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HP executive boasts that its controversial ink subscription model is "locking" in customers
(www.techspot.com)
this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2023
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Technology
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of course it is... 'instant ink' subscription requires you consent to automatic firmware updates. the very first of which will block 'non genuine hp' ink cartridges (even more than the factory-loaded firmware does) forever.
so they either get the high-margin recurring subscription revenue or they get the high-margin oem ink sales revenue every time a tiny oem cartridge empties or clogs-up to the point of not working.
'instant ink' is only potentially of any value for some users who have a very consistent printer output from month-to-month, every month, that happens to match-up well with their subscription levels, and that output contains a lot of ink coverage like figures, graphics, and pictures.
if you want to print pictures, an online service or retail store with a printing kiosk is usually the more economical choice--so long as you don't mind a third-party 'seeing' them.