Wednesday, December 26, 2012

New Year's Resolution 2: leave @HPCorp alone

You got an HP printer for Christmas? Ah, print out a copy of this post.

The business geniuses at Hewlett Packard have managed the impossible. They stick microchips on the bottom of their ink cartridges so you cannot use an American cartridge in Europe or vice versa.

Your printer is 100% the same, so are the cartridges (except for the chip), and there is just a little switch in the software (a setting) that makes it so your European cartridge is rejected as "illegal".

They  use the word "illegal" in the message on the screen.

So, if you are in Europe, you are paying more than you should. First, because this is the "HP way", second because no off-brand manufacturer can sell you ink cartridges.

Next step paper? RFID chips in HP paper so the printers won't use no-name paper?
Imagine, you buy a Ford car that has tires with an in-built chip. They do not tell you.
Then you put on a competing tire, and the car won't run.

The relentless profit maximizers at HP have paved the way.

After cars?

Use your imagination: a microchip under your lip and milk with RFID tags. The problem of smelly French cheese in the U.S. -- solved. Put cheese in mouth, start beeping.

Note: we are not affiliated with, supported by, or even read by any ink or printer maker.

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