| HP is one of the oldest printer manufacturers still | | | | buying a whole new printer so at this point the |
| in business, and their printers have long been | | | | printer often gets thrown out and replaced. |
| considered some of the best. Is this accurate, | | | | By putting the printhead on the cartridge itself, HP |
| however, or do people just assume they're good | | | | avoids this problem of the head wearing out. Over |
| because their name is so well known? | | | | the course of months or years, the print quality |
| HP's inkjet printers cover a wide spectrum. They | | | | will stay pretty much the same as it was when |
| have photo printers in various sizes, business | | | | the printer was brand new because each time the |
| printers, value models for home use and a | | | | ink is replaced, so is the printhead. |
| number of specialized models for various | | | | There are a couple of drawbacks to this system, |
| applications. | | | | however. The first is that the cartridges tend to |
| In any given category, HP tends to be one of if | | | | be a little more expensive than some of the |
| not the best print quality when compared to the | | | | competition's. Each time you replace the ink you'll |
| competition. A big part of the reason for this is | | | | have to pay a little more, but this added cost will |
| the technology they put into their cartridges. | | | | even out when you consider you would eventually |
| Most HP ink cartridges include not only the ink but | | | | have to pay to repair or replace most other |
| also the printhead. The printhead is the | | | | brands. |
| component in a printer that actually sprays the ink | | | | The other disadvantage to HP's system is that |
| onto the paper. In most other brands of printers, | | | | their cartridges tend not to work very well when |
| the printhead is part of the printer itself rather | | | | refilled. Because the head is part of the cartridge |
| than the cartridge. | | | | and is not designed to last beyond the expected |
| Over a period of time, as the printer gets used | | | | life of the ink, it can wear out if the empty |
| more and more, this printhead can start to | | | | cartridge is reused. |
| deteriorate and the quality of printing can suffer | | | | You're usually safe with a single refill but after |
| because of it. Eventually this printhead will wear | | | | refilling it once, it's hit or miss as to whether you'll |
| out and need to be replaced. In most cases, | | | | run into problems. |
| replacing the head costs as much or more as | | | | |