I’ve noticed a general sentiment that printing on Linux is (or at least was) extremely cumbersome and difficult. Why is that?

  • Baaahb@feddit.nlEnglish
    85·
    7 days ago

    That’s not been my experience.

    Granted, printers suuuuuck. But I was legit surprised when both the printing and scanning functions in Linux were hands down better than windows.

  • kuneho@lemmy.world
    4·
    5 days ago

    my experience is that through network, it’s just flawless. I turned on my printer and sure there it was. (though this feature just became a huge issue recently :P)

      • Olhonestjim@lemmy.world
        2·
        5 days ago

        I just started with PopOS a couple years ago. I’m not a power user. I’ve got one of those crappy travel printers. I think it’s Canon? I forget. It worked just fine for me.

  • SlippiHUD@lemmy.worldEnglish
    19·
    6 days ago

    Any problem I’ve ever had printing is almost exclusively a problem with the printer, it’s usually yellow or cyan. Doesn’t matter the document is black&white.

  • schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de
    9·
    6 days ago

    I think that used to be the case more than it is now. Linux now uses the same printing system (CUPS) as macOS, and macOS printing has to work or Apple’s customers would be unsatisfied.

  • gomp@lemmy.ml
    15·
    6 days ago

    It used to back in the day, especially if you tried using shitty windows usb inkjets.

    Nowadays basically all printers are network printers (they are, aren’t they?) plus we have cups which is the same thing macos uses (so manufacturers actually care).

  • Apalacrypto@lemmy.world
    14·
    7 days ago

    I’m not sure on this one, but it may depend on the printer. Printing on Linux for me has been the easiest process ever. Windows fights me at every corner, but Linux sees my network printers and they just work out of the box. (I’ve only used Brother printers for the last 20 years)

  • utopiah@lemmy.ml
    7·
    6 days ago

    HP Laser 107w, driverless, over LAN.

    I just Ctrl+P from any software and it prints.

    It also prints programmatically (for e.g. folk.computer ) thanks to IPP.

    I didn’t have to “think about printing” since I have that setup so I don’t know where you get that sentiment.

    • lemmyvore@feddit.nlEnglish
      1·
      6 days ago

      Linux printing is very complex. Before Foomatic came along you got to experience it in all it’s glory and setting up a working printing chain was a pain. The Foomatic Wikipedia page has a diagram that will make your head spin.

      • utopiah@lemmy.ml
        1·
        5 days ago

        No doubt, the kernel itself is also quite complex… but my comment here is on the user experience perspective, namely, for me at least “it just works”. So I’m not trying to imply it will work for anybody flawlessly nor that it’s due to the simplicity of the stack, solely that it works, for me.

  • Caveman@lemmy.world
    2·
    5 days ago

    I use printer with a USB personally. No issues with that but I got an HP printer that is really weird with the network stuff

  • RmDebArc_5@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    12·
    7 days ago

    Printing has basically everywhere been annoying. You need(-ed) specific drivers or even apps to make it work and if you have that set up it still can be annoying. And because most of these drivers/apps don’t support Linux printing relied on reverse engineered drivers. Then CUPS came around which made things better. And when apple adopted CUPS for Mac suddenly everyone wanted to support.

    If you are really interested check out this episode of destination Linux where it’s discussed in detail.

  • NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml
    3·
    5 days ago

    I haven’t used a new printer or an inkjet in a number of years now, but using my 18yo HP laserjet is a matter of plugging it in and checking it’s status under the main distro settings menu. That was also on par with the windows process iirc.

    I do remember 20 years ago when I had to sideload pcmcia wifi drivers, though.

    • bruhduh@lemmy.world
      3·
      5 days ago

      True, i have 20yo hp inkjet and 17yo epson inkjet, old printers work like a charm on linux and you can refill them with standard medical syringe too

  • lightnsfw@reddthat.com
    10·
    6 days ago

    IDK, my housemates printer required literally 0 setup to work with my linux VM and I’ve never had an issue. When I print from windows it’s a pain in the butt sometimes.