print problems

[squareyes]

Hi all,
I cannot get rid of Windows, I think that all that is keeping Ubuntu from
becoming the operating system of choice are the problems relating to 
getting a printer to work.
I used up hours trying to get an old epson dot matrix to work, 
linuxprinting said it would,
but I couldn't find the incantation necessary (works fine under 
Windows), have been trying for 2 hours to get
HP Laserjet 4 plus to work (again works fine under Windows) have cups 
and gimpprint installed,
Can send a test page which will not print using a variety of drivers. I 
did manage to get it to print one line
of a txt file from open office, rest of the page blank, but that's all.
Post on the cups list and never get a reply.
If I should get anything out of the lotteries I would happily pay 
someone to write a
decent set of printer drivers, for things that are said to work but 
don't. Shouldn't need to be a systems admin
to get something as basic as a printer running, especially common 
varieties, after all this is one of the main uses of a computer or at least
it is to me.  I print out tips I pick up from lurking here :-)
Most people I know buy their computers as a package including a printer, 
which when I give them a Ubuntu set
and they can't get their printer running, soon gets put to one side.
Does anyone know if this situation is likely to improve in the 
forseeable future.
Looks like Windows is here to stay, can't afford a nice new Samsung :-(
Sorry for my agro, just don't understand why if it doesn't work, why 
include it.
No info is better than bad info.

Guess I would be straining a friendship after all that to ask _*very*_ 
humbly if anyone has any ideas
that may help, or should I network to my old machine with Windows SE , 
use that to print,
and forget about printing from Linux? My masochistic days are over :-)
Thanks in advance,
Take Care
Winton