Kubuntu 20.04 LTS Hits It

[jglen490]

I've been using 20.04.1 for a few days now, and after figuring out how to make my 802.11ac wifi schtick work, am really happy for this move. While I do miss HPLIP GUI, that's not my problem. Maybe HP will catch up, one day. I was surprised and pleased with CUPS driverless and that it works with a wireless printer. 20.04 is stable, clean, and ready to work!

[oshunluvr]

The only difference I've noticed with my HP (wired network connection) 8720 is it's slow to initiate. Like when I open Simple Scan it takes at least a full minute to find the scanner. Not a deal breaker though, like you I'm figuring it'll catch up.

[GreyGeek]

The HP driver always required me to download and install a plugin from HP to activate the duplex mode on my HP Laser Jet P1606dn monochrome laser printer. And, as usual, the installation program required an actual ROOT password. It would never accept my account password even using sudo. So, I'd create a root account password just for that, then I'd remove it and restore sudo. In 18.04 I started using CUPS and choosing a pdd file that included the duplex mode. My 20.04 install configured my printer perfectly when I merely plugged it in. It's foo2zjs-z2.

[jglen490]

That's cool!

I still miss the HPLIP GUI. It's the only weakness that 20.04 has; but, it's not Kubuntu's fault, so I'll wait for HP to get its s**ff together.

[GilGib]

I installed HPLIP 3.20.06 on my HP8740 and I get the GUI

[jglen490]

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind. What did you have before HPLIP 3.20.6?

[kc1di]

That's cool!

I still miss the HPLIP GUI. It's the only weakness that 20.04 has; but, it's not Kubuntu's fault, so I'll wait for HP to get its s**ff together.

hplip-gui is available from the repositories. you can install it with this command in a terminal

sudo apt install hplip-gui

or via Muon. Good luck

[jglen490]

The thing is, I don't have HPLIP installed from the repos or anywhere else. I tried several versions, and none worked properly. They would work to some degree, but not satisfactorily, don't know if it's the printer, the driver, the GUI, bad luck, or whatever. Once I uninstalled all vestiges of HPLIP, and set up CUPS using the "driverless" approach, the printer worked properly including scanning. As GilGib noted, 3.20.6 may work properly, and I may try that soon.

And I have ALWAYS liked and used HPLIP with the GUI.

[jglen490]

O.K., I tried HPLIP 3.20.6. The package installed, and then would not communicate with the printer. Wiped all printer references in System Settings, uninstalled hplip 3.20.6, purged hplip and GUI, uninstalled from CUPS. Rebooted. Went back into CUPS, installed the HP DJ 3755 (HP Deskjet 3700) using the driverless option. It works, and even shows ink levels in System Settings/Printers. All is well, not messing with it anymore

[GreyGeek]

The only thing I missed about the HP-GUI was the toner level reading.

[dequire]

The only thing I missed about the HP-GUI was the toner level reading.

Yepp - same here. Although now I run a Brother MFC printer / scanner, and the Linux support is great. I would love a GUI though. The printer's good at nagging on ink levels and such (lol), but it's in another room.