[ubuntu-uk] Lexmark 4300 and woe is me (and him)

[John Levin]

alan c wrote:
> Rob Beard wrote:
>> alan c wrote:
>>> Lexmark 4300
>>>
>>> I help an elderly person with their PC use and they run two dual boot 
>>> machines - a dell desktop XP/Kubuntu and a newer Dell laptop 
>>> XP/Kubuntu. (7.10)
>>>
>>> Some time ago, with a lot of good intentions this person spotted a 
>>> good all in one printer copier scanner deal, and snapped it up.
>>> Too late. I was not involved with the purchase, and unfortunately I 
>>> now find (as sort of expected) that it is next to impossible to use 
>>> with K/Ubuntu. Although I have not given up completely just yet.
>>>
>>> However, the unit does have a MAC install CD as well as the windows one.
>>> Does this give any hope I wonder?
>>>
>>> I would appreciate any comments - tia
>> I wouldn't hold my breath.  You might be able to fool the printer to 
>> print something maybe by using a HP Deskjet 500 driver (I had a Lexmark 
>> inkjet back in 1995 when they were new and it was Deskjet 500 compatible).
>>
>> Just a thought, have you checked the Lexmark site?
> 
> Yes, there is a driver or two there and I will revisit that, however 
> so far the popular lexmark drivers are not working. I just wondered 
> that since the MAC is unix based then something in the MAC install CDs 
> might prove useful. Does this ever happen?

Do they provide the source? If not, there's no chance.

I faced the same situation as you just a few weeks back, did some 
research, and the long-n-short of it is that Lexmark should be avoided 
by linux users. Personally, I'll never recommend any Lexmark product, 
not even to people using os x or xp.

John