this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2026
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OK, smartass, then explain how you hand-deliver an email
An entire generation is unaware that printers exist.
OK, I asked for that.
FYI, I’m Gen X, so like everyone else, I haven’t had to deal with printers in a long time.
But, fucking hell, what a pain in the ass they always were.
I just bought a refurbished laser printer, easier to deal with than ink jet, highly recommend. Just sucks for pictures.
There were, in the many past decades, a few printers here and there that were actually pretty decent to work with. Black-and-white HP laser printers from the late 90s through to the late 00s were actually pretty super.
And, really, past then, it’s not like printers have gotten any better. They may add more functions, but it cost you have easily learned it isn’t worth paying. So, for the basics, that area of printers between the 90s and the early 00s is your target. The trick is to get them to continue working on modern computers.
Again, this is where Linux is your friend
Ironically, because Linux was always the single target OS (family) on which these printers would “never” ever work.
lol
i'm using my hp laserjet 1018 to this day! Absolutely timeless piece of machinery that is, even though it requires a little voodoo magic every time i plug it into my linux pc
Also Gen X. I deal with printers all the time. Still use my checkbook, too.
Printers never gave me as much trouble as other people report - but then, I stick to good brands, or at least brands I know; I spent several years writing printer drivers for a specific OEM, so I've been familiar enough with their inner workings that I've had little trouble dealing with them.
The good old xerox switcheroo.
Yeah, just like the rest of us. Lol.
I highly recommend it
I’m currently dipping my toes into writing gnome extensions, so I’m no stranger to tormenting myself needlessly, lol
But writing printer drivers? That’s just creating your own hell.
No way. My drivers just worked. Graceful error handling, full resume functionality, hand-crafted color profiles.
It helps when you have full control over the OS framework as well.
I have a brother laser printer. I normally love the thing, but yesterday it printed out two separate documents on the same sheet of paper (front/back). One was a document that refused to print a few days ago. I still have no idea how TF that happened
- former SWE
Most impressive.
It knew you were retired. Never let them have that advantage. Fear will keep them in line.
Oh, God...
By the turn of the 10s decade I still had people print emails and reach me before Outlook had a chance to show the new email alert.