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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 Snotnose on Friday September 30 2016, @01:57AM
It was wireless, it was color, it scanned, it faxed, it was HP. How could I go wrong?
Well, lemme list the ways.
Got it 5-6 years ago. First year or two was great.
Then, whenever I went to print I got "out of paper, load letter". Pull the paper out, put it back in, press OK, it prints.
Then when I went to scan I couldn't find the scan. Turns out a software update had moved where the scans went. Did that update tell me they moved? Maybe in the EULA, otherwise I didn't notice.
Then, I suddenly had 5-6 printers in my Windows "choose a printer" box. Took a couple of guesses to figure out which one I wanted.
Then, ran out of ink and got it reloaded locally. Printer said "Out of ink", printed in B/W.
Power cycle, it accepted the ink but gives "out of ink" warnings every time I print. Colors are fine.
On top of that, for every problem I've had I've had to download the HP support assistant to figure out why. Nope, that HPSA I downloaded last month wasn't good enough, I needed to download it again. Did I mention it was a good 20 minutes to download and install HPSA? I'm mentioning it now. Fucking pain in the ass.
And here I stand. All my previous printers have been HP (going back some 30 years), this will probably be my last.
The one problem that burns my butt is the "out of paper". I can't reseat the paper before printing. No, I have to try and print, get my ass off my chair, walk to the printer, pull the 1" stack of paper out, put it back in, and hit "OK".
Hard to believe I go through all this shit to print 1 page twice a month.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.