epson's ink cartridge dries up too fast!!

[luv2liv]

bought an epson 820 two months ago. i never used the color ink cartridge at all, but already its half empty as indicated.

is there a way to increase its longevity?? am i doin somethin wrong? i've always turn the printer off after usage.

TIA

 

[tward]

I don't know for sure, but I have been told that the original cartridges shipped with most printers are only "starter" cartridges and are only half full to begin with.

Some ink is used every time you turn the printer on when it goes thru its warm-up cycle also.

 

[bozo1]

The original cartridges are indeed 'starter' cartridges. You should have better luck when you replace them. One thing to note - make sure you turn the printer off when not in use. This will cause the heads to return to their resting position where the ink shouldn't dry out. Also, if you don't print regularly, I would recomend that you print out something black and color at least once a week. Failure to do so will cause the heads to dry out and you'll waste half an ink cartridge trying to clean them and after a point, you pretty much can't anymore. HP, Canon and I think Lexmark don't have that problem as the heads are in the cartridges and you get a new set everytime you replace it.