Canon printer hacked to run Doom (opens in new tab)

Do the solution links work for you? I've never seen a link that doesn't return "Not Found".

> completely unnecessary

I'm not so sure about that - it's sure to help get the point across to the technically less savvy. Also, it got the BBC to devote an article to the subject that it otherwise probably wouldn't have.

My next printer will be a 24 pin, wide carriage dot matrix with a tractor feed. Though it seems counterproductive to use a high duty cycle device for the small amount of printing I do, truth is that the racket of an impact printer is a small tradeoff.

It used to be that inkjet would print black with an empty color cartridge. Now, printing something may take hours or days until I get to the store to buy a Yellow...nevermind if I order from Amazon. An impact printer just prints lighter as ink is depleted.

Printing should just work. It doesn't any more. I miss my Star Micronics NX80.

I don't even know what they clean? What would a printer need to clean and how would a printer clean itself without actually printing anything.

I have a Brother HL-2270DW for the rare printing that I do need to do at home. Has been great so far.

This probably isn't quite in the spirit of what you're asking, but I like old laser printers. You can get an HP LaserJet 4m for less than $75 just about anywhere, the toner cartridges are less than $50 and will probably outlast any basic needs you have, and if it has any problems it's easy enough to clean and replacement rubber rollers can be purchased cheaply. The service manual is even freely available and it describes the device's theory of operation. Cool!

Older laser printers with network support is what I prefer. No drivers, just point postscript at its IP address and go. Some have weird gotchas on Linux, so try for older HPs. Don't mind their age, they're built to last and 2D printing technology hasn't changed much in years.

Bought an HP DeskJet 2540 for £39 for home. Has WiFi, colour, a scanner and just works over the LAN without any effort so is probably the opposite to what you desire.

However I've lost count of the number of times the scanner/copier has been useful even though I didn't want that bit to start with and the WiFi actually makes it easier to use. No more finding that USB cable.

It's the peak of value to be honest and a worthy trade off.

Just saw this http://deals.kinja.com/this-wireless-laser-printer-will-make... Not trying to promote anybody, just read the comments. There are some people happy. I've rarely associated happiness and printers.

Apple LaserWriter 16/600 PS (1994)

Got it on eBay for 1 Euro. Eats standard HP LaserJet cartridges that you can find on eBay for just a few bucks.

I use Samsung's ML-2851MD, an inexpensive black and white laser: http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/ML-2851ND

Pros: fast, reliable, inexpensive to operate (I've had it for 4 years and have yet to need to buy a new toner cartridge), speaks PCL & PostScript out of the box so it works fine on Linux without any vendor-specific software, includes an Ethernet port so I can plug it into my home network, supports duplex printing (printing on front and back of a sheet of paper).

Cons: can't print in color. Really, that's about it.

I don't think this particular model is still for sale, but this $199 model from their current lineup looks like the modern equivalent: http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/printers/SL-M3320ND/XAA

Whenever I have a question like this I turn to The Wirecutter, they usually deliver.

http://thewirecutter.com/leaderboard/printers-2/

It's been mentioned, but the Brother HL-2270DW. Only printer I've ever felt the need to evangelize. Auto duplex, very fast, wifi, unobtrusive. It just works.