Re: [tlug] Am I the last to know?

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen@example.com>]

On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 6:24 AM, Attila Kinali <attila@example.com> wrote:

>> But who (besides the Japanese taxpayer) can afford HP gear
>> with the features that a 2-man-en Epson gives you?
>
> Common.. HP's are not that expensive. I mean, i bought a super expensive
> HP LJ 2605dn (yes, networked and with duplexer!) for 4-man-en (at that time).
> Stuff w/o network interface or w/o duplexer were litteraly half price.

They are significantly more expensive (add 25%-50%, on top of the
already inflated prices we pay university-qualified vendors except
Amazon) when using government funds, if you can find them at all.
(None of the three PC stores within walking distance have HPs on the
floor, although one does sell ink refills.)  The only qualified system
vendor pushing them is Apple.  So HP may be competitive in a free
market, but not in the captive one where I buy gear. :-(  moshiwake
gozaimasen, nouzeisha-sama.

One suspects a METI/MEXT/industry conspiracy here....