On 03/26/2018 11:17 AM, Alex Volkov via talk wrote:

Hey Hugh

Privacy concerns for this bargain are totally valid, but I have a strong suspicion that the truth about the bargain is much more prosaic.

I've configured several HP inkjet printers in my life, and in my experience, for the novice user -- compiling and installing linux kernel from scratch is a much more straightforward process.

I think HP wants to get some field data on UI interactions with their printers so they can make them slightly less craptacular.

Also someone can just get one, put a wireshark host in the middle and see what kind of data the printer is sending -- that would be an interesting article to read. I kind of expect that if you flame up wireshark that the link will be https so there will not be much to see. HP would want to keep the link secure to insure their proprietary information is protected. Protecting your information is of no value to them.

Alex.

On 2018-03-26 10:45 AM, D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk wrote:

...

<http://forums.redflagdeals.com/amazon-ca-hp-envy-4520-wireless-all-one-printer-mobile-printing-w-free-hp-instant-ink-plan-39-91-2180616/>

This is a scanner + printer device.  Apparently with Linux support via HPLIP.

It costs as little as $33.52 + tax through Amazon Warehouse deals (customer returned units, I think).  If you manage to add something to your order to reach $35, you qualify for free shipping.

This device is qualified for free ink for life at the rate of 15 pages per month.  These are not just nominal pages (i.e. with 5% coverage), they are any pages (eg. prints of photos).

The major downside is that the printer must be allowed to contact HP at all times through its wireless and your internet connection. What is it sending to HP?  HP tries to address these concerns but they didn't satisfy me.  Could Bad Guys hack this channel?

Reluctantly, I think that I'll pass on this bargain. --- Talk Mailing List talk@gtalug.org https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk

--- Talk Mailing List talk@gtalug.org https://gtalug.org/mailman/listinfo/talk

-- Alvin Starr || land: (905)513-7688 Netvel Inc. || Cell: (416)806-0133 alvin@netvel.net ||

On 26/03/18 12:45 PM, D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk wrote:

| From: Alex Volkov via talk <talk@gtalug.org>

| I've configured several HP inkjet printers in my life, and in my experience, | for the novice user -- compiling and installing linux kernel from scratch is a | much more straightforward process.

Interesting.

We have an ancient HP printer/scanner that Just Worked on Linux (unless the trauma was so bad that I've suppressed the memory). It gets used regularly for scanning. It rarely gets used for (colour, inkjet) printing. So rarely that once in a while I have to rediscover how to unclog the jets by soaking the cartridge in hot water. If it were used regularly that would not happen.

I hate inkjets. But I love the fact that they can do colour. We accumulated four or five as freebes a decade ago when they were thrown in free with computer purchases.

I suffered from that for a while, and eventually bought an inexpensive color laser that Linux knew about, an HP M117fw, which works well so long as I don't muck up the cups settings (I did that once and it printed copies of a rejected candidate's resume every time I booted it, much to Joyce's annoyance). --dave -- David Collier-Brown, | Always do right. This will gratify System Programmer and Author | some people and astonish the rest davecb@spamcop.net | -- Mark Twain

| From: Giles Orr via talk <talk@gtalug.org> | On 26 March 2018 at 13:22, Kevin Cozens via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote: | | > Only 15 pages in an entire month? That is barely 1 page every 2 days. If | > someone is using the printer as their main one they would easily exceed | > that number of pages in a month. We print loads and loads of stuff. It is all printed in monochrome on a laser. But it really is magical that you can cheaply buy something that can print beautiful colour. We print almost nothing in colour. That's why our current inkjet dries out. We do print a colour picture once in a while. The ink for a picture is (I think) fairly expensive. One problem: I guess we'd binge-print once in a while, and 15/month, non-cumulative, might not be enough for a binge. | > I wonder how much they charge for ink cartridges and how many pages you | > are supposed to be able to print with each cartridge? Those are easy to find on the web. But beware, the quoted page counts are based on an ISO standard page that has (if I remember correctly) 5% coverage -- nothing like a photo. | What fascinates me - and every big corporation in the world - is the | question "how little does a person have to be paid to give up their | privacy?" Right. I thought of countermeasures, like creating a separate network for the printer. That might make it safe-ish. The things I would print would be unlikely to have privacy concerns (cannot be 100% sure). But that's way too much effort for the advantages. | Most people give up their privacy for convenience. Absolutely. Examples in my life that immediately come to mind: - too many private documents via email - using a Presto Card to enter the nearest subway entrance instead of walking further to use a ticket - using Rogers cable TV after they turned off analogue. Few noticed that their viewing choices became visible to Rogers because of this change. Only Over The Air viewing is private. | But I left Facebook several | years ago, You are of an age where FB use is optional. Younger folks doing this can get isolated from their peers. | and I pay cash for nearly everything. The price for this is | that you're considered archaic or just obstructionist. Try to stay in a hotel or rent a car. Not easy with only cash. Sometimes using cash costs a little more now that the penny is gone. Credit cards bribe us to use them (points etc.) by taxing the merchant.