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HP printer USB port covered with warning sticker in hopes you won't use it | Boing Boing (boingboing.net)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/technology

106 comments fedilink hide all child comments

HP wants you to print things through its cloud service, wherein you pay a subscription fee for ink and your usage is routed through its servers. To encourage you to do this, it covers the USB port …

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[–] Dark_Arc 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The thing is since inkjet printers dry out you spend way more on cartridges over time. Sure toner is more expensive, but you but it way less frequently.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Yep just replaced the black toner on my 10+ year old brother. $16 dollar for an off brand.

[–] crashoverride 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, but they usually last a few years before they completely dry out to where you can't use them. I've been using the same ink cartridges in my printer for going on 3 years now and it still works

[–] Dark_Arc 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

True, but they require a lot of test prints until you get back to an acceptable print quality in my experience

[–] veng 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Think I've bought 4 cartridges since getting mine six years ago, so about £120. £20 a year isn't bad... We don't print much, but getting a laser mono is 5x the cost of our printer for the cheapest brother...

[–] Dark_Arc 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The cheapest brother is $120 (USD) https://www.brother-usa.com/products/HLL2300D

If you want color, sure that's more ($250). Still not a long shot from what you paid for your HP, plus that ink (and I'd wager you'd still be going without a single follow up purchase of toner).

For context (per their own product claims):

Brother Genuine TN227 High-yield replacement toner delivers rich, vivid professional laser print quality you can rely on for up to 3,000 pages (black) and up to 2,300 pages (color) (2)
Additional replacement toner option available for this model: TN223 Standard-yield (1,400 pages black/1,300 pages color) (2)

[–] veng 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That's in the US, but to be fair I'm comparing the cheapest 3-in-1 mono brother to my 3-in-1 HP printer. So £178 vs £50, 3x more. That's forgetting the fact that I'd no longer be able to print in colour. I do understand that if I printed more often a laser would absolutely be cheaper.