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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I know why but I still can’t help but ask “why can’t we just use a USB chord or bluetooth signal?” It’s not that hard.
Say what you want about Apple but this whole printer driver nonsense that we’ve dealt with was solved like 20 years ago. I remember in college just plugging printers into my computer, apple prompting “do you want to download the drivers for this?” I confirmed the model in front of me (95% of the time it was the one detected) and within 10 seconds, I was up and running printing documents.
You can also configure an IP printer port to print to a network device. And for HP, you can use the universal driver, which comes standalone (if you’re not able to tank the driver files out of wherever the software installer puts them). You’ll probably miss out on some of the multifunction features, but you’ll be able to print.
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).
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.
Epson is doing the same. I’m not sure if you can get scanner full features to work without their app.
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.
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.
So there’s no way for Linux cups drivers to run these printers. Another reason to pass on them!
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.
Linux is fine too I think. Mostly thanks to the CUPS printing driver
Makes sense, mac os uses cups so if it works on Mac’s it ought to work on linux
If it’s a scanner too, you can’t use half of it.
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.
Yeah, but for hp I’m pretty sure you need an app
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.
Huh, on my model I have to use the hp scan app, otherwise, no dice
Maybe try NAPS2. It saved me a few times, even when the HP apps couldn’t do it
Thanks, I will
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.
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.
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.
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.
My m404 seems to have been immune to this problem.
404: this problem not found
I pretty sure it is the only option for some models now.
I know why but I still can’t help but ask “why can’t we just use a USB chord or bluetooth signal?” It’s not that hard.
Say what you want about Apple but this whole printer driver nonsense that we’ve dealt with was solved like 20 years ago. I remember in college just plugging printers into my computer, apple prompting “do you want to download the drivers for this?” I confirmed the model in front of me (95% of the time it was the one detected) and within 10 seconds, I was up and running printing documents.
You can also configure an IP printer port to print to a network device. And for HP, you can use the universal driver, which comes standalone (if you’re not able to tank the driver files out of wherever the software installer puts them). You’ll probably miss out on some of the multifunction features, but you’ll be able to print.
I’m honestly just so grateful that I now have a job where I don’t touch a printer for probably 12 to 18 months at a time
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