I really want to like Linux. However . . .

i have lmde on one partition, arch linux on another, and mac os x on a third -- all on my little macbook and it works like a dream. nice thing about mint is focus on feature-rich usability, whereas ubuntu's going all tablet-y.

I find Ubuntu very confusing, at least when using the Live from CD or USB versions. Linux Mint is bit more user friendly for installing programs and maybe printers as well.

Puppy by definition is very small and thus limited in its support for printers. It is a good Linux version to try but probably a bit limited for long term use.

One thought if you have an empty USB flash drive is to put your Linux ISO file on a USB stick rather than CD. You still boot from it like CD but it allows "persistence" which means it will save your settings between boots which a CD can't do.

Lili is a good program for creating the bootable USB. You can use a downloaded ISO or have it download one for you. Set the persistence to at least 1gb for a 4gb USB drive or more if using an 8gb or larger drive. http://www.linuxliveusb.com/en/download

It has puppy_slacko_5.3.3.sfs and slackosave.2fs. Not useful, since I'm not able to boot from the usb drive right now. If I download Lili and use burncdcc, will that work?

And can I just erase the Slacko Puppy files from the usb stick?

Lili is pretty much automatic. The empty part just means nothing you care about since it will be erased when Lili writes Linux Mint or whichever linux variation you choose. As long as you don't care about anything on the flash drive you can try several linuxes. Just write one using Lili to the flash and if you don't like try another until you find one you can work with.

Using Lili, I generally check the first two boxes in step 4 which formats (erases) the USB stick before writing the files to keep things clean. You just have to be aware that any personal files on the stick will be erased. Not a big deal for most people, just wanted to be clear that whatever is on the stick will be erased.

Xubuntu is an official release of Ubuntu, BUT it is made for older hardware.

If you have newer hardware, go with Ubuntu.

http://xubuntu.org/

Is that considered 'older' ??

Yes, but you might be able to run Vista on it....NOT!

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=59015

You may have found it too. I don't know if it helps.

Personally, I stopped using Lexmark printers a long time ago. For the cost of one or two cartridges you can buy another brand. Or, if you are like me, find a working printer in somebody's trash.

My very old laptop runs Debian and LXDE. I installed the minimum Debian and then I did an apt-get install LXDE. It fits easily on the small solid state hard drive.

There are things I like about Puppy Linux. It has a nice community of users.

In fact, I tried to join, but for some reason, I was not able to register.

And I agree with you about Lexmark printers. -_-

http://support.lexmark.com/index?locale=en&page=product&productCode=LEXMARK_PROSPECT_PRO205&segment=SUPPORT&userlocale=EN_US&frompage=null#2

You could also set up a network printer on a headless box using lexmark drivers.

I'm leaning toward Mint.

Although . . .

You could also set up a network sprinter on a headless box using lexmark drivers.

I don't know what this means. Could you expound?

It means I was not checking my post.

spinter=printer in this case.

here is a how-to for Ubuntu. Should be very similar on Mint. it may help you understand

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=310450

You could use an old or low energy consumption device for the server. Heck, you could probably do it with a raspery-pi.

I have my printers hooked up to my main workstation. It is on 24/7. I allow printing from the network so any computer or device in my house can print to them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headless_system

Get an old HP if you can. A friend had one of those Lexmark All-In-Ones on her computer running Puppy, I found a driver, and it printed fine. There are several drivers available for CUPS, which is what drives the printer, see the link below. At the end of the first post, there are a few options for you.

Here's a link on how to install printers in Puppy: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=59015&search_id=1142620377

and I did download and install lexmark_inkjet_legacy-1.0.1.pet. However, I don't know what to do next.

And add the printer to CUPS I believe. Let me check tomorrow at work. I can tell you from there.

I found a link referencing CUPS under Puppy here: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=62198

I believe that I am correct when I stated that you have to install the printer through CUPS.

but then I have a herp-derp moment and don't know what to do. In other words, I don't know exactly how to "find" the printer. But I will check out that thread.

There should be a button there that says "add printer."
The rest should be pretty direct. Give it a name, tell it what port it is using, and then select the printer. Generally if the exact printer is not there, one that is close to the one you want to install feature-wise, but the same brand should work. I have had to do this in the past.

I haven't had a chance to check it out for sure at work today. I got swamped with calls, and have to leave early. Let me know, and the next time I get a chance, I'll try to document it at work. Be forewarned that I can have weeks of busy time at work, and then weeks of "idle" time at work, so I can't say exactly when. I just wanted to shoot off this quick response while I remember.

Local Printers:

o SCSI Printer
o pdf writer (PDF)

Discovered Network Printers:

Other Network Printers:

o AppSocket/HP JetDirect
o Windows Printer using smbclient
o Internet Printing Protocol (http)
o Internet Printing Protocol (ipp)
o LPD/LPR Host or Printer
o Backend Error Handler

Scroll down for more choices. I'm home now, without the resources of work.