Why don't the HP printer drivers included with OS X ever work?

[kudukudu]

I have had a powerbook, macbook pro and now a mac pro suing 10.2, 10.4 and 10.5, respectively. Whenever I have tried to print something using the HP printer drivers included with OS X on my Laserjet 2100 I have gotten a bunch of garbage characters and blank pages.

I've always had to go through a bunch of hoops to get printing to work such as downloading 3rd party drivers, selecting other printer models, etc. Printer drivers aren't exactly rocket science. Is this HP's bad or Apple's bad?

For example, see this thread:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=65101

 

[Eidorian]

OS X and HP just don't support the HP LaserJet 2100 I had a shelf of those buggers that I had to send to salvage.

 

[CWallace]

I get the same problem printing to my HP Color LaserJet 4500n. I've tried Leopard's and HP's drivers. Right now, I boot into Windows and print from there until it's time to replace the printer.

 

[iMpathetic]

I have had a powerbook, macbook pro and now a mac pro suing 10.2, 10.4 and 10.5, respectively. Whenever I have tried to print something using the HP printer drivers included with OS X on my Laserjet 2100 I have gotten a bunch of garbage characters and blank pages.

I've always had to go through a bunch of hoops to get printing to work such as downloading 3rd party drivers, selecting other printer models, etc. Printer drivers aren't exactly rocket science. Is this HP's bad or Apple's bad?

For example, see this thread:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=65101

They call it Hewlett-Pukeard for a reason.

Same for me. HP's printer drivers on CD don't work so I use Apple's built-in support for the printers I use.

 

[Adrien Baker]

This is my first Mac, and my PhotoSmart 3310 works perfectly with the included drivers in Leopard.

Adrien

 

[Eidorian]

I get the same problem printing to my HP Color LaserJet 4500n. I've tried Leopard's and HP's drivers. Right now, I boot into Windows and print from there until it's time to replace the printer.

My 4500n works just fine in OS X.

We keep getting free supplies for it too. It just won't die.

 

[Techguy172]

The K550,L7680 and LaserJet 1300 all work fine in Leopard.

 

[CWallace]

My 4500n works just fine in OS X.

It seems to print okay in Black and White, but when I try Color, it shoots out a line of what looks like Postscript error codes and then prints blank pages until I kill the job. Tried the Leopard and HP drivers, both with the same effect.