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HP Stops Selling Printers, Starts Selling Prints

Posted by Zonk on from the does-this-mean-i-get-a-free-printer dept.

An anonymous reader writes "HP has launched a new line of business printers but there's a big catch — you won't be able to buy one. For the first time in history, the company will make customers purchase printing services, rather than the product itself. At its biggest printer launch since the LaserJet in 1984, HP's new business-class Edgeline printers will only be available through a managed services contract. Pricing will be per page, depending on the quality of the printout. Edgeline technology is said to be so ink-efficient that if HP were to sell these printers, they would never match the money they make from consumables (cartridges etc) now."

9 of 346 comments (clear)

  1. Misleading Summary Title by EveryNickIsTaken · · Score: 5, Informative

    So, they're not stopping selling printers, they've just released a new line of contracted/leased service printers. Nice work.

    1. Re:Misleading Summary Title by iamhassi · · Score: 5, Informative

      "A printer in which I don't get a print in less than a few minutes isn't very useful to me."

      Did you RTFA? This is the technology we read on /. oh so long ago:
      "new Memjet technology can print 60 full-color pages per minute. Instead of having a print head that moves side to side like current inkjets, the print head spans the full width of the page."

      From TFA:
      "Edgeline uses a page-wide stationary print-head, decreasing wear and tear by removing contact with the paper."

      Here's an amazing (unbelievable?) video of the Memjet printer in action
      I've been waiting for this ever since I heard of it: All the photographic quality of a inkjet with faster speeds than laser printers and saving ink to boot. Very disappointed we won't see it at home now, but it's only a matter of time before it filters down.

      --
      my karma will be here long after I'm gone
    2. Re:Misleading Summary Title by Ewan · · Score: 5, Informative

      On our managed printers, an engineer pops in every month or so to do a 10 minute long "service check", and while he's blowing the dust out of the paper feeders he checks the internal counters, then you get a bill for your months usage. Go long enough without the scheduled checks, and the printer shuts itself off.

  2. What a pity by DamnRogue · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Edgeline technology is said to be so ink-efficient that if HP were to sell these printers, they would never match the money they make from consumables (cartridges etc) now." So they've innovated their way out of their own ability to gouge their customers? My heart bleeds...

  3. How innovative by CastrTroy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Many businesses have been getting printers they way for a long time. The only difference is that this time it's the printer manufacturer that's getting the service contract, and not some third party company. In my opinion, this makes perfect sense. The company who made the product is probably the one most qualified to fix and service it. Granted, you probably won't be able to shop around, because if you want that printer, there's no competition, but you'll still be able to compare with other printer brands.

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    1. Re:How innovative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      It will still be the same third party companies supporting these printers. They will just be "Authorized HP Printer Service Representatives."

  4. cartridge refills by hjf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Edgeline technology is said to be so ink-efficient that if HP were to sell these printers, they would never match the money they make from consumables (cartridges etc) now.
    Bull. They realized they can't win against cartridge refills. So this is what they're doing to stop refillers.
  5. Edgeline technology is said to be so ink-efficient by drgonzo59 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Sounds like a big marketing hype.


    COMPANY: Our technology is so good we can't even sell it. But of course if you are willing to pay a premium we might consider it....


    COSTOMER: Oh, wow. This shit has to be good if they can't sell it. We have to see if HP will sell it to _us_. We'll even offer them to pay extra.


    COMPANY: Suckers...!

    ...


    Reminds of when I went shopping for cars with my uncle in Odessa, Ukraine. This guy was selling used cars. At the end of the lot he had a car covered under a sheet. My uncle asks, what's model you have there. He said "That's not for sale." He then proceeded to tell us how that was a special model blah blah blah. Then my uncle talked him into selling it, payed extra for the 'special' features. Then as we drove away it, the salesman took the sheet and put it on the car right next to it. Seems like HP is doing the same thing here...

  6. Competition Comes from Older Models by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'd be willing to bet that they have it in mind to avoid the competition to future models that this model represents.

    For example, I'd have a quite nice office class networked, duplexing, HP laserjet 4si printer nestled under my desk at home. It's a 200lb beast that keeps on printing. The $100 cartridges last a year. I got it for $200 off ebay and $50 for a service kit. To buy something similar new would cost me $4-$5k. I expect that it will keep going for years.

    Just as test equipment manufacturers know about their old scopes, HP knows that one of it's biggest competitors is not other printer manufacturers, but the installed base of high quality, high reliability, maintainable workhorse printers they sold in the past.

    Leasing printing services rather than selling printers means they never suffer from this new model surviving 15 years down the road, competing with their new new model.

    --
    Evil people are out to get you.