Thursday, August 7, 2008

Tips on Evaluating and Comparing Suppliers of Printer Cartridges

By Frank Bolsom


Since all print cartridge manufacturers used to use different testing methods, comparing suppliers had never been an easy thing to do.

In recent years this situation has changed. Requirements for tests of monochrome inkjet cartridges put in place by the International Standards Organization (ISO) were adopted by most of the companies that supply ink in the summer of 2004.

The ISO works to create industry standards that allow consumers to rate and compare competing products in a fair and unbiased manner.

Printer cartridge standards allow you to compare ink manufacturers' products. Since the same methods are used to ascertain the yield derived from cartridges, they are much easier to compare against each other.

The standardization by the ISO specified these points:

- The test prints must use the printer's default settings

- The tests are performed under strict temperature controls

- An average consumer should be able to find any printer or cartridge being tested.

- In order to assure that tests are valid, nine cartridges of each type must be tested.

- Since a certain printer could unfairly affect test results, three cartridges have to be tested with three different printers.

Aside from raw numbers, you should also consider some other things when deciding on your ink supplier. These things include delivery, reliability, and general quality.

Keeping notes on your own printing results is another way to decide which ink suppliers prove themselves to be deserving of your purchase.

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