Using KDE 3.1.1 on Linux 2.4.20-xfs

I just want to hook up my Canon printer. Apparently they're drivers are supposed to work fine according to the linuxprinting site.
I downloaded the drivers from the site with Mozilla 5.0. The wizard they have won't open. When I clicked on start it either evaporated or got stuck on the opening page.
Frustrated, I went back to my HP Deskjet printer which worked before and it didn't work. I even tried to add the HP as a new printer; no luck.

While I'm here.. I don't always want to depend on CUPS to print as I don't always want to be online. I'd like to just connect my printer to my computer and not send the request through CUPS. I'm a singlr user and don't plan on adding anymore printers.