Ink jet cartridges

[Spriggins]

Are "compatible" or "recycled" inkjet cartridges as good as the original ones from the manufacturer? There's a colossal price difference!

[squarebear]

I personally have seen a number of printers become unusable after being fitted with "compatible" cartridge and I wouldn't trust them myself.

I guess you get what you pay for.

[Buenchico]

For absolute top quality you should use the manufacturer's inks, together with their recommended paper. However, switching to 'compatible'/'recycled' cartridges (but still using good quality paper) normally only results in a very minor drop in quality.

However, switching from a decent brand of photo-paper (e.g. Kodak Ultima) to a 'value' brand (e.g. Morrison's Photo Quality Inkjet Paper) will produce a massive drop in quality.

Buy cheap inks from a source which someone has personally recommended to you (because they do vary quite a bit in quality). I like this firm's products:
http://www.inkcycle.co.uk/
(If you're buying on the High Street, Morrison's inks are cheaper than most others, and of quite good quality).

However, don't over-economise on the quality of the paper you use. Something like Kodak Ultima will produce excellent results, even with 'compatible' inks. The results with Kodak Everyday Photo Paper will be noticeably poorer but still well within acceptable limits. However, the best thing to do with stuff like Morrison's Photo Quality Inkjet Paper (since it's too shiny to wipe your @rse with it) is to throw it straight into the bin, because that's exactly what you'll want to do with the prints it produces.

Save on ink by all means but never on paper. (Except of course, that it's a good idea to watch out for genuine bargains. Sainsbury's often have Kodak papers on a 2-for-1 offer during their sale periods).

Chris

[wildwood]

Find out the price of brand ink tanks before you get a printer can be good practice. Usually the 'cheaper than the ink only' printers have expensive ink tank replacements and the ink tanks that comes with the printer are not full.

I never use the compatable ones anymore as the ink they use is often totally unsuitable for the inkjets on the printer. They also often leak and dry our prematurely, clogging the jets.

I have found the recycled ink tanks a good deal by a reputable trader that offers satisfaction guarantee.
Note that some ink tanks are actually combined printheads and after a few refills the quality may deteriorate.

[beso]

About 10 years ago I had a HP inkjet and it was forever getting blocked with the manufacturer's ink. I changed to Calidad refill ink and it worked much more reliably.

Having said that HP injet printers have always been rubbish for a whole range of reasons and I would never buy one again.

I then had a Cannon 550 which worked fine with the original and Calidad refill ink. Eventually the printhead died but it had pumped dozens of tanks of ink through it for over five years.

My advice is to buy a laser printer. They are more expensive up front but much more reliable, less hassle and cheaper to run.

[Spriggins]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful!