Technology That Never Needed to be Invented

Such a waste of R&D: hardware and software that tells you toner and ink cartridges are low. What, we can't tell with our own eyes?

I don't care for the flashing icons and pop-up dialog boxes urging me to change cartridges. I've printed over 1,000 pages on the HP laser printer since the first warnings appeared. Yesterday, a white stripe appeared in the center of pages, so I took out the cartridge, shook it back and forth, and now it's good for more printing.

There's that persistant yellow light on the printer that seems to say, "I'm a liar. I'm a liar. I'm ..."

Comments

[Evan Yares]

Life must be good, Ralph. Is that the most irritating problem you've had today?

My printer is far enough away from where I sit, and I run large enough print jobs, that the warning is of use to me.

I will say, however, that HP might be able to do a better job at estimating toner use based on the number of pixels printed. But then, I don't know if there's actually an incentive for them to do that, given their dominant market position, and the money they make selling supplies.

hmmm?
the american spelling is "persistent."

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Persistent

[Stefaan Boel]

It's true, have it also all the time poping up my screen!
You know, I think there are people who will rush then to the shop buying a new one and probably replacing it! So it brings in cash for HP. Or maybe you buy it and it will stay on your desk long enough so the cartridge is expired and you'll have to buy one again!
It's pure briliant marketing to me!! So not a useless invention for HP

[Rachael Taggart]

Epson got sued recently for fraud, breach of contract and a bunch of other things for the following: "Plaintiffs allege that Epson inkjet printers and inkjet cartridges indicate that cartridges are “empty” and suspend printer function, even though substantial ink remains."
(http://www.epsonsettlement.com/Faq.htm#1)

I always suspected that my inkjet cartridges were not always empty even when the system told me - repeatedly - that it was. The settlement is laughable though - $45 credit for Epson products. zzz.

What really gets on my nerves is the way the printer 'stalks' me when I put in cartridges from a generic vendor such as Carrot Ink. Very good quality and about half to two-thirds the price. But then the Epson keeps asking me if 'I am sure' that i want to use non-Epson cartridges.

i think this class action suit is a good thing, though, as it will prevent the non-stop stalking and control measures that have become part of life with printers now. Some of the HP software I recently installed acts like a virus - changing my printer defaults, trying to upload software etc. Personally, I hate it.