Generic Printer Ink Cartridges ??

[billt460]

As I said in my original post, I'm sure the ink tank model printers have many advantages over the expensive ink cartridges. It's just that I don't use a printer enough to warrant the expense.

Hell, I rarely even use color. About all I do is print out coupons, and on occasion, some text. I'll also use the scanning feature to EMail things once in a great while.

So for me, dumping $300.00 to $400.00+ for a printer just isn't cost effective for the amount it's going to get used. $50.00 is. It will probably be a year before I use up the black cartridge that came with the unit. The color cartridge will more than likely dry out before I get the whole good out of it.

 

[Donald]

I print so infrequently that laser is the only way to go. Even after months of inactivity a laser will always work and the toner cartridge has lasted 4 years so far.

+1 on a laser. I buy the OEM super high capacity toner cartridges.

B&W laser multifunction printer is reasonable. The color laser are nice but cost significantly more than B&W.

The killer on the ink cartridges is if you go into a "clean" mode.

 

[barryh]

The killer on the ink cartridges is if you go into a "clean" mode.

I ran IT for a school. Everything is colour laser now but go back some years before colour laser was reasonably affordable and we ran HP business inkjets - lots of them. My experience was they always squirted half of the ink into the bottom of the printer which made a real mess when it came to disposal. These printers were used daily and never had enough time resting for the heads to dry up and need cleaning. My guess was this was a cynical ploy by HP to deliberately waste ink for obvious revenue reasons.

 

[Donald]

I ran IT for a school. Everything is colour laser now but go back some years before colour laser was reasonably affordable and we ran HP business inkjets - lots of them. My experience was they always squirted half of the ink into the bottom of the printer which made a real mess when it came to disposal. These printers were used daily and never had enough time resting for the heads to dry up and need cleaning. My guess was this was a cynical ploy by HP to deliberately waste ink for obvious revenue reasons.

I bought my old boat club a nice ink jet printer. They could not figure out how to force ink cartridge to the center so they could change it. So they figured they would start it printing and grab the cartridge as it started to print. Probably a few beers were consumed plotting this strategy. They were able to grab the ink cartridge OK while it was moving back and forth printing. But that printer never printed anything again.

Went to a HP laser printer. No further problems after that. Except people who printed reports on check stock rather than blank paper.

 

[borgward]

I just bought a new printer yesterday. (Canon TS3522). $50.00 at China Mart. My 15 year old HP was acting up, and I'm tired of screwing with the thing every time I use it. Also the ink cartridges were drying up. So to the landfill it went.

I was thinking of getting one of those Epson printers like Shaq advertises, with the ink tanks you just fill with liquid ink, but they wanted over $300.00 for one. I don't use a printer enough to warrant spending that.

So I went with this cheapie Canon. So far so good. I gave up on the wireless connection, and used a USB cable. It's up and running with the factory supplied ink cartridges.

This new printer takes 275 Black, and 276 Color. I think they make an extra large size also. I'm tired of paying so much for ink cartridges. For what they charge they could all but give you the printer, and they would still make money hand over fist.

Anyway, do any of you guys know a good brand of generic ink cartridges that you can order online? Something that you have had good luck with. Are there any downsides to using them?

You could have luck with color but do not use anything but their Black. It will clog otherwise. Each printer company uses a black that has a patented shape to the microscopic black granules designed to work with their print head. Other shapes from other sources will clog your print head.

 

[97prizm]

I just bought a new printer yesterday. (Canon TS3522). $50.00 at China Mart. My 15 year old HP was acting up, and I'm tired of screwing with the thing every time I use it. Also the ink cartridges were drying up. So to the landfill it went.

I was thinking of getting one of those Epson printers like Shaq advertises, with the ink tanks you just fill with liquid ink, but they wanted over $300.00 for one. I don't use a printer enough to warrant spending that.

So I went with this cheapie Canon. So far so good. I gave up on the wireless connection, and used a USB cable. It's up and running with the factory supplied ink cartridges.

This new printer takes 275 Black, and 276 Color. I think they make an extra large size also. I'm tired of paying so much for ink cartridges. For what they charge they could all but give you the printer, and they would still make money hand over fist.

Anyway, do any of you guys know a good brand of generic ink cartridges that you can order online? Something that you have had good luck with. Are there any downsides to using them?

Not sure about Canon but my Epson hated the generic ink cartridges from what was it "ink world or print world" stores. They promised 100% compatibility but never worked. YMMV.

 

[97prizm]

I bought my old boat club a nice ink jet printer. They could not figure out how to force ink cartridge to the center so they could change it. So they figured they would start it printing and grab the cartridge as it started to print. Probably a few beers were consumed plotting this strategy. They were able to grab the ink cartridge OK while it was moving back and forth printing. But that printer never printed anything again.

Went to a HP laser printer. No further problems after that. Except people who printed reports on check stock rather than blank paper.

I had the same issue with my Epson. Most printers if you push the ink button once or twice it will move the head over for cartridge removal. If you push and hold the ink button it will clean the heads. I'm sure the beer didn't help either.

 

[Donald]

I have two laser printers. One a B/W multi purpose and a color printer. Not looking to go back to an ink jet anytime soon

 

[borgward]

What brand and model color printer? Does it do "photographs" on glossy paper? Fine art color? How many Colors? How much per cartridge?

 

[Donald]

What brand and model color printer? Does it do "photographs" on glossy paper? Fine art color? How many Colors? How much per cartridge?

It's a Xerox color laser printer. The toner is in these small container around the size of a small can of frozen orange juice. I think they sell the toner cartridges in a normal, large capacity or extra large capacity. The extra large capacity are around $100 each times 4. But it's an excellent.

I cannot comment on if it's photo quality.