[OT] Free software compatible Multifuncion printer

[OT] Free software compatible Multifuncion printer

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

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Hello guix users!

sorry for this OT, I know there are other community channels to search
for this kind of information but they are really scarce:
https://h-node.org/printers/catalogue/en/1/1/undef/undef/undef/undef/compatibility/undef?search_string=MFP&submit=Search

Please do you have a suggestion on a MFP (Multifunction Printer) that
can print _and_ scan using just free software, without additional
proprietary blobs?

This is somewhat a follow-up on Chris Marusich help request... more than
one year later:
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/help-guix/2019-03/msg00113.html

I'm too much sad about the hardware compatibility with free software in
2020... since 2003 :-(... and this is _not_ a free software community
fault.

I just got a brend new HP LaserJet MFP M227sdn, HP ships hplip &
co. since long ago and they have a pretty informative list of supported
printers

https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/supported_devices/index

Column 3 of that list is about "Driver Plug-in" and that column says
"No" for my printer [1], so my printer and scanner should be fully
supported.

...but I just found that if I do not install the proprietary binary (via
"sudo hp-plugin") the scan function just does not work; I've also opened
a bug report via the only official channel availabre from HP:
https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/support

...that means a bug report on Ubuntu Launchpad :-S
https://bugs.launchpad.net/hplip/+bug/1874254


I'm considering opening an official complaint with HP and returning the
MFP printer, but I'd also like to know how can I solve my issue: I'd
really like a printer and scanner in one appliance.

The alternative oprion is to continue like I did since yesterday: keep
printer and scanner separate, so I'll have more options to find a
completely free software compatible scanner via SANE Project



Any hit is appreciated
Thanks! Giovanni



[1] ("Required") A downloadable driver plug-in is required for printing
support. ("Optional") A downloadable driver plug-in is optional for
printing support and may increase the speed, quality, or other aspect of
printed output. ("No" or "None") A driver plug-in is not required nor
available. Driver plug-ins are released under a proprietary (non-open)
license and are not part of the HPLIP tarball release. For more
information, please refer to this
https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/binary_plugin.html


-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

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sane-airscan (Re: [OT] Free software compatible Multifuncion printer

[Giovanni Biscuolo]

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Hello Guix,

sorry for the OT but maybe this could be useful for someone else here

Giovanni Biscuolo <g@xelera.eu> writes:

[...]

> I just got a brend new HP LaserJet MFP M227sdn, HP ships hplip &
> co. since long ago and they have a pretty informative list of supported
> printers

[...]

> ...that means a bug report on Ubuntu Launchpad :-S
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/hplip/+bug/1874254

in that thread brian_p pointed me to sane-airscan
https://github.com/alexpevzner/sane-airscan

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---

If you are a lucky owner of scanner or MFP which works via network with
Apple devices, I have a good news for you: now your scanner works with
Linux as well!

In theory, this backend should work with any scanner that supports the
eSCL protocol (unofficially known as AirScan or AirPrint scanning). In
practice, it was tested on several devices from Canon, Kyocera and HP,
and this list constantly grows, though slowly, so feedback regarding
other devices is very welcomed.

Apple maintains a comprehensive list of compatible devices, but please
note, this list contains not only scanners and MFP, but pure printers as
well.

To use this backend, you don't need to install ScanGear from Canon,
HPLIP from HP or some other proprietary software from hardware
vendor. This backend works directly with your device and doesn't depend
on a 3rd party closed source components.

--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

I've tested it using the provided Debian 10 packages (personal repo
hosted on software.opensuse.org) and it works.

It's GPL2+ but I still have to check if there are really no blobs

I'll try and make a Guix package, if I'll be able

HTH! Gio'


-- 
Giovanni Biscuolo

Xelera IT Infrastructures

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