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Cheap Printer Ink

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In this review:
  1. Cheap Multifunction Printers
  2. Multifunction Printers Review
  3. Wireless Multifunction Printers, Print Speed
  4. Flatbed Printers, Printer Resolution
  1. Multifunction Printer Deals
  2. Cheap Printer Ink
  3. Discount Multifunction Printers Features Comparison Table
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Cheap Printer Ink

Frugal shoppers will no doubt be concerned about the cost of multifunction printer ink. How much you spend on ink depends in part on how much printing and copying you do, but the type of ink system the printer uses also affects ink cost.

Some printers only have two inkwells, one for black and one for color. Other printers use a combination of one black inkwell and three color inkwells, and still other printers have more than three color inkwells. Printers with more color inkwells are more cost-effective than those with only one inkwell. If you happen to print a lot of color documents that tend to use, say, cyan colors more than magenta colors, you'll run out of cyan ink more quickly. If your all-in-one has a separate inkwell for cyan, you only have to replace that ink cartridge. However, if the printer only has a single color cartridge, you'll have to replace the whole thing even if there's still plenty of magenta ink in the cartridge.

Among the models we researched, the Epson Stylus NX430, Brother MFC-J430w, and HP PhotoSmart 5510 e-All-in-One feature one black and three color inkwells. The HP Deskjet 3050A, Canon Pixma MX410, and the Kodak ESP C310 use one black cartridge and one color cartridge. The Canon Pixma MG5320 uses four color cartridges and one black cartridge.

Standard ink replacement cartridges typically cost between $12 and $15, but printer manufacturers typically offer "high-yield" ink cartridges that have about twice as much ink, but only cost a little more than standard cartridges. For example, you can buy a standard black ink cartridge for the Brother MFC-J430 for about $15, but a replacement high-yield cartridge only costs about $21. High-yield cartridges are common so you should be able to find them for any multifunction printer you buy.

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by Michael Sweet (Google+ Profile)

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Best Cheap Multifunction Printers

Epson Stylus NX430

 Read why »
Where to buy

Brother MFC-J430W

 Read why »
Where to buy

Good All In One Printers

Canon Pixma MG5320

 Read why »
Where to buy

HP PhotoSmart 5510

 Read why »
Where to buy
 
 
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Don't Bother Cheap Multifunction Printers

HP Deskjet 3050A

Reviewers are not impressed with the HP Deskjet 3050A's print quality, saying color graphics showbanding and blotchiness, photo colors are dull, and text sometimes is blurry. Read more »

Kodak ESP C310

Many users report that the Kodak ESP C310 struggles with paper jams and races through ink. Print quality is also underwhelming, although this all-in-one wins points for ease of setup and use. Read more »

 
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