[cbozeman]

> > 1. Parking apps are worse than parking meters.

> I certainly don't agree with that one. I really don't miss having to pay for a fixed number of hours and then having to figure out what to do if I'm running late (or wasting money if I get back early).

Yeah... nothing more I love than having to scan a QR code to get an app from someone I don't know, then go through the signup process, then input a buncha personal information into an app... instead of just dropping 10 quarters into a metal stick and walking away for the next two hours.

> > 4. Airline apps that are worse than just printing a boarding pass.

> Unless the app is exceptionally horrible you can just export it to Apple/Android wallet which is much more convenient than having to find a printer.

Looking to the left or right of your desk is how you should be finding your printer. They're not gold bars. They're not expensive.

[drdec]

> Looking to the left or right of your desk is how you should be finding your printer.

The desk at my AirBnB doesn't seem to have one.

> They're not gold bars. They're not expensive.

If someone has an alternate solution to owning a printer that works for them, whats it to you? Owning a printer so you can print half of the boarding passes you need every time you fly seems excessive to me

[kelnos]

> 10 quarters

I can't remember the last time I had any quarters on me, let alone 10. Coins are annoying to carry around, and I don't drive enough or park in paid lots/areas enough to expect that I'll remember to ensure that I always have change in my car.

> Looking to the left or right of your desk is how you should be finding your printer.

While I do have a printer now (at my wife's request), I went a good 20 years without one, and was fine with that.

> They're not expensive.

That's a weird take. Even if the printer itself isn't that expensive, keeping it fed with ink/toner can be. Not to mention they're just annoying pieces of hardware, with usually-shitty software, that take up precious desk real-estate.

[realityking]

> Yeah... nothing more I love than having to scan a QR code to get an app from someone I don't know, then go through the signup process, then input a buncha personal information into an app... instead of just dropping 10 quarters into a metal stick and walking away for the next two hours.

Quality of execution obviously matters. I find EasyPark (Swedish company, used all over the place) a lot better than the usual parking meters. Plus I can use it in several cities with different currencies (in my case Euros and Czech Koruna), saving me from carrying more change.

[mixmastamyk]

The point is all these things should be options, not single points of failure. We should be able to pay by coin/tap, or app when at a place we frequent. Apps should use a single system per region, props for being an open standard.

We have the technology.

[kelnos]

I don't think anyone is arguing that. While I wouldn't be surprised if app-only parking situations exist, I have never encountered one. Every place I've needed to park that had an app also offered the ability to pay with card (and often cash) at a meter or machine.

[mixmastamyk]

I saw it once and was so disgusted I haven’t been back to the location, for years. Have heard they went back to the old system but my habits have changed permanently it seems.

[pqtyw]

> Yeah... nothing more I love than having to scan a QR code to get an app from someone

True. I does suck when travelling. Locally I find it much more convenient though.

> dropping 10 quarters

You're always carrying a bag full of coins wherever you go? And even if I did I'd end up overpaying/underpaying half of the time.

> Looking to the left or right of your desk is how you should be finding your printer.

So I should waste space with a huge device that I use <10 times per year?

I mean I could bring it over from the other room or the attic or wherever it's lying around but why would I waste time and mental energy each time I'm travelling having to keep track of some piece of paper that I mustn't lose? Seems rather pointless...

Cheap Android phones aren't expensive either and can provide a lot more than a printer for most people these days.