5 ms·

>I plan to replace it with a similar unit of the same vintage Buy a non-shit brand that doesn't connect to the internet, eg. something from Brother without int

by tpxl 6y ago

>I plan to replace it with a similar unit of the same vintage Buy a non-shit brand that doesn't connect to the internet, eg. something from Brother without internet connectivity.

smsm42 6y ago
Second that, owned several Brother things, never had trouble or any shenanigans like HP does.
davitocan 6y ago
I always put our printers on a separate vlan that only accepts connections from our primary vlan. No magic firmware updates anymore.
greenyoda 6y ago
My recent experience with Brother was decidedly shitty: an inkjet printer that died after a few months. On the other hand, I have a Brother laser printer that's still working after 17 years - and they still manufacture toner cartridges for it. (It's so old that it has a parallel port[1] in addition to a USB port.) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_port https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_port
drewzero1 6y ago
The one I have sets up its own wireless network which is definitely a security risk, but it doesn't connect to my LAN or the internet. I've seen newer ones that do connect to the internet and it only seems like trouble. I was thinking about this a few weeks ago because I found an identical printer at a thrift store for $4. I didn't get it but thought it would be nice to be able to keep using my stash of 3rd-party cartridges.
- drewzero1 6y ago
  Also, forgot you mentioned Brother. I decided not to get another yet printer because I already have a spare Brother MFC with just USB and parallel connections. I've had worse experiences with Brother software than HP, but it still seems to work with my computer. I also have a dot matrix printer with enough ribbon to last me a decade or so. So I really don't need to look for another printer for a while.
jhbadger 6y ago
The problem is that in the modern world, a printer needs some sort of net connection, even if just to the local router. People aren't just printing from their computers; they need to print from their tablets and phones too.
- tpxl 6y ago
  Well sure, if you want to print wirelessly, you're going to need wireless (LAN is enough, no need for WAN though) :)
- drewzero1 6y ago
  I'll have to check, but I don't think mine is connected to the router at all. Pretty sure it sets up its own ad-hoc network for wireless printing, which I would imagine has its own vulnerabilities but at least requires an attacker to be physically trespassing on my property. :-)

by tpxl 6y ago

>I plan to replace it with a similar unit of the same vintage Buy a non-shit brand that doesn't connect to the internet, eg. something from Brother without internet connectivity.

smsm42 6y ago

Second that, owned several Brother things, never had trouble or any shenanigans like HP does.

davitocan 6y ago

I always put our printers on a separate vlan that only accepts connections from our primary vlan. No magic firmware updates anymore.

greenyoda 6y ago

My recent experience with Brother was decidedly shitty: an inkjet printer that died after a few months. On the other hand, I have a Brother laser printer that's still working after 17 years - and they still manufacture toner cartridges for it. (It's so old that it has a parallel port[1] in addition to a USB port.) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_port https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_port

drewzero1 6y ago

The one I have sets up its own wireless network which is definitely a security risk, but it doesn't connect to my LAN or the internet. I've seen newer ones that do connect to the internet and it only seems like trouble. I was thinking about this a few weeks ago because I found an identical printer at a thrift store for $4. I didn't get it but thought it would be nice to be able to keep using my stash of 3rd-party cartridges.

drewzero1 6y ago
Also, forgot you mentioned Brother. I decided not to get another yet printer because I already have a spare Brother MFC with just USB and parallel connections. I've had worse experiences with Brother software than HP, but it still seems to work with my computer. I also have a dot matrix printer with enough ribbon to last me a decade or so. So I really don't need to look for another printer for a while.

jhbadger 6y ago

The problem is that in the modern world, a printer needs some sort of net connection, even if just to the local router. People aren't just printing from their computers; they need to print from their tablets and phones too.

tpxl 6y ago
Well sure, if you want to print wirelessly, you're going to need wireless (LAN is enough, no need for WAN though) :)
drewzero1 6y ago
I'll have to check, but I don't think mine is connected to the router at all. Pretty sure it sets up its own ad-hoc network for wireless printing, which I would imagine has its own vulnerabilities but at least requires an attacker to be physically trespassing on my property. :-)