Title, basically. My old torture device needs to be replaced, and while it’s been mostly working OK, printers have no excuse for being as shitty as they are. So therefore I am looking for suggestions.
Specs:
- Must include a flatbed scanner
- prints in color
- Wifi connection preferred
- No PaaS or IaaS bullshit
- No driver weirdness. I’m going to use it on linux.
- Available “anywhere”.
- Ability to sit powered and connected in my HarryPotteresque “server room” under the stairs for ages, unattended, and work without hazzle when I send it the bimonthly print job.
I know the geek community likes Brother. Any particular model?
For reference, this new printer will replace my aging Canon Pixma 4250.
Make sure its a laser
I second this. If you’re only printing occasionally, ink tends to dry out, while toner will still be good.
I bought my black and white brother laser printer in 2018. I’m still using the same printer and the sample toner it came with in 2024. Literally zero issues ever, still prints fantastically. I just send it a print job once every 3-4 months and get a paper out of it with no fuss.
My 1997 black-and-white Lexmark died last summer. Yes, 1997.
I’ve been using the same Brother MFC from the late 2009. The toner is from at least 2013 as that is when my ex left it behind. It still works wonders for the 10 pages or so I print a year.
Yup, I noticed. Like I mentioned, I don’t print very often, so ink/toner lifetime is definitely a factor.
This. Make sure it’s a laser, and I from what I hear, never an HP (and I say that as an HP diehard).