Inkjet printers with expiration dates???

[Andre]

Here's a link to a discussion of HP inkjet printers and printers cartridges with smart chips. Apparently the chips cause a cartridge or print head to "expire" after a certain date, forcing the user to replace the part or the printer, even if it is working perfectly. I'd never heard of such a thing and wonder what other manufacturers are doing the same thing.

http://www.gripe2ed.com/scoop/story/2005/5/23/01334/5457

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Old news in the tech community, but still aggravating.

Their rationale is that old ink increases the chances of a clog that damages the printer. They are also programmed to read empty at around 90%, because running them dry might hurt the printer. But the real evil genius behind the chips isn't making you replace the cartridges a little more often -- the chips prevent third-parties from producing reasonably priced alternatives. Bull#$%^, I say. Especially since the printers are pretty much disposable anyway.

Inkjet printers are a disgrace. They are built like crap and expensive as hell to operate, but because they operate on the razor blade principle, most people don't get upset. There's no reason other technologies haven't gotten cheaper. Unless you really need the color, get a B&W laser printer. If your really need the color, get a Phaser, or learn to accept getting reamed by HP and Canon and Epson.

 

[KenM]

I think Lexmark has a printer that costs about the same as the inkjet cartridges you need for it.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

I think Lexmark has a printer that costs about the same as the inkjet cartridges you need for it.

lexmark printers are the biggest piece of **** I've ever had! They're not worth the money! I'd rather go with a decent Epson than a lexmark anyday!!! I had one die rather quickly and won't buy another one, no matter how desperate I'm for a printer nor how broke I am at that time. I'll spend extra for a quality printer.

 

[mojo1701]

lexmark printers are the biggest piece of **** I've ever had! They're not worth the money! I'd rather go with a decent Epson than a lexmark anyday!!! I had one die rather quickly and won't buy another one, no matter how desperate I'm for a printer nor how broke I am at that time. I'll spend extra for a quality printer.

Really? Well, I've had a Lexmark 3200 for a few years, and it's never failed me.

 

[andargor]

lexmark printers are the biggest piece of **** I've ever had! They're not worth the money! I'd rather go with a decent Epson than a lexmark anyday!!! I had one die rather quickly and won't buy another one, no matter how desperate I'm for a printer nor how broke I am at that time. I'll spend extra for a quality printer.

I just bought a Lexmark C510 for CDN$600, a bargain... Works well and the quality is good. I never thought I'd own a laser color printer for that cheap.

The options kill you though (the old "give you the razor, get you on the blades" concept), but I didn't buy any. they are usually there for network connected printers (hard disk, memory, etc.). I use my linux server to print anyway, and it spools large files.

You can bypass the expiration dates on HP printers, see this article.

In my case, the recent lawsuit that Lexmark lost means I can buy clone cartridges, all the better.

The only real downsides are the size (think office laser, it's huge), and the noise. But I keep it in another room, so I don't hear it.

Andargor

 

[Mercule]

I think Lexmark has a printer that costs about the same as the inkjet cartridges you need for it.

It's the other way around. Lexmark has cartidges that cost about the same as a whole printer.

I'll have to agree, though, that Lexmark is crap. Epson are, too. I've had three Epson printers and was so unhappy with all of them, it would have been a fair trade to pay Kinkos just to print my stuff, if I'd had one close by.

I've got an Apollo (basically a rebuilt HP) and have been extremely happy with it, all things considered. I do tend to have my color cartiges expire on me, though.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Also, replacements without the smart chip will work but you will always get the out of toner message!

 

[Blue Sky]

About once a year, I spend $30 at walmart to buy a cheap Lexmark printer. It breaks in a year, reliably, but I figure it's only thirty bucks. I spend that much on a weekend at the movies. Or a new gaming book.

Lexmark Z515. A truly disposable printer.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Was looking this morning for work, and Xerox is running a $500 rebate in their network-enabled Phaser (we call it the melted-crayon printer). Fast, better output than most any color laser I've seen, as good as or better than the inkjets, and cheaper to run. $799 after the rebate. Don't know if they are still doing it, but those printers used to include free black 'toner' for the life of the printer.