HP Ink Cartridges & HP Toner Cartridges

Ink Jets Compared to Laser Jets

2008-05-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

We’ve been looking at various types of toners and printer accessories in these posts, but there’s one question that we haven’t touched on. We haven’t looked at the difference between ink jet printers and laser printers.

It’s an important question, because these printers work in very different ways, they are based on different technologies, and their parts are never interchangeable.

The Comparison

With all of their differences, laser and ink jet printers share one important similarity: neither is an ‘impact’ printer. Impact printers, such as old dot-matrix models, actually struck the paper with an ink ribbon to produce an image. The process was somewhat similar to a very advanced typewriter. In the more modern printers, nothing ever strikes the paper.

An ink jet printer, as its name suggests, sprays ink from a cartridge onto the paper. The jet of ink is controlled by the microchips in the printer. Ink jets are capable of printing in color or black and white, and can print fairly high-quality graphics. Their main drawbacks are a tendency for the ink to smudge, and a slow print speed.

Laser printers are bigger and more expensive, but they can print more pages, faster, and with less smudging than ink jets. In a laser printer, a laser beam writes the image onto the drum, which them transfers that image to the paper by means of electrical charge; it actually changes the ions in the surface of the paper. Toner is then applied to the paper, where it’s held loosely in place by the differing electrical charges. As a final step, the page is heated to melt the toner into place.

As you see, laser printers are more complex than ink jets. However, the laser accessories (drums, toners, photo units) last longer than ink jet cartridges, and laser printers can use cheaper paper, making them less expensive to operate in the long run.

The bottom line: ink jets are great for low-volume, non-professional jobs. Laser printers are best in high-volume, office environments.

Nomenclature Trivia

You will often hear laser printers referred to as ‘laser jets,’ even though they have no relation to the older, simpler, ink jet technology. The reason for this is based on the printers’ history: ink jets came first, and the term was well known when laser printers arrived. The ‘jet’ attached itself to laser printers, even though it didn’t really fit.

The technology is interesting, but there’s a lot in the names, too.

About Voltexx Inc
One of the leading suppliers of toners, laser cartridges and affordable ink, Voltexx.com has been in the market since 2001. Voltexx caters to private individuals and large businesses. The company’s niche is affordable, brand-name, accessories for printers, copiers, and fax machines. With the 100% satisfaction guarantee and superior customer service, Voltexx is here to stay. You can find out more about this remarkable company at http://www.voltexx.com/.

How Does a Laser Printer Work, Anyway?

2008-05-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

This is a great question. After all, how can a laser write on paper? The answer, of course, is that it doesn’t. It writes on an electrically charged drum, and uses the differences in electric potential to coat the drum with toner, and place the toner on the paper.

OK, that sounds like a mouthful, and it is, so we’ll look at it step-by-step.

The Drum

When a laser printer starts a print job, the first thing it does is apply a positive electrical charge to the drum unit. Afterwards, the laser system ‘writes’ the page image onto the drum with a negative charge, creating an electric “virtual negative” of the image.

The Toner

The drum unit rotates, and as the image is written on it, it picks up toner, the laser printer equivalent of ink. The toner is positively charged, and so it sticks to the image that the laser drew. The paper presses against the drum, and receives the toner image.

The Fuser

When the paper first picks up the toner, the image is not set. Toner is a dry, dusty material, and it the electric charge cannot hold it strongly to the paper. In order to make the image permanent, the paper runs through the fuser, which heats it, and melts the toner onto the page. The paper exits the printer, and that’s that.

See? That wasn’t too hard to follow…

Toner Cartridges

2008-05-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

Toner cartridges are a standard component of laser printers, photocopiers, and fax machines. They take the place of the ink cartridge or tape in a traditional printer.

The toner cartridge is generally 9 to 12 inches wide, somewhat wider than a standard sheet of paper. As the paper runs through the laser printer, a fuser melts the toner onto the page. The process generates a lot of heat, which is why fresh laser prints often feel warm to the touch. Toner cartridges for color copiers and laser printers are generally more expensive than standard black and white.

Types of toner cartridges

There are several different types of toner cartridges available on the market. They can differ widely in both price and quality, so it is good to become familiar with the lingo before shopping.

The main categories of toner cartridges are:

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) cartridges: This is the type of cartridge that comes with the printer. OEM cartridges are produced by the same manufacturer as the printer, and are also generally the most expensive type of cartridge.

The main advantage of using OEM parts is in the print quality. OEM cartridges, because they are specifically designed for their particular printer, produce an unbeatable print quality.

Compatible toner cartridge: As the name implies, these are cartridges that are compatible with a particular printer model. They are usually not manufactured by the same company as the printer. Rather, they are the printer world’s version of off-brand accessories.

Compatible toner cartridges generally match the quality of OEM, but they usually cost much less. For a user with a tight budget, this is a good option.

Remanufactured toner cartridge: Also known as recycled cartridges, these are toner cartridges which, when they were used up, were sent back to the original factory to be refilled and restored for additional use. After the remanufacturing process is complete, these cartridges are tested to ensure that they meet OEM standards.

There are two main benefits to remanufactured cartridges: First, is the price. While they cost more than compatible cartridges, they are generally much less than OEM. Second, is the good feeling they give the user, for keeping non-biodegradable waste out of the landfills.

About Voltexx, Inc.

Voltexx.com has been in the printer, fax, and copier supply business for 7 years. They’ve built their niche online by providing excellent prices and superior service on any printer accessory you need. Voltexx carries the big name brands, like HP, Brother, and Lexmark, as well as smaller, lesser known brands. Whatever you need for your printer, you are sure to find it at Voltexx.com

Inkjet Cartridges

2008-04-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

Inkjet cartridges

The inkjet cartridge is a vital component of an inkjet-type printer. Simply put, it is the mobile reservoir that not only holds the ink, but also sprays the ink onto the paper. Generally, there are two types of inkjet cartridges: black and white, and color. The color cartridges don’t contain every color, but rather, the three primary colors, which are mixed during the printing process. Color cartridges are more expensive than the black and white.

Inkjet cartridges, whether color or black and white, can be organized into three categories:

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) ink cartridges: OEMs are produced and sold by the same companies that manufacture and sell inkjet printers. OEM cartridges are usually the best quality on the market, because each cartridge is designed for its particular printer from the very first blueprints. However, OEMs are also the most expensive option out there.

Compatible ink cartridges: These cartridges are the off brands in the printer world, sort of like the store brand products at the supermarket. They’re called ‘compatible’ because they are not manufactured by the same companies as the printers. Rather, they are made by a second party, to the specs of the OEM cartridge. Many compatible brands of inkjet cartridge are as good as the OEMs, but they are all a lot less expensive.

Remanufactured inkjet cartridges: This is the third category of inkjet cartridge. You’ll usually find these available in the bigger names, such as Canon, Lexmark, or HP. These companies have patented their cartridges, and so there are few compatibles on the market. To fill the need for a less expensive option to OEM cartridges, some companies will recycle used ones. The empty cartridges are taken back to the factory, refurbished, and refilled. While they are returned to as-new specs, they cannot be sold as-new, and so are much less expensive than OEM products.

Ink used in inkjet cartridges

Inkjets use two basic types of ink in the cartridges: dry ink, which is usually used in monochrome printers, and pigmented ink, which is usually used in color printers.

The dry ink types will print in color, but they require a separate ink for every color; they are unable to mix inks. These ink cartridges are prone to drying out if they are not maintained properly.

Pigmented inks are more water resistant, and less prone to fading on the paper. They also dry very quickly after printing, allowing the image to keep its original quality. Pigmented inks provide an excellent combination of color mixing and sharp picture quality.

About Voltexx.com

Voltexx.com is becoming one of the Web’s more popular printer accessory sites. With their great deals and superior customer service, Voltexx is recognized as an industry leader in the printer-parts market. The immediate benefit to customers is two-fold: first, Voltexx, by its sheer size, has just about any printer ink or toner cartridge you could need, and second, because of the volume of business, Voltexx is able to pass along the best prices. Finally, Voltexx stands behind every product they sell. Check them out at www.voltexx.com.

HP Toner

2008-04-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

Toners

Toner is the powdered ink used in laser printers, as well as some fax and copy machines. Early model devices used a powdered-carbon toner; more modern models frequently toner made from a carbon-polymer mixture. Carbon-polymer toners provide a cleaner, sharper image, with less streaking.

What are toner cartridges?

Toner cartridges are the storage cells for the toner. Laser printers, as well as faxes and copiers, typically have an access panel to allow easy removal and replacement of toner cartridges. Unlike other print head types, toner cartridges do not move back and forth over the paper; rather, the cartridge is wider than the paper, and the paper moves across the cartridge. As it does, the toner is burned onto the paper.

Benefits

Toner cartridges, as the devices that use them, offer a number of advantages when compared to older ribbon or inkjet technologies.

First, laser printers using toners offer a much clearer image than the older printer styles. This is especially important since the advent of cheap digital cameras and home photo printing.

The next major improvement offered by toners over ink systems is lifespan. A typical toner cartridge will have a ‘yield’ of 2,000 or more pages, and special, ‘high yield’ cartridges may last for up to 10,000 pages.

HP MICR toner cartridges

One of the best known manufacturers of laser printers is Hewlett-Packard. HP is an old name in the computer and computer hardware industry, and a good name. Their reputation for quality is well deserved.

The banking industry has been a true beneficiary of HP’s cutting edge technology. We’ve all seen the funny numbers at the bottom of our checks; those numbers are printed in a special magnetic ink, which is designed to read by Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Devices. MICR has helped to make financial transactions more secure since the 1950s, and HP’s MICR toner cartridges are recognized for their superior quality.

Quality Control

HP laser printers, and their associated toner cartridges, have earned their reputation for excellence. In industry surveys, HP toner cartridges typically score better than 95% on print quality, and their success rate for home photo printers is even better. In addition, the company is very good at updating customers about new products and technologies.

About Voltexx, Inc

One of the leading suppliers of toners, laser cartridges and affordable ink, Voltexx.com has been in the market since 2001. Voltexx caters to private individuals and large businesses. The company’s niche is affordable, brand-name, accessories for printers, copiers, and fax machines. With the 100% satisfaction guarantee and superior customer service, Voltexx is here to stay. You can find out more about this remarkable company at www.voltexx.com.

Save Money on Your Overhead

2008-03-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

There’s no use in denying it: America’s in the middle of a full-blown financial crisis. Recently, the Federal Reserve used Depression-era financial operations to make additional credit available to the big investment firms, and we all watched as the venerable bank, Bear Stearns, collapsed and accepted a buyout for just one-fifteenth of its stock value.

So what to do? The fallout from Wall Street is going to trickle down to everyone, and consumers are already facing a credit crunch. There doesn’t seem to be any end it sight, and economists are using the words ‘recession’ and ‘depression’ on the news shows. So what to do?

We tighten our belts. There’s no two ways about it. In our home lives, in our small businesses, in our large businesses, we need to watch our budgets, cut back our spending, and build up our savings. It’s an old strategy, a sort of financial “circling the wagons,” but it’s all we can do.

Voltexx can help. Voltexx.com is an online distributor of quality printer accessories, ink cartridges and toner cartridges, for the home or office. With a huge variety of parts for every printer on the market, offered at the best discounts on the web, Voltexx will help you to reign in your spending.

Printer cartridges, you ask? It doesn’t seem like much, but office supplies are a huge part of any company’s overhead. After salary and health insurance, the next biggest expenditures are rent and office supplies. And when you realize that the average laser printer toner can cost as much as $130, you’ll see that there is room to save here.

Voltexx.com offers brand name, remanufactured, or compatible cartridges for all makes of printers, at big discounts. With satisfaction guaranteed, and delivery to your location, there’s no better way to start cutting down the overhead than by switching to Voltexx for your printer needs.

HP Quality

2008-03-13T10:03:00.001-07:00

Hewlett-Packard is a reliable name in the market when it comes to computer printers and accessories. Their laser printers are generally regarded as top quality machines that give good value for their cost. Whether it’s used in the office or at home, an HP printer is a good investment.

There are four basic categories of HP printers: laser and inkjet, color and black & white. All are well made, and have different strengths and weaknesses.

Why are HP printer cartridges good?

The HP printer cartridges match the quality of the printers. The cartridge is the heart of a printer; it contains the ink or toner that produces the image, and even the best printer will produce poor results with an inferior cartridge. So what makes HP’s cartridges so good?

The answer is easy; it’s the quality control. HP checks and rechecks every printer cartridge to make sure that they are free from mechanical flaws. Color cartridges are checked especially closely, even for black & white quality. Because of this close attention to quality, HP printer cartridges will frequently last longer than their design lifetime.

Recent Greening in HP Printer Cartridges

HP has taken another leap, and is helping the planet ‘Go Green’. By recycling and remanufacturing used toner cartridges, HP is helping to prevent non-biodegradable materials from entering our landfills, and helping the customers to save money. Remanufactured toner and printer cartridges meet as-new quality standards, for a much lower cost.

P+ Cartridge Technology by HP

This is “true black” ink technology developed by HP. It’s a great choice for large offices, or bulk printing jobs. The P+ HP cartridges use a special, water resistant ink to produce an image that won’t fade over time. It’s an excellent ink cartridge for professional purposes.

HP’s Cartridge Classes

Standard These are the best cartridges for ordinary, day-to-day printer. They’re an economical deal, offering quality at affordable prices. They are packaged in blue.

Value Value cartridges are packaged in green, and are sold in bulk. By buying more, you’ll save more. These cartridges, like the Standards, are good for day-to-day printing jobs.

Specialty These printer cartridges are for the special jobs that always come up. They contain higher performance inks and toners, and produce images that will resist fading for much longer. The higher quality comes at a higher price, but it’s worth it. Specialty cartridges are packaged in red.

About Voltexx.com

All of these fine HP products can be found at Voltexx.com. Voltexx is one of the best printer accessory sources on the web, offering great prices, excellent service, and a huge selection. Voltexx carries all the major name brands in the printer industry, as well as lesser known names. If you need a refill for your printer, this is the place to go. All information related to the products and warranties can be found at www.voltexx.com.

HP inkjet cartridges

2008-03-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hewlett-Packard, or HP, is one of the best known brand names in the printer accessory business. They’ve earned their good name by producing quality products and competitive prices, and standing behind their work.

HP’s inkjet cartridges offer high quality for a good price. They are reliable, and produce clear, sharp prints every time. They are also designed for easy replacement.

Types of inkjet cartridges

Hewlett-Packard produces several categories of printer and inkjet cartridges, to meet the needs of any customer. The three main categories are:

Standard: These are the basic cartridges. They’ll produce a good quality print, and can be used for photo as well as document jobs. They are priced well, and are packaged in blue. For most household jobs, this is what you need.

Value: These are the bulk packs. HP offers value cartridges to small businesses, mainly; they come in green packs that contain several cartridges each. Because they are sold in lots, they are priced more competitively than the Standard cartridges.

Specialty: These are the cartridges for high-end users. Printing businesses, large-volume jobs, professional offices; these are the markets that the Specialty cartridges aim at. They include the specialty inks for photo printing and high-quality color printing, and can be used on special papers, such as magazine stock. Specialty inkjet cartridges are available in red packages.

About Voltexx.com

All of these great HP inkjet cartridges, and a whole lot more, can be found at Voltexx.com. Voltexx is the rising name in online printer accessories. With the best selection on the Web, combined with superior service and discount prices, Voltexx can meet the needs of anyone with a printer. Whether you are looking to refill your home laser printer, or you’ve been sent to buy inkjet cartridges for the whole office, you can find what you need at Voltexx.com. For more information, log on at www.voltexx.com.