A Rant about Windows and Printers

The post traces the evolution of Windows printer drivers from V3 (locally installed, manufacturer-made, vulnerable to PrintNightmare) to V4 (server-side, more secure but confusing) to the current preferred standard, Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), which eliminates the need for traditional drivers. IPP is an IEEE standard that Apple's AirPrint also uses, and as of 2026 Windows favors it over V3/V4, though not all printers fully support it. The author strongly advocates for IPP as a universal printing standard akin to RCS for messaging.