I have this printer connected and successfully connected it and using it with cups+gutenprint v5.0.2
The driver does not support the scanner function of the printer, is it possible to install the printer as on XP environment so that all the functions are available, as intended, i.e all in 1?
Many thanks in anticipation
Graham
Ps Am I correct in saying that HP supports all its printers with linux software and so should be considerably easier to use as all in 1?
I can’t answer your question re: an XP environment because (1) I don’t use this printer, and (2) I don’t use XP. But you could take a look at this openSUSE URL to see if there is anything that might help: YaST/Modules/Scanner - openSUSE
I think generally speaking, HP printers are easier to get working under Linux, primarily because the manufacturer (HP) provides better Linux support than other printer manufacturers. However I do not know if the same is true for scanning functions. I suspect not, especially for “all in 1” printers. Often “all in 1” printers have copy and other buttons on their chassis, which launches some software in the MS-Windows connected PC. Such functionality has not (to my knowledge) been implemented in Linux.
I have an old HP inkjet printer that works well, and for scanning, I use an old dedicated Epson scanner, that also works well.
HP is the way to go even with AIO’s. For more info see this page: HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP)
I use a HP PhotoSmart C5180, it prints and scans flawlessly on opensuse 11, Fedora 9,Mandriva 2008 and Mandriva 2008.1, Ubuntu 8.0.4, Kubuntu 8.0.4… you name it, it works.
Regarding the Epson: maybe iScan can do the trick (I used an Epson Perfection 640U in the past, a scanner only) but I’m not sure.