What is the difference between compatible and original inks?
As more and more people are looking to make the switch to using compatible ink and toner, here is some useful and helpful information to help make that decision.
When our attention starts to focus on at the cost of ink cartridges the first thing that strikes us is the difference in price between original and compatible ink cartridges and why is the difference so big in some cases. Another way of asking the question would be âare compatible ink cartridges as good as the originals?â The original brand ink cartridge is manufactured by the brand that makes the printer so every cartridge they produce should be of the highest quality and suited to that particular printer. The compatible cartridges are in effect clones of the originals; ink cartridges that are manufactured not by the original brand supplier but by a third party. These 3rd party manufacturers are careful not too infringe any copyright or patent of the original but at the same time make they compatible and usable with your printer.
For the home user and general office user the compatible ink cartridges are more than adequate to suit your needs. The only time you are likely to notice a difference in the quality may be in the printing of photo print outs where the colours are crucial but for most of the time this isnât necessary. Within this same framework some colours may tend to fade after a period of time again only noticeable on colour photos that you may be printing out for resale. For general every day use, the compatible ink cartridge should work fine and give great savings for the heavy user.
Another version of the âcompatible ink cartridgeâ is the remanufactured ink cartridges. Not everyone understands the difference between these and their compatible cousins. The remanufactured ink actually contains the print head which means that every time your replace the cartridge you are replacing the print head. Brands such as HP, Lexmark and Dell all produce ink cartridges that use this system and these cartridges carry a lot of technology within them and this makes for good recycling value as the print heads will last way beyond the life of the ink in the cartridge when you first buy it. These cartridges are also refillable in a local refill shop and should work without too many issues. On some occasions though, after the cartridge has been refilled, the printer will know that it has been used before and try to reject the cartridge.
The savings to be had by using the compatible and remanufactured ink are too great to ignore and everyone should try it at least once to see if their printer can run for a fraction of the original cost.
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- Published in Ink Cartridges
My printer is saying the ink cartridge is EMPTY even though I just installed it
Following the installation of a replacement ink cartridge the printer may sometimes give the message that the cartridge is empty. This can be common with a remanufactured or compatible ink cartridges. The reason for this is that the manufacturers of the original cartridges do not make is simple for 3rd party manufacturers to reset the levels. The cartridge will be filled to the appropriate level so you can CLICK OK to any error message displayed and continue printing. It may be possible to reset the volume levels on a certain brands of printers and it is best to search how to do this in Google â âhow to reset ink levels or counterâ.
9 times out of 10 if you click OK and ignore the warning and carry on printing the inkjet cartridge or toner ink will perform as normal. In the unlikely event that it wonât print once you OK the error message, there are other options you can try. Try reinstalling the ink cartridge again (making sure that the computer and the printer are both actually switched on). Remove the cartridge and put it back in again then close the printer cover, this should display the printer control panel. If this option doesnât show up then you will have to go to Printer Utilities and find the command âinstall/change ink cartridgeâ. You then follow the steps as prompted and this will hopefully zero the counter on the cartridge.
However, you can rest assured that the toner and ink cartridges you receive from us are filled to capacity and will print the same number of pages or in excess of the original manufacturers ink cartridges.
Disabling the Canon Printer Ink Monitor
It is also possible for the Canon printer to give problems with the ink volume levels when you have installed compatible Canon ink cartridges. You may have to disable to ink monitor to proceed with printing. To begin with, click on the Start button > Settings > Control Panel > Printers (then right click on the printer model) > Printer Preferences > Maintenance Tab > View Printer Status > Option.
In your options menu click on the âenable statusâ monitor, the check tick will be removed and the ink cartridge monitor will be disabled. A pop up message may appear and the printer may start to flash an orange light but just click OK to proceed. If there is no OK to click then just hold down the feed button. If this will not work for you donât worry, just remove the cartridges and reinsert in to the printer and try to print a document. If the message is telling you the ink cartridges are empty then just hold down the cancel button (this is the button with the diamond shape inside a circle) for a full 5 seconds. You may have to try this more than once to disable the ink cartridge monitor.
- Published in Troubleshoot
Do not bottle your recycling this Christmas!
Recycling is an excellent way of saving energy and conserving the environment. UK households produced 30.5 million tonnes of waste in 2003/04, which means17% was collected for recycling (source: defra.gov.uk). This figure is still quite low compared to some of our neighbouring EU countries, some recycling over 50% of their waste. There is still a great deal of waste which could be recycled that ends up in landfill sites which is harmful to the environment. DID YOU KNOW up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled and 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours. After Christmas, set recycling as one of your New Year resolutions!
With the growing concern for the environment over recent years and the ever increasing trend of âgoing greenâ, recycling has been brought to the forefront of our minds with questions of how we, as individuals, can do âour bitâ to help the cause and the small amount of help that you can give will go a long way but we need moral support and constant praise for the help that we are providing. It often seems that unless we raise millions of pounds or recycle half of Hackney, nobody bats an eyelid. Well, all this is starting to change as we see the face of small efforts being nationally recognised. Letâs Recycle has introduced a new category in their national âAwards for Excellenceâ to recognise community achievements such as these across the nation â âThe Best Community Recycling Initiativeâ. There are many other ways you can do your bit for the environment. Cycle to work- with the summer coming up and the weather will be getting better, why not cycle to work instead of taking the car? You will save money, reduce air pollution and keep your heart healthy by exercising! Go Solar- solar power (also known as solar energy). This technology will obtain usable energy from the light of the sun. This is a great investment and you will notice the difference in your monthly bills in the long run.
Switch to compatible ink cartridges. Compatible ink cartridges are being used more and more now as they are getting more known. They are nearly half the price of the originals and work just as well, sometimes even better. If you work in a busy office you could save a good amount of money or even if it is just for home use. Help us save the environment and switch to compatible ink cartridges!
Here at PrinterInkCartridges.ie we have a wide range of compatible ink cartridges and toners with brands such as Epson, Lexmark, Canon, Brother, HP and many more. We have great offers on multi-pack deals with an exceptional service with super-fast delivery. Also check out our other blogs which are full of useful tips and information. Check out our products today and Go Green!
- Published in Christmas, Ink Cartridges, New Year Resolution
A New Years Resolution Saving You Money
Can’t think of a New Year’s resolution for 2014? Why not begin by saving money and make the switch to compatible ink cartridges for your printer. If you’re a regular use of your printer can you calculate how much you have spent on ink and toner in 2013? For the busy home user using original brand ink cartridges this cost could run into hundreds of Euros, especially if you have students who need to print out their projects, in what seems like, every other week.
For example, if you were to buy Epson genuine brand T1285 ink cartridges at their best price online you could expect to pay somewhere around âŹ40 plus postage and packing. If you source the compatible version of this ink you should expect to pay about âŹ10! As well as this, you are likely to receive a FREE cartridge AND if youâre really lucky, a FREE gift! These savings are too big for you ignore and as the economy picks up and we all get busier then the need to print more will increase. This can equate to a sizeable saving if you were to purchase 10 sets in a year (not unreasonable for a busy family or a small office), âŹ400 for 10 sets of original brand and âŹ100 for compatible cartridges. If you take the same equation to a busy office using inkjet cartridges where perhaps their early ink bill is around âŹ1000 the saving made switching to compatible are certainly significant.
Ink and toner budgets in the office of any size of business are something that should be addressed regularly in an effort to make savings. Laser toner is most popular for those busy offices that produce large quantities of printed matter. This can be a strain on the finances but the solution again is there if you make the switch to compatible ink and toner. There are some online suppliers that will offer FREE toner ink to those who buy full sets of compatible or remanufactured laser toner ink.
Perhaps you feel your original brand printer ink is too expensive and the savings on the compatible version arenât really that significant (this can be the case, especially of you are using a HP Printer). You may be deciding to change your printer completely as you have had it for a while and it gives you problems from time to time anyway. A useful tip when looking for a replacement printer is to contact your trusted ink supplier and ask them to recommend what new printer would work best with compatible ink cartridges. They should be able to advise you which printers respond best to using compatibles and those to avoid as they maybe have issues accepting the compatible ink cartridges.
This is one New Yearâs resolution thatâs easy to keep and will surely save you money in 2014.
To Get latest Christmas gift ideas Click here.
- Published in Ink Cartridges, New Year Resolution
The Difference between a Compatible and Original Ink Cartridge
Some people are unsure as to what the differences are between compatible (sometimes known as third party) and (OEM) original brand ink cartridges.
- Cost
The difference in cost is the first issue with compatible ink cartridges when they are compared to original brand. In some cases the cost of a compatible cartridge can be as much as 70% less than that of an original brand. The differences in price between original brand and compatible laser toner can still be as much as 50% but is typically around 30%. - Are compatibles as good as original cartridges?
The print output you get from using compatible ink cartridges in terms of volume should be at least that of the original brand. Many compatible cartridges are filled to capacity unlike their original counterparts and will out-perform in terms of which lasts longer. The price difference then becomes the main concern if you are able to get the same or more printing form a compatible inkjet cartridge. A good way to decide if the quality is satisfactory is to carry out an experiment using photo gloss paper. If you have original brand cartridges in your printer print a selection of images onto the photo paper over a period of time and display them in your office or somewhere you can see them regularly. When that ink has run out, choose a set of compatible ink cartridges and run a series of the same photos on the same paper and pin them up alongside those The difference between a printed using the original brand cartridges. The results should tell you whether the difference is enough to make want to make the switch to compatibles. Of course for everyday printing that doesnât involve the printing onto photo paper itâs very likely that the compatibles will be sufficient to do the job. - What is the difference between compatibles and refilled/remanufactured ink cartridges?
Although the technology behind the different types of printers that use ink cartridges is extremely complex there is a simple reason why some printers use compatible and some use refilled ink cartridges. Canon, Brother and Epson all manufacture printers with a built in print head. Therefore, when you replace the ink cartridge you are in effect replacing the ink tank. When one colour runs out you simply replace the empty colour cartridge. HP, Lexmark and Dell manufacture printers that have the print head integrated into the ink cartridge. In this case, every time you replace a cartridge you replace the print head too. These cartridges are more expensive as a rule, as they have more technology built in. They are also more likely to be refilled, as the print head is good for more use without any loss of quality.
Compatible or refilled/remanufactured ink cartridges will always give you the best value and make your printing more economical. Perform a test today and see if you can make the switch and save.
- Published in Ink Cartridges
Printing from Google iCloud
iCloud now make it possible to share all the things we consider important in our busy digital lives, from our music and photos to our notes and documents both personal and business. You can buy music on your phone from iTunes and it will automatically be downloaded to your iPad at the same time. It is easy and fast to set and access, ready for you to start sharing in minutes.
If you use a Google iCloud ready printer, it will connect directly with the web and it means you donât need a PC to set up the printer. In effect, you are cutting out the need to download the printer software to your mobile device or you PC. You will be able to connect on your Google Cloud Print in a matter of seconds and begin printing straight away.
Google iPrint is a service provided by Google that will enable you to register your printer to your Google account using a network compatible device such as a mobile phone or computer while not having to install the printer driver on your device. One advantage is that you can print any time of the day without being at home.
All the major brand manufacturers including Epson, Brother and HP have selected models that will allow cloud printing. Canon in particular has manufactured several printers that are cloud ready. The Canon Pixma MG8220 inkjet all-in-one printer is cloud ready and currently available to buy online.
Canon Pixma MG8220
As well as the advantage of iCloud printing, this printer will work perfectly well with low cost compatible ink cartridges Canon CLI526 Cyan/Magenta/Yellow and PGI5BK Black.
As with any type of printing, cloud or otherwise, the cost of the ink cartridges will become a factor. Compatible ink is the solution to affordable cloud printing. While the ability to now print from a mobile device is becoming commonplace, alas the cost of original brand ink cartridges are not coming down.
- Published in Google iCloud
5 Steps to Follow when Ink Cartridge is Not Recognized by Epson Printer
The error message âink cartridge not recognisedâ message may appear on your screen sometimes when using compatible Epson ink cartridges. Usually this message is shown when non-Original or compatible ink cartridges are used. However, if no matter how many times you try installing the cartridge and the âcartridge not recognisedâ message still appears, or maybe a red cross appears, you can try some of the solutions outlined below. For example, the Epson T0711, T0712, T0713 and T0714 ink cartridges can be prone to displaying this message but there are steps you can take to rectify the matter.
Complete a basic check
- Has your cartridge suddenly stopped working? Most âInk cartridge not recognisedâ errors with compatible inks means the cartridge is empty.
- Are the cartridges the correct inks for your printer? Incorrect inks will give the same error message.
- s the colour installed in the right slot? e.g. A black will not work in a yellow slot.
Identify the problem cartridge
- If you have replaced more than one ink cartridge and are getting the error message then it is likely that just one of the cartridges is causing the problem and affecting all the cartridges.
- In the first instance, remove all the newly installed ink cartridges from the printer and reinstall all previous inks – the error message should disappear.
- Install the new inks one at a time until the error message reappears and then you will have successfully identified the cartridge causing the problem.
Rectifying the problem cartridge
- Remove the cartridge causing the issue and gently wipe the copper âchipâ area with a soft lint free cloth or clean pencil rubber to remove any static.
- Switch the printer off at the wall, leave for 30 minutes and switch back on.
3.This will reset the printer and remove the error message from the memory of the printer.
Compatible printer cartridges
All Epson Printers will usually accept compatible and refillable cartridges, the only time there is an exception is when the printer has received a downloaded firmware update from Epson. First of all are you sure that the message is not just asking for your permission to use the installed ink cartridges? If it is, then this message will normally have a âcontinueâ box at the bottom of the message. It might sound obvious but itâs worth double-checking.
However, if your message clearly states that the cartridges is not recognised or is not compatible with the printer then please follow the 5 steps below.
- Remove the ink cartridges from your printer with the printer switched on. Follow the printer prompts as you go through the procedure for changing and ink cartridge.
- Next, turn your printer off and leave for approximately one minute. This gives the printer a chance to clear the error it had and power down naturally. It might also be worth checking your printer is passing this information this to your computer and that the error on screen has cleared.
- Now turn the printer back on and wait for it to warn you of the missing ink cartridges. Taking an extra minute or two now may save you having to return your ink cartridge to your supplier or buying a new one.
- Re-fit the ink cartridges one at a time. Make sure that you follow any instructions closely or follow the procedures as described in your printer manual. If more than one cartridge has been rejected, itâs recommended installing them individually and making sure the ink cartridges are being recognised by your printer before installing the next cartridge. If any of the ink cartridges are rejected during the installation process, remove them straight away and replace with another one.
- There are a many different causes of compatible ink cartridges for Epson printer not being recognised, sometimes there are damaged chips â maybe the chip is not correctly aligned with a corresponding contact in the printer. Perseverance is the key to getting the compatible ink cartridges to work and up to now we have not lost a customer by selling compatible ink cartridges that will not work.
- Published in Epson, Ink Cartridges
The Stylus T1285 Compatible Ink Cartridges for Epson Printer
Epson printers are fast becoming one of the most popular printers for the home user due mostly to the many deals now available on-line. Of course, the fact that there are many good quality compatible ink cartridges available also increases their popularity. One example is the Epson Stylus SX125 ink cartridge, this ink cartridge, if bought as an original, can retail in Ireland for as much as âŹ12 in shops or on-line. A good quality T1281 compatible ink cartridge can cost less than âŹ5 with an on-line supplier in Ireland an often have low cost or free delivery.
Obviously, most printers will use more black ink than the colours if documents or reports are the main reason for printing. Most offices will be printing in black and white to save on the ink and, of course, an inkjet cartridge printer will run faster when printing black and white. It is therefore a good idea to only print the images that are absolutely necessary so as to avoid using precious Epson T1281 ink. Epson inkjet printers use between four and six ink cartridges at any one time. The 1285 compatible ink cartridges are used in a variety of Epson printers; these printers can often be bought on-line for as little as âŹ40 on Amazon. Epson’s marketing strategy is to sell off the printers at low prices while hoping to increase the sales of their ink cartridges. The printers are certainly of a very high quality and give great results for the home user and small office. We find that using the Epson Stylus SX125 printer in our office will give good results and print a good rate of knots for black and white pages, we do find it a little slow when printing colour images and find that it’s best to have a spare pack of T1285 compatible ink at the ready. The T1285 ink compatible ink cartridges save the user up to 70% off the original manufacturers prices and it enables the user to stock up with more than more multipack without breaking the bank. As we all use more black ink than colour it is a good idea to see if you can get a deal that includes free T1281 ink.
The T1285 compatible ink cartridges are available at great prices on-line and the ink volumes are all circa 13ml of ink. There is a high capacity version of this cartridge; T1295 compatible ink cartridge, this ink cartridge will only work in certain Epson printers as they will not all accept this high capacity version. Check your printer first before you buy to save disappointment. In conclusion, we feel that the T1285 compatible ink cartridges are great value for money when buying a full set, they give good quality prints and we have found that the brand we use bought at Printerinkcartridges.ie do not give us any problems with clogged heads and the colours are strong and vibrant.
- Published in Epson, Ink Cartridges