4 ms·

Ask HN: Share your horror stories with bad printers

8 points by roschdal 5y ago

Please share your experiences with bad printers.

fsflover 5y ago
https://www.gnu.org/events/rms-nyu-2001-transcript.txt https://www.gnu.org/events/rms-nyu-2001-transcript.txt https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/201cthe-printer-story201d-redux-a-testimonial-about-the-injustice-of-proprietary-firmware https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/201cthe-printer-story201... https://www.oreilly.com/openbook/freedom/ch01.html https://www.oreilly.com/openbook/freedom/ch01.html
smoyer 5y ago
Way back in the '90s (that's the 1990s in case you're reading this in the distant future), I made a statement that my employees promptly declared to be "Moyer's Law" - It states "When you can consistently print a document from any computing device to any printer, there will be no more problems to solve in Computer Science". The corollary to "Moyer's Law" is that the timestamps will still be wrong.
- tragictrash 5y ago
  I love this
slater 5y ago
Obligatory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD2xBXm4y70 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD2xBXm4y70
webinvest 5y ago
-When it refuses to print because your ink level is “low” but it’s still 15% full. -when the option to print both front and back sides aren’t available with the default printer driver installation. -when the ink dries out after 3 months of non-use in regular indoor conditions. -when the error messages are cryptic and require a hard to find reference manual. (Ex: Error #36F just means no paper.) -When the printer driver includes bloatware that frequently opens a new window or popup message on the computer. -When you move into a new house and have to connect it to the new Wifi network for AirPrint / WifiPrint.
fsflover 5y ago
https://i.redd.it/jlx9wokn7tl31.jpg https://i.redd.it/jlx9wokn7tl31.jpg
tragictrash 5y ago
Sorry, nothing to share here. After working at Staples after high school, and knowing about the printer ink scam, I ditched owning a color printer and have been using brother laser monochrome printers for years. Compatibility with all my devices is great. Windows, Linux, iOS, macos all detect and work with little or no configuration. Bought another brother printer for my bro in college. He made it all the way through using the starter toner cartridge, and I got it back after he was done. Really hope they stay the same.

8 points by roschdal 5y ago

Please share your experiences with bad printers.

https://www.gnu.org/events/rms-nyu-2001-transcript.txt https://www.gnu.org/events/rms-nyu-2001-transcript.txt https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/201cthe-printer-story201d-redux-a-testimonial-about-the-injustice-of-proprietary-firmware https://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/201cthe-printer-story201... https://www.oreilly.com/openbook/freedom/ch01.html https://www.oreilly.com/openbook/freedom/ch01.html

smoyer 5y ago

Way back in the '90s (that's the 1990s in case you're reading this in the distant future), I made a statement that my employees promptly declared to be "Moyer's Law" - It states "When you can consistently print a document from any computing device to any printer, there will be no more problems to solve in Computer Science". The corollary to "Moyer's Law" is that the timestamps will still be wrong.

tragictrash 5y ago
I love this

slater 5y ago

Obligatory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD2xBXm4y70 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD2xBXm4y70

webinvest 5y ago

-When it refuses to print because your ink level is “low” but it’s still 15% full. -when the option to print both front and back sides aren’t available with the default printer driver installation. -when the ink dries out after 3 months of non-use in regular indoor conditions. -when the error messages are cryptic and require a hard to find reference manual. (Ex: Error #36F just means no paper.) -When the printer driver includes bloatware that frequently opens a new window or popup message on the computer. -When you move into a new house and have to connect it to the new Wifi network for AirPrint / WifiPrint.

fsflover 5y ago

https://i.redd.it/jlx9wokn7tl31.jpg https://i.redd.it/jlx9wokn7tl31.jpg

tragictrash 5y ago

Sorry, nothing to share here. After working at Staples after high school, and knowing about the printer ink scam, I ditched owning a color printer and have been using brother laser monochrome printers for years. Compatibility with all my devices is great. Windows, Linux, iOS, macos all detect and work with little or no configuration. Bought another brother printer for my bro in college. He made it all the way through using the starter toner cartridge, and I got it back after he was done. Really hope they stay the same.