this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2023
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The market for people who NEED printers is shrinking. Last concert I went to I had the QR code ticket in my phone, I havent printed map directions in at least 15 years and I literally cannot remember the last item I needed to print at home.
But they also cant say "Oh well, we had a good 30 year run with home printers" they have to keep making more than last year, so they have to get increasingly predatory.
I just don't understand why people fall for it. Who is subscribing to this nonsense? I would never purchase or use something like that when there are still other options available. It should have been a dead idea from day 1.
Because most people aren’t technical enough to understand there are alternatives, particularly if those alternatives involve removing a scary label telling you not to.
My parents who are in their 80s only use their printer for printing out the daily crossword puzzle. I made the mistake of getting them to give up their newspaper delivery and just read the paper online, not realizing it would force me to maintain a printer for them. But at least I was able to get them a cheap Brother inkjet where I can refill the cartridges with a syringe.
Why not the laser one instead?
Because like once a year they also want to copy a color photo or two.
I got a color brother laser and am loving it. No regrets and it was affordable. When the drum, etc. reaches end of life i will have to decide if it’s worth repairing or just getting another printer. Also changing 4 toners is expensive but probably less than the ink carts since you don’t do it very often. Also never have to worry about the ink drying out, cleaning printer heads, etc.
If they print every day it's fine. Inkjets really suck if you don't print for a while. Then the nozzles dry out and clog and then you have a mess on your hand. As long as it's not HP you are good.
My parents play crosswords on their phones and tablets. You might try that.
I haven't had a printer since early 2020 when I was last in the office. Sometimes I definitely miss it. But not enough to buy one.
Since then, the only thing I've needed to print was a visa which said I must carry a printed copy, but at the border it was digitally attached to my passport, so turns out I didn't need it at all.