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HP have updated their printers to ban ‘non-HP’ cartridges

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Re: HP have updated their printers to ban ‘non-HP’ cartridges

#2
I'm amazed that this hasn't been regulated. Aftermarket commodities being turned into walled gardens based not on physical incompatibility but software checks is obscene.

Does the EU have defenses against this kind of behavior? I feel like monopolistic is the wrong word. Creating captive markets?

Re: HP have updated their printers to ban ‘non-HP’ cartridges

#3
Speaking of YC funding disruption where are the home printer startups?

Is it just that unprofitable to even try? Or the hardware too difficult or tricky? Or the driver software?

Seems like there are zero good alternatives for home printing.

HP doing this stuff or making you subscribe to HP+.

Brother offering basically zero support.

Is epson or canon even competitive for a home printer?

Re: HP have updated their printers to ban ‘non-HP’ cartridges

#4
post #2

I'm amazed that this hasn't been regulated. Aftermarket commodities being turned into walled gardens based not on physical incompatibility but software checks is obscene. Does the EU have defenses against this kind of behavior? I feel like monopolistic is the wrong word. Creating captive markets?

> I'm amazed that this hasn't been regulated.

The best way to regulate it is for people to stop buying HP printers. I haven't bought one for about 20 years.

Re: HP have updated their printers to ban ‘non-HP’ cartridges

#5
post #3

Speaking of YC funding disruption where are the home printer startups? Is it just that unprofitable to even try? Or the hardware too difficult or tricky? Or the driver software? Seems like there are zero good alternatives for home printing. HP doing this stuff or making you subscribe to HP+. Brother offering basically zero support. Is epson or canon even competitive for a home printer?

> Brother offering basically zero support.

I've had no problem finding Linux drivers for my Brother printers (or for their scanner components, since I've had all-in-ones for some time now), and they've never given me any problems that I needed any other support for.

Re: HP have updated their printers to ban ‘non-HP’ cartridges

#7
post #3

Speaking of YC funding disruption where are the home printer startups? Is it just that unprofitable to even try? Or the hardware too difficult or tricky? Or the driver software? Seems like there are zero good alternatives for home printing. HP doing this stuff or making you subscribe to HP+. Brother offering basically zero support. Is epson or canon even competitive for a home printer?

VCs tend to dislike manufacturing startups. It takes a lot of capital to get going, some time to get good yield & work out the early flaws, and there isn't much potential for a huge exit in 5-10 years.

I'm more surprised that the printer market hasn't followed the security camera market, with lots of cheap and open options on markets like AliExpress that ship with phone-home firmware.

Re: HP have updated their printers to ban ‘non-HP’ cartridges

#9
post #5
post #3

Speaking of YC funding disruption where are the home printer startups? Is it just that unprofitable to even try? Or the hardware too difficult or tricky? Or the driver software? Seems like there are zero good alternatives for home printing. HP doing this stuff or making you subscribe to HP+. Brother offering basically zero support. Is epson or canon even competitive for a home printer?

> Brother offering basically zero support. I've had no problem finding Linux drivers for my Brother printers (or for their scanner components, since I've had all-in-ones for some time now), and they've never given me any problems that I needed any other support for.

Brother offers some ancient driver blob for my HL2270 which requires installation of 32-but dependencies in order to run.

Yes, there are IPP/Gutenprint options out there, but sometimes I feel like the image quality of the Brother driver is slightly more superior in imperceptible ways.

Re: HP have updated their printers to ban ‘non-HP’ cartridges

#10
post #3

Speaking of YC funding disruption where are the home printer startups? Is it just that unprofitable to even try? Or the hardware too difficult or tricky? Or the driver software? Seems like there are zero good alternatives for home printing. HP doing this stuff or making you subscribe to HP+. Brother offering basically zero support. Is epson or canon even competitive for a home printer?

Been using Brother MFC printers for 20 years and all the software and technical documents were easily available on the website. And they are cheap enough that I would toss it if it ever broke early, but none ever have.
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