Ask HN: Do you still own a printer?

13 points by nunorbatista 15 hours ago | 19 comments

My wife tried to convince me to buy a printer, she said that it could be useful to print school related stuff for the kids and I was kind of surprised because I have the feeling that it's not needed anymore? Even if we talk about school, today the communication with the teacher is done through an App, so I'm not sure it's going to go back (my kids are 6, if that matters).

I also have a printer at the office which I have to go every day and she asked me to print stuff like twice, so I'm kind of curious about what's the status of home printing?

PS - when I need to print photos, I use a service that prints in a proper photographic paper and size to frame. I do this like twice a year.

d3Xt3r 1 hour ago |

Everyone keeps saying how great laser printers are, but I vastly prefer my Brother inkjet (ask me why). I use it only maybe once or twice an year, usually to print copies of flight tickets and important documents, and very rarely scan copies of original documents.

RobGR 4 hours ago |

Yes, I maintain two at different locations and am often asked by printerless friends if they can use them. Most use is bureaucratic stuff like forms for various licenses and permits and etc, but I have a manual on the use of a particular bit of software that I am writing, I find it nice to print that out and make marks in the margins for later editing.

I'll get an Epson EcoTank color printer as my next one, and maybe the https://www.crowdsupply.com/open-tools/openprinter if it ever comes out and is really open. I also would not mind a decent receipt printer. I forgot that I own a couple of Dymo label printers too, and wrote some driver software for them years and years ago. But free printers that have enough ink or toner to last a while are pretty common.

Not having a printer is like only having a phone and not a laptop. It labels you as a consumer and recipient of culture and society, instead of a participant.

deckplecksetter 6 hours ago |

I have a Brother laser printer/scanner. I mainly use it for:

- Return labels, if I'm returning an Amazon purchase

- Hard copies of important info when I travel, in case my phone dies

- Occasional times when I'm sent forms that I need to print, sign, scan and send back

It didn't cost much, has never needed maintenance, and the toner lasts a long time. Worth it for the hassle it saves when I need it.

darkzip 6 hours ago | |

I also own a brother laser printer. I bought it for $50 from some guy who definitely gave "I stole this from work" vibes.

I barely have to print anything, so not having to deal with clogged inkjet heads has been great

kalleboo 6 hours ago |

I only had an ImageWriter II dot matrix printer in my retro setup.

Our printing needs are minimal, maybe 1 or 2 times a year we'll just go and print at 7-11, which has better options than a home printer anyway (A3 size paper, both laser and inkjet photo printing options, sticker paper etc)

Recently my father-in-law passed away and he had 3 inkjet printers and we inherited 2 of them. For the first few weeks there was a flurry of "we can print now" and there was some arts and crafts being done, but since they they've been laying dormant.

memcg 8 hours ago |

We have seven printers. I use an HP LaserJet 6P which I bought 20+ years ago. My son uses an Epson setup to print films for screen printing tee shirts. All the others were free on Craiglist over the years. I also have two FedX Kinkos nearby for color printing.

skyberrys 7 hours ago |

Yes, I own a printer. I use it to interface with older people in my community. They don't like computers and appreciate paper messages. I also print things for my kids, like sheet music or mazes.

ButlerianJihad 1 hour ago |

I recently was faced with replacing my HP 1536dnf, and it had basically been the best device I ever owned, for reliability, compatibility, and versatility.

I was gonna particularly miss the scanner with ADF, but realizing that Android’s camera-based scanning was mature, realized I could go for a single-function LaserJet at this point.

I chose the HP LaserJet 4001dn. It may have been a huge mistake. This printer is neither compatible with Android nor ChromeOS. Can’t go beyond a simple 1-pager with these.

I have been able to access the full features and power by using ChromeOS Linux subsystem. It is actually the only reason I need or use Linux at this point, and smuggling documents to be printed is arduous. I wish it just worked from my phone! But I do not believe it is the fault of HP or the printer, but Google’s staunch rejection of dead tree interfaces.

It is what it is. I’m in a city surrounded by print services such as the library, UPS Store, FedEx, that I could probably limp along with no printer at home, but I got this one blessed by my local deacon, so it’s a keeper.

mattm 15 hours ago |

Yes, actually I bought a Brother laserjet earlier this year. I don't need to print a lot but there are things needed every now and then. I could print at work or an office supply store or even the library but this is just more convenient. I upgraded from an inkjet so that the laserjet should basically last me the rest of my life.

verdverm 14 hours ago | |

I bought a Brother inkjet this year myself, the price per page looked to be cheaper overall (as was the printer itself). I'm mass printing zines and related, so also bought a big cutter and auto folder

For OP, having a printer at home will show its usefulness at random times. I'm definitely glad I pulled the trigger, partially because of being a prepper, re: my government, not the apocalypse. (a little brother incase big brother...)

akellermann 13 hours ago |

Regarding photo printing, which would be my main use case for a printer, I've read that the inkjet heads can get clogged up if you don't use them on a regular basis, and that the process for clearing them can use up a significant amount of ink. So I've just decided the premium of having a print shop do it on my behalf is worth it.

This does mean I can't exactly get my colors right, since I don't print often enough and I'm not that familiar with proofing digitally, but even if I have to get a print done twice I probably end up ahead financially.

I also have a tiny Canon Selphy that I use for small 4x6 prints, which I can recommend so people will actually get their photos into the real world and off the screen.

snazz 7 hours ago |

No, I just use the one at work when needed. I encouraged my parents to get the absolute cheapest Brother laser printer, which has worked great for a lot of years at a very reasonable cost (both for the printer and per page).

grizzles 7 hours ago |

My wife bought one over my strenuous objections. I think it broke shortly after she bought it. I noticed it disappeared recently from its sitting place so looks like the situation has resolved itself.

DerArzt 13 hours ago |

Yes! I bought a brother laser printer to use as part of my D&D hobby. I love paper and pencil for D&D to the point that my notes are all printed and staple bound in a digest sized packet for each session.

mhdhn 4 hours ago |

yes, 2 multifunction printers with scanning and faxing and copying capability

DamonHD 14 hours ago |

Yes, an Epson EcoTank.

AnimalMuppet 7 hours ago |

Yes. I write some things that need editing/rewriting. I do that better on paper than with a screen.

mindcrime 14 hours ago |

Nope. I haven't had a home printer in probably 15 years. If I need something printed, I usually use Fedex online printing. There is a Fedex store near where I live, and across the street from a shopping center I visit frequently anyway, so it's usually no big issue to swing by there and pick stuff up.

There is also a printer at work that I could use in a pinch.

poglet 9 hours ago |

Yes, I've always had a printer (a Brother laser MFP) and I get cheap toner from eBay. My wife can print from her phone, though I had to install an AirPrint/CUPS driver on a Linux box to get it working.

My kid is constantly asking me to print out colouring-in pictures that she has us create using AI or find online (princesses, mermaids, dolphins, etc.)

There are also the occasional documents that need signatures or need to be seen by others. I might print out checklists or useful information to put in the car. I even have a list of PS3 games, and whether they support co-op, that sits in my TV cabinet so I can check it when friends come over before starting up a game.

When printing is so accessible, you tend to do it much more often.