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Printer ink

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sweetgirl2015
sweetgirl2015 Posts: 163 Forumite
100 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
edited 17 October 2020 at 7:07PM in Techie Stuff
Just wondering I got an HP printer but the ink never seems to last that long concidering how expencive it is. 
Is there an economic mode I could set it on or something?
I tried the cheap ASDA alternative ink once but had nothing but problems so I'm not buying that again.
Are some other brands of printers more economic than others? 

Comments

  • Neil_Jones
    Neil_Jones Posts: 9,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The economies/lifespan of a printer depends what you're printing.  If you print more photos than letters, it won't last anywhere near as long, and likewise if you print your photos in super duper high quality, it'll use more ink than it would if it was in high quality.  The make of printer is irrelevant to this since they all work in near enough the same way, just making different noises to achieve the same end result.

    Some printers may have a text economy mode (which is code for "faded/lighter"), but this normally generates something so faint its hard to read.
  • RumRat
    RumRat Posts: 5,003 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You may be better off exploring HP instant ink, providing your printer is compatible...
    Drinking Rum before 10am makes you
    A PIRATE
    Not an Alcoholic...!
  • Thanks guys, I rarely print photos. Its letters mostly, or things for my daughters school work. 
    Just never seems to last long. 
    Whats the difference or advantage of instant ink? 
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks guys, I rarely print photos. Its letters mostly, or things for my daughters school work. 
    Just never seems to last long. 
    Whats the difference or advantage of instant ink? 
    Cost and convenience.
  • Mickey666
    Mickey666 Posts: 2,834 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Photogenic First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Has anyone got or used one of those ‘mega tank’ printers, eg https://www.johnlewis.com/canon-pixma-g3501-three-in-one-wireless-wi-fi-printer-black/p3771395 (other similar types are available!)
    Basically an inkjet printer but with ink tanks instead of cartridges.  Printing costs supposedly around 0.1p per page instead of around 5p per page.  Simply top up the ink tanks with new ink when they run low.  Cost for genuine ink bottles is around £45 for a set of ink bottles good for 18,000 b&w 7000 colour pages.
    I personally favour laser printers, mainly because I only need b&w and the running costs are lower than inkjet, but these ‘mega tank’ Inkjets supposedly make the printing costs even cheaper than lasers, so I’m tempted.
  • GT60
    GT60 Posts: 2,363 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 18 October 2020 at 4:27PM
    Try https://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk/  
    Apparently HP are known for their aggressive firmware maling using "copy" inks hard work.

    Spending my time reading how to fix PC's,instead of looking at Facebook.
  • GT60 said:
    Try https://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk/  
    Apparently HP are known for their aggressive firmware maling using "copy" inks hard work.

    Sorry you've lost me. 
  • GT60
    GT60 Posts: 2,363 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    GT60 said:
    Try https://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk/  
    Apparently HP are known for their aggressive firmware maling using "copy" inks hard work.

    Sorry you've lost me. 
    Stinky ink for mega cheap ink with brilliant customer service and warranty.
    The aggressive firmware is the printer brains that can stop the printer accepting copy ink cartridges.

    Spending my time reading how to fix PC's,instead of looking at Facebook.
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