With the introduction of the inkjet printer and printer ink cartridge in 1984, the task of printing your documents and changing printer ink cartridges became more convenient, reliable and cleaner than the previous methods of changing ribbons or inserting a toner cartridge.

Prior to 1984, the ink delivery systems were not as dependable as they are now. The inkjet system replaced the old dot matrix method, which required changing a ribbon. It wasn’t long before the printer industry began conceptualizing a new ink delivery technique, including the drop on demand method. Several companies were the driving forces behind developing the inkjet technology, and by 1990 the method was widely accepted. Today it is the method of choice for printing requirements, and will print both black and white documents as well as color graphics and photos.

The quality is excellent, thanks to the development of printer ink cartridges. It is possible to print on many different sizes and types of paper, fabric, film, etc. These printers are used in businesses, in schools and the homes of millions of people worldwide.

Each printer uses a specific printer ink cartridge, most often one each of black and color. Each cartridge is given an identifying number and lists the model number of each printer in which it can be used. While each printer manufacturer recommends its own brand of printer ink cartridge, it is possible to refill the cartridge yourself, or purchase a refilled, remanufactured or a compatible cartridge.

There are two types of refilled cartridges: You can do it yourself with a kit that allows you to refill your own cartridge. Refill kits are available at a very low price and are sometimes the choice of those who don’t mind doing the filling in order to save money. The other alternative is to buy a refilled cartridge from a manufacturer. This method involves drilling, filling and sealing an empty cartridge.

A remanufactured cartridge is an original printer ink cartridge that has been taken apart and outfitted with ink and new parts if necessary. It is then inspected and tested before being placed in the marketplace to re-sell. The workmanship in these cartridges is usually guaranteed against defects during the life of the cartridge. The lifetime is generally the same as the original, they are safe to use in all printers, and the warranty on your printer will not be affected. The cost is lower than the original.

Another kind of cartridge that has evolved in recent years is the “compatible” cartridge. Simply put, it is a cartridge that is built to the same specifications as those of the original manufacturer and is generally cheaper than the original. It is also guaranteed against defects during its lifetime.

Inkjet printers using printer ink cartridges have a bright future ahead, thanks to their capability to produce high-quality printed material quickly and inexpensively. The manufacturer’s printer ink cartridge is one option, and the use of alternative printer ink cartridges is another option. When shopping for printer ink cartridges, always buy from a reputable dealer. A huge inventory of hundreds of types of cartridges can also be found by shopping on the Internet, which is a convenient, safe and reliable method of finding the best deals on printer ink cartridges.

Whether you are responsible for a small home-based business, or a large company with many departments and workgroups, there are continuous choices to be made on the procurement of office equipment. Not least amongst these, is the selection of the appropriate printer technology for your business needs? Here in outline are the various technologies and their appropriate environment.

Personal Ink-Jets


Useful for one individual or a workgroup with a minimal colour printing needs, a low-cost personal ink-jet will be the best choice. Personal inkjet printers offer a low initial cost, plus the flexibility to print on a variety of media, such as promotional materials.

Business Ink-Jets


In a bigger business environment, or one where colour output is a major requirement, the workload is likely to be too great for a personal inkjet printer. Thus a unit designed specifically for business will fit the bill, offering a lower cost per page. Many business inkjets employ ink-saving technology and modular cartridges, which avoid the need to change the colour when you change the black and white cartridges, for example.

Laser Printers


Large companies demand more output of all kinds. Perhaps also the demand for colour output on standard-size paper may be addressed with a laser printer

Laser printers have invariably offered monochrome output in the past, but more and more colour-capable lasers are coming onto the market. For organisations with a heavy black-only output though, they still offer the lowest cost of monochrome printing, as opposed to ink-jets which offer a lower cost for colour output. Even so, the picture is changing, and there are some surprisingly low-cost colour lasers available.

Large or Wide Format Printers


Design work or over-size documents for displays require a special kind of printer – a large format printer capable of printing on very large paper (or other media) sheets. Factors to consider here are quality of output, colour capability, speed, networking capability and additional functions such as scanning and copying.

Photo Printers


A photo printer is essentially a personal colour ink-jet with a higher capability for printing on special photo paper. Naturally useful in the home, such printers have their use in the business environment – for example when there is a need to include quality photos in presentation packs for marketing purposes, or for use in training materials.

Business Colour or Full Colour?


For businesses requiring mission-critical exact colour reproduction (such as in the preparation of colour proofs, for example), then it is important to differentiate between machine which offer Black and Business Colour as opposed to the higher quality Full Colour specification.

Multifunction Printers or MFPs


The Multifunctional, All-in-One device combines print, copier, scanner and fax capability in a single machine. These systems are surprisingly compact and affordable. Indeed some MFPs start at prices below £200. However, in this category of printers, some hefty and powerful machines are available for Print for Pay and major corporate use, with a vast array of bolt-on systems for folding, stapling and collating documents.

Impact Printers


Rarer these days, but it is still possible to buy dot-matrix and even daisywheel devices for specialist impact applications, for example for such as multiple-copy form printing. Such printers tend to be more expensive, robust and bulky than the ink-jets and laser printers in more common use. Impact printers by definition are also much noisier in use.

Other factors – Stand-alone or Networked?


If you plan to share the printer in a workgroup on your office network, then network-ready functionality must be specified.

Speed of Operation


Businesses with a heavy output, or with a plan to share the printer among several users, a faster printer is important – and one that will avoid forcing staff to wait for printouts to get through the queue. Any shared printer is also likely to be networked so the network speed in the office is also a factor

Cost Considerations


In additional to the initial purchase cost, there is of course the cost of consumables such as ink cartridges and toner which also require budgeting. The twin costs of initial purchase (or lease) plus consumables and maintenance are defined as the Total Cost of Ownership, and requires a careful projection of costs over the life-cycle of the equipment.

Support and Supplier Backup


All printers come with a basic warranty or guarantee that entitles the purchaser up to one year return to base servicing and repairs. It is wise and useful to arrange additional cover and a service plan to suit the capacity and work-expectations of the printer.

Green Credentials


Protecting the environment is a crucial issue these days, and taking advice whilst looking for the most energy-efficient options makes sound business sense. Doing this should also save money in terms of running costs at least. Questions to ask are – What sort of power consumption and stand-by power-down features does the printer have? Is it easy to print in double-sided (duplex) mode? Can consumables such as laser drums and ink cartridges be recycled? Is the printer RoHS-compliant (The RoHS Directive and the UK RoHS regulations came into force on 1 July 2006.)? And what steps does the supplier make to contribute towards the costs of disposal under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive?

I think we’ve reached a consensus that there’s a conspiracy afloat. You go to your local office supply store or membership warehouse, and find the deal of the century on a laser printer, photo printer, or inkjet printer. You take it home and are delighted by the quality of the prints, the speed of the printer, and most of all, that your new printer was incredibly inexpensive. The next thing you know, though, the starter toner cartridge that came with your new printer runs out, and you discover that the replacement cartridge costs about half of what you paid for the printer. Yes, printer manufacturers are able to offer such low prices on printers because they make so much profit on toner cartridges. At least that’s the case when you buy an Original Equipment Manufacturer, or OEM, inkjet printer cartridge or LaserJet toner cartridge. You are probably aware that there are other types of ink cartridges and laser toner cartridges available, but perhaps you’ve been wary of them. After all, printer manufacturers warn of dire consequences like equipment ruination unless you buy brand name (or Original Equipment Manufacturer) toner. The truth is, there are compatible inkjet printer cartridges and LaserJet toner cartridges that not only meet, but that actually exceed the specifications of the equipment manufacturers. These cartridges are brand new and provide you with toner or ink that will produce the high-quality prints you’ve come to expect – without compromising the parts or lessening the lifespan of your printer. In addition to Original Equipment Manufacturer and compatible ink cartridges and toner cartridges, you can also find what are called re-manufactured cartridges. These are different from compatible cartridges in that they are OEM cartridges that have been used and refilled. Good re-manufactured cartridges consist of more than simply filling a used cartridge with ink or toner, though. For example, an inkjet printer cartridge and the print head nozzles will be cleaned. Then, once the inkwells have been filled with ink that matches the ink found in Original Equipment Manufacturer cartridges, the cartridge is extensively tested to ensure that it will do the job. It will, for example, go through tests to ensure it doesn’t leak, its circuitry is functional, and the pressure inside the cartridge is exact. The key to finding the right kind of laser toner or inkjet ink at the right price is understanding the difference between Original Equipment Manufacturer products, compatible products, and re-manufactured products. Next, you have to find a reputable supplier of compatible toner cartridges and inkjet printer cartridges. The Internet is the best place to start. When you do, you’ll feel more comfortable with taking the plunge and buying something other than the pricey cartridges available at your local office supply store. You’ll be surprised that you can save a ton of money – as much as 85 percent! When you do, that low price you paid for your laser printer, photo printer, or inkjet printer will, indeed, be a bargain.

Inkjet printers have many parts but it is the inkjet refill cartridge that is probably the most important part. The inkjet refill cartridge is the part of the equipment we see and replace the most. Some inkjet printers have only one inkjet cartridge, while quality photo printers have can have as many as six or more inkjet refill cartridges. Some inkjet refill cartridges actually have the print head built right in. Understanding how the technology of an inkjet printer works can help avoid printer problems as well as costly repairs.

The head on the inkjet printer has hundreds of tiny nozzles, or jets that distribute the ink. There can be from 48 to 320 nozzles on the print head. Some inkjet printers use electrical charges to create vibrations that force the ink through the nozzle of the inkjet refill cartridge. Other inkjet printers use bubble jet technology. This method takes heat to create ink bubbles which spray ink onto the paper when they pop.

If there is not enough ink in the inkjet refill cartridge, it cannot be distributed properly causing print quality problems such as streaking and lines. If low ink levels are allowed to continue, the nozzle and other print head parts are not properly cooled and lubricated they can be damaged. This is what is called “print head burnout.” If print head burnout does occur, you simply replace the inkjet cartridge with another inkjet refill cartridge. If your inkjet refill cartridge has small circuitry and metallic tape, then you have a cartridge/print head combination.

When buying inkjet refill cartridges, it is important that the print head has been checked for damage. Be sure that the inkjet refill company carefully checks each of their remanufactured inkjet refill cartridges to insure they meet or exceed OEM specifications.

Anyone who uses their printer on a regular basis knows that replacing the inkjet refill cartridge can be expensive. It is tempting to try and squeeze every drop of ink out of the inkjet refill cartridge before finally giving in and investing the money for a new inkjet refill cartridge. However, an inadequate supply of ink can significantly reduce the quality of your print jobs and lead to costly damage to your printer. Replacing the inkjet refill cartridge in a timely manner will keep your printer running smoothly.

These days, the printer has evolved to a very noticeable extent. Printers started with the dot matrix type that was very hard to use. Dot matrix printers are the ones that print very loudly and it is difficult to feed the paper into them.

Now, laser printers and inkjet printers have replaced dot matrix printers. How do you choose the perfect printer for the job? Below are five of the most important qualities you should look for when choosing a printer.

The most important factor to be considered is the resolution. Resolution is the number of dots a printer prints in a square inch. Your old dot matrix printer could not print in a high resolution. Ink jet printers are perfect for this. A good quality printer with high resolution can produce 1440 by 720 dpi.
The operating cost of the printer should also be considered. The speed of the printer is very important especially if you are using it in the office. Laser printers are perfect in this respect, 80 to 100 page documents can be printed in a very short time. Laser printers are also very cost effective to operate since their cartridges are not replaced very often.

Printers that have photo lab quality are essential if you are looking for a printer that can print high-resolution images in photo paper. Those who often use printers for printing pictures should get printers of the dye-sublimation type. With this type of printer, the dots are softer, thereby making the images appear sharper.

The volume of printout per minute is essential if you are printing large numbers of documents in black and white. There are printers with a lower resolution of about 400 by 400 dpi that can print about 70 pages in black and white within a minute.

The size of the printout is also to be considered. There are certain printers that can print all sizes of documents, big or small. The usual paper size is the 8.5 by 11 but for these types of printers, you can print enveloped size to tabloid-sized documents.
To be able to select the perfect printer for your needs, you should first determine where the printer would be used. If you are keen on printing photos, then a photo printer is necessary, but if you are more interested in printing documents, then heavy duty printers with speed printing are appropriate to use. High resolution is important, however it should fit the speed, quality and price of the printout.
Keeping the above specifications in mind, you will be able to purchase the right printer that would meet your requirements.