I think the last bunch of drivers were dated 2002...So look for a printer 8 years old?

I believe MorphOS printing subsystem can speak PCL language fluently. So any "LaserJet" compatible printer should work? Mind you, many modern printers are dumb, and don't speak any page description language, and the Windows (of course) driver has to do it all by itself.
Then some modern printers can be fed PDF directly.

@osco

I got HP LaserJet 3420 which I purchased 8 years ago.

Unfortunately I couldn't make it running under MorphOS but perhaps I should just have try harder.

There will be no problem with printers which understands PCL5 /6 or postscript. Even color laserprinter will run. Some Amiga-progs (Pagestream, Final Writer, APDF, etc) can send PS-files directly to a PS-capable printer or to a PCL5/6 capable printer via the Turboprint PS:-device...... works realy fine with my HP1514n-color-laser (PS-printer) and with a Lexmark 120n (PCL5/6 monochrome laserprinter). Both are network printer.....

Hmm, I suppose you are talking about the Deskjet 3420?

Am I out of luck on my new HP Photosmart Premium? Can it be used with MorphOS or am I just SOL?

Just take a PCL or even better a postscript compatible printer and you can print out of the box.

I am using a Brother MFC 7225N. When I planned to buy it I simply ensured it supports PCL emulation and its working fine. I am using it as network printer as its main function is a FAX device. Actually I own a second Brother printer which also works fine.

Last time I reviewed printer tests in a computer magazine. 15 of 20 printers were supported by MorphOS. So I dont think its a real problem to get a propper and up to date printer.

Geit


[ Edited by geit on 2010/6/6 5:31 ]

I wonder if my HP Photosmart Premium supports PCL. I kind of doubt it.

Turns out my printer does support PCL and the USB stack in MorphOS detects and names my printer correctly. How do I config MorphOS to print PCL to my printer though? I have messed around with the Printer Prefs to no avail.

Thats normal.Poseidon knows any device by name as this is a basic get name/get feature protocol all devices follow. Important is that its bond to a printer class.

You need to open printer prefs and specify the device in the bottom right corner. Set port to "device" and device name to "usbprinter.device". Unit should be 0.

Important!!! Press return in device name field or the setting will not be used.

Now select a printer. HP_Laserjet 3 should do.

Geit


[ Edited by geit on 2010/6/6 5:32 ]

@geit

I followed your advice and still no luck. What apps can you print from?

Quote:

Apdf (using ghostscript)
CubicIDE
and even dos if required. Any application that supports printing should work.

Take a closer look onto your printer stuff. Does the Printer support PCL oder does the printer driver support PCL. If its a GDI printer, the brain is in the printer driver and no chance on MorphOS to get it work. Same for postscript. Same goes for Postscript.

The printer itself must contain the emulation and not the windows driver.

NOTE: Its possible the device is usbparallel.device. I can not remember which one was right. Check the poseidon log for correct name and unit.

Geit

[ Edited by geit on 2010/6/6 18:01 ]

> I wonder if my HP Photosmart Premium supports PCL. I kind of doubt it.

"STANDARD PRINTER LANGUAGES: HP PCL 3 GUI, PML"
http://shopping.hp.com/shopping/pdf/cd055a.pdf (page 2)

Edit: I saw your own discovery too late, sorry.

[ Edited by Andreas_Wolf on 2010/6/6 19:33 ]

@Andreas_Wolf

Now the new question is does my printer support PCL in it's hardware or is it part of some stupid Windows printer driver or something.


:)

> Now the new question is does my printer support PCL in it's hardware or
> is it part of some stupid Windows printer driver or something.

I don't think the Photosmart Premium is a GDI printer. As far as I understand the specs the printer itself supports the PCL 3 GUI language, not depending on the driver.

@Andreas_Wolf

That makes it even more strange that I could not get it to work. I tried many setting and trying to print from several different applications. Anyone else get this printer to work?

[ Edited by discreetfx on 2010/6/7 4:05 ]

geit
Very interesting so my HP Deskjet 6980 which afaik supports plc3 should work with morphos? This included graphics printing?

> That makes it even more strange that I could not get it to work. I tried many setting
> and trying to print from several different applications.

Did you note geit's 'note' in his latest posting?

@Andreas_Wolf

Yup, already tried that.

> Yup, already tried that.

It might be that PCL 3 GUI language is not compatible enough with the PCL version(s) supported by TurboPrint (PCL 5 in case of LaserJet 3 driver). But that's just a wild guess.

"PCL 3GUI [...] uses a compressed raster format that is not compatible with standard PCL 3."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer_Command_Language#PCL_levels_1_through_5_overview

The following link might lead to answers:
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Ahp.com+pcl3gui+pcl5

@Andreas_Wolf

LaserJet 3 Driver is the one I tried. Maybe I'll play around with other drivers.

I'm probably just going to pick up a nice Postscript printer for MorphOS. Anyone got any recommendations?

e.g.:
HP 1515n ColorLaserjet - works great directly with PS and TP (PCL5/6), but 256MB memoryexpansion is strongly recommanded (buy a third party RAM - and *NOT* from HP.....)
or
Lexmark 120n (Monochrome Laser) - works with TP (PCL5/6 with HP-LaserJet-driver). Postscript is possible via PS: -device from TP.....
Both printers are networkprinters but also useable with USB.....

They both seem very good chioces! Also, perhaps talking to them though network is better (easier for the operating system) than through USB...

Thanx for the recommends, I'll be getting the HP one.