Update!! the duplex printing feature has been implemented for Samsung printers on linux (including ML-2010) with version 2.0.0 of the Samsung drivers (available with Ubuntu Linux Intrepid 8.10).

To ensure you use the latest ones go to  ‘Printer Properties’ in System -> Administration -> Printing and check the ‘Make and Model’ field. To update your drivers simply click on the Change button and confidently follow the wizard.

You will find the option for the two sided printing under the ‘Printer Options’ tab.

An interesting program for non supported printers is GtkPSproc you are welcome to test it and add feedback.

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Duplex printing [1] is currently available only to mid-high-end printers.
However same goal can be achieved with minimal effort and minimal user interaction also on simplex low-end printers via a software hack.

Procedure:

This has been achieved for example by Samsung windows drivers. These paginates the printing queue so that sheets are printed

1. firstly rotated 180 degrees and filed in reverse order
2. then the driver prompts the user to put printed sheets back into the tray ‘as they are’ (no manual weired rotating and flipping needed)
3. finally printed normally

The resulting is a paginated duplex printed document.

Advantages and Benefits:

With manual duplex printing a wide range of users with low-end printers such as Samsung ML-2010 series are enabled to:

• print documents on both sides of paper
• make professional looking booklets
• lower the usage/waste of paper
• lower the home/office environmental impact

References:

Blueprint: https://blueprints.launchpad.net/system-config-printer/+spec/manual-duplex-printing

Bug report: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/system-config-printer/+bug/193088

Ubuntu Brainstorm: http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/3332/

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duplex_printing