Live data from Hacker News

HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

abcnews.go.com

11–20 of 190 posts

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. I have an HP Color LaserJet Pro and the toner is expensive, but lasts forever if I don't print and the quality is fantastic as well. Plus, they have automatic duplexing which is a must have feature for me. Newish ones like mine even support AirPrint and NFC printing.

Buy color toner refill kits. Melt a hole in the cartridge with a soldering iron, refill it, and seal it with aluminum tape. Better to spend $70-150 than $300-1200 on new cartridges. PS: I'm currently in the market for an 5-15 year old HP Color LaserJet but still assessing which model tends to be more reliable. There were a lot of lemon SMB Color LaserJet models. Suggestions welcomed especially by staff IT people who…

It's expensive, but like $295 to replace all the color toners (high capacity), not $1200 or $300 each.

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#12
As I sit here I look at my HP-35S and HP-12C calculators that I have on my desk. My 12-C in particular is about 15 years old and still on its original battery. I remember fondly the HP-85a that I learned programming on when I was 8 years old or so. HP used to make amazingly great hardware. The first HP laserjet printers were an absolute marvel. It makes me so sad what has happened to HP.

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#13
post #8
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I followed this advice and it's been great. I have a $350 laser Brother printer, my iPhone can find the printer without fiddling with drivers, it wakes up, print, goes back to sleep. Works fine even if I go months without printing. After my last 'free ink forever' HP inkjet that never worked, a working printer is a blessing.

Which brother do you have / recommend? I have been quiet happy with my OKI but the phone connection is the only letdown so far and I might change for a brother in the future.

> Which brother do you have / recommend? I have been quiet happy with my OKI but the phone connection is the only letdown so far and I might change for a brother in the future.

I have a brother HL-2270dw that I've been using for more than 10 years that I'm happy with. I don't think they make that exact model anymore, but Wirecutter recommends the HL-2350dw (I don't know what you get for the extra $10 to get a HL-2370dw):

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-home-printer...

I've got it hooked up to my wired network, and have never had an issue with it. I really like the duplex printing.

I prefer my devices to do one thing, so I've avoided combo devices.

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#14
I don't have a laser simply because I haven't seen an "all in one" full color laser that's as compact as the Epson inkjet I'm using. I can't speak to the color quality of lasers really vs inkjet, but I've printed a bunch of photos that come out "good enough" on photo paper with my printer. Mind, if we need any volume, we ship 'em off to the drugstore, but that can actually be a bit of pot luck when it comes to framing and such.

We use the scanner often enough to make it worthwhile, and we don't have the room for a second, compact B&W laser.

The only real thing I need to do is replace this with a tank version. Ink is still crazy, but momentum keeps us going with it. A full set of ink cartridges cost about 1/2 of a new printer.

Other than that, I'm pretty content with this thing.

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#15
My in-laws needed a printer scanner because they are getting old and needed to scan paperwork to move to a retirement community. They went out and bought an HP printer scanner and asked me to help them set it up. It took me multiple hours and I still couldn't figure everything out. It took them the next two days to really get it up and running. Poorly designed actively hostile software.

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#16
post #9

It's like Mercedes trying to charge a monthly subscription fee for heated seats. When you do something like this to consumers, you lose their trust and you will never gain it back.

Unfortunately, people will misremember and trash unrelated brands' reputations online. It was BMW.

Or maybe they just misremembered the exact shitty thing the brand did

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63743597

> Mercedes-Benz is to offer an online subscription service in the US to make its electric cars speed up quicker.

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#17
post #9

It's like Mercedes trying to charge a monthly subscription fee for heated seats. When you do something like this to consumers, you lose their trust and you will never gain it back.

Unfortunately, people will misremember and trash unrelated brands' reputations online. It was BMW.

Mercedes did something similar, though: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63743597

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#18

It's like Mercedes trying to charge a monthly subscription fee for heated seats. When you do something like this to consumers, you lose their trust and you will never gain it back.

AFAIK they offered monthly, yearly, and "unlimited" subscription. In that case what's the issue? Heated seats are frequently an upgrade option. What's the problem with offering payments as an option?

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#19
post #13
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which brother do you have / recommend? I have been quiet happy with my OKI but the phone connection is the only letdown so far and I might change for a brother in the future.

> Which brother do you have / recommend? I have been quiet happy with my OKI but the phone connection is the only letdown so far and I might change for a brother in the future. I have a brother HL-2270dw that I've been using for more than 10 years that I'm happy with. I don't think they make that exact model anymore, but Wirecutter recommends the HL-2350dw (I don't know what you get for the extra $10 to get a HL-2370…

For me, I ended up with the MFC-L3770CDW because there was a big sale on it, not from any particular research.

Re: HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on printers when ink runs low

#20

Even if you only print things once a month, a laser printer is far less wasteful in time, money, and bullshit than ink that's perpetually dry or consumed. Rather than an entry-level laser printer that cannot be economically repaired, a used mid-level enterprise printer is often the cheapest option long term and saves useful electronics from becoming e-waste. Office furniture rental/repo places and secondary markets l…

Nowadays there are inkjet printers that are cheaper (cost per page) than laser printers. I would only get one if i were to print regularly, however.

And never again HP of course.

Post reply on HN