Katie MarsalIn a move that's sure to be welcomed by customers of both parties, HP is reported to be working with Apple to allow users of Mac OS X Leopard to instantly receive the the latest versions of HP's printer drivers over Leopard's built-in Software Update mechanism.
"The HP printer drivers will be delivered post-install via Software Update," the company told testers.
Although listed in Leopard's developer documentation as a 'known issue', the recommendation to use Apple’s software update process to install the drivers was actually a test scenario, not a driver problem or bug issue, reports MacNN.
"HP has a large market share with Apple customers and is very pleased that Apple has chosen HP drivers and software to test with the latest Leopard developer seed and software update process," a representative for HP told the Mac news publication. "Please note that the HP driver set in the latest Leopard seed and from the software update process is the exact same HP software code and driver bundle, no difference, and should work great with this latest Leopard seed."
In speaking to MacNN, the HP rep went on to say that if there are no existing HP printer queues or HP printers connected to the Mac via USB, then Leopard's version of Software Update will not download or add any HP printer drivers.
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38 Comments
As an Apple Developer, I've said this to hundreds of friends over the years who've asked about a printer choice: HP? Great hardware, crappy software. No, really. CRAPPY software. Perhaps this new mechanism will resolve that problem.
red box is coming... lol
As an Apple Developer, I've said this to hundreds of friends over the years who've asked about a printer choice: HP? Great hardware, crappy software. No, really. CRAPPY software. Perhaps this new mechanism will resolve that problem.
You nailed it!
I'll gladly accept this with my Leopard build. I've tried all the printers... last of which was HP. I've had nothing but good luck with HP printers since I dove in. All the others just seem to be off of HP's pace. Hope this resolves the hp installation nightmares on 10.4
Sure to be welcomed? Yeah, right.
The last time I had a printer from HP the "driver" software filled 2 CDs and I ended up with more than a gigabyte of crap on my system. Dozens and dozens of applications, background processes, and who knows what else, that were confusing and difficult to use, took up memory, slowed down the computer, and even made my system as a whole unstable. It doesn't matter whether this is under Mac OS 9, Windows or Mac OS X, it's the same on each - tons of irrelevant and unnecessary "stuff".
It's a printer, all I want to do is print. Why they can't provide a single, simple driver that does just that and dispense with all the other crap I don't know, but either way, I swore never to buy another HP printer from that point on.