Time for 2025 printer research!

Have been stalling getting a new printer since this HP has been doing me fine since way back. But of course we need to prepare for the inevitable firmware updates and subscription raises that will lock us in.

What I’ve heard is best:

  • Laser Printers
  • Brother branded

Recently though, Brother started doing the funky like all other printer companies. This stopped me last time when I was about to buy one.

I won’t get into the details as to where I’ve found and read this information because it’s in the back of my mind.

And since I’m really just here to ask: WHAT KIND OF PRINTER YOU GOT, LINUX USERS?

Preferably under $200.

EDIT: Scanning + Printer + Copier combo is the ultimate goal, but whatever else works too. Preferably wifi connected. But I can make some Ethernet cables.

  • kalleboo@lemmy.world
    1·
    2 months ago

    BTW the Brother scare about them adding DRM that was in the news a while back turned out to be false, it was just a random guy on Reddit with a bad third-party cartridge, and Brother replied that they do not block third-party cartridges.

    That said, I’m not a huge fan of their weird PPD installer on Linux that installs some random, undocumented crap

  • kittenroar@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    I have a cheap brother USB printer, the HL-L2300D. I got it for $80 refurbished. I get wifi printing with my phone through cups on my attached computer. You do need to install the ppd files from brother for optimal performance iirc.

  • Onno (VK6FLAB)@lemmy.radio
    11·
    3 months ago

    I’ve run my business for over 25 years, and I haven’t had a printer in over two decades. I have needed to print something less than half a dozen times since making the decision to not replace it. Instead I print to PDF and if I need actual physical paper, I’ve put a PDF on a USB flash drive and taken it to my local office supplies store to print on demand.

    I have a scanner, it’s been used perhaps a dozen times in the same period.

    In other words, have you considered not buying a printer?