this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2023
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[–] [email protected] 123 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Which is a terrible app. I made the mistake of buying a HP printer and that app crashes more than it works (and the printer doesn't work without it, of course).

[–] [email protected] 44 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Wait, you have to have an app to print? On Windows? Can't you just install the driver and print using the Windows print interface? I understand that they have software that might have extra features, but basic printing should only require a driver, at most.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Epson is doing the same. I’m not sure if you can get scanner full features to work without their app.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Maybe not all the features, but basic scanning should work with just a driver. I have a Brother Multi-function that works on Mac OS without Brother software. I think I recall Windows having a scanner interface built-in.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago

Yes windows does but I reach for my work Mac when I need to scan because Apple did it much better than Microsoft in this case. It's much more reliable.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

So there's no way for Linux cups drivers to run these printers. Another reason to pass on them!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That seems crazy to me. Is it a Windows exclusive thing, or is it something they’re rolling out everywhere? I have an Epson printer, only about a year old, and on macOS I don’t have any issues printing or scanning without any Epson software installed on my system. It did pull down drivers when discovering the printer on my network, and I can’t see any features that it would have that I don’t get aside from the “email to print” stuff that I’ve never needed or wanted to use.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Linux is fine too I think. Mostly thanks to the CUPS printing driver

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Makes sense, mac os uses cups so if it works on Mac's it ought to work on linux

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

If it's a scanner too, you can't use half of it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

There are scanner drivers that allow units to work with the built in scanner app. My brother printer did that. No special app need for printing or scanning.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, but for hp I'm pretty sure you need an app

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I have no “app” and my HP Laserjet works great and scanning is perfectly functional.

There’s basic driver software, but it’s not some clunky bullshit app thing.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Huh, on my model I have to use the hp scan app, otherwise, no dice

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Maybe try NAPS2. It saved me a few times, even when the HP apps couldn't do it

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Thanks, I will

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Pretty sure you can just use the drivers. You certainly can on my HP printer.

Yeah, the highlighted download on the website will be HP Smart And All It's Infernal Bullshit, but if you're in the habit of reading and not just clicking next, next, next then usually there's a basic driver to do what you want.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Most of HP’s printers have a “Basic Print and Scan Driver” that is listed as “For IT Professional use only” on their support page. I fear the day where HP Smart is the only option.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Try it.

On USB with the basic driver specifically, modern HP printers will let you use the device for exactly 10 print jobs before it locks all functionality and demands that the unit be connected to the network and an HP account registered.

Do not buy them. Find a brother instead.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

Wasn't that on Wifi-only devices, where the USB was still there for mass production cost saving reasons?

But yeah, don't buy HP; message received years ago already.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

My m404 seems to have been immune to this problem.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

404: this problem not found

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

I pretty sure it is the only option for some models now.