Live data from Hacker News

Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

bleepingcomputer.com

141–150 of 485 posts

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#141
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. Have had a Brother HL-2270 (b&w laser printing) for years, and couldn't be happier with it, especially coupled with a PI-based CUPS server for AirPrint capability and the like. The only thing I miss about not having an inkjet is color printing and at-home photo printing, but there are so many on-demand online print shops nowadays, I can't say it's a big deal.

It was going to cost me $100+ to refill the inks on my large format HP inkjet photo printer. I took it up to the attic a few months back from whence it will likely go in the trash in a few years. I have the same Brother printer and it just works for occasional B&W printing. The rare color photo prints I want are easily handled (better) online and, while I'd like to print a color map or something now and then, it's no…

why waste the effort of taking it to the attic to just add to the clutter? Reminds me of the users that put things in the trash can/recylce bin but don't empty it "just in case".

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#142

I'd be interested to know if this was intentional. I can very much see that the all-in-one device has some "initializeHardware()" function that tests and sets up all the internal components, which probably requires ink to run (firing an ink jet as part of the initialization with no ink present usually burns some ink and it'll permanently clog with carbon deposits). Likewise, I suspect if the light bulb in the scanner…

From the article: "Since at least 2016, other customers have contacted Canon about this exact problem [1, 2] and were told by support agents that ink cartridges must be installed and contain ink to use the printer's features, as shown by the agent's response below."

I'm inclined towards malice and not incompetence.

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#143
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was going to cost me $100+ to refill the inks on my large format HP inkjet photo printer. I took it up to the attic a few months back from whence it will likely go in the trash in a few years. I have the same Brother printer and it just works for occasional B&W printing. The rare color photo prints I want are easily handled (better) online and, while I'd like to print a color map or something now and then, it's no…

why waste the effort of taking it to the attic to just add to the clutter? Reminds me of the users that put things in the trash can/recylce bin but don't empty it "just in case".

If you need a large format color print in the next year or two before it rots, you can change your mind and buy the ink and avoid buying another $700+ large format printer. Option value.

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#144

Hi Canon! Thanks from increasing my list of examples why people should no be so condescending of proprietary firmware.

I don't think condescending is the right word here. Can't be sure without knowing your intent, but do you mean something like "should not be so accepting of proprietary firmware"?

Yes.

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The water dispenser on my fridge stops working if it decides the filter needs to be replaced. I get about ten days between the “new filter” light and when it stops working with the beeping and blinking getting progressively more annoying. Oddly enough the ice dispenser (which also uses the filter) continues to function. So it’s not a safety issue and someone apparently decided consumers would tolerate the inconvenien…

What brand of fridge uses DRM? Asking to avoid them entirely

It's been a topic on HN before:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23484292

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22129801

(GE in both cases)

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#146

I stopped buying inkjet printers. They are a scam, the ink costs a fortune and they are built as cheap as they can, meaning that they will break and you have to throw them away because they are impossible to repair, they are slow and when you need them they don't work because they were not used for too much time. After having 5 broken printers in the garage I said enough, that is a useless waste, and invested some mo…

I got my first printer in high school, around 90-91. It was an HP laserjet printer, when they were first going mainstream. I loved it, it always printed well, and the toner seemed to last forever. Of course, it was B/W, but that was all I needed.

Fast forward to today, I have never owned an inkjet printer. Over the past 30 years I’ve owned a total of 3 laser printers. The second was in 2005, because I wanted a scanner. The third in 2014, because I wanted network. So each one has lasted around 10 years each, and not because they broke, but because I wanted new features.

I have forever told anyone asking my advice on printers to avoid inkjets. When they do, they have problems with the ink, either drying out or having to replace them all the time.

I agree, inkjets should’ve died a long time ago. The only reason to buy one in the past was if you were on a tight budget and had to have color. But nowadays, color lasers are dropping, or it’s super easy to send something off to X to print it for you.

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But between Consumer Reports, Wirecutter, the 18 million review websites, Costco, I feel like such an obviously superior brand and product should have had its reputation widely known by now, like Toyota/Honda.

I think you highly overestimate the amount of research the average person does on a printer purchase. Yes, some people will buy a CR magazine or ask their friends/relatives opinion for a $30k car, but will they do that before buying a $60 printer?

Someone needs to make a QAnon post about the scam, then it'd be over for ink jets /s

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#148

Brothers LaserJet. No malware, no adware, no funky drivers; just colored, WiFi, LP-protocol, multi-tray PCL and PS support. Best thing since sliced bread.

I am also in the Brother laser club. Don't know anyone having any printing problems with it. The new ones are super quiet too.

They only tend to be a bit picky about the WiFi networks, so better to use with a cable.

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#149
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was going to cost me $100+ to refill the inks on my large format HP inkjet photo printer. I took it up to the attic a few months back from whence it will likely go in the trash in a few years. I have the same Brother printer and it just works for occasional B&W printing. The rare color photo prints I want are easily handled (better) online and, while I'd like to print a color map or something now and then, it's no…

why waste the effort of taking it to the attic to just add to the clutter? Reminds me of the users that put things in the trash can/recylce bin but don't empty it "just in case".

Because I have the space, it takes a minute, and maybe (though probably not) my needs will change some day. I'm not going to argue it's completely rational but I do occasionally dust things off that I have put into storage.

I do go through the attic every now and then and toss stuff that hasn't been used for ages.

Re: Canon sued for disabling scanner when printers run out of ink

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's not throw the baby with the bathwater. Injket printers have advantages and can be cheap if we dismantle the highway robbery of inks. Just because inks are expensive does not mean that we should get rid of inkjet technology. > I really don't see a reason for inkjet printers to exist, I hope they will disappear from the market. Perhaps you should investigate why they exist. Seems too naive to wish for their disap…

I'll have to look into them. I've been using https://www.octoink.co.uk for my photo printing and they have been great. The sad thing is that there aren't any good review sites.

I've been using PrecisionInks for 10+ years. It is an old school family business and never once disappointed me.

I use this spectrophotometer for calibration: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1369004-REG/x_rite_eo...

Post reply on HN