The unit detects the expiry date of the cartridge and if the cartridge has expired, then it will display error: print cartride error. And all the other fucntions like faxing, scanning, printing, copying will not work just because of the cartridge expiry. I mean I can surely scan or fax something even if my cartridge has expired. No, you can't.Doing a search on the hp web site, I noticed that the cartridges used on officejet 5610, hp 27, 22, and 56, were listed in the will-work-beyond-expiry list on the official web site itself. But unfortunately it will not on an officejet 5610.Printing a few pages on this unit so far, I have spent almost USD 40 on replacing the cartridge. You bet hp will sell the unit for only USD 100. They expect you to spend much more on the cartridge. So, my next printer will not be a hp. Maybe I will buy a laser printer.