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       Following this update, HP will no longer support the LaserJet e-series printers, as well as the HP+ and Instant Ink toner subscription services associated with these printers, due to customer complaints.
       The PC and Printers division initially launched HP+ in 2020 as a fully cloud-based ecosystem, building on its existing Instant Ink subscription service and expanding it to include laser toner.
       The first devices to support HP+ were the HP LaserJet M200 series and the HP OfficeJet Pro 8000e and 9000e.
       According to German technical publication DruckerChannel (in German), all HP LaserJet printers with the “e” suffix, such as the Laserjet M110we, will be discontinued and the company will no longer offer LaserJet products with HP+. Existing customers who own these devices are expected to continue using them.
       These e-series LaserJet printers are less expensive than models without the “e” suffix, but come bundled with HP+ services, require the printer to be connected to the Internet, and limit users to HP-branded toner rather than third-party supplies.
       Customers purchasing HP inkjet printers will have a different experience because they will be able to choose whether to subscribe to HP+ services during software setup.
       HP will also reportedly stop promoting its Instant Ink toner subscription service this year. New customers will no longer be able to use the service, but existing Instant Ink toner subscription customers will not be affected.
       HP appears to have given in to customer complaints about HP+, which inevitably leads to problems because the hardware requires a working internet connection to function properly. HP’s cloud-based features, including security, ink level monitoring, and page count, limit the printer’s capabilities when the internet connection is down for long periods.
       However, the company told DruckerChannel that it realized that some commercial customers in managed office environments could not meet HP+’s cloud connectivity requirements, and to ensure its products are suitable for all customers, it will no longer offer its LaserJet line with HP+.
       This is all part of HP’s desire to maintain revenue growth in a world where users are printing fewer pages. To do this, HP enrolls users in subscription plans that require regular payments in exchange for ink or toner cartridges that are delivered to the user as needed.
       As The Register previously reported, the company surpassed 11 million subscribers in 2022, and its revenue has seen double-digit percentage growth since then.
       Late last year, HP’s CFO told investors that locking people into a subscription model was a way to make more money, and that customer value would “go up 20%” if the company could wean customers away from the transactional model.
       HP is also facing a class action lawsuit in the U.S., with plaintiffs alleging that firmware updates for their printers were no longer available if third-party replacement cartridges were installed. The printer buyers said they had no contractual agreement to purchase only HP-branded ink until they received the firmware update.®
       “At HP, our goal is to provide exceptional printing experiences for all our customers. Based on recent customer feedback in IT-managed office environments, we have decided to discontinue a specific line of LaserJet products that support HP+ and are designated with the letter “e”. This is due to cloud connectivity issues in certain office environments. This does not impact other LaserJet printers or any inkjet devices.”