arkitrave :: log

So, I’m printing about 100 sheets of a letterhead. And 30 sheets into the job, I get an error that the black ink cartridge is out. My only option is to change the cartridge or cancel the job.

I would prefer that the printer try to print, and let me judge when the quality reaches a point that I can’t tolerate. So, I open the printer, remove the cartridge, and re-insert it. The error message pops up instantly again. No black ink. I can delete the job, stop the job, or stop all jobs. These choices are slightly less than satisfying.

Interestingly enough, I have the old ink cartridge that did run low and start to produce low-quality prints. I forgot to return it to the mother ship for recycling after it ran out. I hold both of the cartridges in my hands. The one that is supposedly “out of ink” is noticably heavier than the one that actually ran out of ink weeks ago. Curious, I insert the nearly empty cartridge in place of the one that I know is nearly full. Like magic, I’m back in business and printing up a storm.

With a little research, I found this article on a lawsuit against HP. Seems that they have been doing some programming on the sly, and setting dates for the cartridges to keel over and die even if they aren’t out of ink. It seems that this is to nail those who, God forbid, refill their ink cartriges. The horror.

The problem with this kind of 1984 tactics is obvious. I feel ripped off, having spent $25 on an ink cartridge from which I only got $5 of ink. In a world where half the cost of a new printer is the included ink, I’m really inclined to trade in my HP for a company that doesn’t engage in these kinds of dirty tricks.

Don’t look over your shoulder, but they’re watching you.