It is important to point out that it isn't the brand that makes it good, it is the fact that it is laser.

I used to have a Brother "multi function center" printer/scanner/photocopier/fax that used inkjet and it was pure asshole design. Wasting expensive ink just by remaining plugged in and refusing to do anything if one cartridge was low on ink (but was actually still half full)

But if I had to single out a brand that should absolutely be avoided for printers it is HP. They do asshole DRM to a whole new level. They bricked a brand new ink cartridge because I didn't put it in properly at first.

Now I have a laser printer and the nightmare is finally over.

Mate, they sold you a printer that prints white?

I’m convinced this is the only good printer in existence. They are an absolute workhorse.

The Linux version of a printer is just buy a brother color laser (or non color). I bought one for 85 bucks like 15 years ago and it still chugging along

I would love to make a living lobotomizing smart devices.

"The motor was unable to verify activation. Please contact HP support"

They do get that money. They are called bribes ... err, I mean ... It is called lobbying.

4. Don't update the printer that might put DRM in after the fact.

0. don't buy an inkjet printer

Better pro-life tip.

1)Buy a laser printer instead of inkjet and never worry about ink again.

That's it. That's the only step.

Or an ink tank printer. Way cheaper.

half full is a very optimistic view. I've taken apart HP cartridges that were defective at my last job, the starter cartridges are maybe 1/8 to a fourth of the container when being generous, the instructions back when they used to have paper instructions would say there is only enough ink in the printer for about 10 pages worth

Way less than that. They put demo cartridges that are like 1/8 normal capacity, so you get a few pages and then gotta cough up.

Or you can buy a safety razor and a 100 pack of blades and never have to think about razors again for the rest of your life.

Shaving is one of the most basic of human grooming techniques going back hundreds of years, we figured that shit out ages ago. Ignore Gillette's marketing, ignore BIC's "cheap" prices. Just get a no-name safety razor and some blades and you'll be sorted for the rest of your life. You don't need fancy shaving creams either, lather up some soap and rub it all over your face. Done. Easy. Cheap. Sustainable. Now you can use your time on picking your nose or playing video games or whatever you wanna do for fun!

Everyone keeps raving about ink tank but I feel I need to specify, don't buy this style if you don't print at least once every few weeks, the lines will clog and it's a royal pain in the ass trying to remove a clog on these styles!

They look amazing if you do a lot of artists stuff and you use it frequently but if you're the college student or someone that may have to print out a report every other month or something like that, you are far better off going with a laser Printer. Less headache for similar pricing

note: this isn't a diss on the person I'm replying to, I acknowledge that tank printers are amazing at what they're good at, I've just had so many people bring me their ink tanks because they're clogged because they only use them maybe once every other month stating that the reason they went with the printer in the first place because it was supposed to not have the penalties that standard inkjets had, so I feel the need to clarify

??

You said "ten years" so many times in one sentence that I'm honestly unclear on how much time passed.

Basically the business model is that if they can sell you a cheap printer at a loss, you won't consider a less cheap model from a company that isn't as shitty. Then they can lock you into years of buying their ink, which is overpriced deliberately.

Last I checked, if you need an inkjet printer, get a Brother or an Epson. All the rest will rip you off in various ways.

Even better, get a laser printer if you can afford it (or don't mind forgoing colour with a b&w model). For these, the above two brands, plus Ricoh, Xerox & Canon have a pretty good reputation last I looked into it

Never ever buy HP anything

Unregulted corporate greed

Because printer manufactures are money grubbing bastards.