This article is part 7 of an ongoing series of articles on this site comparing Apple Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" to Red Hat Linux Fedora Core 4 (FC4). (The previous article is here.) The point of this comparison is not to say that one OS or the other is "better" but rather to point out the differences and indicate where an artist who previously used Mac OS X 10.4 would find Linux to be easier, harder, or the same to use as the Mac See the introduction article for more information and links to the other articles in the series. Although the focus of this series is on the needs of designers, artists, and content creators, the content should be relevant to any number of Mac users or Linux users.
This time we're going to look at network printer setup, specifically what it takes to set up a UNIX LPR printer on OS X 10.4 "Tiger" and Red Hat Linux FC4.
Linux LPR Printer Setup Process
To set up an LPR printer in Linux, it's necessary to first login to the system and get to the Linux desktop. From there, click "Desktop", "System Settings", and "Printing" to bring up the printer configuration menu:
Click "New" to set up a new printer. A wizard appears, to walk the user through the setup process:
Click "Forward" to continue. Enter a name and description for the printer, to help you identify it later.
Click "Forward" to continue. Select the queue type, which in this case is "Networked UNIX (LPD)". The window changes to provide the input fields needed to setup an LPD printer:
Enter the server name and print queue, then click "Forward". The wizard now asks for a printer type or model:
Click "Forward" to continue. The wizard lets you know it's finished and ready to create the print queue now:
You'll be asked if you want to print a test document to the printer. Click "Yes" or "No", and you'll see the wizard applying the changes to the Printer configuration program:
When the configuration is finished and the test page is sent, the Printer configuration program will ask you to confirm that the test print occurred as expected. If you answer yes, you'll be returned to the Printer configuration window where you'll see that the printer is now setup.
Once the printer is setup, Linux will allow you to share it, import a PPD (Printer Page Description file), print a variety of test pages, edit the printer definition, delete a printer definition, or set a printer to default.
OS X LPR Printer Setup
To set up the same printer on Mac OS X 10.4, go to the boot disk icon on the desktop and double-click it. Double-click "Applications". Double-click "Utilities". Double-click "Printer Setup Utility".
If you have no printers setup, OS X will helpfully ask if you want to add one. Click "Add". If you already have printers setup, clicking "Add" on the Printer List window will bring you to the same setup screen:
Click on the icon labeled "IP Printing". The display will change to allow input of the information necessary to setup the printer:
Select "Line Printer - LPD" for the Protocol, enter the server name in the "Address" field, enter the printer queue name in the "Queue" field, enter a meaningful name in the "Name" field, a meaningful location in the "Location" field, choose a printer make/model, and click Add.
The printer now appears in the Printer List window.
In addition to allowing you to setup a printer, OS X's Printer Setup Utility will allow you to set up fax services, apply a color correction (ColorSync) profile to it, delete it, show its setup and enter a more meaningful description, make the printer your default, and look at the jobs currently in the queue for that printer.
Conclusion
Whether the Apple Printer Setup Utility in OS X or the Printer Configuration utility in Linux is easier for you to use probably depends as much on your personal preferences as anything else. Both need and ask for approximately the same input. Apple does it on a single screen using its terminology for the device, and Linux does it (optionally) through a wizard that explains more of what it's asking for, one step at a time. If you're familiar with the setup process, Apple's utility is easily the quicker one to use because you only provide input in one place. If you're less familiar, Linux walks you through the setup and holds your hand a bit better. Since both set the printer up easily and relatively quickly (with a slight edge to Apple, assuming you know what information you need to enter and what Apple calls it), and both support the same technology in this example, I'd say there's no clear winner in terms of ease of use.
As for overall functionality of the printer utility, Mac OS X is definitely superior. It includes color management profiles, and allows managing jobs in the print queue. Linux supports more kinds of printers (Networked CUPS, LPD/LPR, Networked Windows SMB, Networked Novell NCP, and Networked JetDirect) than Mac OS X (Rendezvous, LPD/LPR, and Socket/HP Jet Direct). Apple doesn't provide pre-configured test pages in its printer utility, which can be helpful in initial setup and troubleshooting but is less useful in ongoing use.
From the point of view of an artist switching to Linux, Apple's support for color management is probably the key point here, as is its support of "Rendezvous" printers on AppleTalk. However, for an artist less concerned about color matching and using AppleTalk printers, Linux's support for a wider variety of printer standards might give it the edge up.Stay tuned for the next article in the series, which will discuss the OS software update process.
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