20+ years ago I had some visibility into conversations inside Microsoft about converting their software license lines of business into annual subscriptions. The

20+ years ago I had some visibility into conversations inside Microsoft about converting their software license lines of business into annual subscriptions. The benefits to the business were obvious: revenue patterns would better match up against expenses, and be more predictable. Per-person registration and authentication would cut down on license sharing and piracy. Revenue would probably go up in aggregate. The question was how to justify this to the customer. Ultimately they had to reinvent their products to make the conversion seem worth it. MS365 solves a lot of pain points in business. For the most common basic use cases, Office online works better than the client software. Features and fixes arrive right away instead of waiting on a version install cycle. Security is Microsoft’s problem now, not mine. It seems like HP still needs to go on that journey. Subscription printing needs to be way better than printing now. If it were me, I would look at Comcast’s WiFi model, where they leverage everyone’s routers to give everyone WiFi. Imagine being able to easily, instantly, and seamlessly print from any HP printer you happen to be close to. Add in some business partners and it could be compelling. Hit “print” and walk into the nearest CVS to pick it up. Take a page from streaming video services and do partnership deals where it comes as part of another subscription (“Comcast Gig Internet now comes with Print Anywhere included.”) In this model you would pay for access to printing, and separately pay for the added convenience of print at home if you want it. A local print device becomes an upsell, not a barrier to entry.