I have a black and white brother laser printer that had 3rd party toner that worked fine for years, it was even a two pack of toner. Then I installed a firmware update and immediately it threw an error stating trouble with the toner and refused to print. Tried the unopened 2nd toner, same error. Looked and searched all over online and could not find the previous firmware to try a roll back.
I then purchased a new two pack of 3rd party toner from a different brand and it worked just fine. My guess is with each new firmware they also have a set of chips to block (each toner has a chip on it) that they bundle into to update.
I’ll never install another firmware update for that printer now.
I would consider what they did as bricking my toner.
This sounds accurate based on the user reports. They’re not bricking anything, they just make you do manual registration if you use third party toner.
Man, if only we had a word for disabling critical features in this way.
If there is one, it’s not “bricking”, because it still functions as a printer.
Upvoted for understanding the concept of words having already established definitions
Standardized word meanings being recognized and adhered to really brings me joy.
I don’t like that meanings change over time.
It’s a very mutable word due to it’s metaphorical nature. It’s certainly not set in stone.
So on one hand, yes. On the other hand, there are tasks that are onerous to non technicians.
If you asked me to do it manually, sure. I’ve interacted with a bunch of software, understand measurement systems, done some programming etc.
My wife on the other hand… There’s no overlap between ecology or life sciences in this task. Outside her ability.
Yeah some folks in here are clearly out of touch with the capabilities of the average consumer.
I have a black and white brother laser printer that had 3rd party toner that worked fine for years, it was even a two pack of toner. Then I installed a firmware update and immediately it threw an error stating trouble with the toner and refused to print. Tried the unopened 2nd toner, same error. Looked and searched all over online and could not find the previous firmware to try a roll back.
I then purchased a new two pack of 3rd party toner from a different brand and it worked just fine. My guess is with each new firmware they also have a set of chips to block (each toner has a chip on it) that they bundle into to update.
I’ll never install another firmware update for that printer now.
I would consider what they did as bricking my toner.