Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (
More info?)
I know you'd like to believe this is true. In fact, regardless of
independent lab tests and the experiences of many using tricolor
cartridges that show otherwise, you continue to make this claim.
Yes, in the case of low dye load colors (light magenta and cyan), the
usual use, and the way the drivers are designed, these colors are used
at about twice the volume of high dye load colors, like CMY.
Otherwise, with standard CMY tri-color cartridges, other than in quite
unusual usage, the colors tend to run out nearly at the same time. Most
often yellow will run out first, with cyan and magenta in one order or
the other) running out next, usually leaving only 5-15% of the ink left
over.
Now, admittedly, at the price of ink cartridges, no one wishes to waste
ink. However, there is a flaw in the argument that using individual
color cartridges is any great savings, if any at all. Firstly, you have
to look at cost per amount of ink, or page count. An individual color
cartridge may cost more per ink use.
Secondly, there is another scenario to consider. When you install a
tri-color cartridge, the printer goes through a purging process which
takes out equal amounts of each color. With most modern Epson printers
(and probably most others) the black ink cartridge is also purged at the
same time. Now, consider what happens with individual cartridges.
Let's say the yellow runs out first, so you put in a new yellow. The
printer goes through a purging process, which uses up about 5-7% of the
ink in each of the cartridges (all of them). Then, a few sheets later,
the cyan runs out, once again, 5-7% of the ink is purges out of all the
cartridges, a few sheets later, the magenta runs out, and the process is
repeated again. So instead of one purge, you have now had 3 separate
ones, each using up 5% or so of the ink per cartridge. I don't see how
that necessarily saves ink.
If each cartridge had a separate cleaning station and purge pump, yes,
the saving would add up over time, but not when the purging process is
universal.
Art
Miss Perspicacia Tick wrote:
> Steve wrote:
>
>>Hi, Im looking at upgrading my Lexmark Z32 and after ages trawling
>>through both Printer and Cartridge sites are still none the wiser.
>>
>>Im trying to find a decent printer (preferably with above 1200x1200
>>colour resolution) with the cheapest cartridges possible (dont ask
>>for much do I). I seem to find Epson the cheapest for cartridges but
>>find one I like and then discover you have to buy the different
>>colours seperately.
>
>
>
> Just think about what you've said for a moment. Why is buying a combination
> cartridge more economical than buying them separately?! You really haven't
> thought this through, have you?! When a standard tri-colour tank registers
> empty, it could be that just *ONE* of the colours has expired, the others
> could still be very nearly full. Say said cartridge cost £30 (about average
> for an OEM) - you could very well be throwing £20 in the bin - throwing your
> money away - literally.
>
> Separate tanks makes sound economic sense. £80 would buy you an R200 and
> cartridges for which are £9.60 each (all colours) (or £57.56 for a complete
> set). JetTec compatibles (which I use and give me excellent prints) are
> £5.50 each or £51.35 for a set of 12 (a saving of nearly £15 over buying
> them separately). The JetTec tanks also have nearly a third more ink than
> the originals.
>
>
>>If any one could recommend a good printer in the £50-80 bracket with
>>cheap refills I would be very grateful.
>
>
>
>
The
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