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Printer ink cartridges, Printer models, Tips to Maintaining Your Printer

How to change your printer ink cartridges?

Computer printers have become a commodity item in today's technology world. They cost next to nothing and are given away in many instances. What is not given away is the ink that makes them useful. In many cases, the cost of ink cartridges for the printer can cost more then the printer. Because of this changing the ink cartridges should be done correctly so maximum use of the ink is achieved.

Each is slightly different

Each manufacturer of a printer makes their printer unique so that you need to buy their ink cartridges. Consequently, changing the ink cartridges is slightly different for each printer. There are a few common things to look for but individual printers will vary. Regardless of printer, however, you will need to get to the inside of the printer to change the ink cartridges.

Look for colors

There are usually four cartridges to change: black, magenta, cyan and yellow. To find the cartridges the easiest way is to open the top of the printer and look for a black box. It will sort of look like it could move but in most cases the four color cartridges should be visible in their respective colors within the box. They may be hidden a bit under another part of the printer. This means that you may have to look for a button somewhere on the top of the printer to push for around three seconds. This should move the black box out into the open.

Remove the ink cartridges from the black box. Sometimes a gentle wiggle will loosen them up for removal while in most instances you will need to gently pull or push a lever on each cartridge to have them let go of the box. A fore finger and thumb should remove the ink cartridges from the box. There will be a bit of resistance but not much.

Keep it clean

Take a look around the inside of the box that held the ink cartridges. If you see some residue there or possibly on the old ink cartridge, find a non-linting cloth to clean it up out of the box. This could clog the ports for the next set of new cartridges.

Install the new ink cartridges. Each color should go into the same color slot it came out of. Place them in "heel to toe." There should be a "click" to signify they are in place. You are just about done. Close up the unit. You may need to push the same button you pushed before to reset the cartridges. Otherwise turn the unit on so it can reset.

What does the Epson Chip Resetter Do? How does it Work?

One of the largest expenses that a computer user has, once they are set up and ready to go, is replacing the ink cartridges when they are empty. The printers themselves have been offered at low or no cost. This is called a loss leader. Printer manufacturers understand that they are not really in the business of manufacturing printers for profit, they are in the business of manufacturing printer ink. Once you have their printer you must buy their ink at steep prices.

Not sneaky enough

Fortunately for computer users, and not for printer ink manufacturers, a way has been found to refill ink cartridges without paying the steep prices of the ink manufacturers. The ink manufacturers are not happy about this. They fought back with smart computer chips that let only their ink cartridges work in their printers when they are filled or manufactured by their licensed printer ink companies. This was sneaky, but not sneaky enough.

It is full

In the case of Epson Printers, a device has been invented that "resets" the computer chip that says the ink cartridge is a real Epson ink cartridge that was bought at full price, and not a refilled cartridge. This devise is called a "chip resetter." What the chip resetter does is tell the "smart chip", which Epson installs in its printers, that the ink cartridge is a new cartridge. Essentially the smart chip is fooled, by the chip resetter into thinking that the empty cartridge it is holding is new and licensed as such. All you need to do is remove the cartridge, refill it and reinstall it into the Epson printer. You are set to go.

This is all fairly straight forward. Plug the chip resetter into your Epson printer and away you go. It identifies the ink cartridge model number , to make sure it will work on that particular cartridge and chip, looks for possible damage to the cartridge and chip and lets you know that the smart chip has been reset to full status instead of empty status.

A few things to think about

There are a few things to consider when thinking about a chip resetter. First, it works for quite a few model printers and model cartridges but not all. Check to make sure your printer is compatible. Second, the folks that came up with the chip resetter need to make a living too so the resetter won't work forever.

How to Find Your Printer Model

Looking for your printer model number is not all that difficult. What is considered a model number, however, may be just a bit more confusing. Fortunately, if you are trying to communicate with the printer manufacturer you will likely only need the model name and series of your hp, Cannon, Epson or Brother printer.

Where to look

Ever heard of the saying; if it were any closer it would have bitten you? Well, this holds true for finding a printer model or series number. Given the way that most computer engineers think you might believe that taking the printer apart is necessary to find the printer model or printer series. This is not true. In most cases, the model name and series number the customer service representative will need is actually right there on the front of the printer. After all, if it is easy for you to find it will be easier for them to help you troubleshoot the printer when you are in crisis mode.

Finding the serial number

When it comes to finding the serial number of your HP, Cannon, Epson or Brother printer you will need to look a bit closer. On the back of most of these printers you will see a white rectangular sticker. In all likelihood it will have the printer company logo shown in a big way. The "UL" logo for Underwriters Laboratories will also be found on the sticker.

What you are looking for, however, is the always present barcode symbols that everything has on them these days. Numbers will be above the barcodes. There will likely be two barcodes here. One is a product code, which you really do not care about, and the other is the serial number which identifies that particular printer. If, by chance there is no sticker on the back of the printer check under the lid or open the printer up and it should be there. In any case, these stickers are usually about 3x5 inches in size and have all sorts of other inconsequential symbols on them that you really don't care or need to know about.

One last place to look

If you have looked all around the printer for; the printer model, serial number sticker and/or series and make of the printer with no luck try going to the printer test page option on the computer. Print out a test page and everything will usually be there. All this may sound like it is involved but it really will only take seconds.

Best Inkjet Printer Models for School/Student Use

Students have gotten so savvy about how they use their personal technology. What the product was originally intended for is not necessarily what the product will be used for. With this in mind picking which inkjet is the best printer for student or school use should be tempered with the fact that just basic affordable printers are being discussed.

Be careful what you ask for

Marketers can be a sneaky bunch. Just because they say that an inkjet printer does this or that does not necessarily mean that it does what YOU think that means. Don't take their word for it. Where possible hit the Best Buy or wherever and try to see the hardcopy before you buy. The better price will mean very little if the printer does not do what you want it to do.

As mentioned before everybody looking for a printer for student use has a different need. Judging from what is being sold, however, multi-function affordable printers are what most are looking for. The College Buying Guide lists multi-function affordable printers as the top three choices for affordable printers.

HP Photosmart C7180 color printer is the top choice by this site. Affordability is in the eye of the beholder, with a price tag ranging from $300-400, but the unit does come off as fairly efficient with a user rating of 6.5. CNET editors gave a 6.8 rating.

HP OfficeJet Pro L7680 is a printer for student use that may be of interest. It is also a multi-function unit. It is rated as second in the CNET rankings but it does appear a bit large for student use. Perhaps if advanced course work dictates a higher printing needs the printers size and cost $300-500 can be justified. This does appear to be agreed upon as its user rating is a scant 5.5 user rating out of ten. CNET editors gave it an 8.2 rating of 10 so perhaps a student that is in grad school may be a better target user.

The Cannon Pixma MP830 may be a good compromise in affordable printers. Its cost starts to get down into the reality of what a student can realistically afford on a budget.

An average $160-333 price tag from over 30 online stores makes this unit look good from the start. Its rating isn't too shabby at 6.6 out of 10 by users and 7.2 by editors.

Tips to Maintaining Your Printer by Yourself

It is easy to forget about your printer as you go about your computing needs. It sits there on your right hand side and springs to life when needed. Or at least it is supposed to. If you do not take a minute or two, a couple of time per week, you may find some interesting words coming out of your mouth when streaks or paper jams occur.

Keep it clean

This is easily said and done. The printer heads are the biggie in this area. Printer heads are definitely prone to clogging. If they are not used on a regular basis, or if they are used at a quick clip, they will clog. Every now and again take out the printer cartridges and give a quick clean with a non-linting cloth or moistened Q-tip. If you do use your printer quite a bit think about all those pieces of paper rolling through the printer. It is unlikely that each and every piece of paper will roll through without a shard or tear coming off the paper. These shards will attach themselves to the rollers or other inconvenient printer elements. It is wise to open up the printer every now and again and give it a quick wipe down with a moistened Q-tip.

Turn off and cover

It may seem like many of these tips involve the printer heads, and they do. The printer heads are the area where most preventable maintenance issues occur. Most people, me included, are prone to turning off the computer but not the printer. This leaves the printer heads exposed to the air and possibly drying out. At the ends of the day turn off the printer at the printer. Not from the power cord but at the printer. This will cover the printer heads. Particularly if you are in a dusty region, or if you have a pet, cover you printer. Dust and hair are killers for a printer.

Use the printer

One of the biggest ways to take care of your printer is to use it. Many people really do not use the printer all that much, myself included. This is a digital age and everything tends to stay on the computer. At least twice a week print something that will use all the printers' workings. A colorful website will do but give it a bit of a workout and most of the other maintenance issues will never arise.