Where can I find my very own computer geek?

I am far from a computer geek, most if not all printers come with a driver CD, after installing the driver just plug the printer in and go from there.
And a lot of newer computer will find and install the driver for from the internet.
If your going to use it a lot then you can cheap out with a bubble jet, but they tend to dry out if they are not used regularly, if you don’t see yourself using it a lot, pay the extra and go for a laser jet, they don’t tend to dry out and are a lot faster than the bubble jet types.
They do all come with instructions as well that are not that hard to follow.

I work with computer equipment all day and once people find that out they expect you to fix their shit for free. It gets very, very old. You can and should pay someone if you can’t do it yourself. Just check your local best buy or craigslist. You can do a printer though, It’s really easy

I did it myself and even connected it to my I phone and I’m pretty much computer illiterate. They have step by step instructions and a help line where the person is VERY helpful. Try it! I bet you can do it.

If I were in New Jersey I would do it for you, for a cup of coffee.

You need to decide what sort of work you’ll be doing and how impatient you are (slow printers are cheaper). Do you need a scanner or is this just for printing?

After that, it’s really just – plug in the USB cable and plug into the wall.

I’m about as computer illiterate as you can get, and I’ve installed all my printers by myself.

This is really current. Maybe it’ll help you select one.

I avoid Craig’s list like the plague. If you think you need help and there’s an employee you like at the store where you purchase the printer, I’d just ask them. Of if they know somebody.
But really, you can do it.

Thanks all.

How about where you work? I bet you already know a bunch of bright young things that would be happy to help you.

@canidmajor Yes, that is a good possibility. I think I’ve gotten stuck on the idea that ex-BIL is my computer geek but he is being a stinker since I ruined his Thanksgiving two years ago.

My PM and your post appear to have been simultaneous ;-)

I know how to use computers, but I am not a computer geek. Here’s the little I know.

Avoid HP printers. I have had very bad luck with them, and I have friends with similar experiences.

Most printers now are WiFi connected, and they are somewhat easy to set up. In my experience, the instructions are clear. By connecting through WiFi, there is no cable to run to your computer, and if you have a laptop, you can take it anywhere in the house and print from any room you happen to be using the computer in. It’s very convenient. Also, most printers are multifunction machines. They print, copy, and do all sorts of things. Also, most print in color.

If you are certain you do not want to try setting up a printer on your own, go to a reputable computer retailer like Best Buy and pay to have someone come out and do it for you.

Like many things, where you buy is less important than what you buy, and knowing exactly what to buy makes the “where” irrelevant. I don’t trust the computer advice of anyone who can’t name at least three different Linux distros, and many retailers are not that knowledgeable.

When I go in to buy computer stuff, I already know what I want; the only questions I ever have are whether they have it and how much they want for it. Relying on them for anything else is a crap shoot. While I’ve run into geeks at Walmart, I’ve also run into morons at dedicated PC shops; there is no correlation between where you go and the quality/level of their knowledge!

Now that that’s off my chest, most printers assume a person of average computer literacy; those that know how to use a mouse but not much more. As a result, their installation is as automated as possible.

@Hawaii_Jake I’ve had pretty good luck with HP, and know others at a variety of skill levels who have as well. I think luck plays a role here.

@SQUEEKY2 I haven’t many seen laser printers that are as fast as most inkjet printers, and the price difference is non-trivial. You’re right about the drying though.

I’ll probably get a Canon inkjet of some kind. I have an older one but the color prints are really washed out. I’m going to trouble shoot that a bit more before buying a new one.

@jerv Thanks for giving the other side of the argument about HP printers.

@Hawaii_Jake You generally only ever hear from those with bad experiences or positively orgasmic delight; very few customer reviews are written by those with neutral opinions.

Too true.

I’ve not had bad luck with HP printers, but their ink seems to dry up on me incredibly fast.
That, of course, could be true of all inkjet printers for all I know.

What’s more important than anything is getting a printer that suits your needs.
Small, cheap ink cartridges appeal to me because I don’t print a lot and I become unhinged when a $40 ink cartridge is dry after 20 pages over 6 weeks. My newest HP printer seems to be a lot better about not letting the ink evaporate.

C Net Best printers of 2015. If you like Canon, @janbb, that might be your guide.
No HP in the top 5.

I am fairly computer savvy and capable (I’m “the computer guy” at work, but that’s because some of my colleagues seem not to realize the difference between the keyboard and the screen sometimes). But I haven’t used a “home” printer for several years.

Instead, I use free print-to-pdf software such as CutePDF and when I want to “print” something I print it to a .pdf file and then print it on paper (if I really do want that) at work the next day. If you frequent a library with its own printers that you can hook up to on occasion, then you could do the same and save the money you’d be spending on a printer.

(Next, I’ll tell you about the free eFax account that I’ve had which has let me use the Michigan number they assigned me as my free send-to fax for the past 17 years.)