The relative value of printer cartridges is enough to send an economist back to school. Many years ago Consumer’s Reports magazine gave up trying to figure out the real price of paper towels. They started their figuring based on price, number of sheets, whether or not it was a double roll, the thickness of each sheet (whether double or single), and if they had strengthening strands of fiber. Then, they tried the quality test (the “feel” test). In the end, Consumer’s Reports pretty much gave up. Individual preferences tended to rule the day, which may finally be how you choose printer cartridges.

Dye-based inks, like the ones used in most inkjets, begin to fade in a relatively short time – as little as a single year. Pigment-based inks, like the ones Kodak printers accept, last up to about 90 YEARS! Whereas Kodak machines print out borderless 4 x 6 prints in about 55 seconds, the comparable Hewlett-Packard only takes about 32 seconds to do the same job. However, the pigment-type inks do take a bit longer to dry than the dye-based ink.

Meanwhile, there is still the issue of page output, which is usually listed on the package documentation. Realize, of course, that the print density varies from page to page, so the output number is an estimate, at best. For some of us, we only print in black ink. Attorneys don’t do much in color, other than to copy pictures of exhibits. The issue with color printing boils down to waste. If your printer uses cartridges that are 3-in-1, you will be throwing away some cyan and magenta ink if the only one you need to replace is the yellow. Individual color cartridges mean you only replace what you’re out of – not all three at once. That will help keep costs in line.

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