A couple of suggestions and issues

[arsradu]

Hi guys,

So, a few days ago, I needed to reinstall MacOS, and also install the driver for my HP Ink Tank 315 printer, because apparently the built-in driver in MacOS doesn't work.

So...first step was to google "hp ink tank 315 driver macos". Which eventually got me to this page: https://support.hp.com/ro-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-ink-tank-310-series/16180943/model/16180944

So far so good...except that's not the actual driver. It's an app (Easy Start) that is supposed to download the driver afterwards. But...if the app fails to find the driver, as it did in my case, for whatever reason, you're left sailing in the sand, because that page doesn't offer you any direct link for the actual driver.

Why is this? Why is it that it forces you to use Easy Start? Why is such an easy task such as installing the driver for your printer (which, by the way, is supposed to work by default, with the default driver included in MacOS, more on that later), made so complicated by forcing the user to use Easy Start for everything? Why isn't there an alternative download link for ONLY the driver itself?

After a lot of digging and searching, and already being super annoyed with this entire process, I finally came across the actual app that I needed, which is the HP Printer Essentials. Simple pkg file, installs very fast, and solves the issue.

So, that lead me to asking myself this:

1. Why is this not already easily accessible when you're looking for the actual driver?!

2. Why is HP trying to push their cr*p onto their customers?

3. Why are so many different apps for apparently the same purpose, but posted under diferent names, for different printers, in different places? It's super confusing and incredibly frustrating! When all you want is to get your printer set up and running so you can get on with your day, useless apps, that don't work, are the sure recipe for a bad experience.

And I'll give you a few examples:

1. Easy Start.

It's an app that I'm sure none of the customers asked for, that's supposed to help automate the flow of getting you started, but, when it doesn't work (doesn't find the drivers online), it just shows an error, and points you to hp.com/support. Well how is that useful?! It's like pointing me to google.com. Either you give me a direct link that would actually help me fix the issue (in this case, a link for a direct download of the driver itself!), or just don't give me any link at all. It's just useless. It's a waste of time for me.

Also, this app is not on the Mac App Store. Not sure why. But you'll see why this only adds to the confusion.

2. HP Smart for Desktop.

Meaning this app: https://apps.apple.com/ro/app/hp-smart-for-desktop/id1474276998?mt=12

Is it still in use? If so...is it supposed to work for any HP Printer...? Cause it doesn't. It doesn't find my Ink Tank for example.

3. Whatever this is: https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1888?locale=en_US

It doesn't have Ink Tank printers.

So, at this point, after trying 3 apps, I'm still left with no actual driver. Simply because HP refuses to upload the actual driver on their download page.

Also, to make things worse, the default HP driver, that MacOS will automatically propose, which should, in theory, eliminate the need for this entire process in the first place,  doesn't work! It installs just fine, but you can't actually print anything with that driver. Nothing happens. Upon printing, you can see the printing queue window opening in the Dock for a fraction of a second, then it closes up almost immediately, without the printing itself ever getting started. Also, on the printer itself, the power LED goes into flashing mode.

 

Also, after some digging, it looks like HP does have some useful apps, as well. Such as HP Easy Admin, which works perfectly fine on MacOS!

Why is this not the default?! Why is the driver itself not the default option, and ONLY if you want to use another approach (Easy Start app), have the option to install it, as well? Why is Easy Start the only option?! Why do I have to waste so much time of my day, just to get my freaking printer working?! Why is HP making things so difficult when they can be so easy and straightforward?

 

So, I guess what I'm saying is this:

1. none of the apps above works for me. Could be because this is an M1 Mac, could be something else. No idea, but it's extremely annoying when all you want is to get your printer connected so you can start printing what you want to print and get on with your day.

2. the default printer driver in MacOS doesn't work either. Has anybody tested it? Is it supposed to work? Cause it's not. It never worked. Even on my other Macs, Intel-based, it just never worked.

This is only a feedback, and I hope it would get redirected to the developers, or whoever is in charge of these softwares and are able to make a change.

Also, if some of these apps are no longer in use (such as HP Smart for Desktop), it would be useful to remove them. And instead, maybe add an app that actually does work.

I apologise for maybe not using the most appropriate language ever. But I find it really frustrating when you can't get things done, because someone, somewhere, decided to force the customers to use a single app, which is nothing more than a fancy package for the driver itself, and that app doesn't work! And you have no alternatives. Only a link to hp.com/support. Which is not useful at all.