Reported that the USB port was hidden behind the ``sticker that makes you think that USB cannot be used'' affixed to the HP printer



A report was posted on Mastodon, a decentralized SNS, that a hidden ``USB port'' was found when the ``sticker indicating that the USB cannot be used'' affixed to

the HP printer was peeled off. The user who posted claims that HP tried to download a dedicated application by hiding the existence of the USB port, accusing ``HP is a scammer.''

netspooky: 'HP are such scammers I posted…' - haunted computer
https://haunted.computer/@netspooky/110832978569741892



Hide a USB port behind a “no USB port” sticker: HP's wacky idea
https://euro.dayfr.com/technology/612507.html

Mr. netspooky, a user of haunted.computer, one of Mastodon's instances, said that he purchased an entry model of HP printer Deskjet 2700 one day. Below is a picture of the printer.



On the back side of the printer was a sticker indicating 'USB unusable' as shown below, but next to it there was a mark indicating that there was a USB terminal.



When the sticker was peeled off, a USB port appeared, and it was possible to connect the USB cable and print.



``HP is a scammer,'' netspooky said. Well, I figured out how to print over the network without the app that HP wants you to download, it's easier if you just print, and you can use the USB port that HP is trying to pretend doesn't exist !”, He claims that HP dared to hide the existence of the USB port.

HP seems to have no reason to hide the existence of the USB port that exists on the printer, but netspooky points out that HP is trying to download a dedicated application for HP printers by hiding the existence of the USB port. . Therefore, it is thought that they adopted the means of 'hiding the USB port with a sticker', which is cheaper than rewriting the firmware or redesigning the physical hardware.

Netspooky's post received a number of responses, with one user saying, ``HP doesn't hide the USB port, but rather sets up the printer via Wi-Fi and then uses the USB port. Immediate use of the USB port seems to only print up to 20 pages and then stalls.This is done to force the user to opt in to HP+ and lock the printer to use official toner. That's why this printer is cheap,' he points out .



This case was also featured on the social news site Hacker News, saying, 'Costco requires that all HP printers it sells are fully functional, even if they do not subscribe to HP's service. HP printers sold at Costco are often Costco-exclusive models .'

Pay no attention to the USB port behind the “no USB” sticker | Hacker News
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37006705

in Hardware, Posted by log1h_ik