HP is ditching its online-only printer range — user backlash forces major rethink
www.techradar.com
LaserJet e-series printers discontinued by HP

HP has discontinued its e-series LaserJet printers following widespread consumer dissatisfaction with the printers’ mandatory online connection of the HP+ scheme.

The decision, reported by German media outlet §, addresses growing frustration among users who have been forced to maintain a constant internet connection and use HP original ink and toner, with cheaper and more accessible third-party alternatives prohibited.

The LaserJet e-series models, identifiable by an ‘e’ suffix in their models names, now look to have been pulled from sale.

  • SkyezOpen@lemmy.worldEnglish
    134·
    5 months ago

    Has hp ever done anything to suggest they give a shit about users beyond milking them for all they’re worth?

    • qjkxbmwvz@startrek.websiteEnglish
      24·
      5 months ago

      Maybe a dumb take, but I think milking customers for all they’re worth is much better option than what HP is seemingly doing — which is milking them for all they’re worth this quarter.

      Like, there are companies with a cult like following (Valve comes to mind) and while they could probably increase profit for a quarter or two, they seem to be playing the long game fairly well. Which is ultimately better for everyone — they get more money over your lifetime, and you get a product that you’re happy with.

      • SkyezOpen@lemmy.worldEnglish
        61·
        5 months ago

        Oh absolutely, I’m happy to shovel money at valve. I’ve contacted support quite a few times about index controllers (the joystick switch is trash and drifts after a lot of use) and they’ve always responded within hours and even RMAd one controller way of it warranty. Meta support responded almost instantly, but every single person was useless. After talking to 6 across 3 days, it was finally escalated. They took forever to contact me, I replied within 12 minutes, then the follow up was over 24 hours later. Every single time it took a day for their “specialist team” to respond. It took over a month to actually get them to accept the fact that they never boxed up the quest I ordered, and they still blamed the shipping company even though I received both packages and the quest was not in either, nor was either box even big enough to fit a fucking quest.

        Fuck meta and fuck zuck.

    • Dremor@lemmy.worldEnglish
      241·
      5 months ago

      They did provide good first party Linux support where other printer required the use of hacky reverse engineered drivers. Other than that…

    • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      5 months ago

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_LaserJet_4

      The HP LaserJet 4 (abbreviated sometimes to LJ4 or HP4) is a group of monochrome laser printers produced in the early to mid-1990s…

      The LaserJet 4, especially the 4/4M/4+/4M+ models, have become known for their durability, mainly due to their reliable construction, as well as the printers built-in PCL (and optional PostScript) printer language support which is still used in computers to this day. Hewlett-Packard dominated the laser printing sector during this time in part due to their reliability, relatively affordable pricing, and the spread of LaserJet 4 models from personal use up to heavy business use.

    • cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      8·
      5 months ago

      HP was a good company back when they primarily made test equipment. They made very good equipment that was built to last. They had very detailed documentation and service manuals so you could repair everything yourself.

      • SkyezOpen@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        5 months ago

        I set the bar too low. A lot of companies used to be fantastic, but apparently that doesn’t rake in the cash as fast as being giant pieces of shit.