bacaartikeldisiniaja -- Be sure to read this article before purchasing any other printer. Print manufacturers don't actually make a profit from the printers themselves. Instead, the real profit comes from ink and toner. In general, the cheaper the printer, the worse it is when it comes to replacing cartridges. However, this is not always the case. High-end printer makers are ready and willing to dive deep into your wallet...and left alone, they'll stay there for a very long time.
Microchip method
The primary method printers use to hollow out paperback books is to attach a small microchip to the ink or toner cartridge. After printing the set number of pages (usually about 5,000 pages), the cartridge stops working even though there is enough material left. In some cases, the chip is programmed to stop working after a certain amount of time (eg 6 months) regardless of how many pages have been printed. Chips are usually patented so that you can always buy new cartridges from the original manufacturer.
To illustrate how much it costs you to buy the wrong printer, here's a personal example. I was tricked by HP's marketing program into buying a "cheap" HP 1500 Color Laser Jet for $499.00 two years ago. I checked Staples.com and the replacement cost for all toner cartridges and drums is $597.33 with tax and free shipping.
Is there a way to bypass this? Yes! If your cartridge doesn't have a chip, just search the internet for refill kits. This works fine. However, print quality usually begins to degrade after about 5 refills.
If your cartridge has a microchip, you have several options. First, for many cartridges you can find a "chip reset" kit online. Purchasing ink or toner and a chip reset kit is usually significantly cheaper than replacing cartridges. The reset kit pays for itself because it can be used over and over again. If you can't find a reset kit for your cartridge, you may be able to find a replacement chip. The microchip is usually glued to the side of the cartridge so you can peel off the old chip and stick the new one.
"Nuclear Option"
Saved the best for last! If it works, it's your best option, but you may have to do a little web searching for your particular printer. What printers don't want to tell you is that there is usually a way to configure the printer so that it can reset the chip memory. In some cases, the printer's use of the chip can be completely disabled. Back on my his HP 1500 Color LaserJet, I was able to do this by holding down the big green button for 20 seconds while the machine was on. On this printer this will cause a so-called "hard reset" of all internal memory settings. I've had to replace all the toners and drums and have been printing fine for months with no glitches or error his messages.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the microchip in the printer's cartridge can be reset, replaced, or bypassed. seems to be so every year
