Why do HP printers suck so bad lol

[DRPCNZ]

The biggest issue with HP printers in Aus is ink/toner prices. They've been rising about 10% every 6 months for the last 7-8 years! OfficeJet Pro and Laserjet consumables used to be a good price per page when I recommended the printers, now not so much.

Likewise NZ

 

[John Kennedy]

The start of HPSmart instead of dedicated drivers for each printer has been the doom of HP printers for me. Even before that when certain drivers just wouldn't install properly on servers (looking at you various inkjet printers and the P1600 line of pritners), things were starting to go bad. I tell everyone that will listen to avoid buying ANYTHING consumer-grade from HP. Their laptops die easily and the hardware in them is garbage.

I recommend Brother brand for basically anything for small businesses these days. They don't usually need enterprise-grade stuff like a Ricoh, and the Brother stuff always has good drivers. The color laserjets are still a bit iffy, but the B&W laser and color inkjet models work like champs.

 

[frase]

It is frustrating enough with so called "HPStupid" via HP for techs let alone consumers. For me personally it is only Brother for me, Epson are just as bad of recent times.

Just look at the recent CES, a load of AI loaded crap!

Seriously who wants a voice activated fridge with touchscreen and no handle as Samsung displayed?
I just want something to do one job not include more variables for issues.

Open fridge...processing...DNS ERROR!
"I'm sorry Frase, I'm afraid I can't do that"

 

[britechguy]

I've had all I can take of the IoT. I don't want any major appliance that's "web connected." There are a few odd items that might be nice, like a thermostat that can be adjusted remotely, at a stretch perhaps a lamp or two. But a stove, fridge, washer, dryer, oven - hell to the no!

I am so tickled with the recent purchase of my Magic Chef convection oven, controlled entirely by dials, and where the only "digital electronic" thing is the clock/timer. And it took me a while to find it, too. Even my induction cooktop requires my presence in the room to operate it, which is exactly what I want. The only automated part of it is that it will automatically turn off any burner that has not been adjusted in any way for 1 hour. If you just adjust up/down again if something has to keep cooking, that's it.

 

[ThatPlace928]

There are a few odd items that might be nice, like a thermostat that can be adjusted remotely, at a stretch perhaps a lamp or two.

My son uses Google Nest to set his t-stat. He turns a/c on in Summer before he gets to his shop. Then, if he doesn't plan to be in the shop for awhile, or forgets to turn the a/c off, he can remotely shut it off, as well. He has his Open signs also remotely turn off and on. Not sure if those are Google Nest or something else.

 

[xrobwx71]

My son uses Google Nest to set his t-stat. He turns a/c on in Summer before he gets to his shop. Then, if he doesn't plan to be in the shop for awhile, or forgets to turn the a/c off, he can remotely shut it off, as well. He has his Open signs also remotely turn off and on. Not sure if those are Google Nest or something else.

I use the Nest at home and work. If you fiddle with it for a bit, set schedules, utilize the "Airflow" (moving air without using the AC compressor) feature, it will save you money.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I use Honeywell's T10 thermostat for my HVAC... and it's on my IoT wireless. Yes, it has Internet access... and I have it specifically because it gets stupid hot here in Phoenix and the ability to remotely monitor the house matters. I still hate it... but I use it.

We had to get a new oven recently, and that meant a Samsung... which does everything we need... and... while it has an app...and it too is a wifi device... it also has a feature to DISABLE THE WIFI... which I have done.

 

[Choppie]

is it only me? I would never buy anything HP, the worst of the worst.

The HP Laser Jet series II was the LAST HP PRODUCT I ever bought, back in the early 1990s! Their printers, laptops and computers going forward were all progressively designed with the cheapest part's possible...... The 5000 and 9000 series laptops were the LAST STRAW....

 

[Choppie]

Is there consensus on a good/best home inkjet printer maker/models? I've seen Brother probably mentioned the most but Epson and Canon are out there also with some nice stuff. I see the return of the cheap inkjet is back again. $39/$49/$59 printers are out there on Amazon. Printers we all would avoid like the plague are being bought by those that only look at price.

I had several clients, like about 8, all needing printers, I started setting them up with one of the Canon ink jet printers which all had scanners, all the same model. Can't remember the model but this was about 10 years ago. One day, all the clients with that same model started calling me... Printer prints but all the colors are messed up....and there is nonsense that they are printing..... I spent an hour PLAYING with updates and removing and replacing drivers only to realize I was a FOOL thinking I was going to win. 6 Printers all on the same weekend had the same problem.... Think about that...

 

[fincoder]

Their printers, laptops and computers going forward were all progressively designed with the cheapest part's possible

[regarding HP] Even their Elite and Z ranges? I think not. I've also supplied lots of their ProBooks and ProDesks to residential and micro business and all have been rock-solid (only 1 or 2 needed warranty which is excellent in my region). I also sell plenty of refurbished business HP computers, just as good as Dell Latitude/Optiplex and Lenovo Think products.

 

[lan101]

[regarding HP] Even their Elite and Z ranges? I think not. I've also supplied lots of their ProBooks and ProDesks to residential and micro business and all have been rock-solid (only 1 or 2 needed warranty which is excellent in my region). I also sell plenty of refurbished business HP computers, just as good as Dell Latitude/Optiplex and Lenovo Think products.

Yeah I feel the business lineup is still respectable but the consumer line of everything is complete garbage. A lot of people just got used to printers being cheap and working for a long time but those days are definitely over. Even a lot of small businesses could get by with those Hp officejet series...like the officejet pro 8600...that was pretty decent from like 10-15 years back or so but all the newer officejet pro's are complete crap compared to that one.

 

[lan101]

The HP Laser Jet series II was the LAST HP PRODUCT I ever bought, back in the early 1990s! Their printers, laptops and computers going forward were all progressively designed with the cheapest part's possible...... The 5000 and 9000 series laptops were the LAST STRAW....

Seems like any printer from that era was built like a tank compared to anything now lol. Everything built today in general just sucks. Doesn't matter if it's computer related, appliances, cars etc. All the car guys on youtube say anything after like 2010 isn't as good. You'll get slightly varying opinions of course but that's kinda the general time frame of everything getting worse...at least with cars.

Just think if we could have our modern conveniences mixed with quality builds...man life would be grand.

 

[ThatPlace928]

Just think if we could have our modern conveniences mixed with quality builds...man life would be grand.

And far more expensive....... lol. But not having to replace a printer every 6 months to a year is worth it. I'm still using my LaserJet P1006 after almost 20 years and it never gives me a problem. I do happen to have another one in a box, still brand new, used 1 time. I bought it on my way to a job, when I realized I'd forgotten to pack mine. So it's been sitting here all these years, in case the one I use every day breaks down. Hasn't happened yet.....

 

[britechguy]

Well, there are business class printers just as there are business class laptops.

Most businesses I know aren't replacing their printers annually or anything close to it.