a printer that works?
why I love my HP-1102w
I had the opportunity in college to work at the prestigious store known as “Office Depot.” It was a fine retail job that paid the bills through school, but of all the things I did at that store, selling printers was my favorite.
Over my two years there we never had a lot in stock due to COVID-19-related circumstances, so I had to get good at selling what we did have. Yet, on the blessed days we had a basic laser printer, I sold it first. And, of all the printers I sold those never came back.
Around that time, I acquired an ancient laser printer from a family member. More specifically, an HP 1102w Black and White Laser Printer. It was about half full of toner – which is the powder that gets fused to the paper – and had a power cable.
It’s a pretty simple machine. It doesn’t copy. It doesn’t scan. It just prints one-sided pieces of paper. So, how does this simple piece of tech make life better?
The Verge wrote an article that gets widely circulated each year recommending a generic Brother Laser printer as the best option for the average person. And I couldn’t agree more. Here’s why I think they’re right based on my experience of using a laser printer.
it’s a tank.
I learned when stocking the shelves at Office Depot that laser printers are HEAVY. 2-3x heavier than your average inkjet. This is due to a more durable frame and typical office applications. They are not a pretty machine. Mine is industrial and office-worthy, not a living room statement piece.
Further, I’ve moved across the country (twice) with this machine, and it hasn’t broken. Hot cars, deep storage, and anything in between. I simply plugged it in and printed it when I needed it. No issue.
it’s efficient.
If you’ve ever used an inkjet printer you know the experience of buying a new cartridge of at least one color every time you want to print. Laser printers, unlike other methods, are very efficient in terms of print per cartridge. And they don’t suffer from the drying out of ink or the temperamental nature of being moved around (a common rule for inkjet printers is to not flip them upside down).
Let me illustrate it this way. The toner cartridge I got with this printer was half empty on arrival. That was 4 years ago, and I printed something on it last night for the first time in months. Granted, I’m in desperate need of replacing it. The downside of toner is that the cartridges are a little pricey. It’ll be between $60-$80 to replace mine, so I’m waiting as long as possible.
it's simple.
This is both a pro and a con. I’ve found its simplicity to be a draw for me. However, many see this as a limitation.
A lot of people want to be able to print in color. Which in some cases is great! However, after using a B&W printer for four years, it’s been rare that I’ve needed to do that.
Some need to copy and or scan documents. This is a super legitimate concern, but one that is becoming increasingly dated. With smartphone cameras as good as they are and AI breaking into every corner of the tech world, scanning is about to be as good, if not better than device scanning.
Unless you have a whole bundle of papers, that still sucks, and you need a good machine for that.
Everybody wants a user-friendly machine. My printer is many things, but it is not that. Downloading HP drivers, accessing HTML portals to set up networking, and having the patience to do those things are definite barriers to entry.
a note on inkjet.
They do have their place. If you print photos or need high-resolution, it’s the better choice. Just make sure you’re printing at least once a week. Another instance is for high-yield applications. Many inkjets have become very efficient. Brother’s INKvestment and Epson Eco-Tank are some of the top contenders.
conclusion
Imagine a world where Google made a printer as beautiful as their Nest lineup. Something lovely that sits next to their WIFI and thermostat options. What about Apple? Imagine the ways a printer that just works would fit in the eco-system!
The world is becoming increasingly digital, but paper will always be a part of our lives, so why not have quality machines to print with?
Yet, in the meantime… I’ll continue to use my HP 1102w to print single-sided, black-and-white prints of whatever I need.