Question about Printer Cartridges

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Do you let them run out of ink completely before changing them or do you change them before they run out of ink?

:shrug:

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

1. Yes

[Maat]

2. My husband's in the internet-computer biz....

and we typically let them run all the way out...but don't listen to me...but I have done that before.

[Maat]

3. And while we are at it....

what button do I press to start a new thread....I can't find it. I've only figured out how to reply.

[Lostmessage]

4. Post

Thanks for answering my question.

[Maat]

5. Sorry...

and thanks. I'm just saying...it gives me a warning...and then the ultimate warning..and then...'I refuse to go farther' and then I change it.

[Bundbuster]

6. I change cartidges only

when a color print looks like I'm on 3 hits of acid - not a moment before. Lying faux-warning consumerist corporistas!

[Lostmessage]

8. I have an HP 5150 Printer

It's been telling me for 2 months now that I need to change the cartridge but the printing still looks good.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

7. Wait until it's completely out

On many systems the printer out of ink "warning" comes when you've only used half the ink.

Heck on mine it starts shortly after I begin printing. It's another way to get you to buy more cartridges.

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9. This printer takes two cartridges

One for color and another one is a black cartridge.

I paid $62.00 dollars for a package with them both in it otherwise they would have been $70.00 bucks if i would have bought them both on their own.

I don't know which one is low or running out of ink.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

11. It's not too hard to tell which is getting low on ink

But it probably hasn't actually happened yet.

(some rambling explanation to follow...)

My printer is set up very similarly to yours. When your color ink starts running low you'll notice pretty quickly that the color is off (usually one color runs out before the others so everything is green or something weird like that)

Black cartridges will just look faded when you're running out of ink.

Until you see one of these symptoms there's no reason to change cartridges. And there is no reason to change both cartridges (only change the one where the performance is degrading).

Color cartridges in general run out before black simply because pictures etc. that use them tend to use up more ink. However, if you don't print pictures often, (I don't do it at all on my printer).

Personally, I didn't bother replacing my color ink cartridge simply because I don't do much color printing. (plus printers tend to go through color cartridges quicker when printing web-pages etc. instead of just grey scale) If all you print is text and are looking to save some money it is likely that your printer doesn't require a color cartridge. You can simply yank it (you might have to change some settings) and ignore the warnings when they come up and you should be able to print in grey scale just fine. The advantage to this is that you're not forced into buying two cartridges every time you run out of ink and as I've said the black cartridges tend to last much longer.

However, if you do like to use color, again simply change on an as needed basis. Depending on your usage habits you may very well find that getting one or the other cartridge is cheaper simply because you tend to go through on or the other on a 2:1 basis. (so you could end up getting both, and then one, and then both etc.)

Anywhos, that's how this computer nerd does it. Best of luck to you.

[MercutioATC]

10. Depends on the printer. My Canon S9000 photo printer won't let me

attempt to print a photo if there's not enough ink in the cartrige. I only replece a cartridge when I have to.

[yellowdawgdem]

12. recycled ink

I think you can get recycled ink cartridges cheaper. Am looking into that, and will let you know what I find out.

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13. I haven't opened the package yet

Let me know and I will take this package back. I can't believe that it cost me almost $70.00 dollars after I paid the tax on it.

The cartridges lasted a long time.

[militarymanusaf]

14. 2 things you can do to preserve ink.

1) Whenever you print something look at the settings/configuration. My Hewlett Packard has 3 "quality" settings. The lower the setting, the less ink is used and it prints faster. When I'm not printing a picture this is the setting I like.

2) Printer settings/configuration can also be changed to ignore most pictures/advertisements/etc. when printing. To make this task easier more and more websites offer a "printer friendly" option. This will remove the pics and neatly organize the text.

My first black ink cartridge lasted just over 1 year! Now they usually last 3-6 months.

[Az]

15. Keep in mind

Modern ink cartridges don't really run out of ink. They now have an internal counter. The reason for this is to thwart refillers. If the internal counter says you are out of ink then the printer will not draw any ink from that cartridge. To avoid issues they usually run the counter out a bit before you would actually run out of ink. Upshot is run the cartridge till it won't print anymore.

[yellowdawgdem]

16. recycled ink

There's a local business near where I live called Rapid Refill Ink that sells recycled cartridges for about $35. Since you probably live halfway across the country, I would suggest googling and finding some options for that. Some people also just refill their own cartridges, but I think the metallic connections wear down after awhile.

[SoCalDem]

17. Some printers use very expensive cartridges..

I liked my lexmark printers, but the cartridge price//yeeeowww.. and I go through them a lot..

My canon uses individual color cartridges that are cheap, and see through, so I always know for sure it's empty..

you can go on google and type in cheap ink cartridges.. There will be several to choose from. Pick the onle closest to you to save on shipping..:)

and do not change until you absolutely have to :)

[Lostmessage]

18. I paid $70.00 dollars which included tax for my refill

My old one has been in the printer since October which means it has lasted a long time.