Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

NO GOOD

Paul Unger said:
the same printer with the same cable works every time with my wifes old MacBook Air.
Click to expand...

Paul, sorry you are having a problem with your new computer. You say your wife can print ok. Can you tell me when you bought your wife’s computer or it’s model name ( if you click on the Apple logo and about it will tell you the model). Your new Mac may have a fault, but I just want to check something first. Also what HP printer do you have ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr. Awesome
Paul Unger said:
Nothing normal about this weeks old new MacBook Air junk. It's so easy for you to blame the printer. My wifes MacBook Air works the same printer on the same cable every time. Trouble is some overpaid self described "genius" at Apple thinks of new complications for each new model and calls them "features." Don't buy a new MacBook Air. They are trouble.
Click to expand...

I haven't had any of the issues with my 2020 Macbook Air you have had. That would lead me to believe that the issue may not be on Apple's end, but with something unique to your setup that I do not have with mine. Yes, I use my MBA wirelessly with both an HP Inkjet and Brother laser printer, and I've had no issues printing to either printer from this machine. You also said that you wife's MBA works "the same printer ON THE SAME CABLE every time". Assuming that her MBA is an older model that still had the USB type A ports, you would need a USB C to USB adapter for your months-old MBA, which could mean that a) the adapter is faulty or b) you needed a different USB-C to USB adapter that could handle the printer. Additionally, if you never added the printer to your Mac via System Preferences, the computer is not going to know how to communicate with the device to print anything. I honestly believe that the "new complications" you keep describing are just features that you are not familiar with and may not be willing to learn about.

Your story is not a typical story told by an Apple user, so I can understand the skepticism of both your posts and motivations for making such posts that has occurred in this thread. I would also point out that if you truly "have no idea about software and I don't want to know, ever. I won't be a slave to gadgets.", then you should probably sell off all your cellphones, tablets, and computers, because not wanting to know about software will result in never learning how to resolve issues that are often caused by third party software drivers (such as the HP printer you have been complaining about). Apple has not, does not, and will not have any control over third-party driver development for printers, yet you're blaming Apple directly for something that is literally out of their control.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: G5isAlive and Mr. Awesome
@dmccloud , Yes that was my thought exactly, which is why I was asking how old his wife’s MacBook Air is, I thought he may have a defective adapter. However I have just seen that HP asked Apple to revoke its security certificate recently and this is causing problems with Catalina and HP printers. I suspect his wife is using an earlier version of Mac OS that is not impacted.
 
  • Like
Reactions: G5isAlive and Mr. Awesome
I know we're beating a dead horse here, but I'll just add my two cents and say that firstly, I've never liked HP printers due to the software and connectivity. I much prefer Canon. But that said, in my opinion, all printer software is horrendous and I avoid installing it, period. I have my Canon connected to WiFi, and the Mac sees it without any issues when I "add a printer". The Mac will automatically install the printer and download the minimum drivers it needs to communicate with the printer. Once installed, I have always been able to print just fine. Now if you have a multifunctional, then you need the printer specific software to be able to scan and send files to your Mac. That's where I draw the line. I refuse to install anything additional. I just use my phone if I need the occasional "scan".
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mr. Awesome
Paul Unger said:
Really, "a Microsoft employee," you are paranoid. Working with any gadgets would be torture for me.

Here is an example that answers both points, how it relates to the printing problem and the additional complication problem: When Apple had remote control of my gadget they called a wireless connection "a feature" but couldn't make it work, neither could I. No real feature or surprise here. I just want a simple easy to use system, not go back to school or an endless fight.

I posted on this forum to express my frustration and to warn others.
Click to expand...

I say you sound like a Microsoft Employee becaus you just complain and refuse to listen to the advice and support you get from Apple and those in this forum thread.

Remote Support Control has always worked for me, and is usually a very useful feature. It’s not just a “complication”. It saves time for the user and the support technician.

I was merely pointing out the irony that you seem to hate technology with a passion, and claim that you don’t want to be controlled by it, but you created a forum account for the sole purpose of complaining about that technology. The technology is still controlling you, just indirectly.

And if you’re trying to warn others, then why are you doing so on a forum mostly comprised of very technically-savvy Mac users? Most of us couple probably figure out the problem if we had physical access to the MacBook, cable, and printer. We need no warning about how “terrible” Apple devices are. We use them, and most of us really love them. Complaining about how these devices are “NO GOOD” won’t cause any of us to stop buying Apple devices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maclver
LED said:
I know we're beating a dead horse here, but I'll just add my two cents and say that firstly, I've never liked HP printers due to the software and connectivity. I much prefer Canon. But that said, in my opinion, all printer software is horrendous and I avoid installing it, period. I have my Canon connected to WiFi, and the Mac sees it without any issues when I "add a printer". The Mac will automatically install the printer and download the minimum drivers it needs to communicate with the printer. Once installed, I have always been able to print just fine. Now if you have a multifunctional, then you need the printer specific software to be able to scan and send files to your Mac. That's where I draw the line. I refuse to install anything additional. I just use my phone if I need the occasional "scan".
Click to expand...
Allow me to add some hate to the HP bandwagon. I had a basic HP laser at home which I bought for around 300 pounds. I cannot recall the exact model, because I erased it from my memory. I used it mainly for scanning and very occasional printing. When the black laser toner ran out I purchased the expensive genuine HP replacement from Amazon (not some dodgy third party). The printer would not recognise the replacement, so I figured it must have been dodgy and paid even more money for another genuine HP toner replacement from PC World (our biggest electronics chain here in the UK). The printer refused to recognise this one as well.

So I put it in the back of the car and drove to the local dump. It was a great day. I think it may have still been under warranty, but I didn't care at that point.

That would be my advice, OP. Take that printer to the local dump. Keep everything electronic. Don't give up on computers just yet.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Mr. Awesome
I've been having a nightmare with some older HP printers on newer Macs. It seems like HP has not updated their drivers to play with Catalina's new security features, and so far they are maintaining radio silence. A general workaround is using a generic driver, although you lose the ability to use advanced features.

www.theregister.com

If you suddenly can't print to your HP Printer from your Mac, you're not alone: Code security cert snafu blamed

Driver software snubbed by macOS 10.15, 10.14, Amazon Music, too
www.theregister.com www.theregister.com
 
Paul Unger said:
Really, "a Microsoft employee," you are paranoid. Working with any gadgets would be torture for me.

Here is an example that answers both points, how it relates to the printing problem and the additional complication problem: When Apple had remote control of my gadget they called a wireless connection "a feature" but couldn't make it work, neither could I. No real feature or surprise here. I just want a simple easy to use system, not go back to school or an endless **** fight.

I posted on this forum to express my frustration and to warn others.
Click to expand...
Hi
I'm really sorry you are having this problem.
As others have said, you could pretty much write the history of computing on printer problems
I have spent so many hours trying to get printers to work over the years: you really have no idea! At least you have the net now.
And frankly HP have been the worst for me. I usually get called in by my dad or MIL and for some reason they always buy HP printers and scanners and they are a real pain when they go wrong.
You could probably get help here if you would like.
For instance, usually printers are set up to either work wirelessly or wired. That is, in the settings on the printer you choose which but usually, you can't do both at the same time.
Now if your wife is successfully using the printer wired, it's unlikely you will be able to use it wirelessly in my experience.
And are you having to use an adapter for the cable? I'm not really familiar with the air but I doubt the connections are exactly the same now so an adaptor could be the problem
Best I feel your pain I really do. Some of my most frustrating moments have been doing exactly what you are trying to do (but it was a lot worse when you were playing with those damned codes: 'let's see if 25 gives us italics')

Another thought: a bit techie I'm afraid.
Your old air used an operating system that worked on 32bit and the printer drivers were 32bit naturally.
Catalina only works on 64bit and 32 bit drivers won't work at all I'm afraid.
So, you either have to find a 64bit driver for your printer or if there isn't one then, no it won't work.
You might be lucky and find a Guttenberg driver but I guess that's really too techie for you. (I get it I really do. It's why I don't bother with Windows any more: can't be bothered to spend all that time keeping them working properly)

It is frustrating that things change but 64 bit really is more efficient and these things do need to be updated from time to time otherwise we'd all still be using floppies, RS232 and scart cables.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: G5isAlive
canuckRus said:
Find an Apple familiar neighbour, friend, relative who can drop by to try and solve your dilemma?
Click to expand...
Or a friend with a working printer. What I tend to do onsite at clients is I never set up the printer. It's always some convoluted process where you first have to offer homage and a live sacrifice to the IT department gods and then you usually have to set yourself up on the printer itself either using your login credentials, or some other set of credentials or your access card. Then you may, or may not have to set it up on the supplied machine as well.

Instead of doing all that I just always ask one of the permanent colleagues really nicely whenever I need something printed. Much easier that way and since they normally to have to sign in on the printer to execute the job, it means that they will go fetch the output for me. Win win situation.

It's best to rotate them so that one person does not get tired of your constant printing requests.
 
Last edited:
Hate to sound unsympathetic, but there’s nothing about MacBook Air the model that should make it more difficult to connect to a printer. And if you think a PC is easier, might want to revisit that thought.
 
Paul--

I totally get your frustration.

It is interesting that your wife's MBA does not have the same problem as your MBA. What model number/generation MBAs do you and your wife have? What macOS version(s) are your laptops running (click on the apple in the left upper corner of the screen and select "about this mac"--it will have the os version (and number) as well as the model number/product generation listed.

It does sound like there is a driver issue problem with your MBA and the HP printer. What model number is your HP printer and roughly how old is it? It would be useful to visit an HP Printer forum to see how other HP printer owners have addressed this problem or check with HP support (the latter may not be as useful).


If your printer is getting up there in years, you may want to consider purchasing a newer printer--that being said I am using a 10+ year old Canon photo printer and a 5+ year old brother laser printer without problems with Mac, Windows, Linux, or even iPhone iOS.

Hang in there Paul, you should be able to get this sorted out.
 
Can we assume this newbie, or banned with new ID, drive by is gone never to be seen again?
 
burgman said:
Can we assume this newbie, or banned with new ID, drive by is gone never to be seen again?
Click to expand...
He did say he was deleting his email account and getting off the internet. He is just being coherent.
He also stated that he cannot wait for someone to go to his place and plead him to come back online though, to which he will say, NEVER! My printer does not work!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back