[CS-FSLUG] Printer Woes

[Timothy R. Butler]

As many of you know, I have an HP PSC 2210. It's given good service on 
both Mac OS X and GNU/Linux over the last two years. Although I've 
given it a very light load of ~ 1800 pages total (it is rated for 
3000/month, IIRC). Unfortunately, my PSC is starting to act up. I have 
had trouble with it just stopping in the middle of pages, and worse, 
completing jobs, but dividing some pages into two pages with part of 
the text on one page and part of it on another page. Its gotten to the 
point where I must check every document very carefully to make sure 
everything is OK.

At the same time, I cannot always replicate the problem. Does anyone 
have a suggestion on how I might fix this? Right now I'm using it with 
HP's Mac OS X drivers, but I'm fairly certain it is a hardware issue, 
because my other HP printer does not exhibit similar behavior connected 
to the same system.

Also, if I have been trying to figure out what to replace this unit 
with should it be a problem too difficult to resolve. I'm looking at an 
OfficeJet -- Costco has one with a duplexer and sheet feeder for $349, 
but I'm hestitant to buy another HP. This is my main printer, and it is 
the third of three HP's that have started exhibiting problems and then 
eventually died in a row -- one that I had from 1998-1999, then one 
from 1999-2002 and finally this one from 2002-2004. I don't like that 
short of life cycle.

There are two possibilities if I replace it: buy another inkjet 
multifunction device from someone. This unit will be hooked up to Mac 
OS X, which will share the machine with GNU/Linux via CUPS, so even 
Lexmark is a possibility. Epson looks attractive but does not have a 
sheet feeder on any of their units (not required, but nice). 
Alternately, I could buy a laser multifunction device. Sure it would be 
b/w, but I have a color HP Deskjet 6850 available to all the systems on 
my network via Wi-Fi (either via Rendezvous for Mac OS X or 
JetDirect/IPP printing for GNU/Linux systems).

Laser units, I suspect might be better built...

Options that would be nice, but not necessary (in order or usefulness) 
are sheet feeder, built in networking support (wired or wi-fi), color 
LCD screen (if inkjet), PictBridge (also if inkjet), memory card reader 
(also if inkjet). Brands I've been looking at so far are HP, despite my 
increasing disappointment with their quality, Epson, Lexmark, Canon, 
Brother, etc. High quality text is most important, photo printing is 
nice, but not absolutely required due to the above consideration that I 
already have a good HP color standalone printer.

	Thanks for advice both on the old unit and potential replacements.

	-Tim

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Timothy R. Butler       Universal Networks      www.uninet.info
==================== <tbutler at uninet.info> ====================
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