[MobiusHorizons]

Inkjet as a technology doesn’t stand up well to intermittent use due to ink drying out. I think a lot of consumers buy a printer and use it rarely (idle for weeks at a time). In my experience using an inkjet this way leads to dry ink clogging the head. People don’t easily forget technology letting them down when they needed it.

[RjQoLCOSwiIKfpm]

Does this still happen with current printers or is it one of those ancient memes about printers which don't disappear?

When I turn the Epson one off, it audibly parks the head. I would suppose it is parked onto a gasket which would prevent it from drying out.

Personally, I don't buy laser printers because I cannot imagine that toner dust isn't unhealthy, and I would be scared of it leaking into the air I breathe.

Feel free to prove me wrong with studies, I would appreciate being less scared about it for my next printer in case the Epson does die some day.

[MobiusHorizons]

It very well could be a problem that has been solved. I have never owned an inkjet personally because of how much trouble my dad had with them when I was a child. I have owned the same laser printer (an HP i found at a second hand computer shop) for the last ten years, and it has basically just worked. I’m just nearing the end of the first tonor cartridge i bought for it, I print relatively rarely, but so far it has just worked every time.

[sammax]

I expect it doesn’t matter if you only print occasionally, but toner exposure from operating printers seems to be a significant health risk: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29233006/

[tengwar2]

Ecotank ink is water-based and more dilute than the normal stuff, apparently to reduce the liklihood of clogging. It needs a cleaning cycle every few months - that's it.