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You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > macOS > 9 months after 10.0 - Printer drivers

9 months after 10.0 - Printer drivers
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Hornet
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Jan 5, 2002, 10:20 AM
 
Are ****ED. Epson has lost all credibility in my mind. Their entire Mac driver team needs to be fired, the amount of models they support for X is pathetic to say the least.

Why is my Stylus Colour 670, purchased 6 months before 10.0 came out, remains unsupported.

**** you epson.

How's everyone else for drivers?
     
iNeusch
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Jan 5, 2002, 10:29 AM
 
From software Update:

This update adds support for the following Epson printers: C40, C60, C80, Stylus Color 900, Stylus Color 980, Stylus Photo 1270, Stylus Photo 1280, Stylus Photo 2000P, Stylus Photo 780, Stylus Photo 785EPX, Stylus Photo 820, Stylus Photo 870, Stylus Photo 875DC and Stylus Photo 890.

Important Note: Only install this update if you purchased a supported model in the United States or Canada.

Additional printer drivers may be found on the Mac OS X web site at http://www.apple.com/macosx/
Maybe they are working on them... and many tricks have been given to make printers work!
     
scarab
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Jan 5, 2002, 10:52 AM
 
I hope Epson release drivers for the Stylus Photo 750 soon. I've been waiting for ages and am beginning to think that Epson might never support it. In the meantime, has anyone found a way to hack the 780 drivers for use with the 750? I saw the 780 drivers on Apple's Mac OS X Epson printer drivers download page but didn't manage to alter the file properties successfully.
     
Ron Goodman
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Jan 5, 2002, 12:47 PM
 
At least some of these drivers have been out for several months--Apple just made them easily available. We've been happy with the support for our 1280.
     
Steve Bosell
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Jan 5, 2002, 01:26 PM
 
still no drivers for my bjc 3000
     
mr. natural
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Jan 5, 2002, 01:54 PM
 
I have an epson SP 1280 printer, and it's been a royal pain in the butt to get this to work properly in osX.

The printer was recognized by Print Center and yet starting a print command would usually result with an error, that I could work-around by deleting & re-adding the printer, until finally this only caused the endless spinning beachball.

So, then it was off to try a couple of daze spent with apple tech support, which offered no solution but a lot of wasted time, effort and the loss of some files in the process. They were very nice and all, but...

This morning, while checking out the apple support pages, I stumble across a tip from an owner of a similar printer, who suggests turning off Classic, and VIOLA -- my printer works!

Now, one would think that apple's tech support (hell, I got bumped up to their 2nd tier tech specialists with an available *engineer* in the background) would ask: Is Classic on? Try turning off Classic.

Christ! This is pathetic that something as simple as this isn't flagged as a potential problem and likewise offered as a possible solution to those with osX printing problems.

And finally, how does one give feedback via e-mail or otherwise point out to apple's tech support that there is a Classic/OSX conflict with some printers.

[ 01-05-2002: Message edited by: mr. natural ]

"Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give the appearance of solidity to pure wind." George Orwell
     
Amorya
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Jan 5, 2002, 02:00 PM
 
Originally posted by mr. natural:
<STRONG>I have an epson SP 1280 printer, and it's been a royal pain in the butt to get this to work properly in osX.

The printer was recognized by Print Center and yet starting a print command would usually result with an error, that I could work-around by deleting & re-adding the printer, until finally this only caused the endless spinning beachball.

So, then it was off to try a couple of daze spent with apple tech support, which offered no solution but a lot of wasted time, effort and the loss of some files in the process. They were very nice and all, but...

This morning, while checking out the apple support pages, I stumble across a tip from an owner of a similar printer, who suggests turning off Classic, and VIOLA -- my printer works!

Now, one would think that apple's tech support (hell, I got bumped up to their 2nd tier tech specialists with an available *engineer* in the background) and not one of these guys asked: Is Classic on? Try turning off Classic.

Christ! This is pathetic that something as simple as this isn't flagged as a potential problem and likewise offered as a possible solution to those with osX printing problems.

And finally, how does one give feedback via e-mail or otherwise point out to apple's tech support that there is a Classic/OSX conflict with some printers.</STRONG>
I can't get any USB devices to work with Classic running - it always offers to go look for a Classic driver. My 1270 works great when it's not, though.

Amorya
What the nerd community most often fail to realize is that all features aren't equal. A well implemented and well integrated feature in a convenient interface is worth way more than the same feature implemented crappy, or accessed through a annoying interface.
     
The Jackalope
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Jan 5, 2002, 02:09 PM
 
My Epson Photo Stylus 1200 is still a $500 boat anchor. Bastards.
     
man0
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Jan 5, 2002, 02:34 PM
 
Still have no support for my little Laser Okipage 8iM....

I understand that's not a VIP (very important printer) but i would be very glad to see it working under osx
------&gt;man0
     
HAbaRI
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Jan 5, 2002, 05:33 PM
 
Originally posted by The Jackalope:
<STRONG>My Epson Photo Stylus 1200 is still a $500 boat anchor. Bastards. </STRONG>
you are not alone. i still have to find a good use for my stylus EX, though. but i like the anchor idea.
It's a sig. What did you expect?
     
j mars
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Jan 5, 2002, 06:16 PM
 
I was angry at Epson for not supporting an old printer (Stylus Pro) so I researched all the manufacturers last August for one who would support OSX. After much studying, I bought an HP G55xi all in one so I would have a scanner and printer. It wasn't until December that they issued their OSX driver and it is garbage. As a matter of fact their OS9.x drivers were garbage. I wish Apple would try to apply some pressure to get this printer BS straightened out. If they want us to switch to OSX they need to get suppliers in step. The only firms with good drivers are Eagle pencils and Bic pens.
     
edddeduck
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Jan 5, 2002, 07:44 PM
 
Originally posted by mr. natural:
<STRONG>I have an epson SP 1280 printer, and it's been a royal pain in the butt to get this to work properly in osX.

The printer was recognized by Print Center and yet starting a print command would usually result with an error, that I could work-around by deleting & re-adding the printer, until finally this only caused the endless spinning beachball.

So, then it was off to try a couple of daze spent with apple tech support, which offered no solution but a lot of wasted time, effort and the loss of some files in the process. They were very nice and all, but...

This morning, while checking out the apple support pages, I stumble across a tip from an owner of a similar printer, who suggests turning off Classic, and VIOLA -- my printer works!

Now, one would think that apple's tech support (hell, I got bumped up to their 2nd tier tech specialists with an available *engineer* in the background) would ask: Is Classic on? Try turning off Classic.

Christ! This is pathetic that something as simple as this isn't flagged as a potential problem and likewise offered as a possible solution to those with osX printing problems.

And finally, how does one give feedback via e-mail or otherwise point out to apple's tech support that there is a Classic/OSX conflict with some printers.

[ 01-05-2002: Message edited by: mr. natural ]</STRONG>
Feedback to Apple click on Feedback on my sig it takes you there.

Cheers Edd
     
barney ntd
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Jan 6, 2002, 08:20 AM
 
My SP1200 is perfectly useable. I hacked the 1270 driver according to the instructions at this web page. It needs to be connected directly to the computer, not via a hub, and it only works at 1440 dpi, but it's a lot better than a boat anchor. The epson drivers are really good: clear and well laid out, but with lots of powerful options. Try it!

Barney.
     
willed
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Jan 6, 2002, 08:52 AM
 
Hey Hornet! Someone else with an Epson Stylus Colour 670! I thought I was the only person ever to have bought one - all traces of it seem to have been erased at Epson and Apple. I thought it was pretty mainstream too - bought it at Dixons (uk). Oh well... maybe it will never work again...
     
curmi
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Jan 6, 2002, 09:28 AM
 
Originally posted by Hornet:
<STRONG>Are ****ED. Epson has lost all credibility in my mind. Their entire Mac driver team needs to be fired, the amount of models they support for X is pathetic to say the least.

Why is my Stylus Colour 670, purchased 6 months before 10.0 came out, remains unsupported.

**** you epson.

How's everyone else for drivers?</STRONG>
Well, I eventually got Epson drivers for my Stylus Photo Colour 870. The drivers have a major problem if classic is running, as printing from X results in an error at least half the time. You have to shut down classic to be sure that printing will work.

Also, if the ink cartridges run out, you aren't notified. It just doesn't print. You have to start the epson print utility to find out what happened.

Looking on their web site, I could even find an email address to mail to report bugs to.
     
Raman
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Jan 6, 2002, 12:57 PM
 
If you take a look around you will notice many manufacturers bitching that Apple changed everything from the Beta to the Release to the 10.1 release. They don't like rewriting their drivers - especially when the manufacturers should have more access to the software pre-release so they can write drivers for it.

Apple treated the manufacturers like they treat their developers.

At least if you write good drivers for Windows OS's they'll work in almost all versions (kinda like OS8 and 9).

Most notable is WindowsXP which is different enough for some manufactures to have to rewrite their drivers and put them thru XP certification. But at least Microsoft has worked with the manufacurers to make the devices do at least the basic stuff (like print a Word document!) while we wait for other drivers. In some cases (like mine) in XP, Epson's Photo 870 drivers are built into XP. No drivers to download This was the main reason I didn't use X because the 870 wasn't even supported in X to print a freaking text document, let alone images.

I don't know why Apple released OSX so unfinished. They lost credibility so I sold my Pismo... But you gotta keep the stock holders happy, I guess.
     
Subzero Diesel949
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Jan 6, 2002, 07:10 PM
 
Funny how the C60 works out of the box for XP, yet you have to go on the net to find the driver for OS X (until now).

I think Epson spent a half-assed job writing this driver because the Epson Print Utility doesn't work half the time ("Communication Error" when Print Center sees it and prints just fine)...

Whatever.
     
Millennium
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Jan 6, 2002, 08:44 PM
 
Of course, Epson can't be expected to release drivers for all of its older printers.

However, I think we can agree that it's only fair for Epson to support all of its USB-based printers (since all of these were introduces after the original Beige G3, the oldest machine to support OSX). More arguable would be asking that Epson support all of the printers it was selling at the same time as the Beige G3, for the same reason (oldest model supported by OSX), but I'm not actually sure that printing via the serial ports is supported at all in X (serial modems are, but I don't know about serial printers).
You are in Soviet Russia. It is dark. Grue is likely to be eaten by YOU!
     
Zim
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Jan 7, 2002, 09:03 AM
 
I posted this months ago, alas I find that it is still relevant...

How do you get a hardcopy of something from the Most Advanced OS in the world?

Unfortunately the answer all too often is...
http://home.nc.rr.com/zimmy/print.jpg

Don't look if you can't laugh about Apple. (funny but they removed this thread from their forums).

Mike
     
xdck
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Jan 10, 2002, 06:51 PM
 
A couple of remarks...

- this page details a driver hack that makes some of the unsupported printers working under X. the hack is detailed, and links to people who had success with some printers (including a 670, hornet - a small deal of google search would have revealed...)
- you can't blame Apple for Epson's (or other manifacturers') fault (hey, there are sooo many reasons left to blame on Apple ;-). Its indeed up to Epson to provide drivers for Epson printer, it's Epson you gave your money when you bought the printer. more than 6.000.000 iMac have been sold (not counting other models), and about 55% of computers sold today go home with an inkjet: it's not strange printer makers try to peek into this market. unfortunately not everyone does business with style nowadays.
- this notwithstanding, after a lot of poking inside Epson drivers and a couple of emails coming from a well known domain (apple.com), I have the strongest feelings that the first Epson drivers are Apple developers' work. to this extent is apple support to mfgs...
- that said, I'm not going to buy another Epson next time - HP AIO drivers bs may be, but at least they support scanning. I'm taking my responsability as a customer: i put my money where good business (for me) is made.
//cblue.org
     
hawiken
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Jan 11, 2002, 04:43 AM
 
Zim- that picture made me spew water out of my nose!
That said, printing out of 10.1.2 is always an adventure! If Classic is running, print center tells me that it's opening the connection to the printer, but the connection never opens. If Classic has BEEN running, and then turned off, print center tells me that it's opening the connection to the printer, but the connection never opens...If I reboot, everything that's in the print que starts spewing out of the printer right before the Finder appears on the desk top- this is on an Epson Stylus 880 and a G4 350 with lots of ram. If classic has NOT been running, anything in will print without a problem. Of course, since I don't have Office X yet, that means that if I want to print a Word document I have to boot into a 9.x partition, because I can't print out of Classic... Less than a satisfactory situation...and I HATE to give MS $450 for their software... I'm open to suggestion. Thanks, Ken
     
pmcd
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Jan 12, 2002, 06:03 AM
 
I too have an Epson printer which isn't supported (the 850N which is expensive and I wish I could move the ethernet card to a 900 or 980- does anyone know? )...but I must point out that getting a new printer that is better than the 670 or the 850 is not much more than the cost of ink. That is, you are better of getting a new printer (the ink is included). It's a different story for the expensive photo printers so I can see a need for some solution there.

I assume all these drivers will eventually turn up either from the companies or individuals. To be fair to Epson OSX printing is very different than OS9 printing, which is not the case with windows XP and previous versions of windows.

philip

Originally posted by Hornet:
<STRONG>Are ****ED. Epson has lost all credibility in my mind. Their entire Mac driver team needs to be fired, the amount of models they support for X is pathetic to say the least.

Why is my Stylus Colour 670, purchased 6 months before 10.0 came out, remains unsupported.

**** you epson.

How's everyone else for drivers?</STRONG>
     
GeneShifter
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Jan 12, 2002, 10:56 AM
 
My goodness, I can't believe all the problems everyone is having just printing I sure hope Epson makes this right. In response to an earlier comment, I DO expect that Epson would release drivers for every older model printer, within reason!. I mean, we're talking about people not able to use a 1 or 2 year-old printer?!?!? I know for a fact that these printers work in Windows and (some) in Linux. Why can't they in OSX? It looks to me like Epson is one of the companies that has no intention of really accepting OSX...at least not yet. Hopefully, as the OS matures, they will jump on board but who knows

By the way, the drivers that Apple released are junk. That was the point that I had to reinstall everything. Using my new HP drivers, I FINALLY can print. World's most advanced OS, huh? Most people can't even print reliably!?!
Doing my part to make MS obsolete. Oh, and the Iraq war is a bogus war.
     
Sam Venning
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Jan 13, 2002, 01:47 AM
 
I too am not happy with printer drivers. A friend and I both have Epson Photo Stylus 890 printers. This printer produces fantastic results under MacOS 9. It is a very quiet, very fast printer and the results are excellent.

I did a clean install of MacOS 9.2.2 and 10.1.2 on both our late model iMacs. We both regularly get printer errors which I think may be related to running Classic. The errors don't happen all the time. I suspect both Apple and Epson are responsible for poorly written drivers or APIs (the way the driver software integrates with the OS).

I'm also disappointed that you can't set/change default paper size (we use A4 here in Australia). Come one Apple/Epson... sort this out!

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: Sam Venning ]
     
   
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