Topic: HP Printers

[Garth Bock]

HP printers used to be the best but slowly have lost ground to other companies. In the past they have waged a campaign to lock down their printers. Nevermind the high cost of ink, they have blocked the user from saving some money by using generic or even refilled ink cartridges. That has been fought in court. Now a judge has refused to throw out a class action lawsuit against HP for another trick, low ink lockout. In that instance newer models of AIO printer will not allow scanning or even faxing (yeah yeah I know faxing is old school) if the printer is low or out of ink. You can't scan if you are low or out of ink ? Also at issue is the fact a user can't use their scanner unless they create an HP account and login just to use their scanner. HP has defended that because of their ink/printing monitoring system and promote their scan/print to their cloud. So your personal scans are sent to their cloud. So you may own the printer but HP calls the shots.

[Vasco]

So you may own the printer but HP calls the shots.

'Twas ever thus - and I think other firms are heading that way, too.

But my problems with HP printers are tied up with µ$ decisions. I had a perfectly good HP LaserJet 1010 (USB, mono) that worked in Win7 but not Win10. So I bought a LaserJet P1102 (USB, mono) which hasn't worked on Win 10 since a July or August update last year. . . HP did put out a half-hearted fix but that didn't work.

And because my ethernet Dell 1320 colour laser developed a problem that can't be cured I bought a wireless Xerox C230. . . We'll see how that goes.

[Garth Bock]

I have managed to extend the life of older HP printers by using either XP drivers or using drivers from comparable, newer models. As for the Dell printer, they are made by Lexmark and are junk. One department at our university got a bunch of them when they bought some desktops and servers. Thought it was a great deal. A year later they were scrapped because of the high failure rate.

[davidmc36]

Have a Samsung colour laser and a Brother B&W Scanner/Printer for her home office.

Never had any of the quoted issues. Use all generic toner  and drums for both. All level indicators work normally too.

[Garth Bock]

I switched to Epson years ago when HP started the first round of DRM'ing their cartridges and also Epson and others were out performing HP. I also have a Brother QL1050 label printer.

[thomas]

I was OK with the HP laser but not so much with the ink ones.  I now have a color Epson Eco tank that I have been very happy with.  The ink just lasts forever.

[box]

Epson here. I have noticed that every time I connect a mobile device to the printer it finds a problem with the compatible  printer cartridges, I assume it's some kind of spurious firmware 'upgrade' coming via google ( I suspect Chrome is the culprit)

My printer is not connected to the internet and we do not print directly from mobile devices, as long as we do that all is peachy

[92merc]

First off, I'd never recommend an ink jet.  They dry up, clogged jets, scam of selling new cartridges.  Pay $100 more and get a laser printer.  I have a 10 year old HP multi function color laser that is still working.  I can get laser cartridges easily.  I work in IT, and we buy only HP LaserJet printers.  They just work.  But for home, you can buy Brother or other brands as well.  Just stick to laser/color laser.

I'm running an old HP 1010 on my Windows 10 PC still, via USB.  Works fine with these old drivers.  I haven't tested on Windows 11 yet.  I plan on replacing my PC this fall when 14th Gen Intel comes out.  I'll find out then.  If not, I just have my color laser, which is fine.

https://iptl.bismarckweather.net/lj1010serieshb-vista32.zip

[Vasco]

I'm running an old HP 1010 on my Windows 10 PC still, via USB.  Works fine with these old drivers.

Got any old lj1102 drivers?   

[92merc]

I'm betting those I linked will work.  I looked, mine is a 1012, not 1010.  I'm sure the 1102 is just an updated version of mine.

IIRC, they're all the older DOT4 style USB drivers.  So they should work.

[92merc]

I know this is Windows 8.  But drivers haven't changed much since Windows 7.  If just installing the driver doesn't detect your printer, you may have to go through this dance.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04334839

[Aardvark]

I have a mac system.  The printers are Brother.   Seems compatible drivers with the mac.  The only problem I had was a color printer , when I went with fiber last summer, the brother I was using would no longer connect via the wifi modem to our computers.  I had the desk iMac, that I could have connected via USB, but the wife was out of luck.  So  I had to order and get working the printer and take the non functioning to the electronic recycle.

I do like the auto refill.  The other is an all in one, the print is awful light, replaced the drum, the toner, no difference, but the scanning and fax are nice.  Would go if it craps out to a duplex scan

[alanb]

Although it still worked just fine on Windows 10, I got tired of paying the exorbitant ink cartridge prices on my 1999 HP 970C and replaced it in 2020 with a Canon G7020 All-in-one Megatank printer. That also allowed me to get rid of an old Umax flatbed scanner that was stuck with drivers no newer than Windows XP, forcing me to keep an old XP laptop running for when I needed to scan. So far I am pleased with the Canon printer/scanner/copier/fax and still have not had to refill the ink tanks although they are now down to about 1/3.

[92merc]

I have a Windows 11 Home laptop, not upgraded from Windows 10.  I couldn't get the HP1012 installed on it either. I guess I'm SOL on that old printer.

[92merc]

Just tested my HPM276nw printer.  That printer uses the HP Universal Printer Drivers.  It still works in Windows 11.  Look for a printer that uses those drivers.  They'll last much longer.

[vinesweather]

We moved away from HP and EPSON for that matter. Cost of ink etc. We now have a brother mfc-l9570cdw printer and it works great.

[Cienega32]

... I got tired of paying the exorbitant ink cartridge prices on my 1999 HP 970C and replaced it in 2020 with a Canon G7020 All-in-one Megatank printer.

That megatank looks interesting. Fortunately, I don't print stuff like I used to so I can go the cheap route:

I've used an HP86xx All in 1 for a while but quickly tired of the "low ink" garbage prompting me to check my bank account. Needed some HP black ink, went to WalMart (it was late at nite)  & while walking the aisle I said lookey that - I can buy a Canon TS3500 print/copy/scan/wifi for the cost of an HP ink cartridge... It fits my needs & I haven't looked back.

I've used HP deskjets since the late 90s & I've grown so tired of HP ink prices & now their unregistered ink cans being rejected the last "few" years. Their ink used to last a lot longer in the late 90s...

I'm pretty sure I'm done w/ HP printers & ink business model.

[BenjaminPratt]

HP printers have taken a turn lately, and it's frustrating. They used to be the go-to, but all these restrictions make them hard to recommend. The whole low ink lockout thing is just baffling.
And yeah, the requirement to make an HP account just to use your scanner? That’s over the top. Not everyone wants their personal scans going through some cloud service.
If you’re thinking about switching brands, there are other solid options out there. I’ve been hearing good things about Omega Brand printers.

[Vasco]

Frustrating, yes. But I have to report a happy end to my µ$ problem:

I had a perfectly good HP LaserJet 1010 (USB, mono) that worked in Win7 but not Win10. So I bought an HP LaserJet P1102 (USB, mono) which hasn't worked on Win 10 since a July or August update last year. . .

Around August last year it started working again in Win10. . . still going strong 

I wonder if it will work in Win11. . .