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Ask HN: What's a Good Physical Printer?

6points byxrd7h
I want to buy a printer.

I have a theory that all printers are made by predatory companies that want to sell you planned obsolescence devices with cryptographically motivated expensive cartridges.

Am I not fully correct? Is there a good option outside of this realm? Should I buy an old used laser printer?

Comments

7 total · 7 loaded

Ranked by HN
brudgers4hon HN
A good printer for what?

Owning a printer is a bit of a lifestyle choice.

Laser, inkjet, dye sublimation, thermal, and even impact printers are each good for some workloads and each is terrible for other workloads.

Budgets for money, space, time, and noise should probably be part of any conversation, too.

I agree, all those details are needed as well as volume of printing.
Brother, B&W laser. That consistently tops independent review sites, e.g., NYTimes Wirecutter: <https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-home-printer...>.

It replaced an HP mispurchase made against my recommendation a couple of years ago, and is absolutely solid and boring.

If you only need occasional colour prints, you can use a print service (most office-supply stores, druggists, package delivery (FedEx/UPS).

There are tank-based inkjet printers which may avoid some of the higher-cost ink / DRM issues. Mostly I avoid them as overpriced and problematic.

Avoid HP like the plague it is.

jryan495hon HN
https://www.crowdsupply.com/open-tools/open-printer/updates

Hopefully this actually works when (if) it comes out

Printers are hard. They require high precision mechanical and materials engineering. Their supply chain requires multiple bespoke manufacturing facilities.

That is why there are no successful open platform printers.

It is why Ali Express is not a viable option for most types of printers.

rickcarlino7hon HN
HN often recommends Brother printers for their lack of innovation and good-enough design. Printer companies are sleazy, you’re not wrong.
My b&w laser from brother has been working perfectly for over 10 years. No software installation. Wifi, Ethernet, or USB. Everything I need and nothing I don't. Color would be nice but I've never seen it be worth the hassle to own.