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       People hate printers. They have a lot of parts that wear out and require expensive refills. But things got worse when HP started making printers that required a 24/7 internet connection and blocked third-party cartridges with DRM.
       The situation became so bad that consumers began suing HP, which eventually decided to err on the side of caution and discontinued production of the HP+ e-series printers.
       HP has discontinued its line of HP+ LaserJet printers, according to a statement obtained by German site Drucker Channel (and spotted by Tom’s Hardware). The printers in question include more than a dozen models from different series that are virtually identical to each other except for the addition of an “e” at the end of the model number.
       Here is a list of the affected models. Again, these models all have similar model numbers without the “e” at the end and should be available for sale:
       All of these models require an active Internet connection to HP’s servers to print, and they have tighter DRM protection to force users to use expensive HP ink instead of third-party refills.
       You probably already know that manufacturers sell cheap printers to get you to spend a ton of money on ink, but HP has taken it a step further by turning ink into a subscription model.
       HP+ Instant Ink Upgrade automatically orders new toner when the printer indicates that the toner in a cartridge is low. This, of course, does not prompt the printer to reduce the amount of toner in the package or activate the “order” button if the current cartridge is not completely empty. Not at all.
       HP also announced that it is shutting down its Instant Ink program by the end of this year, though current users of the service may be able to continue using it. The same goes for its Always Connected E-Series printers: They will disappear from store shelves, but existing printers will remain available.
       However, HP’s statement (machine translation, since I don’t understand German) does not say that currently available Always-On printers will be updated or modified to remove this dependency. So if you have a printer sold through the HP+ program, you may still have to keep it connected 24/7… as long as HP’s servers are running.
       The attempt to turn print into a subscription service immediately encountered strong resistance from many consumers. While it makes sense for companies to build supply chains to meet their print needs, home users are becoming less dependent on print—by design.
       Today, you can send packages, attend concerts and sporting events, and ride trains and buses using just your phone. Many people no longer have printers, and when they need to print something, they go to a FedEx store or a library.
       HP’s attempt to lock users into its ecosystem of artificially inflated ink prices hasn’t gone down well: Earlier this year, some users in the US filed a class action lawsuit against HP after discovering they couldn’t use third-party ink cartridges after updating their printer software.
       This isn’t the first time HP has taken this step, nor the first time it’s been sued by its own customers. While HP didn’t mention these legal issues when it announced it was ending support for its “always-on” printers and subscription services, it seems like someone had them in mind when they made the announcement.
       As a former printer, I know the necessity of printing and the distaste most people have for it. I bought a cheap Brother laser printer a few years ago and now recommend it to anyone who only needs to print the occasional black-and-white shipping label or document. It has Wi-Fi, boots up quickly even after months of not turning it on, and works great with cheap third-party toner.
       Michael is a tech journalist with over 10 years of experience, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. He’s a lifelong PCWorld keyboard enthusiast, always looking for new keyboards to review, and in his spare time he’s building new mechanical keyboards or expanding his desktop battle station. Michael has written for Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and has covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress. Based in Pennsylvania, Michael is always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.