[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Cheap Ink: Will It Cost You? here

[poweruser2]

After all of the debate about OOXML being accepted as a ISO standard, what we really need is a few standard printer cartridges (small, medium, large, high speed, high quality, etc. ) that fit ALL printers. Of course, the standard would be public so any company could manufacture these cartridges.
While we're at it, we might as well standardize the printer drivers so that the driver can be part of the Windows, Mac, and Linux kernels. That way no more drivers to install, crash, conflict, and generally be a hassle :)

[pgettys]

I bought third-party ink for an HP 690C once. Just once. The ink ran all over the inside of the printer, and after that the ink from the replacement HP cartridge migrated from tank to tank. Pure yellow came out orange; blue came out green. It never printed right again.
After that I bought a Canon BJC-8200, because it uses separate tanks for each color. I've never had any trouble with it. I used it to print the pictures for my sister's wedding invitations, and for many other projects. I liked that printer so much I bought the Canon i960, which uses the same inks. The tanks cost $12 each, but I don't waste any ink when I replace one, everyone carries them, and they don't seem to fade unless left in the sun constantly.

[brainpup]

Over the last decade I've owned or used (at work) at least 20 different brands & models of printers. Currently I've got 2 at home & 3 at work. I've always been aware of the increasing cost of ink & the decreasing price of printers. At home my Epson Photo printer cost me about $150 on sale, but since it has 6 ink tanks @$15 each it cost $90 +tax to replace them. 2 times & I could have bought a new printer!! At work we have a Canon that cost us $49,(TigerD) well 4 ink tanks @ $15=$60, soon we had 3 out-of-ink Canon's in the closet because it was cheaper to replace them, than to buy the ink tanks. Well last year I bought a CISS(continuous ink supply system)for my Photo printer for $65(Ebay) & it lasted 10 months before refilling & the quality was just barely a knotch below the Epson's. At work we now use refillable tanks. Buy quality UV ink for CISS/refillables and you'll save a ton of $. BEWARE: alot of printers come with starter tanks(only 3ml)so in a week you've bought another printer.

[1MeanLady]

You forgot an option - LaserWorks (Tallahassee, Florida, 850-562-3332) - where they take your original cartridge and remanufacture it, then return it to you. So, you get yours back - not someone else's discard - and if you take care of your cartridges, you really get your money's worth.

[mayja1766]

I have had pretty good results with some 3rd party inks for my Canon ip4000. Those made by larger, better know manufacturers, whom have been in the buisness for a while such as NuKote have been the best. I recenlty purchased some online to tryout and had problems with the ink clogging the printhead; requiring more maintence cleanings than normal. I have never had luck with home refill kits and its not worth the mess to me. When I print pictures on my home printer I don't expect them to last dozens of years, though I like them to have farily decenent color reproduction across the gamut and be fairly sharp with no banding. For the most part the good 3rd party inks I have used met this expectation. When I want great color reproduction and long lasting quality, then I go to one kiosks in the larger stores to get those prints; just like I did with my 35mm. I figure if I were to purchase the best ink and paper for my printer, I still wouldn't get the same quality as those prints even if it were cheaper.

[jjmcgaffey]

Is it an error or a hack that all the 'sup' (and 'Sup') have been replaced by 'super'? superply, etc.

[k0rc]

What are "superpliers"? Is this a new Stanley tool? Obviously proof-reading has gone into the tank.

[nicesites]

Testing Lexmark for quality is like testing windows for quality. You can't because they both suck. I'm about sick and tired of people giving refillers a bad name. I wonder what would happen if Cartridge World suddenly grabbed up a nice fat Ad space worth millions. Or partnered up with "specials" we get in emails from Pc world. Would the reviews be any better? I use Refilled cartridges from Cartridge World and they are better in quality if you ask me.

[RJ2544]

So, my idea, have a good printer to print your good stuff with and things that need to last and use lower class ink in another older printer for everyday jobs. Use the good printer and good ink for photos you wanna keep for a long time. In fact, it's probably cheaper for good photos to find a retailer that makes acceptable prints to you and stick with them. Walgreens, Walmart, and many others can accept your prints by uploading to their site and much cheaper than printing your own. Watch for coupons too. There are too many online photo processors too numerous to mention.

[coastie65]

I have an HP C5180 All-in-One. It has six cartrdges, 5 color and a Black. The color cartridges are $9.95 ea. and the black is about $17.95 for some reason. A complete changeout is still less than replacing the two cartridges in the Lexmark Z 715 I had AND the HP is a much better printer quality wise. coastie65

[nanbern]

Are you referring to single-pane or double-pane "windows"?

[nicesites]

With windows, there never is just a single pane!

[oldfellow]

A wonderful idea , but it will never happen. Too much money at stake for the printer manufactures .

Can't see how it could happen if they opposed the idea. Maybe it will happen about the same time George Bush becomes a Peacenik.

[Beatkat]

Don't forget that use of third party inks will immediately VOID the manufacturers warranty. I had a Canon ip4200 ruined by Staples ink cartridges. The cartridges specifically stated on the box, that use of their cartridges would NOT void the warranties, Canon immediately disputed that. Staples bought me a new printer, and their Staples brand cartridges no longer carry that message....Canon says third party inks will clog their printheads, and therefore will void the warranty. HP cartridges come with a printhead on the cartridge, (one reason why they're SO expensive), so when you get a remanufactured or refilled cartridge, you're gambling on a used printhead, too. Shop around for ink, then bring the prices to Staples...they'll beat it by 10%, but buy new manufacturers cartridges....the savings really aren't that great, and if you tweak your printer settings, (like using draft mode) for everyday printing, you can extend the ink.

[nicesites]

Beatkat,

That's not true, by law, using refilled cartridges of ANY kind will not void your printer's warranty. This is a scare tactic used by the manufacturer. You are guarunteed service UNLESS it is proven the INK damaged your printer. If a cartridge leaked, it can be cleaned. Do not beleive the tech support people. Your warranty is protected.

[zepper]

First, banding is NOT caused by the ink, it is caused by poor head alignment (or slop in the paper feed mechanism) or printing with the two inks at different quality levels. Next, I have heard that some of the clone tank mfrs use dye-based ink in the black (generally the text black tank if your printer has more than one) cartridges. So be sure you are geting what your ink seller claims (most say they use the same (pigment or dye) as the mfr uses in the same tank). Unless they have changed recently, all Epson inks are supposed to be pigmented.<br>
. I think using G&G tanks (which are known to use dye ink instead of pigment) in my Canon iP4300 caused its early death. In the future, I will refill my own with known good ink. I'm now using a HP k5400 along with a set of refillable tanks off eBay. I haven't used up the ink that came with the tanks (photo prints look equally good to the original ink), but when I do, I'll be refilling with top-quality, bulk ink from a reliable seller. <br>

Finally, in comparing inks, the reviewers should use a print-only machine like the iP4300 or its replacement the iP4500 instead of a multifunction machine like the MP series from Canon. Even though the same basic print engine is used, the print-only units will yield better and more consistent print results than the multi. At least that seems to be the case from my experience. This probably holds for other brands as well.<br>


.bh.
Message was edited by: zepper - added more info.

[Beatkat]

Call Canon and ask them, it absolutely will void the warranty, there is no law that a manufacterer must warranty replace any parts ruined by someone elses ink.......Staples had to buy me a new printer after THEY talked to Canon....has nothing to do with scare tactics...the ink composition is a trade secret, and third party manufacturers guess at the formula, one reason why the colorants they use don't stand up to UV as well,...Canon printers deposit one of the smallest ink droplets per pico in the industry, and the ink formulation is critical to keep from clogging the print heads, and to keep the ink from drying in the printheads......I also tried three different aftermarket manufacturers ink in that earlier printer, and NONE printed colors as deep and as well as the Canon inks.....although I realize paper makes a difference, too...I actually use HP Premium Plus alot in my Canon ip4300, as it renders blacker blacks.....the other thing I love about that printer is INDIVIDUAL INK TANKS!!!! If I need Blue, I go get a Blue, not have to throw away the whole cartridge, with all the other color ink still in it......that's such B.S., and manufaturers make a TON of money on that tactic.....

[nicesites]

No it will not. The likely hood of ink ruining a printer and immedeately cleaned out is very slim. Google



Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act



and see what it tells you.

[Beatkat]

"The likely hood of ink ruining a printer and immedeately cleaned out is very slim."


Ummm, not sure what you're referring to here, but the likelyhood of a printer head being ruined by inferior ink is quite common, SO common, that it's a known issue in the industry, and Canon, among other manufacturers, WILL NOT HELP YOU, should you ruin your printhead with aftermarket inks....you will just have to replace the printer yourself.



from the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act:
"except that the prohibition of this subsection be waived by the commission if:
1)
The warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will
function properly only if the article or service so identified is used
in connection with the warranted product, "

This means, that if Canon says that only Canon brand ink cartridges with genuine Canon ink in them will work properly in a Canon printer, and if one tries to use other inks and/or cartridges, and ruins the printer (print head), Canon is not liable.....and therefore will not warranty the printer.....
Allink.coms site says:--<"This is your lifesaver for purchasing your inkjet cartridges at wholesale prices">. This doesn't say "aftermarket, third party or refilled ink cartridges, it just says "purchasing cartridges at wholesale prices"- misleading to say the least....and I doubt they'll go to bat for you against ANY manufacturer...