Carol writes:

<<I've since found out that the colors are not empty like the program is
telling me, they're just dried up....I personally think it's a scam to make
us buy their color cartridges,
which are expensive.  (Of course Canon cartridges are more expensive, that's
part of the whole picture.) >>

In a sense, you're right. But let's be fair to the manufacturers. Printers
(at least the basic ones) these days are sold at virtually giveaway prices,
considering the technology that goes into them. So the manufacturer, as you
rightly surmise, makes its profits from the aftersales. I have no quarrel
about that.

What many people don't realise is that you should run your ink-jet or
bubble-jet printer, both black and color, at least once a week, even if
it's only a short test print. Otherwise the ink in the printhead may dry
and clog the outlets.

Sometimes in inkjets (I'm not sure about other types) you can revive the
printhead by soaking the ink outlet (NOT the electrical contacts) in
boiling water for 5 minutes and then wiping clean. It depends how long the
printhead has been neglected. If the ink has dried rock-hard in a hot
climate, it's usually a throwaway and a new head, which often exceeds the
cost of a whole new printer.

Even the cheapest printers, if properly maintained, should last many years.
Compare the price of a new printer today with what we paid say 5 years ago,
and we really shouldn't have too many complaints. I think you'll find that
cheap printer=expensive maintenance, whereas expensive printer=cheaper
maintenance.  I guess it evens out in the end. It certainly pays to
research the market thoroughly before you buy.

Don Penlington
 From the Beach at Surfers Paradise in sunny Queensland.
Computer tutorials and other things at my website:
http://users.tpg.com.au/deepend/index1.html

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