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11/19/2009 12:42:51 AM · #1 |
Dang. It looks like support for my Canon S600, which is probably around 10 years old (I don't even remember when I bought it) is a no go with Windows 7. The MSFT site says it's compatible with Windows 7 64-bit with a free download, but when I hit the Canon site to download the driver, I can't even find it listed.
Maybe it's time for a new printer, although I can't really complain about how this little baby lasted. I never print photos on it, but it was decent for just printing documents. Since I use it that way, maybe I should look at a laser jet for the next one and avoid the whole ink scam thing. Or do I just walk into the toner cartridge scam? |
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11/19/2009 12:47:11 AM · #2 |
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11/19/2009 12:53:51 AM · #3 |
| After ten years of use, I got rid of a monster like this (HP Laserjet 4000n) and replaced it with this lightweight thing (Brother HL 2140) in our office. As time goes by, less paper is needed. If you're not printing photos, go laser, and go small and cheap. The Laserjet was over $2,500 ten years ago. The Brother cost just over a hundred six months ago. |
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11/19/2009 12:54:10 AM · #4 |
| I'm surprised there is not a generic ink jet driver that would work for text only. There has always been one in the past. |
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11/19/2009 12:54:40 AM · #5 |
Per unit, toner is more expensive, but is cheaper in the long run. You will get sharper text with a laser, but you won't get the same quality of photos printed. The difference is that ink soaks into the print paper while toner sits on top of it. If you will use this to print photos to frame, you are best to go with another inkjet. For general usage and crisp, clear text, a laser is a good choice.
I looked at the specs for your Canon to see if it supported the PCL or Postscript languages. It does not. If it supported one of those, you could just select a fairly generic driver and basic printing would work. I think your S600 is probably what is called a GDI printer. This is a Windows only printer, and all the ripping of the print job is actually done on the computer. It's not a commonly supported printer language like PS and PCL, however.
My 10 year old Konica KL-3015 did not have drivers shipped with Win7 either, but there was an option in the printer wizard to search online, and it found the PostScript driver for it on the MS site. Have you tried doing that?
I am having an error message with a cryptic number when I try to set up the printer, but have not dove into troubleshooting it yet.
Message edited by author 2009-11-19 00:56:05. |
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11/19/2009 12:57:47 AM · #6 |
Well - it doesn't sound like the old S600 owes you anything so you should at lest not feel too bad about ditching it for something new. Whether you should go for another ink printer or spring for a laser all depends in how much you print, you're requirement for quality, how often you need color (if at all) and what type of stock you will be using.
I also mostly print documents. The problem I found with multicolor ink printers for documents is that I always run out of black ink first. Some of this got solved when I changed to a printer with 8 cartridges. But then the color dried out before I used up the black. So in my case a b/w laser was the best option since I hardly ever need color. Wen I need a page in color (maybe once per year); I take it at the office. |
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11/19/2009 12:57:47 AM · #7 |
The Vista driver worked like a charm. Here's to the next 10 years on this baby. :) Actually I'm sorta excited about a laser printer now since they are so cheap. You happy with your choice Louis? It isn't cheap on the front end and really expensive on the back end? I doubt I really need color at home. I print all my photos at a printer, although it would be fun to have a nice 16" printer at home. I just don't think the upkeep would be worth something like that in the end.
Message edited by author 2009-11-19 00:59:27. |
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11/19/2009 01:03:47 AM · #8 |
I was coming back to say that, but I was beat to it. It's a blessing for me. Vista tech support was a nightmare for almost a year, as print drivers for it came at a trickle. Regular calls from customers complaining because Vista print drivers were not available right away. Best thing we could do for a while was offer workarounds to get some print functionality. Sticking with the driver model from Vista was a good thing for Win7.
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11/19/2009 01:09:57 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I print all my photos at a printer, although it would be fun to have a nice 16" printer at home. I just don't think the upkeep would be worth something like that in the end. |
My thoughts exactly. I went out and bout a very expensive photo printer so I could do everything at home. It was fun the first 2 weeks. After that it tapered off and upkeep was so-so. We also used a commercial printer for some larger prints and when I then finally needed to use my own printer it left horizontal lines on the prints and I needed to exchange all the 8 cartridges (not cheap when they're no being used!). Now the printer is in the basement beside the pasta and ice cream maker and we exclusively use a commercial printer for our photos. Our commercial printer does better work than what I could and they are easy to use with on-line set-up/ordering and dirt cheap these days as I'm sure you know since you use them too.
Message edited by author 2009-11-19 01:12:29. |
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11/19/2009 01:14:55 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Vista tech support was a nightmare for almost a year, |
Or... you could simply let common sense prevail and just buy a Mac! :P |
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11/19/2009 01:23:03 AM · #11 |
| The Brother's a great printer. It's all we need at this point. Haven't chnged the cartridge yet, don't expect to soon. Should get 12+ months out of it. |
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11/19/2009 07:49:50 AM · #12 |
| For non-photo work, we're also now using a Brother laser (the 2170, which is also a wifi printer). I paid about $169 for it, and it's still on the "starter" cartridge after 9 months. |
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11/19/2009 08:33:05 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by TrollMan:
Or... you could simply let common sense prevail and just buy a Mac! :P |
I knew someone would eventually pipe in with the "get a Mac" schtick!
Speaking of which, it is worth noting that we have had no printer driver issues with Win7. (I work in tech support for a printer/copier company, if you did not know) However, Mac OS 10.6 had given us fits, as they changed the way some driver components work from 10.5. We are having to suggest workarounds until the Mac drivers are updated for Snow Job Snow Leopard. |
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11/19/2009 08:35:34 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by Louis:
The Brother's a great printer. It's all we need at this point. Haven't chnged the cartridge yet, don't expect to soon. Should get 12+ months out of it. |
If it breaks however, it's probably time to replace it at that point. Brothers are not well regarded by technicians. They are not designed to be easily serviced. |
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11/19/2009 11:09:59 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by Louis:
The Brother's a great printer. It's all we need at this point. Haven't chnged the cartridge yet, don't expect to soon. Should get 12+ months out of it. |
If it breaks however, it's probably time to replace it at that point. Brothers are not well regarded by technicians. They are not designed to be easily serviced. |
At $169, the service is likely to be as expensive (or nearly so) as a new unit. Welcome to the disposable age... |
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