I can't speak for other manufacturers, but HP definitely ships small capacity ink
cartridges and toner with new printers.  Generally, their 'A' suffix toner
cartridges are low volume, while the 'X' versions are high volume and higher
priced.  For a 4000 series HP laserjet, the HEWC4127A lists around $131 for 6000
pages while the HEWC4127X lists around $185 for 10000 pages.
Of course their numbering changes with the inkjets, a 'G' suffix is generally
shipped with a printer while the 'A' version is a 'full' cartridge.  Some of their
newest cartridge numbers end with 'DN' for high capacity or 'AN' for standard.  The
latest HP inkjet cartridges list for up to $73 now.
I'm not familiar with the drum/toner issue you raise, I can only suggest to anyone
buying a printer to check out the required refills and replacements before
purchasing.  Some inkjets require separate 'jet' replacements, while HP's and others
have the ink and jets in one cartridge.  The price for replacing the separate parts
as needed compared to the one piece approach?  Can't say - a lot depends on the
frequency of use and type of printing done.
These companies make more money on the refills than on the original machine.

Rick Glazier wrote:

> > I wonder though if the cartridge that HP sends with a printer has a smaller
> > amount of toner than a retail HP cartridge does.  Kindof like when you buy a
> > car, they tend to put cheaper tires on it.
>
> I got a Xerox printer 3 1/2 years ago, and it came with a 1/2 filled toner
> cartridge and was clearly marked as such in the documents in the box.
> (That basically cheated me out of $40, as I was not expecting that to happen...)
>
> My question is about what I discovered next.
> The toner and the imaging drum are not replaced as one unit.
> Both "halves" cost a total of something like $150-190.
>
> For the same "combination" of toner and drum (in one unit)
> for an HP4L costs something around $80 total.
>
> While I like the printer, a DP8, I hate to think of buying an imaging drum
> that starts showing wear at only 1500 copies...  Complaints under
> warranty (three years) got me nowhere as this is a consumable
> high profit item that apparently comes with NO warranty...
>
> Is this standard practice (with some companies) to split the parts,
> and charge what is essentially double?  TIA,    Rick Glazier
>
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