Anyone here run Ubuntu 16.04 and have a printer?

[Ericmopar]

I'm looking for some advice for a supported printer in Ubuntu 16.04. For home use not business.
Thanks Eric.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

I run Ubuntu on my internet computers.
I have a Samsung ML-2160 small office/home use laser printer. It is connected to the WLAN router so all computers in my network can use it. Everything worked out of the box in my setup.
The Samsung provided drivers for my Mac and Windows computers in the network add a few more features, but since the printer is fairly basic, the Samsung added value is of little importance.

Generally, Linux is good at supporting slightly older printers. The latest and newest models can be supported in basic mode, their most advanced features have to be programmed into the Linux drivers. Either by the manufacturer, or by the Linux volunteers. Multifunctional printers require more support or separate drivers for their scanner, fax or modem functions.

The Ubuntu help pages will tell you which printers are supported right now. The Ubuntu Community pages can also help.
Otherwise, there are Linux/Ubuntu message boards where printer support can be discussed, though these discussions do tend to get very technical because the volunteer devs often participate.

[jgvaughan]

Having a home network with a cross-section of linux, osx, and windows computers, it would be my recommendation that you find a printer or printers you like and then research which one(s) have support of the operating systems that will be accessing the printer. All of my printers are network capable printers so they are access directly from the each computer device since I can assign them a specific IP address.

[Ericmopar]

I've tried the support pages at the Ubuntu site and also places like Openprinting.org, but I'm not having any luck.
They say there are drivers for my mother's Canon Pixma ip1600, but they don't work.
I've tried several solutions, but always end up with something like "Printer Filter could not be found" or it will process and buffer, but not actually print.
The lists can be terribly outdated.
I've never had hardware problems before with Ubuntu, but apparently printers are the last frustration for Linux users. Most other hardware and devices are very well supported theses days.
All Ive really been able to determine, is that Brother and HP seem to be the most likely to be supported.
Linux now uses "CUPS" so I had thought that any Apple capable printer would work, but that doesn't pan out either.
Because CUPS is now standard on most Linux distros, Apple and Unix systems, I thought it would be easier to get a printer and drivers nowadays.

[jgvaughan]

You may want to check out this link...it may be of some assistance.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/102995/w ... for-ubuntu

[Ericmopar]

No go on any of that.
I found out that Linux distros and printers are a huge gamble. Even if they support a printer and you buy it, then there is a good chance in a couple of years you will find it broken again.
So, mom will just have to fire up Windows once in awhile and hope it will be a good day for 10 not crashing her PC.

[PapaXpress]

Does the printer support Google Cloud Print? If so then print through Chrome.

[Ericmopar]

Does the printer support Google Cloud Print? If so then print through Chrome.

No cloud printing. It's an old printer.

[PapaXpress]

did you try this?
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Hardw ... ixmaIP2200

[Ericmopar]

did you try this?
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Hardw ... ixmaIP2200

Yes, more than once. Supposedly the iP2200 printer drivers work with my mothers iP1600, but that didn't work either.
I always end up with "No Printer Filter Was Found" or the printer is recognized and you can actually see the light on the printer flashing and see the OS trying to load the print job, but then nothing. It won't actually print.
It's fine in windows, so I know nothing is wrong with the printer itself.
I've learned that various things are outdated in the Ubuntu help pages.
I've also learned that some of those drivers have to be removed before trying something else.
Apparently CUPS and some other systems don't get along very well...
I've given up.
The info around Linux forums tends to be very vague. A lot of the persons that are supposed to be helping, seem to think everyone should know everything about LInux.
Ergo a lot of steps can be left out of instructions. Steps that they take for granted.
Some instructions just plain have the wrong folder path in the terminal commands, and there is never any clear way of just copy and paste it here. It's always about doing things the hard way, like they relish that.

BTW that link you posted is for a really old version of Ubuntu. 6.xx

Thanks for trying though.