Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#1

Post by amichail » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:08 PM UTC

Did you stop after a specific event? If so, which one?

Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#2

Post by hirundo » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:13 PM UTC

Count me out. I still use a monochrome laser printer occasionally for personal business, and have fun covering the walls with prints from a big photo printer. James Webb's Neptune is the latest.

Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#3

Post by frompdx » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:14 PM UTC

Personally, I never stopped because there are still occasions where the best way to view something is in printed form. Those occasions get fewer by the year of course. For example, in the past I would print directions from MapQuest, and later Google Maps. Phone apps have eliminated the need and made getting directions somewhere much better. On the other hand, I do a lot of interviews and read a lot of résumés. Those are generally intended for print form, and I prefer to print them out.

Also, with a good laser printer there is no need to stop printing. It took 10 years to use the toner cartridge in by Brother printer. I'm hoping for 10 more out of the new cartridge I just bought.

Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#4

Post by thayne » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:36 PM UTC

I stopped owning a printer when the one I had in college stopped working, and I realized it was cheaper to pay 10-20 cents per page to print at the library on the rare occasion I needed to print something, than to buy a new printer and ink. And honestly, it was less of a hastle than printing with a cheap home printer too (at least since I go to the library fairly often anyways).

Oh and now I don't need space for a printer either.

Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#5

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:39 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#6

Post by tony-allan » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:46 PM UTC

After I brought my first iPad I realised that I was reviewing documents using the iPad rather than paper. I just stopped printing after that.

Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#7

Post by daggersandscars » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:47 PM UTC

I stopped using photo printers after realizing I could not use them frequently enough to keep the inks from drying out. It was cheaper to pay a professional print place for the few times I needed a print.

I stopped using b&w printers for personal use when I got multiple monitors / a monitor big enough to show reference material + workspace. I still have a b&w laser for when hard copies are required by 3rd parties.

Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#8

Post by omnicognate » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:52 PM UTC

I just woke up one morning and realised the printers had been using me all along.

Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#9

Post by arthurcolle » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:55 PM UTC

I use printers for reading technical papers and sometimes code documentation. I use a brother laserjet, I hate it because I have to use a USB because the wifi connection never seems to work properly

Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?

#10

Post by killjoywashere » Sun, Sep 25, 2022, 10:55 PM UTC

frompdx wrote: post #3

Personally, I never stopped because there are still occasions where the best way to view something is in printed form. Those occasions get fewer by the year of course. For example, in the past I would print directions from MapQuest, and later Google Maps. Phone apps have eliminated the need and made getting directions somewhere much better. On the other hand, I do a lot of interviews and read a lot of résumés. Those…

Uh, which Brother printer is this? We probably go through a cartridge every several months.