Here is what i had to go thru to get my Lexmark to work on OpenSuse.
Given the large number of peripherals that are reported not to work with windows 8, I think the problem isn't exclusively a Linux one. Also, there was a solution to the problem that didn't require purchasing new hardware. What do you do if there is no driver that your windows system will accept?
Personally, I only use Brother printers, because they actually have PPD files for them available on their website (my current fedora desktop didn't even need them, but I could probably install them if I found I needed functionality not found in the foomatic drivers.