Posted on 05/13/2023 3:29:04 PM PDT by algore
A well-known computer brand has disabled the printers of customers using ink cartridges from rival companies. Hewlett-Packard, or HP, has sparked fury after issuing a recent “firmware” update which blocks customers from using cheaper, non-HP ink cartridges in its printers.
Customers’ devices were remotely updated in line with new terms which mean their printers will not work unless they are fitted with approved ink cartridges. It prevents customers from using any cartridges other than those fitted with an HP chip, which are often more expensive. If the customer tries to use a non-HP ink cartridge, the printer will refuse to print.
HP printers used to display a warning when a “third-party” ink cartridge was inserted, but now printers will simply refuse to print altogether. The printer company said it issued the update to reduce the risk of malware attacks, saying “third-party cartridges that use non-HP chips or circuitry can pose risks to the hardware performance, print quality, and security.”
It also said it used regular updates to improve its services, such as introducing alerts for some customers telling them when their ink is running low.
The consumer group Which? said manufacturers were “actively blocking customers from exerting their right to choose the cheapest ink and therefore get a better deal”.
According to its website, all HP standard printers will block cartridges using a non-HP chip or circuitry. The spokesman added some third-party cartridges reuse the HP chip or electronic circuitry and those that do will function as normal.
Some customers can choose to disable HP’s cartridge-blocking feature in the printer’s settings, HP said, but it depends on the printer model. Others will be stuck with a printer that only works if they commit to spending more on ink cartridges approved by HP.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I had a problem using a non Dell cartridge in my laser printer. Had to use a $60 Dell cartridge vs an Amazon version.
The black lettering was a fAZ int light grey color.
I use an HP Laser Jet 400 color printer. This is the way.
Inkjets are for suckers.
Seems this is like John Deere where they fixed the equipment so it could only be repaired by authorized John Deere mechanics. I believe the farmers have sued and won at least one lawsuit against this Fascistic mentality. Fascism - a marriage between business and government where the government colludes with big business oligarchies to confiscate individual property that has been bought and paid for by citizens.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x51mdca
a fantastic Blake’s 7 episode.
in case you have never heard of this scifi series
1. Star Trek - Characters are flat and one-dimensional.
1. Blake’s 7 - Characters are very complex and three-dimensional.
2. Star Trek - The Federation is (supposedly) good.
2. Blake’s 7 - The Federation is evil.
3. Star Trek - The dialogue is hokey, cheesy, and corny.
3. Blake’s 7 - The dialogue is clever, witty, and humorous.
4. Star Trek - Transporters are commonplace.
4. Blake’s 7 - Transporters are amazing.
5. Star Trek - Stand by your friends.
5. Blake’s 7 - Stand behind your friends.
6. Star Trek - Characters always use time travel to fix all their mistakes in their lives.
6. Blake’s 7 - There is no time travel in the B7 universe, all characters deal with the consequences of their actions, for better or worse.
7. Star Trek - Major characters die and are resurrected, hence, the actors become typecasted.
7. Blake’s 7 - Major characters die and the actors move on to bigger and better things.
8. Star Trek - Computers have zero personalities.
8. Blake’s 7 - Computers have quirks, perks, and pet-peeves.
9. Star Trek - Characters are fully devoted to the Federation, with an innate desire to help other people from the goodness of their hearts.
9. Blake’s 7 - Characters look out for one another for mutual advantage by escaping from the Federation with their hide intact, and make a few bucks on the side.
10. Star Trek - Humanitarianism is applied to practical daily life.
10. Blake’s 7 - Wealth is the only reality.
11. Star Trek - High morals make fine Federation officers.
11. Blake’s 7 - Greed makes very efficient Federation troopers.
12. Star Trek - Running away is an act of cowardice.
12. Blake’s 7 - Strategic withdrawal is running away, but with dignity.
13. Star Trek - Modesty is a sign of maturity and good character.
13. Blake’s 7 - Modesty is dishonesty.
14. Star Trek - Civilization has always depended on truth.
14. Blake’s 7 - Civlization has always depended on courtesy, rather than truth.
15. Star Trek - Assassination is considered unethical and apalling.
15. Blake’s 7 - Assassination has always been a legimate tool of statecraft and is pubicly accepted.
16. Star Trek - Good deeds are always rewarded.
16. Blake’s 7 - No good deeds go unpunished.
17. Star Trek - Self-sacrifice is a highly noble trait.
17. Blake’s 7 - Self-preservation is highly noble trait.
18. Star Trek - Winning means surviving.
18. Blake’s 7 - If winning means dying, choose losing every time.
19. Star Trek - Good is always favored over evil.
19. Blake’s 7 - Choosing the lesser evil of the two is the best option.
20. Star Trek - Saving someone’s life is viewed as a heroic gesture.
20. Blake’s 7 - Saving someone’s life is sometimes viewed as a big mistake.
21. Star Trek - Friendship can be as good as a handshake.
21. Blake’s 7 - Friendship can be as good as a handshake in one hand, and a hammer in the other.
22. Star Trek - The Enterprise encounters an alien civilization and destroys it in the name of Freedom, Truth, Justice, and the American Way.
22. Blake’s 7 - The Liberator encounters an alien civilization and destroys it in self defense.
23. Star Trek - Stories are solved within an hour.
23. Blake’s 7 - Stories are solved within several episodes, and sometimes leave many unresolved issues.
24. Star Trek - The humor on the show has always been spoon-fed.
24. Blake’s 7 - The humor on the show has always been sharp and subtle.
25. Star Trek - The tone of the show is naive and geeky.
25. Blake’s 7 - The tone of the show is dark and cynical
This is the way. I can’t believe people are still falling for the ink jet scam.
HP B&W laser printers have always been the best. Their ink jets are nothing special. Canon and Epson will gain here. On the other hand, discount ink jet cartridges are almost always worse than terrible.
I’ll stick with my ten year old B&W laserjet. It costs $80 for a cartridge, but it prints 2,500 pages which lasts me several years.
“I got totally away from ink cartridges. The ink “tanks” are cheaper, easier, and don’t need replacement nearly as frequently.”
I’ve read that at least one if not all of the ink tank printers have a limit on the total number of pages they will print in their lifetime and then they just stop and you have to buy a new printer. I think it was an Epson printer that Shaq was hawking on TV.
Fixed it for you, there shall be no coin or paper money allowed.
They will just resort to something software developers now have done, they lease you their software for a monthly/yearly fee, you never own anything anymore.(Almost forgot and be happy)
Exactly. Also, open services.msc and disable all HP services that run automatically on start-up.
My printers are both OLD hps...knock on wood. they have been faithful. Just lucky I think...
I have an HP printer.
I have ALWAYS used HP cartridges. I depend on my printer.
NEED INK RIGHT NOW-—Have already spent over a week trying to find them.
NONE at Wal-Mart-—where I have bought them for over 8 years.NEVER had a problem finding them-—NEVER
Neighbor finally found them on Amazon-—deliver date-—5/22
Am thinking of getting a back up set just in case.
I have a brother color laser printer.
I can put generic toner in it for one fourth the cost. But if it isn’t genuine brother toner it will stop printing after 1/4 of the toner is used.
Still, beats HP crap.
HP sales will tank, pun intended.
The Gillett Razor marketing model.
“I gave up on my cannon printer... its just a scanner now... I scan and email to myself.... and have the local place print it and mail it out if they can.... or take it to the post office a block away... beats paying $30 for ink that drys out in a week.”
Same. I only very infrequently print anything, and when I do it’s usually a business letter. I was paying $25-30 to print a letter due to ink drying up. Finally I bought this relatively cheap laser printer:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09JVG4CGC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
After 6 months it’s working okay. It’s a little quirky about connecting to wi fi sometimes, but overall when I need to print it works. And I use my POS HP for scanning.
Gotta love the Vietnamese and their child slaves.
For all
5/13/2023, 3:20:16 PM · by Jim Robinson Please get your donations in and let's get 'er done! Way to go FReepers! Thank you all very much! God bless.
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