For decades, the relationship between humans and printers has been defined by frustration. That iconic scene fromOffice Spaceresonates so deeply because it perfectly captures a universal truth: printers are, overwhelmingly, terrible. They jam, they run out of ink at the worst possible moment, and their software feels like a relic from a bygone era.
We’ve all been there – desperately needing a document printed for work or school, only to be met with blinking error lights and a machine seemingly determined to sabotage our efforts. The setup process alone can be a trial, a labyrinth of drivers, clunky interfaces, and endless troubleshooting. It’s a uniquely infuriating experience.
But what if that could change? What if a printer actually… worked? Surprisingly, I discovered one that comes close: the HP LaserJet M110w Wireless Black & White Printer. This was a revelation, considering HP’s historically spotty reputation in the printer world.
My biggest printer complaints stem from a consistent pattern of failure. It’s the printer that decides to jam right before a deadline, the one that runs dry on ink mid-print, or mysteriously refuses to connect to the Wi-Fi network. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re the norm.
Even navigating the printer’s on-device controls can be an exercise in patience. Slow, unresponsive screens and endless sub-menus transform a simple task into a frustrating ordeal. And then there’s the phantom printing – the printer claims to be working, but nothing appears. Canceling the job often results in a complete system freeze, requiring a full reboot.
Ironically, the annoyance is amplified by how infrequently we actually *need* to print. With the rise of e-signatures and digital document editing, printing has become a sporadic necessity. This makes each encounter with a malfunctioning printer even more aggravating.
After years of battling frustrating printers, I’ve finally found one I don’t actively despise. The HP LaserJet M110w has been a surprisingly pleasant experience. It connects quickly, starts up without fuss, and simply… works. In today’s world, that feels like a genuine accomplishment.
The key to this printer’s success lies in its simplicity. It’s a monochrome printer, focusing solely on black-and-white printing. There’s no scanner, no fax machine, no color printing, and no support for glossy paper. It’s a focused tool, designed to do one thing well.
Furthermore, it utilizes toner instead of ink. Toner doesn’t dry out or clog print heads, and it’s significantly more cost-effective. The resulting prints are fast, precise, and smudge-resistant. This printer also feels like a step forward in user experience, a refreshing change from the clunky designs of the past.
Even the setup process was surprisingly painless. HP’s app-based setup was a vast improvement over previous experiences, which involved navigating a frustrating on-screen keyboard with only three buttons. Within 20 minutes, I was printing without issue.
Ultimately, all I ask of a printer is reliability. I need it to work when I need it, and to stay out of my way the rest of the time. I don’t want frustration or delays. The HP LaserJet M110w delivers on this simple promise.
The shift in what we need from a printer has made this simplicity possible. High-quality photo printing services have eliminated the need for home photo labs. Smartphones have replaced scanners. And advanced PDF editing software has made e-signatures commonplace. A printer that simply prints is now perfectly adequate.
After months of use, the HP LaserJet M110w has remained remarkably reliable, printing over 50 pages without a single issue. And when the time comes to replace the toner cartridge, it will cost only $50 – a fraction of what I’ve spent on ink cartridges that dried up before I could use them. I might even… like this printer.
Dear printer, please don’t change. Continue to provide hassle-free printing for a few more years, and I promise to give you a peaceful retirement, rather than resorting to drastic measures.
