Re: Opinion Sought

["Russell L. Harris" <rlharris@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:31 PM 1/14/02 +0100, you wrote:
>I suggest you should not listen to any advice about which
>distribution is "better" (since all of them do basically the
>same, and all of them have problems), but rather use what your
>friends use, so you can ask them in case of trouble, and have
>them show it to you directly on your machine.
>
>This advice does not apply if
>         a) you have no friends using Linux
>or
>         b) you have no friends at all :)

         Good advice.  I admit bias--my "associates" ;-) for the most part 
run Debian.

>CLPS?! :^)

         Is that what they call a "freudian slip"?


> >          My recommendation to you is that you switch to Debian and
> > CUPS.  CUPS has its own, integral magic filer; thus, with CUPS you
> > will
> > have no need of apsfilter.
>
>And you dare to say that on an apsfilter list?! :)

         I didn't mean to disparage apsfilter, but was merely pointing out 
a fact; I should have said "but with CUPS (regrettably) you can't use 
apsfilter."

         I've been at the point of desperation:  I need a printing system 
to use with LaTeX, but I couldn't figure out how to use LPR or how to 
configure LPRng (which also has its own magic filter for HP LaserJets, 
called ifhp).  CUPS happens to be the first printing system with which I 
have had any degree of success.

         Based on the documentation I have read, I would LOVE to use LPRng 
and apsfilter.  If you or someone else will help me get this combination 
running under Debian, I will forget about CUPS -- simply because I know 
that LPRng and apsfilter are proven and versatile.  The only trouble is 
getting past the complexity of getting everything running together as a 
system.

>I'm pretty sure CUPS has more bells and whistles, but offering
>a nice interface for the admin only helps one person, and naming
>it "common" before it even enters the market is rather silly,
>isn't it?
>
>Okay, I stop ranting now... :^)

         Thanks for the rant, Michael; I needed an "attitude adjustment."

         Now, what specific course should I follow after uninstalling CUPS 
and installing LPRng and apsfilter?

RLH