Printer support for Ubuntu ( and Linux in general ) varies a lot.
Generally though many will just plug in and work ( Epson and HP being
the two that usually do ). Those that aren't 'plug and go' can take a
bit of getting going but usually there are instructions to follow,
which can be fairly simple bit can be complex.

However, regarding the two you have ...

B> LEXMARK X7170 MULTIFUNCTION INK JET

Simple answer here - it won't work in Ubuntu. Sorry :-(

B> CANON LBP5000 LASER PRINTER.

Canon have better support for Ubuntu and the page below has the
instructions on how to do it. Means installing the script that the
writer has created and running a command in terminal.

radu.cotescu.com/.../

Good luck with the Canon - from all accounts it will work well.

What I tell all the people I know looking for a printer is, if it fails
to list Mac or Linux compatibility don't buy it. My days of buying
something with the hope it works on Linux boxes is gone. If the
manufacturer feels it is to much trouble to list Linux, it is to much
trouble trying to use their product.

I know many printers are compatible with Linux but why take on the
trouble of testing or research if the manufacture feels you are not
worth the effort. The only effort I make is to send their product teams
an email stating the reason I overlooked their product was lack of Linux
support. I relate not listing Linux as one of the OSs, as no Linux
support, even if it will support Linux. A note: The Brother Laser
printer I have, the book even gives Linux set-up help even though it is
not needed.

I would dearly love to 'kick windows'in
touch totaly.......but as indicated before I just cannot get my printers to work
in Linux,..........Ifollowed the script from the web site but I do not know if I
followed it totally...I will have to dual boot in the meantime Ubuntu and
windows in order to use my scanner and laser printer.

Does look like you are stuck with Windows until your printer and
scanner bite the dust and you go looking for a replacement, but to
save the hassle of dual-boot why not use Virtual Box and run Windows
in that ? Presumably these printer are USB so you'll need the full
version from the VBox web site as the one in the repositories doesn't
have USB support.

FWIW - installing WinXP in VBox is a lot easier than natively, and you
get to hear the trippy background track during the final setup too :-)

BP> I will have to dual boot in the meantime Ubuntu and windows in
BP> order to use my scanner and laser printer.

It looks like you are a 'mind reader'I have just installed Virtual box from the
repositories and it would not run my printer...NOTED what you said about V/B
version will now download the full version................

This is the CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) site
Switch on the printers (1 at the time) and see whether they are recognised
by CUPS .
If so , CUPS will install the relevant printer on your system .

Once installed CUPS will also enable you to manage printing jobs.

I use an HP desktop printer with Kubuuntu. I was looking all over for help
to install it. Then I read from some one that Kubuntu may pick it up
just by cutting the printer on. It did.
Have you tryed that, yet? Some times the simplest is the best.

I think you'll find that Ubuntu/Kubuntu have good support for HP
printers but others hmmm...not quite so good.
I started to put a Dell printer on my dual boot Ubuntu/XP AMD computer
and found that no driver exists for Linux or Win 7,
Dell only supplied a driver for XP. The printer is a Dell Photo Printer
720 (2004 mfg) with guaranteed obsolescence built in!!!

I believe the better support for HP printers dates back many years ago
when HP hired Bruce Perens to work on Linux issues.
Bruce was a significant contributer to the early Debian Linux
distributions so it is easy to understand how his contributions have
carried forward through the years. I believe Bruce was once quoted
(approximately) to say: "When the first line completes
printing on your Linux hosted HP printer, you will have violated 26 HP
patents." HP chose to look the other way and enjoyed
the revenue derived from printers easily being hosted on Linux
computers.

I have tried using two different HP printers on my Ubuntu 10.4 release
and getting them going was as simple as plugging them
in, powering them on and beginning to use them. Hallelujah, no driver
issues got in the way.

Dell printers tend to be re-badged Lexmark ones - hence their no-go in
any Linux

In my experience, installing a printer is a lot easier than what you have been
told. Just run "printers" and your printer might appear in the list. Just say,
"yes, that's the one" until it's installed.

If the printer is shared from a different computer on your network, you have to
begin by clicking "network printer," and then it should show up in a few
seconds. Then say, "yes, that's the one..."

It's about two years since I had to use any other approach, and in that time
I've played with at least a dozen versions or distros of Linux.