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       People hate printers. They have a lot of parts that wear out and require expensive ink refills. But things got worse when HP started making printers that required a 24/7 network connection and locked 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 HP+ LaserJet printer line with immediate effect, according to a statement obtained by German site Drucker Channel (and spotted by Tom’s Hardware). This includes more than a dozen printer models from different series that are virtually identical to each other, with only an “e” added to 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 servers to print and have stricter 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 cartridge is low — it doesn’t, of course, prompt the printer to make a smaller pack of toner or activate an “order” button if the current cartridge isn’t completely empty. Not at all.
       HP also said that the Instant Ink program is dead. It will be shut down at the end of this year, though current users of the service may be able to continue using it. The same goes for the Always Connected e-series printers — they will disappear from store shelves, but existing printers will not be shut down.
       But HP’s statement (machine translation, because I don’t understand German) doesn’t 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 need to keep it online 24/7… as long as HP’s servers remain functional.
       The attempt to turn print into a subscription service immediately encountered strong resistance from many consumers. While it makes sense for businesses to build supply chains to meet their print needs, home users are becoming less dependent on print—and that’s by design.
       Today, you can send packages, attend concerts and sporting events, and even ride trains and buses with 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 been popular: Earlier this year, some users in the US filed a class action lawsuit against HP after discovering they couldn’t use third-party cartridges after updating their printer software.
       This isn’t the first time HP has taken steps like this, nor the first time they’ve been sued by their own customers. While HP didn’t mention these legal issues when it announced the end of its “always-on” printers and subscription services, it seems like someone had them in mind when they made the call.
       As a former printer, I know the necessity of printing and the dislike most users have for it. I bought a cheap Brother laser printer a few years ago, and now I recommend it to anyone who only needs to print the occasional black-and-white label or document. It has Wi-Fi connectivity, 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 10 years of experience, having covered everything from Apple to ZTE. He’s a lifelong PCWorld keyboard enthusiast, always on the lookout for a new keyboard to review, and spends his free time 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. Michael lives in Pennsylvania and is always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.