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Comment by r00fus | Hacker News Reader

I’ve been using inexpensive laser (monochrome) since 2010 and haven’t had to do any of this nonsense.

Sometimes I don’t even replace the toner when it complains; I just take toner out shake it and it keeps working (a bit lighter than usual)

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A monochrome home printer isn't worth the space it takes up IMO. I don't print very often, but when I do it's colour as often as not.

Laser is great but it doesn’t solve the visiting grandma wanting to print photo album pictures.

I just use an online printing service to mail the prints. At like 50¢/ea mailed if I send a collection it'll take almost a thousand prints just to match the price of a decent photo printer. And even then most 4x6s printed at home still cost like 20¢-40¢/ea each anyways, so even after a thousand prints I'll still probably be ahead in the end. And then I also don't have to store a photo printer and it's supplies in my house.

So yeah, black and white laser multi-function and online printing services for me.

My color LaserJet photos are magazine quality. If I need better, I get them at CVS for something like eight cents

That’s not remotely worth the hassle of a colour inkjet. Just decide on the photos together and upload them to a proper photo print service for delivery to her home.

It sure is a hassle, but the grandma loves it so much it feels worth it. I gave up on HP in the past but I’m giving it another go now with an Epson eco tank. So far so good.

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