As someone who has suffered his second printer breakdown in five years, what would you recommend? Given that it has to be Linux-compatible.
Here's my two cents... My printing needs are not high and some weeks I don't print anything, but I've found that Brother printers seem to work OK with Linux. The Brother website provides Linux drivers. I download a "Driver Install Tool" which is a .gz file that contains one bash file. I run this bash file on my Ubuntu 18.04.3 and it downloads whatever other files it needs and installs a printer driver and a scanner driver for my Brother DCP-7065DN 3-in-1 mono laser. If I install a new Ubuntu 18.04.3 Mate version on a PC, then Ubuntu's GUI "Add Printer" works fine. It finds the Brother printer on my ethernet, and the printer prints OK. However the printers scanner is not automatically installed by Ubuntu. I need the Brother / Driver Install Tool / bash script for getting the scanner to work with "Simple Scan" (which is included as a part of the Ubuntu Mate install). There seem to be counters on my model of Brother printer which come up with "suggestions" on when to change your toner or drum. Normally through the front panel I can over-ride these settings and continue printing. The toner cartridges have a mechanical "cog / switch" which determines when a new toner cartridge has been installed. Using a screwdriver to remove an end-panel on the toner cartridge I can reset this switch. Thus I can refill a cartridge and install it, and it will "appear" as new. With the Brother printer I have, its design is such that the drum and the toner cartridges are separate consumable items. In theory this should reduce the cost of my replacement toner cartridges from the vendors that include a drum that's built in with their replacement cartridge. ===
What next? I’ve been sticking with inkjets because my printing volume needs are low. Is this a sensible policy? Any suggestions?
I switched from using inkjet printers to using a Brother mono laser printer about 5 years ago. I don't envisage that I will every switch back to an inkjet printer. If you need colour then your outlay costs will be high if you go for laser. Mono lasers should now be reasonably low. I would suggest when getting a laser printer that you get one with a duplexer so it prints on both sides which saves paper and produces a more professional looking document. You should also check the price of replacement toner kits. Check all variants are available: on-line by courier / at PB-Tech / genuine vendor product / 3rd party product. Also you might want to check out your nearest shop offering colour printing and see what their prices are. I only have a mono printer. If I really need colour, then I e-mail my files to a shop in Hamilton East and then call in later to pick up the colour printouts. For me, this is about once a year. cheers, Ian.