Damn, BH is selling the Z3200 44" for $3,995.00 and even more impressive the 3 year extended warranty is $300.00. Now that is amazing.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist.jsp&A=cart&Q=addYea, I think about the same thing. No one can predict HPs motives. However, the one thing they did, or started to do, that really encouraged me was making the system components exchangeable in a modular way. Such as, you pop the heads in two minutes, you can slide in the main board yourself on the back with two little screws, etc. The maintenance tank lasts for many years and when you do need to remove it, it's not difficult. The tech guys can tear the printer down in less than an hour and replace anything. They seem to know what to exchange and it has always been an efficient design in that way. None of this exchanging this part or that part and hoping that would solve the problem caused by some error message. It was always very straightforward. And yes, if they can sell the ink and heads they will continue to make them.
I just talked to an international attorney tonight who is a client of mine. He told me that he was not aware of any law that "required" manufacturers to make available parts and service after such and such a time period ( after warranties are no longer available.) He did say that companies do have internal policies however, because without them their reputations would suffer. Their main goal, in this case, is to sell ink and anyway they can do that they will. I can't see where they make any money really with the print heads, not like Canon does. In the case of HP they have continued to allow users to extend warranties on a year to year basis, or a 2 year to 2 year basis, long after the initial warranties have expired. Canon and Epson don't do this, they seem to want you to buy the next version. So, for sure, as long as the HP z3200 sales team is providing those additional extended warranties they will have to provide the consumables and service.
In the future, maybe we will have parts on demand through 3D printing. Wouldn't that be nice? As far as I'm concerned I'd like to have my Z last forever if the cost of parts permitted it.
John
I hear you about raising prices on parts John. Fortunately, many of the parts are off the shelf and relatively easily substituted. It's surprising to me, that after all these years, and with the availability dwindling that the Z Series printers are still so highly regarded, and the inkset is so very respected.
Maybe it will just make economic sense for HP to continue selling the inks. I would imagine that is where they make their money after all.