this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2025
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The more I hear from big tech companies the more I want to reject it. I don't even own a printer.
Go for older laser printers. They’re bulletproof, cheap on toner, free of DRM, and even if they only come with an LPT port you can always build your own print server that gives you all the bells and whistles like AirPrint.
Can confirm. I’m a tech worker. No smart devices. Laser printer. Very close to going back to a flip phone.
I am looking at some smart locks, but they’re able to be used as dumb locks with PIN code and physical key also. And they have a usb power port on the outside you could plug a battery into.
I’ve gone down the smart home route a decade ago and only did non-cloud integrated devices with physical controls also. But it’s a part time hobby to maintain it.
Until someone with a flipper figures out that port transfers data too, lmao.
Ha yeah. I would absolutely confirm there is no data connection
Almost all such phones are actually smart phones in a flip phone Edgar Suit. Especially if it has maps or YouTube or any kind of an App Store. I see a crapton of flip phones that run Android, which has all sorts of Google spyware piggybacking along.
I think there may be only two or three dumb flip phones or feature flip phones left on the market, and IIRC two are locked to specific networks.
If you want a bona-fide dumb phone, you might be limited to something like the rotary un-smartphone.
I had a Sharp SH-03L for a while, it's a business version of one of their flip phones that didn't even have a camera.
The OS was actually android 8.0 but really stripped down to basically only do the whatever apps a flip phone has.
I was able to sideload apks through ADB, but ironically, I actually wanted the google stuff to work since a lot of the apps required it to log in and other things.
The thing was pretty cheap though, paid like $15 for it
Go check in Aliexpress: there are tons of non-smart phones, especially the stuff marked as "senior phone", and they're pretty cheap too (like $15 for a mobile phone that just does calls and SMS).
If you want the stuff that's not glitzy and heavy on marketing you need to get it from where the factories are, not were the brands are - basic mobile phone tech is a thoroughly solved problem and highly integrated nowadays and well within range for even smallish electronics manufacturers to design themselves.
Also check HMD, the Finnish mobile maker who bought Nokia's mobile business, who also have several non-smart models (including old Nokia models).
Edit: ~~No idea if any are flip-phones though.~~ Here's an example flip phone
Bulletproof? Sounds dangerous. What do I do if it makes a weird noise?
Keep a cannon by the canon.
...why? CUPS is print server. You don't need anything else.
He's talking about the hardware and you're talking about the software.
Why would I get a laser printer? I don't want a printer.
Because it shoots lasers
Because they are like two fifty on the flea market and will run on one cartridge for 10 years. I print all my tickets everytime, I’m that old
How else will I print out MapQuest directions?
literally so you can leave it unplugged in a box, and drag it out once a year to print a tax form or something. Toner should be shelf stable.
You guys have to print out tax forms?
I have a 70+ year old friend that paper files. She doesn't trust the free file places available here (USA). I don't blame her.
Ysk - You can order the forms for free on the IRS (& state) websites.
I print things for her on my 1999 laser jet if she needs something printed.
Many years I paper filed just to inconvenience them slightly for not offering free file.
I am British, most people don't need to even think about taxes here as its all automatic. Only really something you might need to look at if you are self employed or its your job to deal with it.
Yeah but if its that easy the rich people can't have armies beneath them that game the system for them so they pay nothing. Do you see how this is better for society?
No, printed just to keep a hard copy
What is the point of that?
Same as keeping a soft copy.
Tax was just as example. Maybe there's a form somebody wants signed with a pen instead of electronic, I don't know.
Anyway if you are going to get a printer, but only do a handful at any time avoid buying an inkjet
I would probably take a picture of it, but if for some reason I absolutely needed to print a copy (which I haven't in over a decade) I would just go to the library to print it.
Old habits die hard