PCWorld tests third-party ink.

[joseph1949]

PCWorld tests third-party ink.

PCWorld have created a series of articles where they test third-party ink. In one article they tested InkTecs ink. The article stated that the ink gave good results, but caused the most mess. Because of the article I decided to use InkTec ink and so far the results have been good.

Here is the address for the newest article:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/221626/cartridge_world_printer_ink_a_good_bargain.html#tk.hp_fv

It would be good to check-in on PCWorld to see what third-party ink they have tested recently. Just understand that the guy doing the testing is not an expert.

Thank you.

 

[ghwellsjr]

It wasn't the Inktec ink that caused the mess, it was their refill kit which works on tri-color cartridges, especially the type with the built-in print head. Anyone who wants to refill should not be using a printer with that type of cartridge when you can get one with individual cartridges for each color.

Thanks for pointing out the articles.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

The article is also weird. He takes a whole hour to refill a cartridge, and even then spills ink all over. But he can't tell the difference in print quality, so he does the logical thing -- reviews the ink that gives mediocre quality.

But I've got to agree with ghwellsjr. I wouldn't buy such a printer either, knowing what I know now.

 

[fotofreek]

One of these magazines should have a Forum participant write an article describing GOOD aftermarket inks, the printers that are best to refill, links to a few good videos of refilling workflow, etc. It is interesting that they skirt around the issue of refilling but avoid the really successful aproaches that we know work well. Perhaps they feel that most people won't do what we've done - gather the info and "tools" to do refilling and work through a technique that works for us individually.

Good thing they don't write about successful techniques and good materials. Many more people would refill their carts and the printer companies would have more incentive to make refilling more difficult!

 

[The Hat]

The most popular Computer and Printer Magazines would never indorse or allow to be published in their Monthly issues
anything that would mock the printer manufacturers for their vast profits that are make on inks.

These publishers relay too much on the hand that feed them from these companys
big advertisements and therefore would be committing suicide if they did.

If refilling is keep to a minimum then the big guys will just keep swatting us away
and not bring out their big gun against us, I hope.. :|

 

[websnail]

Well, whether they'll run with it or not, I've commented and thrown down the gauntlet so's to speak.

I'll be interested to see if they pick up on any of the points raised, in particular the bit about reservoir style cartridges... Something tells me they're more likely to run with Epson over Canon as comments re: refilling Canon opaque cartridges will almost certainly draw in bad press that Canon won't like.

If they're playing it straight my guess is they'll look at a few Chinese CIS systems via eBay and point out support issues on some sellers, poor ink.. how to tell the difference??, etc...

Oh, and yes I mentioned waste ink issues because frankly that bug bear is my pet peeve... Why we're supposedly all environmentally conscious but these firms are getting away with effectively dumping electronic waste to landfill within 6 months of purchase, just because there's a lack of resetters or tools to handle the waste ourselves...

[/gets off orange box]

 

[l_d_allan]

Well, whether they'll run with it or not, I've commented and thrown down the gauntlet so's to speak.

You make valid points ... I'm a relative newbie to refilling, and even I know that a HP multi-color print-head based printer would be about the last choice to refill.

I was able to read your comments. Now to see if they run another article.

It's not clear to me which Canon printer they could pick that is still in production, and using CLI-8 carts that have resetters ... other than the pricey 9000-2? But I'm ignorant about the 221 based printers. Resetter yet? I understand that it really isn't all that practical to refill the 226 based printers (which I'm also ignorant about ... opaque cartridge? No resetter? Swap chips? ARC's?). I suppose some 221 based printers are still in production?

well worth looking out for brands such as Image Specialists, OCP, Cone ...

Nit ... in American English, this sounds to me like you are advising readers to be careful with brands such as ....

 

[websnail]

well worth looking out for brands such as Image Specialists, OCP, Cone ...

Nit ... in American English, this sounds to me like you are advising readers to be careful with brands such as ....

Yeah... that did occur to me afterwards... it sounds a bit spammy but the idea is valid.. If they just go get chinese (anywhere) or worse, "generic" ink it'll be the usual disaster.

Either way, will be interesting to see...