Yesterday I had to install an HP Officejet printer/fax/scanner for a client. After popping in the CD, I’m faced with the following prompt:
Recommended installation: 1000MB
Printer driver only: 100MB
…A GIG!!! Are you fucking with me?!? What in the name of all that’s holy does this printer do that requires a gb of disk space? You could fit an entire operating system in that space and still have breathing room left over!
The fact that disk space is cheaper than dirt doesn’t excuse PPP (piss-poor programming). I don’t care how you slice it, a basic imaging application (the only difference between the typical and basic install) should not eat 900MB. The driver size alone is appalling - I’ve seen full-featured driver/TWAIN scanning app/fax suites that weight in at under 6 megs!
What’s really appalling is the fact that there’s almost no difference between this printer and the comparable model from 5 years ago. Higher quality prints, maybe, but what in fuck-all does that have to do with driver size? What’s next? Will my next car require 10x the garage space?
fuckity.