3 ms·

I’m not sure I understand this. Inkjets go through ink fast so they need to be refilled a fair bit and those refills are expensive and hold very little. Toner

by MBCook 4y ago

I’m not sure I understand this. Inkjets go through ink fast so they need to be refilled a fair bit and those refills are expensive and hold very little. Toner is good practically forever. A new toner cartridge isn’t cheap (and stupid DRM exists) but it’s still way better than inkjets. So I’m not sure this provides as much value. Also, isn’t HP the company that likes to disable your printer if the credit/debit card on your auto-refill plan expires? They’re not exactly a bastion of integrity.

scohesc 4y ago
The only way I could see this providing value is for larger multi-function printers that offices use - I don't see this having any benefit in the home/small office market - just seems like they're trying to ride the wave of Canon(Epson?)'s refillable inkjet tanks. Toner is pretty toxic (fine microplastics that are easily aerosolized - they go right through a lot of vacuum filters!!!) so I could see them marketing it as "don't touch dirty disgusting toner cartridges anymore! You don't even have to _SEE_ the toner!" This could probably also make it a LOT easier for third parties to make HP toner refills, unless HP's done something like trademark/copyright/patent the "toner delivery mechanism" to stop third parties from copying it.
toast0 4y ago
> Also, isn’t HP the company that likes to disable your printer if the credit/debit card on your auto-refill plan expires? They’re not exactly a bastion of integrity. How is that evidence of integrity or not? The subscription ink is only good when your subscription is good. Netflix doesn't let you watch movies when you don't pay either. You're not allowed to drive your car if your license or registration expires (although neither is enforced through the internet). Afaik, all of the HP printers that work with subscription ink also work with owned ink, too. For low volume printer users who are capable of managing their account, the lowest tier subscription seems like a reasonable way to keep fresh ink on hand, but I dunno. I opted for laser color and don't have to deal with liquid supplies anymore, but at a higher capital cost and the printer only takes more volume than my previous multifunction inkjet (which I keep so I can scan).
inferiorhuman 4y ago
Toner is good for a long time, toner cartridges are not. The Canon engined LaserJets integrated the drum and waste container with the toner cartridge. So the waste bin fills up, the wiper for the drum gets old and useless, etc. etc. and the cartridge will need to be replaced. I've aged out a few toner cartridges in the various LaserJets I've owned over the years. The current crop of LaserJets are all based on Samsung engines (yuck), so HP could have started selling the pieces separately.

by MBCook 4y ago

scohesc 4y ago

The only way I could see this providing value is for larger multi-function printers that offices use - I don't see this having any benefit in the home/small office market - just seems like they're trying to ride the wave of Canon(Epson?)'s refillable inkjet tanks. Toner is pretty toxic (fine microplastics that are easily aerosolized - they go right through a lot of vacuum filters!!!) so I could see them marketing it as "don't touch dirty disgusting toner cartridges anymore! You don't even have to _SEE_ the toner!" This could probably also make it a LOT easier for third parties to make HP toner refills, unless HP's done something like trademark/copyright/patent the "toner delivery mechanism" to stop third parties from copying it.

toast0 4y ago

> Also, isn’t HP the company that likes to disable your printer if the credit/debit card on your auto-refill plan expires? They’re not exactly a bastion of integrity. How is that evidence of integrity or not? The subscription ink is only good when your subscription is good. Netflix doesn't let you watch movies when you don't pay either. You're not allowed to drive your car if your license or registration expires (although neither is enforced through the internet). Afaik, all of the HP printers that work with subscription ink also work with owned ink, too. For low volume printer users who are capable of managing their account, the lowest tier subscription seems like a reasonable way to keep fresh ink on hand, but I dunno. I opted for laser color and don't have to deal with liquid supplies anymore, but at a higher capital cost and the printer only takes more volume than my previous multifunction inkjet (which I keep so I can scan).

inferiorhuman 4y ago

Toner is good for a long time, toner cartridges are not. The Canon engined LaserJets integrated the drum and waste container with the toner cartridge. So the waste bin fills up, the wiper for the drum gets old and useless, etc. etc. and the cartridge will need to be replaced. I've aged out a few toner cartridges in the various LaserJets I've owned over the years. The current crop of LaserJets are all based on Samsung engines (yuck), so HP could have started selling the pieces separately.