Transcript
A piece of paper on an old printer (a laserjet 4050 to be specific. It says: "Hello, My name is LaserJet 4050 and I was made in 1999. I’ve been doing my job printing your documents for many many years, however I think the motor that powers my paper feeder is bad. This makes me sad because I’m not able to do my job very reliably. As such, I am formally presenting this document as a letter of resignation. IT is working on finding a replacement for me, but for the time being, I apologize if I tell you I have a paper jam. Please allow me to refer you to my coworker, LaserJet 3390. 3390 resides outside of Ray’s office and can be reached at: Please accept my sincerest apologies for failing. Thank you for replacing my toner and restocking my paper tray. It’s been a wonderful 14 years of working together. Much love, LaserJet 4050
That era when HP made unkillable printers. Boss made me chunk a couple of these (think they were 4020s?). "But all they need is a $30 kit! Be like new for 10-20 thousand more pages!"
Drivers? ANY version of Linux or Windows would run 'em. Got a JetDirect card? ($15 on eBay.) Unscrew 2 screws, shove it in, turn it on. Boom. You got a network printer. I deployed Linux Lite in a kiosk for people to apply for jobs. Printed flawlessly, no downloads, and I sucked (still do) at Linux.
Anyone remember the LaserJet III, IV and Vs!? Does it power on? It works. Little jammy? Get a belt kit that any idiot, even me, can install.
Had a 36" 630c (model?) that was a fucking beast. Left it at my last job, didn't want to tote it home and get new cartridges. The belts looked like tires popping steel threads. Still worked. Again, on any OS. That machine was top-of-line for Windows 3.11 for Workgroups, was still flying high on Win10 with OS native drivers.
Got a P1102w work gave me 7-years ago. Beastly. Never had to fuck with parts, $20 toner cartridges still available.
15-years old, rocks out. Win10 had me wrestling with drivers for a brief period, updates cured it. Win11 runs it fine. And does wireless, if you're a barbarian.
End of a fucking era. The world has been stolen from you my young friends! STOLEN!
my boss tossed a 4mp because 'it was noisy'. Took it home, cleaned the belts, then continued to use it for 12 years before replacing it with a brother color laser.
Man HP used to make awesome shit. Damned shame what they became.