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		| SuperHero 
 
  
 Joined: 10 Dec 2003
 Location: Superhero Hideout
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:58 pm    Post subject: Epson is an ink hog! |   |  
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				| I've got an epson cx5100 all-in-one printer and I love the quality of the prints/scans/copies I get. However there is one problem, this printer is a giant ink hog. I've got the default setting to draft but in two weeks I've already used 75% of the black ink cartridge. With my old printer (deskjet 840c) a black cartridge on draft would last me about 6 months. 
 I've tried to find some way to further reduce the amount of ink used, but no luck. Does anyone have some tips for me?
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		| the_beaver 
 
  
 Joined: 15 Jan 2003
 
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:02 pm    Post subject: Re: Epson is an ink hog! |   |  
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	  | SuperHero wrote: |  
	  | I've tried to find some way to further reduce the amount of ink used, but no luck. Does anyone have some tips for me? |  
 Buy an HP.
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		| SuperHero 
 
  
 Joined: 10 Dec 2003
 Location: Superhero Hideout
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:03 pm    Post subject: Re: Epson is an ink hog! |   |  
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	  | the_beaver wrote: |  
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	  | SuperHero wrote: |  
	  | I've tried to find some way to further reduce the amount of ink used, but no luck. Does anyone have some tips for me? |  
 Buy an HP.
 |  That's helpful, NOT!
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		| Demophobe 
 
  
 Joined: 17 May 2004
 
 
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				|  Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:32 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Apparentkly the new Epson drivers come with a utility called "ink configuration" It's a button in the bottom left of the printing preferences window and labelled "ink config". 
 The latest drivers are here.
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		| SuperHero 
 
  
 Joined: 10 Dec 2003
 Location: Superhero Hideout
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:31 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| I installed those drivers (same as what I already had), but I can't find the button ink configuration anywhere. Guess I'll keep looking. Thanks for the help though |  | 
	
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		| mindmetoo 
 
 
 Joined: 02 Feb 2004
 
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:09 am    Post subject: Re: Epson is an ink hog! |   |  
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	  | the_beaver wrote: |  
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	  | SuperHero wrote: |  
	  | I've tried to find some way to further reduce the amount of ink used, but no luck. Does anyone have some tips for me? |  
 Buy an HP.
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 My HP 3650 Deskjet isn't much better. I mostly just abuse my school's laser printer and keep this sucker for emergencies.
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		| Gord 
 
  
 Joined: 25 Feb 2003
 
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:28 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Getting a cheap laser printer is far more economical than ink jet printers.  When the ink ran dry on my first printer (and Epson no less), I just bought a new one because it was 3000 Won cheaper than buying new ink and it came with a free webcam. 
 But I average one page a week, and it's usually pretty light on the ink consumption.  Ink literally lasts me a year.  But next time I have to do heavy printing I'm just going to buy a laser.  You can pick up a Samsung ML-1515 for under 150,000 that does 13ppm at 600x600dpi.  That's less than what four HP ink cartridges cost, and one toner will will last ten times as long.
 
 Assuming, of course, most of your printing does not require colour.  Colour laser printers are still in the computer price range.
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		| the saint 
 
  
 Joined: 09 Dec 2003
 Location: not there yet...
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:41 am    Post subject: Re: Epson is an ink hog! |   |  
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	  | SuperHero wrote: |  
	  | I've got an epson cx5100 all-in-one printer and I love the quality of the prints/scans/copies I get. However there is one problem, this printer is a giant ink hog. I've got the default setting to draft but in two weeks I've already used 75% of the black ink cartridge. With my old printer (deskjet 840c) a black cartridge on draft would last me about 6 months. 
 I've tried to find some way to further reduce the amount of ink used, but no luck. Does anyone have some tips for me?
 |  I've got exactly the same model and we use ours intenseively for the wife's business as well as me studying. Our cartridges last way longer than you say. Are you using the official Epson ones or some other makers? I have no complaints at all about this printer - it is sweet and does a great job. Are you sure you're using draft to print? I don't have any 'Ink Configuration" stuff either so I wouldn't worry that it is that. Sorry I can't help...
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		| SuperHero 
 
  
 Joined: 10 Dec 2003
 Location: Superhero Hideout
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:15 am    Post subject: Re: Epson is an ink hog! |   |  
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	  | the saint wrote: |  
	  | I've got exactly the same model and we use ours intenseively for the wife's business as well as me studying. Our cartridges last way longer than you say. Are you using the official Epson ones or some other makers? I have no complaints at all about this printer - it is sweet and does a great job. Are you sure you're using draft to print? I don't have any 'Ink Configuration" stuff either so I wouldn't worry that it is that. Sorry I can't help... |  I'm using third party ink - only 10,000 won per color vs 18,000 Yes I'm using draft - it's the default setting. If I want quality I have to manually change it each time.
 
 I sent an email to epson support in australia, if they help I'll pass on the info to you as well.
 
 
 
unfortunately I do a lot of color printing. 
	  | Gord wrote: |  
	  | Assuming, of course, most of your printing does not require colour. Colour laser printers are still in the computer price range. |  |  | 
	
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		| Derrek 
 
 
 Joined: 15 Jan 2003
 
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:17 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Definately not defending the "ink dispensers" that are now sold as ink jet printers, but many of them come with a set of 1/2 filled ink.. you can read the milliliters on them... they're sort of made to run out fast. |  | 
	
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		| the saint 
 
  
 Joined: 09 Dec 2003
 Location: not there yet...
 
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				|  Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:44 pm    Post subject: Re: Epson is an ink hog! |   |  
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	  | SuperHero wrote: |  
	  | I'm using third party ink - only 10,000 won per color vs 18,000 Yes I'm using draft - it's the default setting. If I want quality I have to manually change it each time.
 
 I sent an email to epson support in australia, if they help I'll pass on the info to you as well.
 |  Thanks appreciate that... are you checking the Use Blank Ink Only box when you print black. If not, the ink jet will merge all of your coloured inks to print black - extremely wasteful. All I can suggest otherwise is that if you paid the price for EPson inks you would in fact get more life out of them. I think there migth well be a big difference between Epson ink and third party in terms of usage. Just a hunch though...
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