HP accused of printer "smoke and mirrors"

KYOCERA ACCUSED HP of making misleading statements about cost savings in adverts placed in the channel press.

The Japanese firm, which obviously has something of an axe to grind, claims the HP ads say that people only need change toner during the life of the Colour Laserjet CP3505.

But, said Kyocera, that claim is untrue. Kyocera alleges this model uses "legacy print cartridges" from the Laserjet 3600 and 3800.

The cartridges also contain print drums, cleaning parts and other mechanical parts, claimed Kyocera.

Said Kyocera in a statement: "The drums are simply hidden within the print cartridges and the user pays accordingly." It claims that the colour cost per page from the HP is 7.50 pence, 61 per cent higher than its competitor printer.

Ian Joslin, general manager at Kyocera UK said: "The fact is that the Laserjet CP3505 is a throwaway product, designed to be disposed of at the end of its short life. To dress this up in claims of economy is disingenuous and amounts to false advertising."

He accused HP of indulging in "smoke and mirrors". This, he said, "obscures the short life, high waste nature of their technology." µ