| The relative value of printer cartridges is enough | | | | the comparable Hewlett-Packard only takes about |
| to send an economist back to school. Many years | | | | 32 seconds to do the same job. However, the |
| ago Consumer’s Reports magazine gave up | | | | pigment-type inks do take a bit longer to dry than |
| trying to figure out the real price of paper towels. | | | | the dye-based ink. Meanwhile, there is still the |
| They started their figuring based on price, number | | | | issue of page output, which is usually listed on the |
| of sheets, whether or not it was a double roll, the | | | | package documentation. Realize, of course, that |
| thickness of each sheet (whether double or | | | | the print density varies from page to page, so |
| single), and if they had strengthening strands of | | | | the output number is an estimate, at best. For |
| fiber. Then, they tried the quality test (the | | | | some of us, we only print in black ink. Attorneys |
| “feel” test). In the end, Consumer’s | | | | don’t do much in color, other than to copy |
| Reports pretty much gave up. Individual | | | | pictures of exhibits. The issue with color printing |
| preferences tended to rule the day, which may | | | | boils down to waste. If your printer uses |
| finally be how you choose printer cartridges. | | | | cartridges that are 3-in-1, you will be throwing |
| Dye-based inks, like the ones used in most | | | | away some cyan and magenta ink if the only one |
| inkjets, begin to fade in a relatively short time | | | | you need to replace is the yellow. Individual color |
| – as little as a single year. Pigment-based inks, | | | | cartridges mean you only replace what you’re |
| like the ones Kodak printers accept, last up to | | | | out of – not all three at once. That will help |
| about 90 YEARS! Whereas Kodak machines print | | | | keep costs in line. |
| out borderless 4 x 6 prints in about 55 seconds, | | | | |