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InkJet Printers Lying, Or Just Wrong?

Posted by kdawson on from the running-on-empty dept.

akkarin writes in about a study reported at Ars Technica on how accurate ink-jet printers are when they report that cartridges are empty. Not very, it turns out. Epson came out on top of the study (and Ars rightly questions how objective it was, given that Epson paid for it), but even they waste 20% of the ink if users take the printers' word for when to get a new cartridge. On average, the printers in the study wasted more than half the ink that users bought.

5 of 461 comments (clear)

  1. Software by Mockylock · · Score: 5, Informative

    There's actually a free software that's available that can be used to reset the chips in several brands of ink cartridges. I'm not sure if you need any type of hardware, but I've heard good things about it.

    It allows you to reset the numbers and use the remainder of the ink, before it makes you replace it.

    If you ask me, the feature that stops you from using a cartridge after the ink is too low, is pretty ignorant. I think it's obvious when the ink is completely out, so why not let the user decide?

    --
    "Please, shut up. Just when I think you can't say anything more stupid, you speak again." -Archie Bunker.
    1. Re:Software by christus_ae · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yeah, there are a few solutions out there to reset the cartridge chip so that you can refill it.

      Inksupply seems to have a few solutions.

      British company proprint has some pay solutions.

      Also found this.

      I couldn't find any "free software" solutions to the chip problem, albeit I only looked for a little while.

  2. In a word by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes.

    I've found 'extra' ink in both my Epson and HP inkjet printers. I'd use refill kits, but the cartridges tend to leak over time, and refilling takes a lot of time and effort. In the meantime, for Epson printers, just go with the el cheapo compatible cartridges from places like Inkco. Epson C88 cartridges are $5 a pieces, as opposed to to ~$25 for branded cartridges.

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    My blog
  3. Re:Not buying a printer... by curmudgeous · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've been a long time fan of Canon photo printers, in fact I just bought a Pixma Pro9000. Their ink tanks are clear so if you doubt what the printer is saying you can eyeball it for yourself. So far it's been very accurate about remaining ink level.

  4. Re:Considering how expensive ink is by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Informative

    One of the biggest problem I have with lasers, aside from photo quality, is that paper handling isn't so good as compared to an inkjet. Inkjets can print on a variety of different media - envelopes, glossy photo paper, card stock, etc. Most inexpensive lasers have very poor paper handling in that they have an inability to print on anything thicker than thick bond or thin card stock. More expensive printers have no problem, but then they are not cost competitive with an inkjet.

    Also, cheap lasers tend to wear out quicker than inkjets, in my experience.

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