Printer Cartridge Question

**Ken** · 03-28-2009, 11:46 AM

Do any of you get your printer cartridges refilled? I noticed that the savings are well over 50%.

The printer manufacturers say it harms the equipment, but I'm wondering if that's just BS.

**LowKey** · 03-28-2009, 12:49 PM

If it's your own home desktop printer, you can look at it like this.
If you use non-oem inks in it and it breaks eventually you get another desktop printer for the cost of 4 OEM ink cartridges.

The one thing you have to watch out for is that if you are using these non-oem inks to print photos, your photos will probably fade within literally weeks. Most are cheap dye-base inks with no UV stability.

If your printer cost you some bucks or it is a professional model machine, using non-OEM will void the warranty, could clog your lines or your printheads, and again cause low-quality, short-lived prints.

Once my home printer is out of warranty, anything goes.

**Ken** · 03-28-2009, 12:52 PM

Good info. Thanks!

**LowKey** · 03-28-2009, 01:10 PM

I only use my home printer for plain paper prints. It's no big deal.

You might run into some ink/paper incompatibilities if you try to use non-oem on higher quality stock.

In real life I'm a print-buyer. Non-oems or the cheaper dye-bases can be a serious problem where low-cost print runs are concerned. Sometimes you get exactly what you pay for.

**Alpine_Sapper** · 03-28-2009, 02:53 PM

Yeah, personally I think it's better to just go with what the manufacturer recommends if you want to extend the life of your print device. I can't tell you the number of $100+ printers I've junked because of gummed up spray nozzles or someone buying ink or ink refills from some crappy website based out of China. If the stuff arrives, it's a matter of when,not if, the printer gives up the ghost. It would cost them more for me to repair it that it does to go buy a new one. But then, if you're like me, a $100 all in one print/fax/scanner will last you ~6mos, so it's really not a big deal when it does duy. Just toss it and buy a new one.

**Rick** · 03-28-2009, 05:23 PM

I don't refill either. There was an article in Consumer Reports last year detailing exactly what Lowkey said about photos. Since I print a lot, I go with OEM.

**Ken** · 03-28-2009, 06:13 PM

Thanks, guys.

I probably do as much paperwork at home as I do in the office. At least I can click over here once in a while to get a break without everyone knowing I'm goofing off.

I go through about four HP-92 cartridges a week at home.

Maybe it's time for a high speed laser like the one I have in the office.

I very rarely print photos or in color. I still can't get the hang of the camera I bought last year.

My first digital camera had an English word display. I'm now on my fourth digital. This

thing has so many tiny symbols that I almost went blind trying to get it to work. And, of course, the memory card is never the same and you never realize the ones you have won't fit 'till you get the new one home.

**LowKey** · 03-28-2009, 06:58 PM

LOL. I'm with you on the camera.

**Rick** · 03-28-2009, 07:26 PM

Ah, the digital camera. First it was the calculator, then the VCR and now it's the digital camera. It's all part of the New World Order conspiracy. You just wait. While we're all busing trying to reset our digital clocks back this fall, they will release a horde of FLUFFY PINK BUNNIES and we'll be none the wiser.

**Ken** · 03-28-2009, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Ah, the digital camera. First it was the calculator, then the VCR and now it's the digital camera. It's all part of the New World Order conspiracy. You just wait. While we're all busing trying to reset our digital clocks back this fall, they will release a horde of FLUFFY PINK BUNNIES and we'll be none the wiser.

I'm still VCR capable. My DVD? Forget it. If the kids aren't home, it stays off. The TV remote is almost as bad. The letters keep getting smaller on everything I read (yeah, I know why) but those

symbols? You shouldn't have to take out the manual EVERY TIME you want to use a remote.

**Rick** · 03-28-2009, 08:00 PM

I used to walk through grocery stores and watch the old folks trying on cheap reading glass at the revolving display. I always wondered why they just didn't go get glasses......do you know how many pairs of those cheap reading glass I have. I was trying a pair on the other day and some kid went by.

"What you looking at!? Yeah, they're glasses! So what? Keeping walking before I show you what an old man can do you little creep!

I hate to talk to 4 year olds like that but he had it coming in my book.

**Ken** · 03-28-2009, 08:04 PM

I buy 2 dozen pairs a year. At the dollar store. I lose about 2 dozen pairs a year. And I don't care.

**crashdive123** · 03-28-2009, 08:23 PM

I used to buy the more moderately priced readers ($15-$20). After losing yet but another pair of em about a year ago I switched to the el cheapos. Lose em, break em, doesn't matter. Last week I was cutting back some of the banana trees and bushes that didn't fair too well this winter....low and behold, found the last pair of nicer ones I lost. They're just fine.

**Alpine_Sapper** · 03-28-2009, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ken

Thanks, guys.

I probably do as much paperwork at home as I do in the office. At least I can click over here once in a while to get a break without everyone knowing I'm goofing off.

I go through about four HP-92 cartridges a week at home.

Maybe it's time for a high speed laser like the one I have in the office.

I very rarely print photos or in color. I still can't get the hang of the camera I bought last year.

My first digital camera had an English word display. I'm now on my fourth digital. This

thing has so many tiny symbols that I almost went blind trying to get it to work. And, of course, the memory card is never the same and you never realize the ones you have won't fit 'till you get the new one home.

Can you not just VPN into your office? Once you do just send the print job to a machine at the office. Probably 10x's faster than the home office models and you are using the firms resources. *shrug* Unless it's confidential stuff that can't sit on the printer in the office for x hours till you get in. Just my .02.

**Ken** · 03-28-2009, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by Alpine_Sapper

Can you not just VPN into your office? Once you do just send the print job to a machine at the office. Probably 10x's faster than the home office models and you are using the firms resources. *shrug* Unless it's confidential stuff that can't sit on the printer in the office for x hours till you get in. Just my .02.

The firms resources ARE my resources. I may not be a SUPER MODERATOR

but at least I'm the big cheese of the firm. Everything's confidential. My secretaries, paralegal, or associate do most of the routine stuff. I usually like to do the motions and memoranda myself. I'm not a dictation kinda' guy. I peck away at the keyboard, change windows and do more research, that sorta' stuff. After I'm done, I need to see it in print right away.

Once in a while I even open a law book. It's crazy. Over the years I've invested in a 6,000 book law library. Now, everything's online. But the research is soooooo much faster.