overhard, you described the whole issue with that one word. Canon. Windows 7 64 bit had major issues with Canon printers. I don't expect Linux to be different in that regard. Unless it's a newer one, built after the release of Win 7.

Canon had a huge printing business at one time, in the XP days, there were many $4.000 ones for photo work. Problem was, once 7 was released, the users of these printers had no choice to stay with XP Pro. Support was shoddy at best. I have no doubt that this ruined their once good reputation.

Cat

I have had great success with my Canon Pixma MP620. Both Win 7 and Win 8 CP, Win 8 RP work fine with all features present in my multifunction device.

catilley1092,
I'd go HP next time because they support Linex much better. However I bought this Canon with my first computer which ran on windows 7 and it's worked well with it,also works with XP and Mac no problem. I've had for three years and still works fine, it's wireless doesn't jam and changing the ink is a snap.

The more recent Canon's, like the one that Ted mentioned above, should work well with Win 7/8 RP, as it's a more recent printer. I believe that the ones that were giving so much trouble were those made for XP 32 bit (prior to any SP's). Some were even for Windows 2000 Pro. There were many, many threads on this topic, at first I didn't realize the seriousness of the issue.

I told a member that he could grab most any brand of printer for $99 or less, that's when I learned why these members were so hot over the issue. Many were $3.000 to $4,000 printers. Needless to say, I got toasted for suggesting a $99 printer, though they didn't come up front & say what they were for, nor the price of them when new, just that their Canon printer (with the usual lack of model or specs) wouldn't run on Win 7 64 bit. That's why posting specs were highly encouraged, so that we could at least have some light to work in, it's kind of hard to guess blindly at issues & be accurate.

Once I learned that these were expensive printers & what they were for, mostly occupation related, I had two suggestions. Being that most were running a business anyway, they should've had 7 Pro, which entitled them to XP Mode. I know for a fact that they would run then, but most stated that due to the images being processed (or similar wording), a virtual XP wouldn't cut it.

So most either downgraded to XP, or dual booted XP & Windows 7. When it comes down to your business, do what has to be done, especially if it's a successful one as is.

overhard, you are very correct. Linux.org highly recommends HP printers for Linux OS's, as most popular versions supports these out of the box. So that's at least 10 million potentially happy HP printer users, the number may be higher, figuring in businesses who uses Linux OS's & servers (paid editions) where there may be a hundred or more printers available. Whether that will be enough customers to keep HP's printing division afloat, after all of the Win 8 RP users are pouring forward, most only has print & scan drivers supplied by Windows Update, will be another issue.

But I wouldn't want one for anything, my Kodak 3250 AIO printer, though built for Windows 7, also supports XP, Vista, Win 8 CP & RP, as well as the latest Linux Ubuntu & Mint out of the box. It was already plugged in, I turned it on, & both Ubuntu 12.04 & Mint 13 configured it w/o any input on my part. Truly amazing, because in earlier versions, had to turn to the command line (terminal in Linux). Inks are also the lowest cost on the market, one can get Genuine Kodak inks for less than what many charges for generic replacements (which mainly are crap).

Plus, though my Kodak is now two years old, I still get full program updates (for 8 RP also), one was released last week, every time I boot into a OS that I haven't used in a bit, it's ready for a full program update. This typically takes 10 to 15 minutes, over 200MB data downloaded, the old version removed & the new installed. On some, I skip this & just go with the updated print & scan drivers furnished by Windows Update.

Next time around though, I'd like a laser printer, as though the initial cost is more, they last much longer. After the wheels fall off my Kodak, I'll get one. I'll just make sure that it works with the latest Windows & Linux, & not an HP.

Cat

Cat,
Sounds like you got a great printer.

I wouldn't say it's great, but it's the best one that I've had so far. I forgot to mention, probably no need to, as many probably has the option, to make prints directly from the printer (there's a memory card slot on the front).

Problem is, though the prints are as good as what can be bought at those chain drug stores, it uses more ink, especially to print one picture. If say, there was 30 at a time to be printed, not as much ink would be used per picture. Because when I print anything, even just B&W receipts, some of the color ink is used, by the auto cleaning cycle done when through. If I were to print several pages at a time, plenty more pages can be obtained from a ink cartridge set, less waste. It also goes through this flush/cleaning process during an install, even if I print nothing.

It does what I need it to do though, if I had to change anything, it wouldn't be the Kodak brand, just a laser jet over an ink jet. Yes, those laser cartridges costs, but they last. What happened was, I had $100 budgeted for a printer (took 3 months to save for it), this one went on sale for $69, in a Sunday paper ad. Was able to buy the printer, inks & a 30 pack of 4 x 6 photo paper for (a bundle add on) for a total of a little over $105 ($99 + local tax, free shipping).

I felt that I came out good, would have came out better if I printed more at one time, but that's impractical for me. Oh well, $30 every three to four months for ink isn't bad. It's been one of my better purchases of the last three years.

Cat

Originally Posted by Ted Myers

Apple has had some very publicized virus problems recently. There are many stories just like this. You might start seeing more of this as these people find such easy targets.

Apple is also very overpriced for the specs, plus I like to make my OS look and work the way I want it. Can't do that with a Mac. No thanks, I'll keep Windows.

Ted,
Microsoft now has an app store and it's the right step for them to do. Their has been much said about apples walled garden approach versus having freeware on the internet
for PC users. The truth is that their is no free lunch. This weekend I downloaded some free software, many that I've downloaded in the past with no problems. Guess what ? Most freeware now comes with strings attached. Software that is free is now usually bundled with cr*p. I ended up with babylon,Widgi, Yontoo,Romote access: Win32/Ammyy Admin, Tool: Win 32/Angry Scan.A and more this was with about a dozen downloads and yes I uncheck and decline everything! I wasn't really surprised and I do always have a slew of anti malware which includes MBAM, Super anti maleware ,spybot search and destroy, and I added ESet scanner, I'll be adding more in the future. Getting rid of these pests is doable but the harm they do the second their on your OS isn't always easy. Four of my browsers were affected. Waterfox which won't load this site correctly although some other sites were fine, Firefox and chrome ditto. Easy fix uninstall and reinstall problem solved. However IE was affected the most! Would not load at all! Had to use task manager to end task. You can turn IE off but you can not uninstall then reinstall. So I reinstall windows8 I then download waterfox, then I download firefox! I wasn't paying close enough attention ! As soon as I saw check boxes for cr*pware I knew I didn't go to the correct site. Hit decline, that was a mistake I should have use task manager to end task. My bad! Anyway it downloaded babylon on to IE!! AAAHHHUUU!!! For G*d S*ke!! I loaded windows 8 for less then ten minutes and I'm infected. The screen read your infected!! No kidding!! So I reformat and reinstalled. I would rather pay for my apps then go thru this game of gottcha. Even paying can be a trap. When I got my desktop I wanted to download SIW but the freeware was openly bundled with candy so I was willing to just buy it, however they insist on being able to auto resubscribe you and no other opinions, so I said no thanks. Let me give SIW a big thanks for letting users download a free download of SIW for windows8 that's not bundled.
I've gotten to hate all the gotcha freeware with strings. I think the future is apps stores that weed out maleware for a piece of the pie. I good with that!
Interesting side note my oddball browser Lunascape worked perfect after windows8 was infected with maleware. IE seems to be easily corrupted and seems to be the weak link. IMO all this freeware that's bundled is what is giving PC's a black eye. The app store is the future, PC users will be able to do downloads with out worrying about maleware. The free lunch is coming to an end. Mostly it already has.
Hope everyone else had a better weekend then I did.
Cheers
Overhard

overhard, sorry to hear about your recent issues. That's why for almost 2 years I've been telling members of various forums to include a 100% Free, no strings attached, monthly scan (at a minimum, I do mine weekly) with the ESET Online Scanner, here.

ESET Online Virus Scanner | ESET

Every time I've ran it since running Windows Defender, it's found at least 2 or more items that needed to be removed. ESET Smart Security 5 is my normal security app of choice, it just isn't "Windows 8" ready yet, but will be prior to retail availability. The OS's that I've ran it on, has never been infected, except that SuperAntiSpyware finds some tracking cookies.

Newegg often runs deals on either ESET NOD32 or Smart Security for as little as $24.99, however $29.99 for 3PC's is the norm.

Another place, as bad if not worse than CNET, is Giveaway of the Day for it's "free" offerings, their "giveaways" are often either older versions or "SE" versions of the full product, & are loaded with unwanted junk, on Windows 7/XP, ESET Smart Security 5 rejects these as soon as they come through, so does MBAM Pro.

The bad news is that it's not going to get better. The popular developer app, Visual Studio (the newest one, 11 Professional), has gone up in price by $400 to $500, some earlier versions were free. Read this article carefully, this has huge implications to us all.

No-cost desktop software development is dead on Windows 8 | Ars Technica

It means that more crapware than ever, some as you've stated there was no option for, is going to be shoved down our throats, when we get free software. The developers hands are tied in this deal. This blood is on MS's hands, not the developers. MS is going to do their best to have an Apple like operation, giving us less & less Free choices. Who knows, this may be the hidden agenda behind the $39.99 promo.

This is why I refuse to give up my Windows 7 installs, I can afford to be out of $40, if Win 8 turns out to be a money racket with an app store. My Windows 7 installs, I have a lot more money in ($180 in Windows Anytime Upgrade keys from 7 HP to Pro) & know what I have. There is no App Store tied to Windows 7, nor the formerly named "Metro" UI.

BTW, many users of Google Chrome has reported issues with Windows 8 RP. Waterfox & Aurora, Mozilla's 64 bit browsers, requires 64 bit Java & Flash, as well as 64 bit Silverlight to work. They're all below & from safe sources. However, if you're going to run Java 64 bit, you need remove the 32 bit one first, there is no benefit of having both. In fact, you won't be able to update the 32 bit version, even by removal first, as it'll tell you that you have 64 bit Java. Same with Silverlight. Remove the 32 bit versions of both before proceeding.

Download Java Runtime Environment 1.7.0.5 (64-bit) - FileHippo.com
Download Flash Player 11.3.300.257 (Non-IE) 64-bit - FileHippo.com
Downloads: Silverlight.NET

For some reason, I've been having random freezing myself, this is with WD as my AV. Firefox web pages just freezes & becomes unresponsive, so does Opera (my second choice), so does Windows Explorer (on my desktop). So far, I've been lucky with my notebook (the one listed in my specs below), but then again, it has far superior hardware than this piece of crap for a desktop made by HP. Takes 3 to 5 attempts to reinstall the OS when needed, it's not the install disk, my notebook is running fine. After the initial install & reboot, it gets to 74% complete & BSOD's on me. It must be the wireless card (Atheros AR5007EG), that's the only non-working device on the desktop. However, Win 8 CP didn't have this issue, it did work, & only took 1 attempt at install to get going.

I tried to update the driver from Win 8 CP's DVD, since it worked, but to no avail. Still getting random BSOD's & freezing, as described above. This began with RP, though most of the apps didn't work, CP's desktop was fine. I couldn't have asked for more out of this desktop. Must have been so for plenty, as it kicked off the consumer version of Win 8 betas. Trying to restore backup images for some reason, is useless on the desktop, as it goes into an endless "repair" cycle that never "fixes" anything.

If by chance, MS does force it's Windows 8 users to buy apps from their store, that we were getting for free, then I'll no other option than to stick with 7, & consider Ubuntu or Mint as an alternative. As you already see, Windows Defender isn't doing it's job (otherwise, why are you getting infected?). I have no issue with paying for security, but do have one with paying for everyday apps that's been free for years.

No, MS is NOT going to get another $50 to $100 yearly out of me for apps, I cannot afford that kind of money, as apps are always updating, those will require payment also.

It's not like I have zero experience with Ubuntu (or Mint), my use of them has been put on the back burner to learn Windows 8. I never had any intention of totally giving those up. But forget Mac, all that it is, & those who knows what I speaking of does, is a Unix/Linux variant anyway, just a far overpriced version of it.

Hope that you have better luck soon.

Cat

Originally Posted by catilley1092

overhard, sorry to hear about your recent issues. That's why for almost 2 years I've been telling members of various forums to include a 100% Free, no strings attached, monthly scan (at a minimum, I do mine weekly) with the ESET Online Scanner, here.

ESET Online Virus Scanner | ESET

Every time I've ran it since running Windows Defender, it's found at least 2 or more items that needed to be removed. ESET Smart Security 5 is my normal security app of choice, it just isn't "Windows 8" ready yet, but will be prior to retail availability. The OS's that I've ran it on, has never been infected, except that SuperAntiSpyware finds some tracking cookies.

Newegg often runs deals on either ESET NOD32 or Smart Security for as little as $24.99, however $29.99 for 3PC's is the norm.

Another place, as bad if not worse than CNET, is Giveaway of the Day for it's "free" offerings, their "giveaways" are often either older versions or "SE" versions of the full product, & are loaded with unwanted junk, on Windows 7/XP, ESET Smart Security 5 rejects these as soon as they come through, so does MBAM Pro.

The bad news is that it's not going to get better. The popular developer app, Visual Studio (the newest one, 11 Professional), has gone up in price by $400 to $500, some earlier versions were free. Read this article carefully, this has huge implications to us all.

No-cost desktop software development is dead on Windows 8 | Ars Technica

It means that more crapware than ever, some as you've stated there was no option for, is going to be shoved down our throats, when we get free software. The developers hands are tied in this deal. This blood is on MS's hands, not the developers. MS is going to do their best to have an Apple like operation, giving us less & less Free choices. Who knows, this may be the hidden agenda behind the $39.99 promo.

This is why I refuse to give up my Windows 7 installs, I can afford to be out of $40, if Win 8 turns out to be a money racket with an app store. My Windows 7 installs, I have a lot more money in ($180 in Windows Anytime Upgrade keys from 7 HP to Pro) & know what I have. There is no App Store tied to Windows 7, nor the formerly named "Metro" UI.

BTW, many users of Google Chrome has reported issues with Windows 8 RP. Waterfox & Aurora, Mozilla's 64 bit browsers, requires 64 bit Java & Flash, as well as 64 bit Silverlight to work. They're all below & from safe sources. However, if you're going to run Java 64 bit, you need remove the 32 bit one first, there is no benefit of having both. In fact, you won't be able to update the 32 bit version, even by removal first, as it'll tell you that you have 64 bit Java. Same with Silverlight. Remove the 32 bit versions of both before proceeding.

Download Java Runtime Environment 1.7.0.5 (64-bit) - FileHippo.com
Download Flash Player 11.3.300.257 (Non-IE) 64-bit - FileHippo.com
Downloads: Silverlight.NET

For some reason, I've been having random freezing myself, this is with WD as my AV. Firefox web pages just freezes & becomes unresponsive, so does Opera (my second choice), so does Windows Explorer (on my desktop). So far, I've been lucky with my notebook (the one listed in my specs below), but then again, it has far superior hardware than this piece of crap for a desktop made by HP. Takes 3 to 5 attempts to reinstall the OS when needed, it's not the install disk, my notebook is running fine. After the initial install & reboot, it gets to 74% complete & BSOD's on me. It must be the wireless card (Atheros AR5007EG), that's the only non-working device on the desktop. However, Win 8 CP didn't have this issue, it did work, & only took 1 attempt at install to get going.

I tried to update the driver from Win 8 CP's DVD, since it worked, but to no avail. Still getting random BSOD's & freezing, as described above. This began with RP, though most of the apps didn't work, CP's desktop was fine. I couldn't have asked for more out of this desktop. Must have been so for plenty, as it kicked off the consumer version of Win 8 betas. Trying to restore backup images for some reason, is useless on the desktop, as it goes into an endless "repair" cycle that never "fixes" anything.

If by chance, MS does force it's Windows 8 users to buy apps from their store, that we were getting for free, then I'll no other option than to stick with 7, & consider Ubuntu or Mint as an alternative. As you already see, Windows Defender isn't doing it's job (otherwise, why are you getting infected?). I have no issue with paying for security, but do have one with paying for everyday apps that's been free for years.

No, MS is NOT going to get another $50 to $100 yearly out of me for apps, I cannot afford that kind of money, as apps are always updating, those will require payment also.

It's not like I have zero experience with Ubuntu (or Mint), my use of them has been put on the back burner to learn Windows 8. I never had any intention of totally giving those up. But forget Mac, all that it is, & those who knows what I speaking of does, is a Unix/Linux variant anyway, just a far overpriced version of it.

Hope that you have better luck soon.

Cat

Cat,
The problem isn't Microsoft! It's the business model. Donations for for a great piece of software just don't cut it! To many free loaders! Who don't contribute a dime! It's force software developers to turn to bundling to raise money. Freeware is on the way out. I also will be holding on to windows7 since I mostly have all the software I need for that OS. Most which I've had for years. You look at the market right now and mostly you see bundling with freeware. there still is some truely free no stings attached freeware but it's becoming harder to come by. The future is that you pay for what you get. Everything else in life is like that is it so bad that you have to actually pay for a good piece of software?
Cheers Overhard

overhard, to a point, you're correct. Because most of the apps now available to us were developed with the older Visual Studio, not the one that's going to cost an arm & leg. There are some good free versions of software that could be charged for (too many to name), but there's a few that I'd pay $10 or so for, as long as I could install it on all of my Windows OS's. And as long as it provided free updates for a couple of years. Of course, your point is right, there are too few donations for free apps that's good.

This is why the junkware is in the downloads, for every user that allows for the toolbars & other crap, the developer gets a spiff, probably a few cents per install. Of course, this is no reason to be sliding in crap that there was no option to remove. This is why a second active malware scanner, such as MBAM Pro is needed, it filters out the dangerous stuff.

What the future has in store for us is most certainly on MS's hands, they're the ones who hiked the price of Visual Studio Professional 11 by $400-$500, how can developers make low cost apps with this? This will certainly cause Windows 8 apps (formerly called Metro Apps) to increase in price. This is what concerns me, & should concern everyone. MS is going to raise the standard for future apps that will run on Windows 8, & there certainly be a price tag on them, if only 99 cents per app.

But add 99 cents x 40 to 50 apps, this adds up fast, especially if the user has multiple Windows 8 computers. There's already some paid for apps in the Windows Store, I don't know if they're being sold yet, though. Right now, many are still free (from the Store).

It's just going to be a wait & see deal. Ubuntu also has paid for apps in their store, not all are free, but the large majority are.

Cat