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.
Comment on Microsoft is reportedly auto-installing the HP Smart app on Windows 10 and 11 PCs
CitizenKong@lemmy.world 7 months ago
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).
Romkslrqusz@lemm.ee 7 months ago
FrogFlogging@sh.itjust.works 7 months ago
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.
MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 7 months ago
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.
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 7 months ago
My m404 seems to have been immune to this problem.
ultra@feddit.ro 7 months ago
404: this problem not found
miketunes@lemmy.world 7 months ago
I pretty sure it is the only option for some models now.
qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.one 7 months ago
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.
WallEx@feddit.de 7 months ago
If it’s a scanner too, you can’t use half of it.
cybervseas@lemmy.world 7 months ago
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.
WallEx@feddit.de 7 months ago
Yeah, but for hp I’m pretty sure you need an app
Blackmist@feddit.uk 7 months ago
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.