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Subject:Re: high cost of print cartridges From:Samuel -dot- Beard -at- tdcj -dot- state -dot- tx -dot- us To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 28 Jan 2003 13:39:22 -0600
Hey Emily,
You've discovered the nasty truth about inkjet printers: they can sell
them so cheaply because, once you've bought one, they mostly have you
hooked and can charge out the wazoo for the cartridges! Unfortunately,
there's little choice, IMHO, about the use of a good, name-brand cartridge.
Depending on the manufacturer, some include chips inside the cartridges
that provide certain information to the printer and your computer. This
information either isn't there with an off-brand cartridge or isn't correct
with a refill system. Further, off-brand inks are notorious for causing
clogging in certain inkjet printers, like ones with Epson's and Canon's
micro-piezo technology and ultra-fine droplet size. That's not to say that
there aren't people out there using the off-brand inks. Just do so at your
own peril. Some might say that with the relatively low cost of inkjet
printers, if it clogs and you can't fix it, just throw it away and buy a
new one. However, this overlooks the simple problem of contributing to
landfill waste and possibly pollution of soil and groundwater. But, we
won't go into that here.
Bottom line, either suck it up and buy the cartridges made by the
manufacturer for your printer, or at the very least a good, name-brand
supplier, or take your chances on damaging your inkjet printer. Personally,
I have an HP LaserJet 4MP and use it exclusively for B&W work. So far, I
haven't had much call for using a color printer, so I don't have one. YMMV.
HTH,
Sam
Hi,
Thanks to everyone who answered my
question about Word Styles that occasionally
won't take.
I have an Epson Stylus Color 440 Printer.
The Epson print cartridges are so expensive. Is
there a way to buy a generic brand of
cartridges that's cheaper? If I ever
decide to buy a new printer, what's the
most economical choice given the high
cost of cartridges?
Thanks,
Emily from Ann Arbor
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