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> For example, if HP programs printers to start failing after N pages printed, would that ever be uncovered? I can't find it right now, but wasn't there a stor
by glandium 3y ago
> For example, if HP programs printers to start failing after N pages printed, would that ever be uncovered?
I can't find it right now, but wasn't there a story some months ago about some printers doing exactly that to make you buy new ink cartridges?
- bayindirh 3y agoThat was about HP's ink subscription service, "HP Instant Ink", where your printer stops printing if you stop renewing your ink subscription and try to print with the subscription supplied cartridge. I'm on my 4th HP Inkjet, and none of them did anything remotely similar. One worn down (which was a bottom of the barrel model), the two of them was donated, and AFAIK one is still pretty operational. I'm regularly using my Deskjet Ink Advantage 4515, which is ~10 years old at this point.
- QVVRP4nYz 3y agoIt is actually quite common in hellish world of printers, but with a bit more plausible deniability. "Our printed page counter indicated the cartridge/drum needs replacement, we couldn't know it was half full / it is all to preserve maximum quality" - so typical bullshit, that people somehow already got used to. The consumer electronic is already crazy, I mean people mod-chipped Keurig to use "pirated" coffee.
- mbirth 3y agoI've also seen a report about ink printers failing without any proper error message because of a full sponge. (Where all the ink goes when you clean the heads.) If you disassemble the printer and replace the sponge, it magically starts working again.