I’ll start: printers.

I bought an HP in March 2020 when my job went remote and HP bricked it remotely after only 100 pages because I wouldn’t sign up for their subscription program. Ended up trashing a perfectly good printer.

Luckily my library’s close by and I can print there remotely.

    • HerbGrower@slrpnk.net
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      19 hours ago

      I was a school aged kid once. What do they need printers for? Surely they have even less use now too.

        • HerbGrower@slrpnk.net
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          12 hours ago

          Why would you print that? We always just did it off the screen and would write on paper. So paper and pen for answers, screen for questions.

          • bitjunkie@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            10 hours ago

            Because that’s what they do in class and for homework, and my daughter has ADHD and probable autism so changing from what she’s used to can lead to meltdowns. I agree it’s not entirely necessary, and we are planning to try to wean her off of the dead tree editions soon. (I’m in the process of setting up a Linux laptop for her with some educational programs etc)

      • zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        15 hours ago

        I have school aged kids, they still need them for some assignments, though admittedly less than before as they can turn in much of their work electronically. We end up using our printer (locked down Brother laser printer) for things that technically can be done without printing, but require using privacy destroying smart phone apps. Sadly, a lot of places are removing the ability to not use apps and it is becoming a huge issue as my phone quite literally cannot use their bullshit apps.

        • HerbGrower@slrpnk.net
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          14 hours ago

          What kind of things need apps? I don’t have any, running calyx and don’t even have google services

          • zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            12 hours ago

            Just a few of examples that have bit me and made me angry:

            • concerts at most venues are now “mobile only” and require a Gapps or ios app to gain entry
            • parking in a few municipalities requires an app, there are no manual pay stations
            • some restaurants switched to having QR codes at tables and you ordered through some web interface instead of having a server. This didn’t work on my phone at the time, but calyx might be fine (this one isn’t an app, but it feels related so I am including it)
            • HerbGrower@slrpnk.net
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              12 hours ago

              Tbh I don’t go to concerts or car parks. Been to pubs that do online orders but they always also take orders at the bar.