Always Judge A Printer By Its Ink

By Patricia Connor

Never buy a printer based on its price, buy it based on its ink. Although their costs have decreased significantly over time, printing expenses can skyrocket when you factor in ink. If you are a price conscious consumer steer away from the machines and walk straight for the little boxes.

In the past few years, the cost of printers has been dropping. It is quite easy to get printers very cheap. On some occasions, you can even get a printer for free when you purchase a computer with it. While this is a good thing, the fact that most users are shocked when they go to buy ink, is not. Ink refills can cost as much $75 on some models. For the price conscious this can be a significant unknown expense.

If you are concerned about costs, be sure to consider the cost of the ink when you shop for printers. Unlike the initial cost of purchase, ink replacement will be a cost as long as you have it.

Another thing to consider are the printer's features. Be sure to pay attention to how many cartridges it has. Printers with six cartridges may seem expensive at first. However, if you are primarily printing documents it may actually take longer to empty than a two cartridge ink bay.

On screen ink levels can also be handy in changing printing behaviors. Sometimes seeing how much ink is used with each project can help the user manage their usage. If you see that the ink is running low, you are less likely to print that extra picture and more likely to be responsible about your ink usage.

Many printers have generic ink options available to them. A good practice is to research the availability of generic cartridges and refills before you purchase the machine. Even though most printers have easy to find generics, there is the small chance that you end up purchasing the one that does not. To potentially save money in the future, buy one that is fairly standard.

Buy the machine that is most appropriate for your needs. If you will only be printing basic documents or black and white, there is no need to buy one specifically for photo printing. Chances are its ink may be significantly higher than that of a standard ink jet. Do not be swayed by what's new, go for what fits.

When purchasing printers, it is important to remember that the ink is part of the overall cost. When you finally make your decision, make sure the ink was a huge part of it.

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