Printing from an iPad Air to Dell laser 1320c

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of printing from an iPad Air to a Dell laser 1320c printer, which is connected via an ethernet port. Participants explore potential solutions for connecting the printer to a network that allows printing without the need for a PC, considering various apps and network configurations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to avoid waste by using a Dell printer that was discarded but is still functional, questioning the need for a new printer.
  • Another participant suggests that connecting the printer to the LAN should allow the iPad to detect and print to it.
  • There are mentions of finding print apps for iOS that could facilitate printing, with one participant referencing their experience with an Epson app on Android.
  • Some participants note difficulty in finding an app that supports the Dell printer, with one specifically mentioning the Dell app does not support their model.
  • A suggestion is made to try a specific app, but it is noted that it may only work with Wi-Fi printers and not wired networks.
  • Discussion includes a comparison of user experiences between PC and Apple systems, with one participant expressing frustration with PC complexities and praising Apple's simplicity, while also acknowledging limitations of the iPad for certain tasks.
  • Another participant mentions Google Cloud Print as a potential solution, highlighting its ability to print from various devices but also noting some limitations in using it with the native iOS mail client.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a specific solution for printing from the iPad to the Dell printer. There are multiple competing views regarding the effectiveness of various apps and the capabilities of the printer in a networked environment.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include uncertainty about app compatibility with wired network printers and the specific requirements for printing from iOS devices. There is also a lack of clarity on whether the Dell printer can be effectively utilized in the proposed network setup.

Guineafowl
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TL;DR
Is there a way to do this? I use my iPad for everything, but have no Airprint-enabled printer so have to fire up my 12 year-old, obsolete PC to print. It makes a simple printing task take a good 1/2 hour. It should be simpler.
I may be known on the EE side of PF as someone who hates waste and doesn’t like to throw away perfectly good machines; I like to resurrect faulty gear. This Dell printer was thrown away for want of a touch or two of solder, and works just fine. Do I really need to buy a whole new printer?

This Dell laser 1320c has an ethernet port, and I have an ethernet-over-power line network on top of the usual router/wifi set-up.

Is there a way to connect the printer and iPad to a network (that doesn’t need a PC running) so that I can print from the iPad?
 
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I'd sure hope if you plug your printer into your LAN, your iPad would be able to see and print to it.
 
If you connect up the network cable to the printer then you should be able to get some kind of print app to help with this. i have an Epson printer with an Epson appon my Android, i don't see why IOS would not have something similar. Have you tried searching for an appropriate app in the App store?
 
russ_watters said:
I'd sure hope if you plug your printer into your LAN, your iPad would be able to see and print to it.

🤣 I guess you’re a PC/Android man?!

MikeeMiracle said:
If you connect up the network cable to the printer then you should be able to get some kind of print app to help with this. i have an Epson printer with an Epson appon my Android, i don't see why IOS would not have something similar. Have you tried searching for an appropriate app in the App store?

Can’t seem to find an app that connects to a network printer except the Dell app, which doesn’t support my printer.
 
Guineafowl said:
🤣 I guess you’re a PC/Android man?!
Yes...guess Steve doesn't want you to print your docs unless its on his printer?
 
anorlunda said:
Perhaps this app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cloudprint/id1004348584
I think that one is like the others: OK for wifi printers, but not wired network.
russ_watters said:
Yes...guess Steve doesn't want you to print your docs unless its on his printer?
I used to be a PC man, but got fed up with the hours wasted clicking through the likes of settings>user preferences>options>advanced>further options>choose your own adventure... etc. Crashes, inconvenient virus scans, bloatware, updates which stack on top of old OSs to such an extent that nothing works anymore...

The Apple stuff is more ‘packaged’ - a click or a swipe and it does what you want. However, if you wish to go outside these limits, an iPad is less useful than a wooden chopping board, since you wouldn’t even waste your time attempting the task with a chopping board.

It looks like that’s the case here :H
 
Guineafowl said:
I think that one is like the others: OK for wifi printers, but not wired network.
It sounds like the printer has to be a Google Cloud printer.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cloudprint/id1004348584 said:
Bottom line is for the first time ever, my iPad can print to my old trusty HP 2600. Of course the neat thing about Google Cloud print is that it can print to any device supported by a workstation OS. Any downsides or limitations? Well to print email from native iOS mail client, you have to select-all then hit 'share' and cloud print is destination. (Gmail client for IOS allows native print to google cloud print).
 

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