zlacker

Here is a business idea: the printer that just works.

Requirements:

- laser printer that works with non-proprietary toners

- USB plug & play on all major operating systems

- Network printing via WiFi and ethernet

- No 2GB bloatware installation required, i dont want your shitty photo management software, just give me the driver

- Replaceable parts

>>sparkl+(OP)
Brother is probably your best bet.

>>sparkl+(OP)
I bought an HP3600N about 15 years ago for something like $700. I’m not 100% sure if it has USB because it hangs off my network (which then Ubiquiti devices provide WiFi). It’s worked reliably and 3rd party toner is readily available and works well. If a major component wore out or failed, it would probably be cheaper to replace the unit than the part, but parts are technically available. I’ve had an excellent networked color laser at home for around $75/yr including toner.

>>sparkl+(OP)
Buy any Brother printer and use the generic Linux driver. Done.

Well, perhaps not the "replaceable parts", but that is doable with a 3D printer. I doubt Brother would come after you for printing a new output tray hinge or custom-colour button set ... and I doubt any other parts are likely to outright 'break' (my laser printers of various brands have lasted around two decades each). Any other parts, such as the image drum, would require too specialized fabrication to be done at home or at the local fab lab.

>>minot+z3
Pick a Brother that has all of the following features:

BR/Script (their PostScript emulation)

ethernet

duplex

And you will be fairly happy. If any of those are missing, you're buying an inferior line.

>>sokolo+M4
Yep, older printers are the best bet. I have an old laser that simply just works (it's connected with a parallell cable, though). Consumables are readily available, and many, many older printers support ESC/P and works with any operating system newer than Amiga OS 2.0.

>>dsr_+V8
Thanks, i'll look into it.

I currently have a Samsung laser toner (M2026W). I bought it because its farily compact and blends in to my little home office corner in the living room. The duplex machines tend to be a bit larger, a pitty.

Printing - when it works - is pretty good, just the WiFi is extremly unreliable and i end up having to re-configure the WiFi from scratch by connecting via USB and using some proprietary Samsung bloatware. Horrible.

>>sparkl+Ke
> just the WiFi is extremly unreliable

do you have an option to use an Ethernet cable?