• Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Quite honestly, back in the 90s I thought it was essential to have a printer. Back then I used to buy a binder, and a bunch of those plastic paper holding sleeves. And I’d print out entire gamefaqs which were sometimes 300 pages.

      Then ink started to get expensive. So I stopped. Then now these new printers have DRM. So I just never bought a printer since the 90s.

      And I feel I’m not alone. I bet there are millions of people who would be printer customers if printer ink weren’t the most artificially expensive substance on the planet.

      If I could go out and buy a printer replacement ink pack for $5.00 and have it last a few months, I’d just buy them regularly. Instead I haven’t paid one dime in close to 25 years. Gee, guess that financial decision paid off for them…

          • SoleInvictus
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            2 months ago

            If you’re extra lucky, it’ll still be running on the original included demo toner cartridge.

            • Landless2029@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              I have a brother multifuction laser. From a thrift store. 6 years so far on a 3rd party XL toner…

              I’ve spent more on paper than the printer+toner

      • noughtnaut@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I went directly from a dot matrix (ImageWriter II ftw!) to a laser. Except for photo prints, I find it immensely practical to be able to print stuff at home.

      • dandu3@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Nowadays you have tank printers. They’re more expensive upfront but the ink is much cheaper. It’s even cheaper if you go for aftermarket ink. I have an Epson and it’s great. Don’t think I’ll go with the cheap ink however, I just don’t use it that much to justify the savings