We all are pretty annoyed at how the printer industry is screwing customers over. There are a few printers that are really good but most of them suck and try to suck out your money by demanding ink when none is needed.

And i also know that it’s nearly impossible to create an open-source printer that can be build by smaller businesses like the 3D printing space can do.

But are there any projects underway to reverse-engineer printer firmware and make it possible to flash the custom ROM onto a printer? No specific manufacturer in mind right now, but wouldn’t that make things better? Simply disable all the stupid checks that claim that you NEED ink to scan or that you NEED yellow to print a black text?

  • OCT0PUSCRIME@lemmy.moorenet.casaEnglish
    51·
    9 months ago

    You aren’t the only annoyed one!

    In 1980, Stallman and some other hackers at the AI Lab were refused access to the source code for the software of a newly installed laser printer, the Xerox 9700. Stallman had modified the software for the Lab’s previous laser printer (the XGP, Xerographic Printer), so it electronically messaged a user when the person’s job was printed, and would message all logged-in users waiting for print jobs if the printer was jammed. Not being able to add these features to the new printer was a major inconvenience, as the printer was on a different floor from most of the users. This experience convinced Stallman of people’s need to be able to freely modify the software they use.

    Richard Stallman Wiki

    • Bipta@kbin.social
      21·
      9 months ago

      Now software runs our lives, spies on us, navigates for us and nobody cares. Wild.

      • Lemongrab@lemmy.one
        8·
        9 months ago

        Nobody has the time or expertise to care. Its not their fault. The corporations are still the ones to blame.

      • Luke_Fartnocker@lemm.ee
        7·
        9 months ago

        That’s like saying “the government takes our money, wates it, spies on us, and abuses us, and nobody cares”. We all care, but what are you going to do about it?