyright notice and this notice be preserved on
  all copies.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This file, devices.txt, gives more detailed documentation about
certain specific devices for which Ghostscript can produce output.

For an overview of Ghostscript and a list of the documentation files, see
README.

Devices for which this file currently contains documentation:
        SPARCprinter
        HP DeskJet 520, 540, and 560C
        HP DeskJet 500C & 550C
        HP PaintJet, XL, and XL300
        DEC LJ250
        Apple Dot Matrix Printer (and Imagewriter)
        Epson Stylus Color Printer
        ESC/P, ESC/P2 Color-Printers
        Canon BJC-600/BJC-4000/BJC-70 and BJC-800 BubbleJet Color Printers
          (and Apple StyleWriter 2x00)
        uniprint - a configurable ESC/P, ESC/P2 & HP-RTL/PCL-Driver
        JPEG files

### ------------------- H-P color inkjet printers ---------------------- ###
###  (DeskJet 500C, DeskJet 550C, Pai

There is some information on an alternate driver on the Ghostscript
Printer Compatibility web page:

http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/ printer.html

Bob

--
Bob Nielsen                 Internet: niel @primenet.com
Tucson, AZ                  AMPRnet:  w @w6swe.ampr.org
                            http://www.primenet.com/~niels en

Hi,
I recently purchased an HP 870Cxi printer and I love it. However, I have
not been able to get it to work in Linux. I followed this thread and
took the advice on it and got me the new Ghostscript 5.03 as suggested,
I compiled it and installed it with no problems. The new gs program
works, as far as I can tell, i.e. using Ghostview to look at Postscript
files is OK. I also read the gs documentation looking for ways to get
ghostscript to work with this printer but found nothing obvious.

So here is my question, what am I missing? What else do I have to do to
get this printer working for me in Linux and where can I get it from? I
would also like to get it to work with PDF files, if possible. I
compiled the necessary flags, but I am not sure if it does work for PDF
files. How do I test this?

I am running Linux 2.0.28 on an IBM clone 486DX2 with 32 MB of RAM. The
distribution is Slackware 3.2, from September 1996, I believe. I have
attached my /etc/printcap file just in case is useful. Yes, I know... I
haven't updated in a while.

I prefer email responses since I don't get to read the newsgroups very
often. I will post the information I receive for others to benefit from.

Thank you very much for your help,
Jaime
--

Jaime J. Maiz                   j @lucent.com
IH 4B-306                       (630)979-2088

##############################­##############################­#########
#
# Copyright (c) 1983 Regents of the University of California.
# All rights reserved.
#
# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms are permitted
# provided that this notice is preserved and that due credit is given
# to the University of California at Berkeley. The name of the
University
# may not be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
# software without specific prior written permission. This software
# is provided ``as is'' without express or implied warranty.
#
#       @(#)etc.printcap        5.2 (Berkeley) 5/5/88
#
# DecWriter over a tty line.
#lp|ap|arpa|ucbarpa|LA-180 DecWriter III:\
#       :br#1200:fs#06320:tr=\f:of=/us­r/lib/lpf:lf=/usr/adm/lpd-errs­:
#lp:lp=/dev/lp0:sd=/usr/spool/­lp0:of=/usr/lib/lpf: lf=/usr/adm/lpd-errs
#
# Generic printer:
lp:lp=/dev/lp1:sd=/usr/spool/l­p1:sh
#
# typical remote printer entry
#ucbvax|vax|vx|ucbvax line printer:\
#       :lp=:rm=ucbvax:sd=/usr/spool/v­axlpd:lf=/usr/adm/lpd-errs:
#varian|va|Benson Varian:\
#      
:lp=/dev/va0:sd=/usr/spool/vad­:mx#2000:pl#58:px#2112:py#1700­:tr=\f:\
#      
:of=/usr/lib/vpf:if=/usr/lib/v­pf:tf=/usr/lib/rvcat:cf=/usr/l­ib/vdmp:\
#       :gf=/usr/lib/vplotf:df=/usr/lo­cal/dvif:\
#       :vf=/usr/lib/vpltdmp:lf=/usr/a­dm/lpd-errs:
#versatec|vp|Versatec plotter:\
#      
:lp=/dev/vp0:sd=/usr/spool/vpd­:sb:sf:mx#0:pw#106:pl#86:px#70­40:py#2400:\
#      
:of=/usr/lib/vpfW:if=/usr/lib/­vps

In comp.os.linux.hardware Jaime J. Maiz <j @lucent.com> wrote:
: Hi,
: I recently purchased an HP 870Cxi printer and I love it. However, I have
: not been able to get it to work in Linux. I followed this thread and

The HP 870 should work, the 820 doesn't.  I'm confused by the subject
as to which one you have.

John

In article <34266554.72883 @lucent.com>, "Jaime J. Maiz"
<j @lucent.com> writes

I've got one of these printers going using the Red Hat 4.1 Xwindows
printer set-up utility but as an HP DeskJet500 printing just simple
stuff so far.

There seems to be a lot of folk out here with HP820 problems, they're
told to trade up to the HP870. I've not seen any body volunteering any
clues on how to get the best of the HP870 under Linux.... any takers?
--
Steve Walkley email:- re_li @scwalkl.demon.co.uk

[Posted and mailed]

In article <Pine.SOL.3.95.970902181710.29­900A-100000@eta>,
        Jing Wang <j @pha.jhu.edu> writes:

The HP DeskJet 820Cse is a boat anchor as far as Linux is concerned.  I'd
advise you to return it.

I'm assuming you're looking for a color inkjet printer.  If so, most
models from HP, Epson, and Canon will work fine, the 820Cse being the
major exception of which I'm aware.  I use an Epson Stylus Color 400, and
know for a fact that the 600 and 800 also work.  I'm less familiar with
the specific models from HP and Canon.  Most Lexmark printers do NOT have
appropriate Ghostscript drivers, though, so I'd recommend avoiding them.
(I hear there are one or two exceptions in the latest batch, but I don't
have details on that.)

I'd suggest you check the official Ghostscript web site for information on
what printers are supported.  Unfortunately, the documentation tends to
list older printers, though newer ones also work, so it can be tricky to
figure out what is and is not supported.  Anyhow, the web site is:

http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost

Note that the current version of Ghostscript is in the 5.0x range.  Most
Linux distributions ship with 3.x, though packages (e.g., RPMs or Debian
package files) are available for more recent versions.  Unfortunately,
it's hard to know when you get a pre-compiled package just what drivers
will be included.  For instance, a 5.00 RPM I picked up a while back
didn't include the latest "UniDriver," which is what's needed for 720x1440
printing on the ESC 600 and 800.  So you may want to consider digging into
some configuration files and compiling your own version from the original
source.

--
Rod Smith                                 Author of:
rodsm @fast.SPAMBEGONE.net              "Should I Buy OS/2" FAQ
http://php.indiana.edu/~rodsmi th          "OS/2 Soundcard Summary"
NOTE: Remove the capitalized word from my address to mail me

: When shopping for a printer, avoid all those that say "Designed for
: Windows" or "Windows Only".

A huge number of products come with a Microsoft flag stating 'Designed
for Windows 95' stamped on them that doesn't mean that they won't work
with other systems.  However, most larger store chains are so narrow
minded that, for them, nothing outside of Windows exists.  Therefore,
(as far as the salesperson is concerned) because you _*obviously*_
use windows (because you have a PC) the printer will work for you,
and any other customer that comes through the door.

A typical conversation with a salesperson would go like this..

C: Does the Wombat 9000 Automatic SCSI Sandwich Toaster work with Linux?
S: Are you running ..err... Lie-nucks on Windows 95
C: No, I am running Linux, not Windows 95, not Windows, not NT
[20 minutes of argument later]
S: Is that windows 3.1 or 95?
C: Aaaagghh!  {strangle}

So your best bet, before buying any hardware, is to go to a knowledgeable
vendor.  There are many about.  Mny offer free pre-sales technical advice
(because if you show your customers you know what you are talking about,
they will tend to buy from you)

Unfortunately, I see more hardware going the 'WinSandwichToaster' route..
(and I2O, while it looks like a great idea, is being set up entirely
the wrong way IMHO.  Death to non-disclosure policies!!)

Jim

[...]

Not this one. No chance, since this printer does the same as the
famous WinModems - trusting on the OS to do the real work.
This kind of WinPrinters doesn't work outside of Win95 and Win3.x
(not in NT, OS/2, DOS, UN*X, Linux, ...) .

See above. In Linux , this device doesn't even seem to exist.
Give it back and get you the 870CXi , or the (much cheaper) 6xx series .

[...]

[...]

Michael
--
   Michael Buchenrieder * m @scrum.muc.de / m @scrum.greenie.muc.de
******************************­******************************­**************
Satellite Safety Tip #4:
                If you see a bright streak in the sky coming at you, duck.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

I don't actually know anything about this printer, but every other deskjet
I've tried just used HP's PCL.

to get this up and working quickly, grab magic filter and ghostscript.

- --
- -- Finger syel @deepthought.dyndns.com for PGP public key. --
Slang is language that takes off its coat, spits on its hands, and goes
to work.

On Fri, 5 Sep 1997 jtur @wcc.net wrote:



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   Ditto that.

Matt Gundry
mjgun @primenet.com

I am using a 870Cxi and it is great.  I use Niprint software on my
Win95 machine and it communicates to LPD on linux okay.

Clint Davis

:   I got desperate tring to configure a HP Deskjet 820Cse printer to work
: under Linux. Can anyone tell me whether the 820Cse series would work
: with Linux, or what brands/models are available in the market if I
: want to buy a small homeoffice printer to use with Linux?

The 820Cse is designed for windows only. Says so on the box and the printer.
That said, I too made the mistake of buying one. Then upon reading the
fine print I thought twice about it, brought it back to BestBuy and bought
a 870Cse instead. (Of course 3 weeks after I bought it the price went down
by $100. The local Best Buy now sells them for $400 or less.)
I haven't tried it with Linux yet but I'm planning on setting up my home
machine with Debian 1.3.1 this weekend. From what I've gathered there seem
to be deskjet drivers available.

bruno.

"Mathew E. Kirsch" <kirs @wycol.com> writes:

Well, it does work with Windows 3.1x as well (but not with NT,
not at the moment anyway).

The new 1000Cse doesn't work either (nor the *Cxi versions of either,
which differ from the *Cse in bundled s/w only), but all other
current and old DeskJets do, AFAIK. Unfortunately HP seems to
be pushing the PPA (= brainless) printer architecture so it
seems likely we'll see more non-Linux-compatible DeskJets
in the future.

Yep. Works great. Unfortunately there's no Linux-compatible
version of the 1000. :-(

If the 870 is too expensive for you, consider the 6xx series. I don't
know which models are specifically supported by current GhostScript,
but 500 series drivers will work, although the output may not be
optimal. The 870 driver may also work with some, but in particular the
photo cartridge for the 690 probably won't do any good without a
special driver for it.

--
Tapani Tarvainen

Hi Everyone,

  I got desperate tring to configure a HP Deskjet 820Cse printer to work
under Linux. Can anyone tell me whether the 820Cse series would work
with Linux, or what brands/models are available in the market if I
want to buy a small homeoffice printer to use with Linux?

  Thank you in advance,

  Jing
  (email: j @pha.jhu.edu)

Hate to tell you this but the 820Cse is only compatible with
Win95/3.1x (Don't even think the NT driver is out yet). There is
currently no way to make it work with Linux. HP has made, and
continues to make some very good printers, but the 820Cse is not one
of them. (Don't ask me about bugs in the driver.)

When shopping for a printer, avoid all those that say "Designed for
Windows" or "Windows Only".  See if the printer emulates other
printers and works from DOS.  The Printer-Howto is a good place to
start, but as fast as the market is changing, the printers listed
could very well be last years model.  If you buy a new printer that
emulates one on the list, you can at least get it to work and someone
will probably be working on an enhanced driver to use all the new
features.

I have had good luck with Canon bubblejets, and as far as I know, they
haven't made a "Windows Only" printer. Also avoid Lexmark. Haven't
seen any printer from them that is not "Windows only" in quite a
while.

Good Luck