At 07:59 PM 6/27/01 -0700, Steve Schear wrote:
Well, manufacturers certainly behave this egregiously today; Ross Anderson's new book (I believe it was) tells of great things like printers checking the model of toner catridge installed, and automatically degrading the image if a 3rd-party cartridge is being used.
Its only egregiously if the manufacturer fails to inform the prospective purchaser that performance is only guaranteed with OEM cartridges.
Agreed; contract law always applies. In fact, there may well be engineering reasons for doing certain things only with known cartridges. At the same time, when you buy a device, you expect it to interoperate as best it can. The reputation of a company making gear which doesn't, rightfully suffers. Because
consumers will base buying decisions on a dollar the sellers have resorted to pricing the printers so that they make their money on the supplies.
Tell me about it! Still, that's what the market has evolved. Detroit could make cars that lasted 200,000 miles (reliably; the spec calls for 100,000), but most folks wouldn't pay the extra cost. Sometimes the 'give the razors for free, sell the blades' bizplan is the optimal. A
valid model to me. (Steve, who retrofit his Epson Color 740 for continuous ink supply and never has to purchase or refill a cartridge on the printer again.)
Um, have you put plans online? dh