For me, a printer is vital when proofing checking important documents. Documents may read fine on the screen, but the moment you print them out all those nastily little errors become more apparent.
Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
31–40 of 78 posts
Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
#32When I realised the same office supply place I bought print supplies from could simply do the prints. Or I could use the library, university, or work printers. It ended up being quicker and cheaper to outsource, plus I don't have another machine taking up valuable desk space.
Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
#33When my wife started working at a library 10 years ago. Now on the rare occasion I need one, I can just send the documents to their system for remote print, which gets billed to my library account, and she brings it home. I suspect many libraries have similar setups, except for the convenient door-to-door service part.
Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
#34I have vastly reduced the amount of printing I do. I do almost all of my reading on a tablet, for example. However, I do find that I'm more efficient at proofreading when I print out a draft, because I can write directly on it (and yes, I have an iPad Pro and a Thinkpad X1 Yoga, both with styli), attach PostIts, and the like.
I recently bought a high-yield toner cartridge for my laser printer, and hope to live long enough to need another.
Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
#35For me, a printer is vital when proofing checking important documents. Documents may read fine on the screen, but the moment you print them out all those nastily little errors become more apparent.
The same effect can be seen by doing other things, like printing to PDF, or just changing the font to something you don’t normally use. For some reason the change of context itself makes the difference.
Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
#36I never stopped. Tried iPads and a remarkable2 but never was able to beat how I read technical papers printed out and marked with pen/pencil.
Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
#37I need my printer at least once a year to print my state taxes (which don't have free e-file and I'm not paying Intuit a dime of I can help it). When it dies, I'll probably just start using the print shop.
I simply don't have much to print.
Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
#38I've not had one for a long time. My business has one, that's usually enough for me.
But I've recently been thinking about getting one. I want to print templates for doing woodworking & similar in the shop.
Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
#39I moved to Miami, and just didn't buy one when I moved down here.
In the rare occasion that I need to print, I'll swing by the business center in my condo building and print it out.
Re: Ask HN: When did you stop using a printer and why?
#40For me, a printer is vital when proofing checking important documents. Documents may read fine on the screen, but the moment you print them out all those nastily little errors become more apparent.
The same effect can be seen by doing other things, like printing to PDF, or just changing the font to something you don’t normally use. For some reason the change of context itself makes the difference.
I use those methods as well, but nothing seems to beat printing. One thing I like is the ability to write notes directly on the paper using a pen.
I have a Wacom Cintiq, so I could conceivably do the same tHing digitaly, but it isn’t the same. Something about the materiality of paper?