Post #2983647

2026-05-16 16:44 UTC

@quinn@social.circl.lu Out of all the pieces of hardware to keep, this person kept their printer??? Those things are constantly trying to call home and rewire themselves to keep you from using unapproved ink. That's the official story of what they're doing anyway--who even knows if that's true. They're like the last thing I'd keep around. You can go to the library and use a printer. You probably have to anyway because you're out of ink. You just bought ink yesterday but you're out. WTF with the printer?

Replies (5)

@quinn@social.circl.lu 2026-05-16 17:26

@crazyeddie@mastodon.social you can get dumb printers, i have one. but they're not as fancy and don't have colors. but honestly i have a business in france, that printer gets a workout.

Open ##2983648
@pwloftus@pwl.farted.net 2026-05-16 17:31

@crazyeddie@mastodon.social @quinn@social.circl.lu They need the yellow to always be usable so they can print https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer_tracking_dots

Open ##2983663
@julian@activitypub.space 2026-05-16 18:31

@crazyeddie@mastodon.social not if you buy yourself a Brother monochrome laser and don't hook it up to your network :3

Open ##2983668
@Homempovo@ursal.zone 2026-05-16 20:46

@crazyeddie@mastodon.social @quinn@social.circl.lu that's beyond the point. How — I ask — can you use a printer when that's the only piece of tech you have in your house?

Open ##2983669
@Tock@corteximplant.com 2026-05-17 00:54

@crazyeddie@mastodon.social @quinn@social.circl.lu Mechanically and physically, printing on paper is a solved problem. It has been for years. If it goes wrong, 9/10 the device itself has a mechanical fault. Updates do not improve a printer's performance more than it attempts to fix mistakes made in manufacture. Get a Brother HL model, small paper toaster for $120 at an office store and maybe one replacement toner cart. Don't install shit. Windows and Mac will use it the moment you plug it in. Print, then unplug it. Same as a webcam if you aren't an influencer or creator, don't leave something you use 15-30% of the time plugged in constantly because it's easier. Put it away. If it makes you feel better, buy a wheelie cart to roll it to wherever you want to print from. Do not network it. If it breaks, its cheap enough to replace eventually. Take it offline. Use a USB Cable. Before they lock out that use case next. You don't need updates on something that isn't on a network.

Open ##2983674