this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2024
1002 points (98.5% liked)
Technology
59312 readers
4649 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related content.
- Be excellent to each another!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
Approved Bots
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Obligatory Brother Laser Printer comment.
Obligatory "no step brother, that is not where letter sized papers are supposed to go"
I looked into these the other day as my canon inkjet is on its last legs, but it seems any brother laser printer with a comparable featureset now has its own subscription model, and I could be wrong but this is how it seems to work based on my research:
You automatically get a trial subscription with the toner you get in these printer models (not sure, I hope it’s opt-in)
If you don’t continue the subscription after the trial, the toner cartridges lock and there’s no way to continue using them, even if you renew your subscription later. You have to pay for new toner cartridges.
I bought an Epson ink tank printer because I was so done with cartridges. I'm quite happy with it so far. Always works, never saw any prompts for me to make accounts or install bullcrap software.
With how popular they've been for years, I'd be honestly surprised if they hadn't enshittified. Reddit got a hard on for them like ten years ago.
You know how this happens right? Old mid man gets fired, new mid man gets hired- now, how for the new mid man to qualify their own existence? Change something. Improvement! Something to show the boss. But what happens when the product is already solid, when any change made to it worsens its functions? How do you improve a fork? You can't, so instead you start adding shit to it, like better grip, sharper teeth, whatever, and the final product evolves gradually into a monster that is at the same time fork, printer, thermostat, and toilet paper dispenser.
The logical procession and ultimate conclusion of capitalism is this.
In fairness, mine is probably even older than that. I think they still sell the basic models. HL-L2305W?
If you own a Brother subscription, you can also get coffee packets, and fresh sock subscription as a service! To your door!
And Canon laser brinter!
And Epson Ecotank