Ink Cartridges: How Have They Evolved Over the Years? by Andrew F James
First a little history lesson..... There was a time, long ago that printers had ribbons and used dot matrix printing to create tiny dots that, when looked at, were readable. Sometimes they were BARELY readable, however. Changing ribbons and printing wheels to change type face was a chore. ... While these inks will print on regular paper, it is a waste to place the more expensive ink cartridge into your printer and then print on plain non-glossy paper. ... Today, ink printers using inks are so affordable that every computer owner can afford to own their own printer that is capable of using...

Inside Your Inkjet Printer: How Does it Work? by Bob Stephens
Have you ever wondered how your inkjet printer works? How does the ink get from the inkjet cartridge to the paper? Why is the print quality is so clear? Why the printing is so quiet? Generally, all that most people know is that there's some movement and a faint high pitched sound when it's... The Epson Stylus 800 was the first printer to use the multi-layer actuator printhead (the printhead is the part of the printer that holds numerous tiny nozzles that actually squirts the ink onto paper).

Toner Cartridges: Should You Use Remanufactured or Compatibles? by Andrew F James
First a little history.... In 1938, the first invention that would lead to the laser printer and toner cartridge was patented. The process, knows as "electro photography", used a dry printing method, not that different than today's laser printer. It was 1948, however, before the commercial... When purchasing a re-manufactured laser toner cartridge, be sure to read the box carefully and ensure you are selecting the right toner cartridge. ... Otherwise known as non genuine, after market this is how they work:- - Compatibles are actually a brand new cartridge manufactured to work in the...

Finally, Your Inkjet Printer Cartridge Details Will Speak For Themselves by Joseph Mercado
Did you know? Ink cartridges are tiny gadgets with mundane features, which are indispensable to the inkjet printers which suck them dry. They’re also very expensive, which I am sure you can vouch for that based on personal experience. Two ink cartridges can be more money (as high as $80) than... “Be in charge of your printer ink; don’t let your ink cartridges be in charge of you.” These exposed secrets will prevent you from falling into the ink river and printer pit drowning on the retail shore which happen to be overpriced in the first place.

Printers - A Practical Buyers Guide by Iggy Quazi
Buying a printer can be a complicated business, there are more shapes, sizes and types of printers available to the home and small business user than ever before. Printers have also become specialised for their intended purpose. It is no longer a case of "a printer is a printer". ... Solid Ink Printers Solid ink printers use solid wax ink sticks in a "phase-change" process, they work by liquefying wax ink sticks into reservoirs and then squirting the ink onto a transfer drum from where it is cold-fused onto the paper in a single pass.

How to Choose Printer Paper by John Sollars
Everybody wants to know about the correct inkjet cartridge for his or her printer, but what about printer paper? Inkjet and laser printers can print on a variety of surfaces, including photo paper, labels, business cards, stickers, and t-shirt transfers. ... Printing great photos from an inkjet printer is a tall order, requiring a perfect match between the ink, paper, and printer to work together; and the companies don’t make it easy on the consumer’s pocket. ... If you use third-party paper with your inkjet printer from a big-name manufacturer, the ink may spread too far into the paper...

All About Dye-Sublimation Printers by John Sollars
Dedicated photo printers differ from all-purpose printers as they are designed to print photos only, as opposed to text or graphics documents in addition to photos. They are generally compact in size and lightweight, and some models even feature batteries that allow you to print without the need... The cartridges in such printers spray the ink, covering the page one strip at a time. ... This is the reason it is common for dye-sub printer compatible paper packs to contain a transfer film capable of producing the same number of prints.

Guide to Buying a New printer by Andrew Gates
One of the more perplexing decisions when faced with choosing a new printer is which print technology is going to suit you best. At the moment there are two main printing systems: the laser technology, using toner cartridges and a transfer drum assembly; and ink jets using ink tank cartridges... If you want a printer that is specifically designed for printing photographs, you will most likely look for a colour ink-jet system that is a photo printer, allowing very high quality colour output and capable of printing all the way to the edge of the page.