As the technology for home and office computer printers advances, the prices for these devices continue to get lower and lower. As you might have noticed, there is a wide range of affordable printers available on the market today, thus, it is no longer necessary to spend a fortune to get a quality printer. However, you need to be aware that although their prices have dropped, the price of ink for printers is still the same. This is because ink cartridges are what really helps the printing industry to make the profits. Printer manufacturers know that once a customer purchases a printer, they will need to keep buying ink in order for the printer to keep on working. Simply said, without an ink, a printer has no function. When it comes to buying ink for printers, there is a bunch of options to choose from. If you have no idea where to begin, below is a guide that will help you pick the best ink for your printer.
Compatibility
Make sure the ink cartridge you are buying is compatible with your printer. They are designed to be used with a specific printer (or a series of them), so choosing a compatible cartridge is a must. To find out which cartridge to use in your printer, check its user manual for a compatibility chart.
Colour vs. Black
When you buy a printer, you can opt between selecting a colour printer or a black and white one. In addition to the black ink, all colour printers use a combination of three colours to create all the other colours. While some printers incorporate all four colours in one cartridge, others come with individual cartridges for each colour, so again, it is important to know what type of ink cartridge your printer uses before buying it.
Types of Ink Cartridges
There are three main types of ink cartridge:
- Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) – these are produced by the printer company themselves. Taking into consideration that the printer makers have a better understanding of their own devices than anyone else, OEM cartridges typically deliver the highest quality and the lowest failure rates.
- Compatible Cartridge – These are new ink cartridges produced by third-party manufacturers, which guarantee their discount ink cartridge performs just as well as the name brand when used properly.
- Refurbished Cartridges – these are old printer cartridges that have been refilled and reconditioned. In the process of reconditioning an older cartridge, the empty cartridge is taken to a processor where the cartridge is refilled and any damaged part is replaced. Like OEM, these ink cartridges may also come with a guarantee.