What I did: Buy a $50 (on sale)Canon Pixma and buy the ink on Ebay. I did it for my son's school work and it has been the least expensive and effective solution I have found. The colors are not perfect matches on the generic ink, but they are more than good enough for school work. Also, I have him print a test page once a week during school breaks and summer, and it keeps them working properly. The cost of the ink was only $17 or so for 3 Complete sets. I did that starting the last school year, and he is finishing up the second set now.