Ubuntu includes drivers for many printers, and it is usually easier to install and use a printer in Ubuntu than in other operating systems. This is not an absolute rule, though. Some printer manufacturers will not write and release driversfor Linux and for some printers, no open source driver exists. It is still a very good idea to spend some time on the Internet searching for printers that are well known to work with Linux before buying. One great resource is the Open Printing database from The Linux Foundation at www.openprinting.org/printers.
If you choose wisely, all you need to do is plug your printer into the computer and turn it on. In many cases, Ubuntuwill find the printer and add the driver automatically. Within a couple of minutes, you should be able to use it. You can go to System, Administration, Printing to see all installed and configured printers and change their settings. From here you can choose to enable printer sharing on a network, set options for default print quality, print a test page, and more.
