If you want to buy a color printer, there are three choices: color inkjet printer, color laser printer or solid ink printer. Both color inkjet and color laser printers have been around for a long time while solid ink printers are relatively new to most people. So what are the differences among solid ink vs color inkjet vs color laser printers?

Color inkjet printers require a low initial investment but the liquid ink runs out quickly and the replacement ink cartridges are expensive. Color inkjet printers print slowly but there is no warm up time. The ink may smear on some papers and the printout is not resistant to light and water. In general, color inkjet printer can produce good quality text and excellent images on special paper.

Color laser printers are more expensive than inkjet printers. The replacement toner cartridges are also costly although they can usually last for a long time. Color laser printers have a high print speed but they do require warm up time. Because of the complex design, laser printers are bulky and take up a lot of space. Color laser printers can produce excellent text quality but unless you buy the high end color laser printers, they are less capable of producing high quality images. Unlike inkjet cartridges, it is less common to refill the toner cartridges. The empty cartridges produce lot of waste and take a long time to decompose in landfill.

Solid ink printers use ink sticks instead of cartridges. The ink sticks are in solid form at room temperature. When they are heated to a specific temperature, they are melted and applied through the print head. Once printed on the media, they return to solid form immediately. The way solid ink works give them some distinct advantages over color inkjet and color laser printers.

1) The wax based ink produces good quality text, vivid colors and bright images on a wide range of media.

2) The ink sticks can be used up entirely for printing, there is no empty cartridge left.

3) Solid ink printers have simple design, so they are more compact and affordable than color laser printers.

4) Unlike color inkjet printers, solid ink printers can print at a high speed and are good at high volume printing.

5) Replacement solid ink sticks are more affordable than color inkjet or color laser cartridges.

6) Solid ink sticks are easy to use and handle, there is no leaking and spillage.

However, solid ink printers also have some disadvantages, such as longer warm up time, higher power consumption as the ink has to be heated even at standby mode. The wax based ink is difficult to write on and is not resistant to sunlight.

In summary, if you want to buy a color printer for occasional color printing at home, a color inkjet printer will be a good choice for you. However, if you are shopping for a color printer for office use, you should do some research on the solid ink printers. The relatively low investment cost, affordable consumables, compact design and good print quality for both text and image make the solid ink printers an attractive choice for small businesses.



Thanks to Kwan Lo for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:

Inkjet Ink Cartridge Refill

There are millions of inkjet cartridges available from a variety of manufacturers and it’s not just about choosing the right colours, make sure you know what your printer make and model is. You will find this usually on the front of your printer or on the accompanying box. Without this you may get ink cartridges that are not only the wrong size but also can’t communicate properly with your printer and are unusable. Your first step is to check out what type of Inkjet cartridges the box or manual describes if they are refillable it will clearly state so. If it does not then do not try refilling them as this will damage them and your printer.

The next step is to find out what colours you need. Not all colours of ink will run out at the same time. You will usually find that black ink runs out the most as it’s the most frequently used of all of them. Thankfully it’s also the cheapest ink. You can buy full colour replacement packs or single colours one at a time. If one of your inks has run out and the rest are very low you should probably invest in a full pack as it’s cheaper than buying them individually. However, if an inkjet cartridge runs out and the rest are very high on ink you may want to buy just the one ink cartridge for now. This is most likely to happen with your black ink however the other colours are also sold individually in case you use one colour more than the rest.

Inkjet cartridges are quite expensive compared to the printer you are purchasing. Before buying a printer have a quick look at the Inkjet cartridges they use which will usually be on display close to the printer. The prices of cartridges can vary depending on the printer you choose. If you get a standard printer, your ink will be cheaper than if you get a photo quality printer for example. If you aren’t sure what printer you need don’t be afraid to ask for help, an assistant will be able to talk you through what the different printers are best used for and help you decide which one suits your needs. Before you pick out a printer though, ask to see the inkjet cartridges that go with it. This allows you to easily recognise the cartridges you will need in future as well as check out the price of them. Special offers on printers do not mean much when the ink is too expensive. Often manufacturers will sell the ink for just under the cost of the printer making it only just worthwhile to buy the ink rather than buy a whole new printer!



Thanks to George Huddlestone for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:

Hp Colour Inkjet

With the advancement of technology, the requirement of printouts has been increased at a fast pact. Either home or office, printing requirement needs to deal with care. In order to accomplish your desire of quality print outs, HP has introduced inkjet cartridges which are fade proof and compatible. Having years of experience in the printing industry, these cartridges are sure to offer good quality ink at the competitive price tag.

HP offers hundreds of different printers and models. So, it is mandatory to know the modal number before purchasing HP inkjet cartridges. You can find model number on the printer or go through the manual that has come along with the printer. For reducing the burden of customers, HP inkjet cartridges are numbered, thus you can access the cartridge you want. Being one of the largest brands of inkjet printer, HP (Hewlett Packard) is recognized globally for its commitment to quality through its extensive research and development programs to deliver durable and reasonably-priced ink cartridges to its customers.

Known for standard ink formulations, professional-quality photographs or paper prints, HP ink cartridge is confident to provide choice and greater value to printing requirements. In order to save your pocket, these cartridges are available with options- lower cost-per-page ink cartridge packages for customers whose printing requirements are high and higher cost-per-page ink cartridge packages are for people whose printing requirements are nominal.

Some of the inkjet cartridge options offered by Hewlett Packard are obtainable in the market in the following packages:

• Standard cartridges: Available in a blue package, it costs very low.

• Value cartridges: Available in a green package, it offers a lower cost per page compared to standard cartridges. New high-yield XL cartridges proffer customers with almost 30 to 45 per cent savings on a cost-per-page basis.

• Specialty cartridges: Obtainable in a red package, the cartridge offers special features for customers with specific print jobs.

Now the time has come to purchase HP inkjet cartridges through the internet as it is the best source to offer you these cartridges at pocket-friendly rates. Therefore, make an extensive search through online to get the best deal.



Thanks to Article Expert for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:

Inkjet Ink Cartridge Refill

PC Friend don’t want you to have the hassle of unreliable bad quality inkjet cartridges.  We also don’t want you to have to pay the extortionate prices that Lexmark charge!  We have searched and searched and found a product that needn’t be expensive or compromising.  Our Lexmark compatible inkjet cartridges are reliable and offer you professional results again and again without being expensive!

Lexmark compatible inkjet cartridges cost only approximately 25% of the recommended retail price of genuine Lexmark inkjet cartridges.  Yet as with genuine OEM cartridges, they have also been thoroughly tested using the latest technology.  The chemical formulation is perfectly suited to your Lexmark machine thereby increasing the longevity of your printer.  PC Friend do not like to disappoint so we have personally made sure that the products we sell are good enough to have your printing look crisp and fresh with no fading or running.

PC Friend appreciate that whether you use your printer at home or in the office, you need reliable good quality results that will have your documents and photos looking professional as well as standing the test of time. We feel confident that if you give our products a try you may just be impressed.  You may never have to dig deep for your cartridges again.  Our Lexmark compatible inkjet cartridges could be just the thing you need to start saving today!

Whereas some companies will try and sell you old or recycled inkjet cartridges, we guarantee you that our products are 100% new and NOT recycled.  We sell a wide range of Lexmark compatible inkjet cartridges so chances are we will have what you need in stock ready for despatch direct to your door!

PC Friend offers you an honest, helpful and straightforward service; with a no-quibble money back guarantee (being PC friendly!) so you can feel as confident as we are that this product will work with your printer.  We hope that you will be so impressed that next time you need ink for your Lexmark printer; you won’t hesitate to buy Lexmark compatible inkjet cartridges from PC Friend. 



Thanks to David Gabbitas - UKIM for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:

Get a Money-making Website

If you want to purchase an inkjet printer for your home or office, here are some of the best models you could hope to have.

Canon Pixma iP3500

• Low price – under $80 through Amazon and other online venues

• Fast speed – 25 and 17 pages per minute in black and color, respectively

• Double input trays

• Excellent print results in both black and color

HP Photosmart D7460

• A bit pricey for an inkjet at between $130 and $150

• Fast speed – 34 and 33 pages per minute in black and color, respectively

• Built-in wireless printer networking capabilities

• Amazing photo-quality printing and good b/w printing – regular color printing is fair

Epson Stylus 880

• Reasonable price

• Decent speed for the time – 12 and 9 pages per minute in black and color, respectively

• USB and parallel port options

HP PhotoSmart 100 Portable

• Convenient photo printer that can go everywhere you go

• Capable of printing directly from your digital camera’s media, including Compact Flash, Smart Media, and Sony Memory sticks

• Can print a 4 X 6 photo in less than 3 minutes at good quality

Lexmark Z2420 Wireless

• Around $80 price tag is not bad considering the extra features

• Fast speed – 25 and 18 pages per minute in black and color, respectively but slower than average on color graphics

Brother MFC-665CW

• All-in-one inkjet unit that copies, scans, faxes, and prints

• Fast speed – 27 and 22 pages per minute in black and color, respectively (slower for making copies)

HP Deskjet 6940

• Price ranges from a reasonable $80 to over $120 depending on where purchased

• Extremely fast printing speed – 36 and 27 pages per minute in black and color, respectively

• Comes with three connectivity options: USB, Ethernet, Pictbridge (lets you print directly from digital camera). Bluetooth is optional.

Canon Pixma MX7600

• Another great inkjet all-in-one unit that faxes, scans, copies, and prints

• Energy star qualified to reduce your energy bills

• Fast printing speeds – 28 and 23 pages per minute in black and color, respectively

• Built-in Ethernet connection

Lexmark Z611

• Does a decent print job for the price

• Prints in color and black and white for a very low price

• Used the same inkjet cartridges as other models so ink is widely available

• Slower than average print speeds – 14 and 8 pages per minute in black and color, respectively

HP DeskJet 3845

• Reasonable speed – 18 and 14 pages per minute in black and color, respectively

• Compatible with both PC and Mac computers

• Uses thermal inkjet technology for better quality printing



Thanks to John C. Arkin for contributing this article to our Inkjets blog:

Bulk Inkjet Printer Ink