HP discontinues online-only LaserJet printers in response to backlash

Reaction to HP’s Online-Only / HP+ LaserJets

• Many see the online-only “e” models as a predictable disaster: confusing, consumer-hostile, and likely to end as e‑waste once accounts lapse or servers change.
• People describe devices effectively “bricked” without HP+ or Instant Ink: printers tied to previous owners’ accounts, scanners disabled when ink is low, and no clear path to unlock them.
• Some note the one upside of clear labeling: the “e” suffix now acts as a warning of models to avoid.

Subscriptions, Ownership, and E‑Waste

• Strong resentment toward subscription and account requirements for basic printing and scanning; users expected “just a printer,” not a service gatekeeper.
• Several argue the main “innovation” in printing has been erosion of ownership and lock‑in, not better tech.
• Concerns that discontinued or canceled subscriptions turn hardware into toxic e‑waste.

Experiences with HP vs Alternatives

• Older HP LaserJets and multifunctions are praised as rock‑solid and simple; newer consumer HP gear is called unreliable, overcomplicated, and scam‑like.
• Some describe HP’s brand as having gone from industry gold standard to something they now actively boycott.
• Brother laser printers (especially simple B&W) and non‑HP tank inkjets are repeatedly recommended as “they just work” alternatives.

How Much Do People Still Print?

• Usage is clearly down for many: digital tickets, QR codes, e‑signatures, and scanning via phones reduce day‑to‑day printing.
• Others still rely on printers for kids’ homework, reading papers on paper, boarding‑pass backups, shipping labels, and occasional government or legal documents.
• For very low volume, some prefer libraries or copy shops; others say the time and hassle make a cheap home laser worth it.

Government, Paperwork, and Regional Differences

• Germany and other countries are said to still demand significant paper mail; others (e.g., Denmark, some EU states) have mandatory digital government mailboxes.
• Several note real problems with digital‑only systems: fragile audit trails, expiring signatures, court acceptance issues, and state control over records.

Business Models, Corporate Incentives, and “Enshittification”

• Many argue HP leadership likely understood the downsides but followed stock‑market pressure to become a “subscription/software” company.
• Comparisons are made to airlines’ baggage fees, game microtransactions, smart TVs, and other markets where companies push boundaries until consumers protest.
• Some see this as a broader pattern: short‑term revenue focus, gradual normalization of worse terms, and loss of long‑term brand value.

Ideas for Better Printers / Tech Maturity

• One subthread suggests there is still room for real innovation—better finishing, cutting/binding, APIs, smarter workflows—while others counter that most “new” ideas either exist already or offer little real value.
• Overall sentiment: printers remain necessary but are widely disliked, and HP is viewed as a central example of how to make them worse.