Officejet 8500 won't print Black ink only if other colors are out

     I confirmed with HP's customer support that there is no way to
 print black ink only with this printer if other colors    are out.
  Does anyone else feel that this is absolutely rediculous?  If I
 have an urgent printing need and I'm out of    color, it seems that
 the printer should allow me to print in black only. This seems to be
 a way for HP to sell more    color ink.  ARGH!

     HP and Corporate Plunder

     Now I'm sitting here the day before Xmas, needing to print a
 black document, and the printer won't print because the    color
 cartridge (which is FULL of ink) is expired.

     You money-grubbing S.O.B.s aren't going to get any more of my $
 than I can possibly avoid, ever again--

 Lexmark is just as bad.
 I got sick of having my HP color-cartridges dry up on me from lack of
 use that I finally bought a rather inexpensive Lexmark Color Laser.
 Works good, never dries  up.  But the Lexmark color toner cartridges
 are really $$pricey.  I bought a big bottle of black toner for a few
 bucks and refilled it myself.  It still tells me that I am out of
 toner but by pushing enough buttons I can get to to work.  I've been
 told that it will soon lock up on me, in spite of having about a
 pint of toner in the cartridge.  Some hackers do sell new chips for
 the toner cartridge  for about #10.  I might have to go that route.

 Robin F Berglund

 My HP 8500 died yesterday. While printing some documents, The
 computer started to "chime" , like a piece of equipment was plugged
 in, and then un plugged. Printjob finished, but (HP) control panel
 was blank and unresponsive. Power lite is lit, so unplugged power,
 then replugged, ditto w/ computer cable. Seems like it would still
 copy without computer connection, but won't do that either. Herb
Karkheck

 Canon Pixma is the same .... if it deems any of the 6 ink cartridges
 is empty it stops and insists on a rplacement.

 You have to understand the business model ..... they could give the
 printers away, they make all their money on replacement ink and toner!

 sdorr

 Better get your tent and placard and camp out with the corporate greed
people. This is just a small part of what is getting people annoyed.

 Kinda like why you can not get wiper refills any more. You have to
buy the
whole blade. If they make 20% on the item you do not need and accounting
degree to figure out whether you want it on a $3 item or a $15 item.
Thieves
is what it amounts to. If they take away you choice it is the same
thing. Just
legal this way and they do not have to stick a gun in your face!

 Kinda like why you can not get wiper refills any more. You have to
buy the
whole blade. If they make 20% on the item you do not need and accounting
degree to figure out whether you want it on a $3 item or a $15 item.
Thieves
is what it amounts to. If they take away you choice it is the same
thing. Just
legal this way and they do not have to stick a gun in your face!

Dale Davies

Strange, my Canon Pixma MP620B continues to print even with an empty
cartridge(s).
And I have found excellent cheap cartridge replacements at MonoPrice
$1.73 ea

Terry
N51079