For instance, I have 2 HP CP1518ni’s. They print well and have an auxiliary tray. They have WIFI, Ethernet, and USB. The toner refills are dirt cheap on Amazon. This model printer is old Govt surplus and are sold for $150-$250 range fully rebuilt all over the net. I also have my original HP PSC 1200 from 2000 and it is a great scanner and also makes great photocopies direct from the machine with no computer needed. 25 years and still going strong.
TLDR: There is no need to get these new machines that force you to buy HP toner and ink, get a refurb older HP laserjet instead.
Getting any printer to work is hard enough.
Getting an old, worn unreliable one is not a solution that would work for everyone. I doubt there would be enough of these for everyone who hates their printer anyway.
Also, printer nonsense has been going on so long, it’s probably impossible to totally avoid
Or just buy a printer that is not by HP?
Older printers often require more maintenance and old software. If people struggle to set the clock on their microwave how do you expect then to plug in and use an old printer with Windows XP drivers.
I mean, are we not all just running Windows XP anyways? What OTHER os would you be running??? Windows 11? Ew.
In many ways, open source started because of printers https://medium.com/curious-burrows/the-story-of-open-source-so-far-bfcb685d85a4
complaining (and doing something) is what started the whole thing.
Because even if you have the skills needed to referb an old printer, there is no garentee that the drivers will function on a modern OS. Or in my case, in Linux. It’s a lot easier to just buy a new printer from another brand if you need a printer.
Honestly though, most people don’t print enough anymore for buying a printer to make sense. Cheaper to just go to your local Kinko’s or whatever and have them print out the 3 or 4 pages per year. If that’s not an option, get a laser printer.
Generally, its because people don’t know its an option, or how to do so. Like, even knowing its a good idea, I have no idea where I’d start looking to buy one and I’m fairly informed around tech.
My work does it for free. I did get a thermal printer though. Those are awesome
Because people don’t realize refurbished printers is a thing?