Hacker News Reader

Comment by tluyben2 | Hacker News Reader

With covid, at least where I live, they sped up paperless (and cashless). Before covid I had to print something to sign (usually for my companies or gov) about once a year, now that is digital. I (and my companies) haven’t had printers for over 10 years now; if printing was needed, we had it done at a shop; now that is not needed anymore either.

In short; my bubble or why is anyone still using printers? I know some countries still use printers; like HK where you have to send everything business or gov on paper still. I am rather for paperless as it makes things environmentally better and so much easier (sending envelops is a real pita if you don’t live in a city; last one I sent took 6 weeks to arrive in HK).

View on HN

I have kids at home since the pandemic, my printing went from minimal to a lot, that means lots of worksheets for home schooling activity. Things for them to color, practice their writing, trace, etc.

Decorative and entertainment applications still need paper, digital completely breaks immersion in things like LARPing, and there's all kinds of crafts that need them.

Plus, we still need them for labeling and making high detail front panels at home.

Other than that, I'm all for completely going all paperless, it's often months in between the times I actually use a pen, and I'm usually rather annoyed if anyone tries to send physical paperwork in 2022.

Unfortunately every reason I'd print something requires color, so inkjet is pretty much the only option.

>In short; my bubble or why is anyone still using printers?

I echo what segmondy said about school printables: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30710791

And what HWR_14 said about meetings: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30710950

Or eternityforest about decorations: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30709741

Personally, I also use printouts for marking-up notes in classes I'm taking, or for signing things that can't be signed electronically

And I print handouts for classes I teach - enabling everyone present to follow-along and take them home for further review (if they so choose)

Nothing is true if it's not on a piece of paper in Germanys Healthcare System ;) We sadly print through multiple sliced trees in a year. Can't wait for the whole system to be digitalized. There's so much work that could be automated if nobody needs to carry paper around.

Ah! Anecdote; a friend of mine had an issue in Dresden for which they needed his Dutch health records; the Dutch public clinic sent an ambulance with 2 drivers to Dresden to deliver them on a cd. And then left again. The German doctors were absolutely flabbergasted how backward NL was in that regard. They said why don’t they just email an encrypted version? Not allowed. Summer of 2020.

Printed documents are great for quick dissemination and notes of handouts in meetings.

I barely use my printer, but here's some anecdotal evidence of why I still have one:

- I printed out my COVID vaccine certificates and lateral flow test proof to get entry to a club, because it's in an area of the city with poor mobile reception and I wanted to make sure I could get in without any faff

- I printed out my D&D DM notes because having six sheets of paper spread out in front of you is like having three extra monitors (on top of the laptop and tablet I was already using)

- I printed out my teaching notes for a series of drumming workshops, because the workshop venue is underground and has no reception, plus it's easier to read notes in big print while you're teaching instead of having to squint at a screen. I also printed a stack of individual handouts (simple sheet music for what they'd be playing) for attendees.

- I printed out a form to sign for my financial advisor, who doesn't seem to use digital signing

- My partner printed out a sign to stick up behind him at an event

Honestly I could probably get by just using my office laser printer, but it's very convenient having one at home.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com