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Submitted via IRC for Bytram.
Following a story that we reported a few days ago which covered how the latest software update issued by HP for its printers prevented them from working with other cartridges, HP have responded and promise another update to re-enable other ink cartridges. But HP is still defending its practice of preventing the use of non-HP ink and is making no promises about refraining from future software updates that force customers to use only official ink cartridges.
"We updated a cartridge authentication procedure in select models of HP office inkjet printers to ensure the best consumer experience and protect them from counterfeit and third-party ink cartridges that do not contain an original HP security chip and that infringe on our IP," the company said.
The recent firmware update for HP OfficeJet, OfficeJet Pro, and OfficeJet Pro X printers "included a dynamic security feature that prevented some untested third-party cartridges that use cloned security chips from working, even if they had previously functioned," HP said.
For customers who don't wish to be protected from the ability to buy less expensive ink cartridges, HP said it "will issue an optional firmware update that will remove the dynamic security feature. We expect the update to be ready within two weeks and will provide details here."
While I'm sure that we recognise that HP cannot guarantee the operation of any printer not using their own cartridges, how often are similar techniques used to lock-out fair competition? What are your experiences and views?.
(Score: 2) by requerdanos on Thursday September 29 2016, @09:01PM
I have over the past year bought two Samsung laser printers on closeout, a color one for $30 (yes, thirty US Dollars), and a print-scan-fax monochrome for about $100, both of which were on closeout sales at a store nearby.
I don't want to ever own another inkjet printer if I can help it, as I don't print enough to keep the heads flowing freely and that costs me a lot in replacing full ink cartridges and/or having explosive messes or spills when I try to "unclog" the cartridges.
So, it's laser printers, and I got these two very inexpensively.
But alas, Samsung uses screw-you chips on their toner cartridges. To be at least semi-sustainable with my lifestyle, I should at least refill the toner instead of throwing-away-and-replacing the perfectly good receptacle that holds the toner, when it happens to be low.
I don't respect Samsung's opinion as to whether I have toner remaining, as I prefer to judge that by... whether I have toner remaining.
And I'd like to refill from a bottle.
I have found a solution online with respect to my color printer that involves a convoluted fix of soldering an external spst momentary that causes the printer to believe that it has only just been manufactured, has never printed a page, and to assume that it has fresh "starter" lobotomized toner cartridges in it... but firmware that simply lets me reset the toner level would be about 5000% better.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 29 2016, @09:55PM
HP is buying Samsung's printer division. Optional firmware update allowing third-party toner in 3, 2, 1...
(Score: 2) by KritonK on Friday September 30 2016, @01:47PM
I have a Samsung CLP-325 laser printer, and I had no problem getting refilled toner cartriges for it. I say "had", because printing quality was hit and miss with refilled cartridges, so I stopped using them. I now use Q-Connect [q-connect.com] remanufactured cartridges, with which I've never had a problem.
On both refilled and remanufactured cartridges, the chip is exposed, so I assume that it has been tweaked or replaced, so that the cartridge will register as a new one on the printer.