I came across a strange IT 'solution' the other day.

The Canon printer at work is using a 'counterfeit' print cartridge.

Solution: Change the IP address to a static IP address.

Odd solution indeed.

Fucking #Printers

I caved, and bought an Epson EcoTank printer to replace the giant Workforce printer I've had since 2012.

I'll miss the Workforce's A3 scanner but I won't miss its cranky cartridges.

Ars Technica: HP avoids monetary damages over bricked printers in class-action settlement. “A United States District Court for the Northern District of California judge has signed off on a settlement agreement between HP and its customers, who sued the company for issuing firmware updates that prevented their printers from working with non-HP ink and toner.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/04/03/ars-technica-hp-avoids-monetary-damages-over-bricked-printers-in-class-action-settlement/

OMG #printers – Just do what you were able to do in 1998. I haven't needed any other functionality than what was provided then.

I'm not trying to do anything fancy. Just fricking print the four lines of text on a standard envelope like you have a hundred times before.

< insert #OfficeSpace scene.mpg >

@Simonas

AFAICT, some #Brother #printers now come with a subscription; others still don't. The subscription has the rather markety name of #EcoPro, so that's the term you need to avoid.

@davidallengreen

#Print #Printer #Printers

ok so what kind of printers does fedi recommend in 2025. My mother's printer has died recently and she's looking for a replacement.

#Printer #Printers

https://m.slashdot.org/story/440055

And this is why I will never never never ever buy an HP printer again. Scumbags #HP #printers

Today I learned that inkjet printers literally dry out if you don't use them for a while.

The Register: Printers start speaking in tongues after Windows 11 update. “Has your printer suddenly started spouting gibberish? A faulty Windows 11 23H2 update from Microsoft – rather than a ghost in the machine – could be the cause. The update in question is KB5050092, a preview released at the end of January.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/03/14/the-register-printers-start-speaking-in-tongues-after-windows-11-update/

One more CUPS question - the Print to PDF queue, which is based on an ippeveprinter created at startup, puts the queue job number at the start of the output pdf, so I get something like

1-filename.pdf
2-someotherfilename.pdf
etc.

Anyone know where I need to change that to leave the job number off?

I’m off to try more google searches (wish me luck!), but thought I’d ask here as I’ve not found anything yet.

Thanks!

UPDATE: I think I’ve worked out how avoid the problem.

Any CUPS experts here? I want to inject some PostScript near the start of all jobs which come through a certain queue.

The prefilter stuff I found looks like it’s for an earlier version.

It’s an ippeveprinter ”print to PDF” printer, but some jobs need an additional set of PS procedures defined which are being sent as a separate print job. Those procedures never change, so I want to just add them in at the start.

#HP update bricks #printers with genuine ink, then offers coupon codes towards #buying a new #printer.. by Louis Rossmann #yt

https://youtu.be/N0UZqSSP87I

"HP, along with other printer brands, is infamous for issuing firmware updates that brick already-purchased printers that have tried to use third-party ink. In a new form of frustration, HP is now being accused of issuing a firmware update that broke customers’ laser printers—even though the devices are loaded with HP-brand toner.

The firmware update in question is version 20250209, which HP issued on March 4 for its LaserJet MFP M232-M237 models. Per HP, the update includes “security updates,” a “regulatory requirement update,” “general improvements and bug fixes,” and fixes for IPP Everywhere. Looking back to older updates’ fixes and changes, which the new update includes, doesn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary. The older updates mention things like “fixed print quality to ensure borders are not cropped for certain document types,” and “improved firmware update and cartridge rejection experiences.” But there’s no mention of changes to how the printers use or read toner.

However, users have been reporting sudden problems using HP-brand toner in their M232–M237 series printers since their devices updated to 20250209. Users on HP’s support forum say they see Error Code 11 and the hardware’s toner light flashing when trying to print. Some said they’ve cleaned the contacts and reinstalled their toner but still can't print."

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/firmware-update-bricks-hp-printers-makes-them-unable-to-use-hp-cartridges/

Ars Technica: Firmware update bricks HP printers, makes them unable to use HP cartridges. “HP, along with other printer brands, is infamous for issuing firmware updates that brick already-purchased printers that have tried to use third-party ink. In a new form of frustration, HP is now being accused of issuing a firmware update that broke customers’ laser printers—even though the devices […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2025/03/11/ars-technica-firmware-update-bricks-hp-printers-makes-them-unable-to-use-hp-cartridges/

Community, DIY, open hardware and software has been part of the commodity #3Dprinting world for over 20 years (#RepRap et al.). Open projects, with parts you can source yourself or via kits (e.g. #Voron).

What if—what IF!
We did the same for plain old #2Dprinting..? I’d build a 2D laser printer from a kit.

(To be fair, I found a few resources and it seems like a daunting talk: lots of moving parts, optics, etc. 3D printers almost feel simpler, they’re just robots that push out hot plastic.)

“Firmware update bricks HP printers”
(and toner/ink DRM, etc.)

#printers #enshitification

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/firmware-update-bricks-hp-printers-makes-them-unable-to-use-hp-cartridges/

Oh look! It's Monday.

ArsTechnica: HP printers stop working with HP toner due to update

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/firmware-update-bricks-hp-printers-makes-them-unable-to-use-hp-cartridges/