• @CitizenKong
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    1236 months ago

    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]
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      446 months ago

      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.

      • @deleted
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        216 months ago

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

        • @[email protected]
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          166 months ago

          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.

          • @cybervseas
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            126 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.

        • @WantsToPetYourKitty
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          66 months ago

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

        • @LifeInOregon
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          26 months ago

          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.

        • @cybervseas
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          06 months ago

          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]
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              46 months ago

              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]
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        16 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.

    • Romkslrqusz
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      176 months ago

      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]
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        226 months ago

        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]
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          106 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.

      • @miketunes
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        26 months ago

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