• cruseo@piefed.world
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          1 day ago

          OK, I asked for that.

          FYI, I’m Gen X, so like everyone else, I haven’t had to deal with printers in a long time.

          But, fucking hell, what a pain in the ass they always were.

          • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            Also Gen X. I deal with printers all the time. Still use my checkbook, too.

            Printers never gave me as much trouble as other people report - but then, I stick to good brands, or at least brands I know; I spent several years writing printer drivers for a specific OEM, so I’ve been familiar enough with their inner workings that I’ve had little trouble dealing with them.

            • cruseo@piefed.world
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              1 day ago

              I spent several years writing printer drivers

              Yeah, just like the rest of us. Lol.

                • cruseo@piefed.world
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                  1 day ago

                  I’m currently dipping my toes into writing gnome extensions, so I’m no stranger to tormenting myself needlessly, lol

                  But writing printer drivers? That’s just creating your own hell.

            • I have a brother laser printer. I normally love the thing, but yesterday it printed out two separate documents on the same sheet of paper (front/back). One was a document that refused to print a few days ago. I still have no idea how TF that happened

              - former SWE

              • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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                1 day ago

                Most impressive.

                It knew you were retired. Never let them have that advantage. Fear will keep them in line.

          • Malyca@lemmy.zip
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            1 day ago

            I just bought a refurbished laser printer, easier to deal with than ink jet, highly recommend. Just sucks for pictures.

            • cruseo@piefed.world
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              1 day ago

              There were, in the many past decades, a few printers here and there that were actually pretty decent to work with. Black-and-white HP laser printers from the late 90s through to the late 00s were actually pretty super.

              And, really, past then, it’s not like printers have gotten any better. They may add more functions, but it cost you have easily learned it isn’t worth paying. So, for the basics, that area of printers between the 90s and the early 00s is your target. The trick is to get them to continue working on modern computers.

              Again, this is where Linux is your friend

              Ironically, because Linux was always the single target OS (family) on which these printers would “never” ever work.

              lol

              • CheesyFox@lemmy.sdf.org
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                1 day ago

                i’m using my hp laserjet 1018 to this day! Absolutely timeless piece of machinery that is, even though it requires a little voodoo magic every time i plug it into my linux pc

        • marcos@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Oh, God…

          By the turn of the 10s decade I still had people print emails and reach me before Outlook had a chance to show the new email alert.