Printer for Chrome OS

[Skodillac]

I have a Chrome OS Chromebook laptop thingy, and have just tried to connect it to my existing home printer - and learned that it's not compatible with the OS and I can't get drivers to make it work. So I need a new printer. Sounds easy enough, but all the retailers' listings don't seem to mention compatibility with Chrome OS. I don't want to end up buying something which won't work, so can anyone here please recommend me a compatible printer? It's for very occasional use at home when the need arises, and I'd like the ink to be as low cost as possible. I've seen some printers now offer a subscription based ink supply, and I simply don't want that. Use is so occasional that I'll just buy ink when I need it, I don't want another bloody DD on my bank account for it.

Any recommendations please?

[Pixel Pusher]

I would have though both would connect to a common network.

We have an Epson printer here and it's seen by PCs and Macs fine over wireless.

Are you hard wiring or going over a wireless network?

[Pixel Pusher]

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/72252...

[Skodillac]

Pixel Pusher said:

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/72252...

I had looked at this but the list doesn't match any model numbers I can find on the usual retailer's websites.

[Skodillac]

Pixel Pusher said:

I would have though both would connect to a common network.

We have an Epson printer here and it's seen by PCs and Macs fine over wireless.

Are you hard wiring or going over a wireless network?

Simple answer is I don't care if it's wired or wireless. I just want a cheap printer with cheap ink which is known to be compatible with Chrome OS, because the one I've got isn't, be it wired or wireless.

[Pixel Pusher]

Can I ask which printer you have and how old?

Make a model?


Some compatibility resource is available here.

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/12403...

[Corso Marche]

When you say wired/wireless how did you try to connect to the printer? Was it over your home network?

Try it via a USB lead into the Chromebook and see if it recognises it as a printer before you spend on a new one.

Sometimes the OS will actually recognise older printer models over old school USB.

[Jamescrs]

I don't have a Chromebook to hand but check if you can download the Canon printer app to the Chromebook, if you can then you will be able to use a Cannon wireless printer.

I have one at home and it works on Android fine, my Mrs uses a Chromebook and i'm pretty sure I have linked that to the printer too through my home wireless network

[rodericb]

Pixel Pusher said:

Can I ask which printer you have and how old?

Make a model?


Some compatibility resource is available here.

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/12403...

Epson LX80?

Anyhoo, I've got a HP muliti function thingy. I press print in the chromebook, said printer starts whirring and paper with what I was looking at on the screen comes out. It's marvellous for drafting up replies to electronic mail. If all else fails it also photocopies so If the print button on the computer screen stops working, I can take a photocopy of the screen on my Chromebook as it folds right back upon itself so it can be easily placed upon the photocopier glass.

[Skodillac]

Thanks all, yes, I wired the printer to the laptop with a USB cable and it didn't work. The printer's about 12 yeas old, it's a Canon MG4150.

I appreciate the suggestions to try to get it working, but I just want to buy a new one (they're not expensive) which will work out of the box without any need for jerry-rigging anything. Tech averse people in the household use it and I don't want to end up tech supporting it, I can't be bothered. I'm not remotely interested in computers either, or tinkering with them, I just want a switch on and work solution.

If anyone has a working Chromebook and printer, and they could name the printer for me, that would be great. Otherwise, I think I'll just drop into Currys next time I'm driving past and ask a spotty teenager. I need a new monitor too whilst I'm at it, 2 birds with one stone.

[Corso Marche]

Skodillac said:

The printer's about 12 yeas old, it's a Canon MG4150.

Ah, that would explain a lot. In layman's terms;
Printers use drivers and config files which can be proprietary or compliant with industry standards (or quite often both).

Chrome OS uses an in-built CUPS server for printing. Broadly speaking, CUPS is the printing solution used by nearly everything running Linux/UNIX globally.
Manufacturers use drivers to support it, or drivers are developed for it, or generic PPD drivers can be used if the printer model supports certain print industry standards.

Unfortunately that model of printer is from the era when Canon were playing around with "Canon Bonjour" - a semi-walled-in garden of their own design.

You'll find that era of Canon using Bonjour also leads to many problems on MacOS also.

The good news is printer manufacturers have improved support over the years and eased off on the "walled garden" approach.

Most consumer stuff nowadays will be fine. Try asking Curry's staff to demonstrate it's compatibility, or guarantee it/show you manufacturer confirmation etc

That's a simplification, but essentially that's it in a nutshell.

TLDR;
Search for
<Printer name and model> PPD driver

If a PPD driver exists or the manufacturer lists it as compatible with Chrome OS or CUPS you're good to go.

[ARHarh]

Have you tried the cannon app. No idea if it will work with that printer or not but it work faultlessly with my Cannon MG3600.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.c... No idea if you can install it on chrome os or not.

[Skodillac]

Corso Marche said:

TLDR;
Search for
<Printer name and model> PPD driver

If a PPD driver exists or the manufacturer lists it as compatible with Chrome OS or CUPS you're good to go.

Thanks.

[ro250]

I have a Chromebook and have an HP 2720e. Any modern printer will work with a Chromebook (I can print from my Android phone too).

I see there's a 2820 now, https://www.hp.com/gb-en/shop/product.aspx?id=588K...

[Skodillac]

Thanks ro250, that HP looks just the job. It even says Chrome OS in the specs. Great stuff, finally some useful documentation!

EDIT: And only £35 in John Lewis. Sold to the man in the silly hat. I suppose you have to buy ink as an extra though these days.

Edited by Skodillac on Friday 29th August 17:07

[ro250]

Skodillac said:

Thanks ro250, that HP looks just the job. It even says Chrome OS in the specs. Great stuff, finally some useful documentation!

EDIT: And only £35 in John Lewis. Sold to the man in the silly hat. I suppose you have to buy ink as an extra though these days.

Edited by Skodillac on Friday 29th August 17:07

They come with a starter cartridge which isn't very big.

You may as well do the Instant Ink trial as it's free printing for 3 months then cancel if you don't want it. I subscribe to a low use plan and it's good.