This is why HP is removing many printers from its catalog

© Mahrous Houses/Unsplash

As you probably think, ink printers are probably the biggest scam in the tech world, with all kinds of unfair practices for consumers. At the start of the year, the American HP once again found itself at the heart of a vast controversy. And for good reason! After a security update, it allowed any cartridge that was not officially an HP cartridge to become unusable.

HP drops (finally!) the permanent connection imposed on certain printers

About 3 years ago, this same HP launched its HP+ offer, which requires the printer to remain connected to the web (and the cloud) for a multitude of advantages. “Connected to the cloud, it's always up to date, stays secure, and ready to print from any device, anywhere” HP explains. However, the offer requires a permanent web connection, making the latter (and the customers) dependent on the Internet network.

So, just as it is impossible to launch certain video games without the slightest Internet connection, it is impossible to start printing a document without a printer connected to the web. Difficult for customers to accept and (above all) understand such a restriction. This restriction applied in particular to certain laser printers (E Series), available only with this HP+ offer, and sold a little less expensive than their “classic” counterparts.

Also, facing numerous complaints, particularly among “customers in IT-managed office environments”, HP has decided to backtrack regarding this mandatory connection. Several models of laser printers will thus be withdrawn from the market, leaving room only for similar models, allowing them to be used with or without connection. In total, around ten references have disappeared from the brand's website.

“To provide our customers with an exceptional printing experience in all office environments, we will no longer offer LaserJet Series products with HP+”declared the American company.

Note that those who own an E Series model have no other choice than to continue to use the latter… or buy another model. No update is in fact planned. For others, the choice is left as to whether to activate (or not) the HP+ service during the initial configuration of the product.

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