| First a little history lesson... | | | | a general rule of thumb, you need to purchase |
| There was a time, long ago that printers had | | | | twice as many black inks because there is, on |
| ribbons and used dot matrix printing to create tiny | | | | average, more black printing needs for the |
| dots that, when looked at, were readable. | | | | average person. |
| Sometimes they were BARELY readable, | | | | Nowadays manufacturers are including more and |
| however. Changing ribbons and printing wheels to | | | | more technology into their products and trying to |
| change type face was a chore. | | | | convince you that their ink has that extra special |
| Then, in 1984, the first laser printer that used | | | | something. Epson uses DURABrite ink, HP uses |
| toner cartridges came into being. Quickly, no one | | | | Vivera ink and the list goes on. If you ever get |
| wanted a dot matrix printer anymore. The laser | | | | bored and feel the need to work yourself into a |
| printer caused powder from the toner to fuse | | | | frenzy just try surfing some of the major sites |
| onto the paper & the output was much | | | | to compare exactly what one manufacturers ink |
| clearer and much more professional in appearance. | | | | does compared to the next. If you come away |
| Very soon, dot matrix printers became known as | | | | from this sane you'll definitely know a lot more |
| "door stops". | | | | techie sounds words than you need to know |
| By 1990, ink printers that used drop-in ink | | | | today or in your next lifetime. |
| became readily available and very reasonable | | | | Many of the latest inks have cool gizmos in them |
| prices. These ink cartridges were very easy to | | | | like small chips designed to monitor the ink levels |
| change without any fuss. The cost to the user, | | | | and tell you when its time to reorder and even |
| compared to the toner, was significantly reduced | | | | little LEDs for those of you who want their printer |
| though overall cost being more a question of | | | | to light up like a disco. The idea of the chip sounds |
| cents per page tended to favour the toners. | | | | great but there are cases where the chip is telling |
| So this is where it starts getting pretty cool.... | | | | the printer to stop working too soon or even to |
| Today, ink printers using inks are so affordable | | | | not work at all if the consumables inside are not |
| that every computer owner can afford to own | | | | original (there's been at least one of the major |
| their own printer that is capable of using photo | | | | players recently sued over exactly this). To try |
| quality inks or for less expensive printing, inks that | | | | and counter this a 'chip resetter' can be purchased |
| are remanufactured or "generic" or non-original | | | | which basically tells the chip to do as its told and |
| manufacture. These can even be refilled in many | | | | keep on printing regardless of how much ink it |
| cases to save even more in printing costs. | | | | thought was left in the tank. As far as the issue |
| The price of the machines themselves has | | | | with these chips and non originals are concerned |
| dropped by buckets and what they can do is way | | | | its actually illegal for a chip to stop your machine |
| cooler than ever before. Not only can you print | | | | working on this basis but apparently this hasn't |
| but also scan, fax (many do PC-Fax), copy, make | | | | deterred a few of the big boys. Whether a chip |
| your morning coffee, take out the garbage (ok | | | | resetter will fix this problem is uncertain. |
| not those last 2). Combining this many tasks | | | | Whether you want to print graphics, brochures, or |
| obviously reduces the number of different | | | | just letters, there is a printer that uses inks for |
| machines in your home/office but in addition | | | | you. Choose inks that meet your printing needs at |
| there's only one manual you have to completely | | | | affordable prices. Inks have evolved over the |
| ignore instead of many (for the guys reading this). | | | | years in so many ways that they have in |
| When using inks that are photo quality, it is | | | | themselves become fairly hi tech let alone the |
| sensible to use photo quality paper for your | | | | machines that use them. Your average ink printer |
| printing. This ensures the best quality print out | | | | these days can perform a myriad of functions at |
| resulting from your photo quality cartridge. While | | | | prices seemingly getting cheaper by the minute. |
| these inks will print on regular paper, it is a waste | | | | Bottom line is yep your inks are getting more high |
| to place the more expensive ink cartridge into | | | | tech and cooler (heck in the old days there's no |
| your printer and then print on plain non-glossy | | | | way your ink or toner cartridge would actually |
| paper. | | | | light up with pretty colours for you and tell you |
| For every day printing in black and white or even | | | | when its about to run dry). The future is certainly |
| in color, remanufactured or non-original inks work | | | | going to be interesting seeing what comes next..... |
| great and save dollars for you in the long run. As | | | | |