Is there anyway to get a Dell 922 printer to work in Linux?

Someone28624 · 24-11-2007, 12:17 AM

I don't think the drivers exist. Am I screwed? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm hoping there's a way.

distro: Ubuntu 7.10

Tech · 23-11-2007, 11:59 PM

Have you experimented with the drivers availbale for other DELL printers in CUPS. You may find that one will run your printer well enough for the short term until proper drivers are written. Check to see what print engine the printer uses as it may be based on another, older model and therefore those drivers will run it as well.

Someone28624 · 24-11-2007, 12:54 AM

How do I find out the print engine?

Tech · 24-11-2007, 12:57 PM

You'll have to do some sniffing around on the net i'm afraid so just google. Maybe if you go to dell and check out the specs for the printer on their site you'll be able to find it. However bear in mind that perhaps its not based on another print engine and you're out of luck. In this siutation you're back to trial and error with CUPS and whatever drivers you have. You should be able to get it printing text without any problems but the colours will be the difficult bit.

donkey42 · 24-11-2007, 04:59 PM

at the moment i don't think that printer will function on *nix

Off Topic:

but i've oly had a quick look

a site worth staring with is the Linux Incompatibility list

Quote:

The Linux Foundation

As noted for the Dell AIO 944, none of the Dell/Lexmark Multifunction/All-In-One printers will work under Linux due to them being Host-based printers (offloading processing to the OS, much like Winmodems), which make them cheaper by not requiring a powerful processor in the printer. Along with their use of proprietary print data streams, that makes them difficult to support without official drivers, which are Windows-only

however, IBM has a technical description of the problem here, however, the printer may function with a generic driver

Anti-Trend · 24-11-2007, 06:54 PM

Dell OEMs Lexmark printers, the most nefarious and evil printers known to technology. Lexmark inkjets are so cheap because they are built without a formatter, the brain part of a printer which makes it print. Instead, the computer acts as the formatter, and as such takes a lot of resources and extremely complicated drivers. Because it's such a large undertaking, the drivers are only written for very specific versions of Windows, not 9x, Mac or Linux. And since the drivers in Lexmark printers are inextricably tied to the hardware, they even chose to bundle in spyware with the drivers. Wasn't that nice of them?

The moral of the story is: don't buy Dell or Lexmark printers. HP would be a much better choice. You will get a printer with a real formatter, and you'll be able to print in any OS you choose. If you already got a Dell printer bundled with a PC, it's around Christmas time. You might have success selling it off right now.

Here's another article to help make my case:
OpenPrinting database - Printer: Dell Photo AIO Printer 922

Best regards,
-AT

Someone28624 · 25-11-2007, 01:54 AM

Ok, so the 922 won't work.

My parents are so fed up with Windows right now though, they're *gasp* actually willing to buy a new printer to make this work.

Best bet at a reasonable price?

Anti-Trend · 25-11-2007, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Someone28624

Best bet at a reasonable price?

Depends on what they want to spend, how much they want to print, and what they want to do with it. Basically, inkjets are cheaper up front, but much, much pricier per page to print. If you don't really care about printing photos, go with a monotone laserjet for the best possible value. If you care about quality, long-term usage and best price per print, you can pay more up front and get a small-office color laserjet. If you can't afford a color laser and want to print photos, you're going to have to get an inkjet. Any inkjets are going to have the same general limitations, meaning they break easily, don't last very long, and model lines are quickly discontinued. Worst of all, ink is extremely expensive and once opened will dry up in a few months whether it's used or not.

My recommendations in a nutshell:

Get a laserjet if possible
If you can't afford the upfront cost of a laserjet, get an inkjet
consult with OpenPrinting - The Linux Foundation for compatibility before purchasing your printer

24-11-2007, 12:17 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
Someone28624 Big Geek Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 186 Times Helpful: 4 My Mood: Amused Status: Offline My Computer	Is there anyway to get a Dell 922 printer to work in Linux? I don't think the drivers exist. Am I screwed? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm hoping there's a way. distro: Ubuntu 7.10

23-11-2007, 11:59 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Tech Padawan Join Date: Jul 2007 Age: 26 Male Posts: 247 Times Helpful: 20 My Mood: Cynical Status: Offline	Have you experimented with the drivers availbale for other DELL printers in CUPS. You may find that one will run your printer well enough for the short term until proper drivers are written. Check to see what print engine the printer uses as it may be based on another, older model and therefore those drivers will run it as well. __________________ " I'm a politician which means I'm a liar and a cheat. It means when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops." some guy

24-11-2007, 12:57 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
Tech Padawan Join Date: Jul 2007 Age: 26 Male Posts: 247 Times Helpful: 20 My Mood: Cynical Status: Offline	You'll have to do some sniffing around on the net i'm afraid so just google. Maybe if you go to dell and check out the specs for the printer on their site you'll be able to find it. However bear in mind that perhaps its not based on another print engine and you're out of luck. In this siutation you're back to trial and error with CUPS and whatever drivers you have. You should be able to get it printing text without any problems but the colours will be the difficult bit. __________________ " I'm a politician which means I'm a liar and a cheat. It means when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops." some guy

24-11-2007, 06:54 PM	#6 (permalink) Top
Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 4,882 Times Helpful: 538 Status: Offline My Computer	Dell OEMs Lexmark printers, the most nefarious and evil printers known to technology. Lexmark inkjets are so cheap because they are built without a formatter, the brain part of a printer which makes it print. Instead, the computer acts as the formatter, and as such takes a lot of resources and extremely complicated drivers. Because it's such a large undertaking, the drivers are only written for very specific versions of Windows, not 9x, Mac or Linux. And since the drivers in Lexmark printers are inextricably tied to the hardware, they even chose to bundle in spyware with the drivers. Wasn't that nice of them? The moral of the story is: don't buy Dell or Lexmark printers. HP would be a much better choice. You will get a printer with a real formatter, and you'll be able to print in any OS you choose. If you already got a Dell printer bundled with a PC, it's around Christmas time. You might have success selling it off right now. Here's another article to help make my case: OpenPrinting database - Printer: Dell Photo AIO Printer 922 Best regards, -AT __________________ See My Desktop \| Try Linux \| Install Linux \| Visit My Server \| Support Hardware Forums \| Easily rip DVDs in Linux \| Remember Everything

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24-11-2007, 12:54 AM	#3 (permalink) Top
Someone28624 Big Geek Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 186 Times Helpful: 4 My Mood: Amused Status: Offline My Computer	How do I find out the print engine?

25-11-2007, 01:54 AM	#7 (permalink) Top
Someone28624 Big Geek Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 186 Times Helpful: 4 My Mood: Amused Status: Offline My Computer	Ok, so the 922 won't work. My parents are so fed up with Windows right now though, they're gasp actually willing to buy a new printer to make this work. Best bet at a reasonable price?

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