Multi-function device disabled when out of ink

[Brainonska511]

My Canon multi-function doesn't pull this crap ever. Plus, I can set it to use only one cartridge in the printing process from the driver settings. I'll probably end up selling it off at the end of my last undergraduate year, as ink is annoying to buy, I'll be moving out of the area, and it will be 4 years old. I'll pick up a multi-function color laser when I go to grad school for my printing/copying/scanning needs.

edit:
Scratch that -

I'll probably get a monochrome laser that can network either wirelessly or wired and get a scanner for my copying needs. I don't need to print in color often enough to make it worth getting a color laser, and I certainly don't want an inkjet with the cost of ink.

 

[goog40]

I bought a Lexmark All-in-one which lasted probably about 50 pages before it ran out of ink (printer was free after rebate). Their ink costs $20 for a pack that'll last another ~50 pages, so I got a refill kit instead. It worked for a few more pages and then it stopped working. Turns out the chip in the ink cartridge is programmed to stop working after a certain number of pages so you can't refill it yourself:|

I got a HP laser printer after that and it lasted well over 1000 pages before running out of toner (and the replacement toner cartridge didn't cost much more than the Lexmark ink which lasted 50 pages).

 

[StageLeft]

What a ripoff. I think I have a canon now I bought specifically because it was not an anal raping when buying refill cartridges.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: goog40
I bought a Lexmark All-in-one which lasted probably about 50 pages before it ran out of ink (printer was free after rebate). Their ink costs $20 for a pack that'll last another ~50 pages, so I got a refill kit instead. It worked for a few more pages and then it stopped working. Turns out the chip in the ink cartridge is programmed to stop working after a certain number of pages so you can't refill it yourself:|

I got a HP laser printer after that and it lasted well over 1000 pages before running out of toner (and the replacement toner cartridge didn't cost much more than the Lexmark ink which lasted 50 pages).

Of all the printers I've had, Lexmark was the worse when it came to eating ink and then refilling it. I've sworn off Lexmark.

I like HP printers but hate the printer software that comes with them.

I have a Canon MP780 right now that I got for sale from Fry's years ago. The thing is a workhorse and fills all my needs plus I can print direct to CDs/DVDs. The other great thing about Canon printers is that you can remove the print head in order to replace or clean.

 

[DrPizza]

Call your state attorney general's office if you think this is an unfair business practice. Make the comparison to having a car that ceases to turn on and drive if there's no CD in the CD player.

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: goog40
I bought a Lexmark All-in-one which lasted probably about 50 pages before it ran out of ink (printer was free after rebate). Their ink costs $20 for a pack that'll last another ~50 pages, so I got a refill kit instead. It worked for a few more pages and then it stopped working. Turns out the chip in the ink cartridge is programmed to stop working after a certain number of pages so you can't refill it yourself:|

I got a HP laser printer after that and it lasted well over 1000 pages before running out of toner (and the replacement toner cartridge didn't cost much more than the Lexmark ink which lasted 50 pages).

A replacement cartridge would've gone farther. The included 50-page one was likely 1/3 full (common practice). Of course, it's still a rip-off.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
My Canon multi-function doesn't pull this crap ever. Plus, I can set it to use only one cartridge in the printing process from the driver settings. I'll probably end up selling it off at the end of my last undergraduate year, as ink is annoying to buy, I'll be moving out of the area, and it will be 4 years old. I'll pick up a multi-function color laser when I go to grad school for my printing/copying/scanning needs.

edit:
Scratch that -

I'll probably get a monochrome laser that can network either wirelessly or wired and get a scanner for my copying needs. I don't need to print in color often enough to make it worth getting a color laser, and I certainly don't want an inkjet with the cost of ink.

I'm not familiar with that...where exactly is that done?

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
My Canon multi-function doesn't pull this crap ever. Plus, I can set it to use only one cartridge in the printing process from the driver settings. I'll probably end up selling it off at the end of my last undergraduate year, as ink is annoying to buy, I'll be moving out of the area, and it will be 4 years old. I'll pick up a multi-function color laser when I go to grad school for my printing/copying/scanning needs.

edit:
Scratch that -

I'll probably get a monochrome laser that can network either wirelessly or wired and get a scanner for my copying needs. I don't need to print in color often enough to make it worth getting a color laser, and I certainly don't want an inkjet with the cost of ink.

I'm not familiar with that...where exactly is that done?

My sister's Canon has a "print grayscale" option. I told her that they are VERY generous and that Windows should have an intermediary driver that allows that for all printers (application believes that it's printing in color). The problem is that it doesn't have proper support for printing multiple pages on one sheet... ANOTHER thing that should be mandated by Windows. MS needs to overhaul the way printing is done in Windows... PERIOD. How about a "Printer Zero Config" utility? between the application and the driver?

 

[Modelworks]

Xerox is the one that started it all. They refused to honor warranties when people used non Xerox branded cartridges. They lost in court and set the precedent that manufacturers cannot refuse warranty service because you do not use their consumables.


I doubt the disabling because of no ink is by design. Sounds like a programming error on their part. They put the check for ink in the initialization routine and so it stops at that point rather than setting a bit in config memory to block printing. Probably a cheap micro for the controller with little to no eeprom.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
What a ripoff. I think I have a canon now I bought specifically because it was not an anal raping when buying refill cartridges.

They always find someway to rape you anally. It's nothing personal it's just company policy

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: CZroe

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
My Canon multi-function doesn't pull this crap ever. Plus, I can set it to use only one cartridge in the printing process from the driver settings. I'll probably end up selling it off at the end of my last undergraduate year, as ink is annoying to buy, I'll be moving out of the area, and it will be 4 years old. I'll pick up a multi-function color laser when I go to grad school for my printing/copying/scanning needs.

edit:
Scratch that -

I'll probably get a monochrome laser that can network either wirelessly or wired and get a scanner for my copying needs. I don't need to print in color often enough to make it worth getting a color laser, and I certainly don't want an inkjet with the cost of ink.

I'm not familiar with that...where exactly is that done?

My sister's Canon has a "print grayscale" option. I told her that they are VERY generous and that Windows should have an intermediary driver that allows that for all printers (application believes that it's printing in color). The problem is that it doesn't have proper support for printing multiple pages on one sheet... ANOTHER thing that should be mandated by Windows. MS needs to overhaul the way printing is done in Windows... PERIOD. How about a "Printer Zero Config" utility? between the application and the driver?

I try to print everything in "draft" + light grayscale if I can. It extends the black in a LONG way!! Still a huge ripoff compared to laser but much better. But I'm guessing this is only practical with a home printer.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
I try to print everything in "draft" + light grayscale if I can. It extends the black in a LONG way!! Still a huge ripoff compared to laser but much better. But I'm guessing this is only practical with a home printer.

This is what I have all the computers in my house set to by default. It definitely extends the life of your printer ink. One of the weird things about printing without the 'grayscale printing' option turned on is that you will still eat up some of your color ink even if you are printing a black and white document.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Locut0s
I try to print everything in "draft" + light grayscale if I can. It extends the black in a LONG way!! Still a huge ripoff compared to laser but much better. But I'm guessing this is only practical with a home printer.

This is what I have all the computers in my house set to by default. It definitely extends the life of your printer ink. One of the weird things about printing without the 'grayscale printing' option turned on is that you will still eat up some of your color ink even if you are printing a black and white document.

My guess is this is on purpose. You can often achieve a truer black by actually mixing in some colour ink with the black. This has the nice side effect of forcing you to by colour cartridges more often even if you don't print colour.

 

[swbsam]

Color laser plus a separate scanner, here I come!

The problem is that ADFs are so expensive on standalone scanners. Argh!

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
My Canon multi-function doesn't pull this crap ever. Plus, I can set it to use only one cartridge in the printing process from the driver settings. I'll probably end up selling it off at the end of my last undergraduate year, as ink is annoying to buy, I'll be moving out of the area, and it will be 4 years old. I'll pick up a multi-function color laser when I go to grad school for my printing/copying/scanning needs.

edit:
Scratch that -

I'll probably get a monochrome laser that can network either wirelessly or wired and get a scanner for my copying needs. I don't need to print in color often enough to make it worth getting a color laser, and I certainly don't want an inkjet with the cost of ink.

I'm not familiar with that...where exactly is that done?

Under the driver that I had downloaded from Canon, it is under the Maitenance tab in the properties of the printer (at least in XP). Just got to "Ink Cartridge Settings".

I don't know if it will work without a color cartridge in the machine (never tried), but it will supposedly only use one cartridge if you flip that setting.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
My Canon multi-function doesn't pull this crap ever. Plus, I can set it to use only one cartridge in the printing process from the driver settings. I'll probably end up selling it off at the end of my last undergraduate year, as ink is annoying to buy, I'll be moving out of the area, and it will be 4 years old. I'll pick up a multi-function color laser when I go to grad school for my printing/copying/scanning needs.

edit:
Scratch that -

I'll probably get a monochrome laser that can network either wirelessly or wired and get a scanner for my copying needs. I don't need to print in color often enough to make it worth getting a color laser, and I certainly don't want an inkjet with the cost of ink.

I'm not familiar with that...where exactly is that done?

Under the driver that I had downloaded from Canon, it is under the Maitenance tab in the properties of the printer (at least in XP). Just got to "Ink Cartridge Settings".

I don't know if it will work without a color cartridge in the machine (never tried), but it will supposedly only use one cartridge if you flip that setting.

Must be just certain canons. I've got an AIO mp830 and don't have that option.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Im thinking about this one now

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16828112110

Its on the cheaper end, what do you guys think?

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99
Im thinking about this one now

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16828112110

Its on the cheaper end, what do you guys think?

Don't do it! i plan on ordering it tomorrow

 

[JeepinEd]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
Shit, I have an Epson. And it's out of ink - haven't tried to scan on it since it has run out....guess I wont bother now How is that shit even legal?

Fuck printer companies piss me off. It's the only industry in IT to go backwards. My inkjet printers in the 90's were better value.

Hah! I have the same printer (DL version) and I thought there was something wrong with my electrical wiring. Whenever I turn that thing on, all the lights on that circuit dim.
It's big, noisy and sucks up power, but it's a great printer. I've had it for years and has been thoroughly aboused, but it just keeps on going.

I prefer a component setup. A good color Laser, A high quality scanner and a good card reader. The all in one jobbies just don't do it for me.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: swbsam

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: swbsam
I have an epson all-in-one that recently ran out of ink and, absurdly, the memory card reader on it doesn't even function! I can't scan, grab pictures off of SD, or print in black and white since the cyan is out - anyone else feel this is unethical, unrelated functionality crippled to force you to buy some more ink?

Which is why I bought a Canon. If my color ink runs out, I can still do all of the other functions of the printer.

But yeah, that's a really shady thing to do.

Thank you for helping me pick the manufacturer of my next MFC. A replacement cyan cartridge will cost me much less than a new printer but, honestly, these sort of tactics rub me the wrong way.

Careful! I have a Canon PIXMA MP600 and it does the same thing as the OP described. I didn't even run out of any ink, just one of the sensors went bad on one of the colors and I couldn't print or copy anything, not even in B&W!

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
My Canon multi-function doesn't pull this crap ever. Plus, I can set it to use only one cartridge in the printing process from the driver settings. I'll probably end up selling it off at the end of my last undergraduate year, as ink is annoying to buy, I'll be moving out of the area, and it will be 4 years old. I'll pick up a multi-function color laser when I go to grad school for my printing/copying/scanning needs.

edit:
Scratch that -

I'll probably get a monochrome laser that can network either wirelessly or wired and get a scanner for my copying needs. I don't need to print in color often enough to make it worth getting a color laser, and I certainly don't want an inkjet with the cost of ink.

I'm not familiar with that...where exactly is that done?

Under the driver that I had downloaded from Canon, it is under the Maitenance tab in the properties of the printer (at least in XP). Just got to "Ink Cartridge Settings".

I don't know if it will work without a color cartridge in the machine (never tried), but it will supposedly only use one cartridge if you flip that setting.

Must be just certain canons. I've got an AIO mp830 and don't have that option.

It's on my Canon MP160... maybe they are moving away from that?

My printer only has a multi-color cartridge and a black cartridge with the drivers being downloaded directly from their site ~January '09.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky

Originally posted by: nerp
I'm glad I don't need to make color prints. I'm OK with just a cheap personal laser and generic toner carts for $25. Sure beats the ripoff machine. For you guys who have to print color or photos, best wishes to you. Sucks.

My next printer will just be some black and white laser. They're way cheaper in the long run.

Color is not really something I need.

Awesome job printer companies. Everyone is going back to black and white like the 80s. They must be so proud.

Most people who buy those crap ass color inkjets bought it because they "might want to print some photos" And boy do they get raped for that mistake. My opinion is most people are best served by buying $100 laser printer and then taking their cameras card to costo to print the occasional photo. They'll look better, it'll cost less and it'll be less of a hassle. Not to mention that since the majority of your printing is B&W you'll spend probably 1/10 (no joke) as much on ink carts. My wife bought some photo printer against my recommendation and keeps complaining about it. I just tell to put it in the trash where it belongs. I don't even want to hear about that thing.

Seriously, inkjet is a cancer.

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky

Originally posted by: nerp
I'm glad I don't need to make color prints. I'm OK with just a cheap personal laser and generic toner carts for $25. Sure beats the ripoff machine. For you guys who have to print color or photos, best wishes to you. Sucks.

My next printer will just be some black and white laser. They're way cheaper in the long run.

Color is not really something I need.

Awesome job printer companies. Everyone is going back to black and white like the 80s. They must be so proud.

Most people who buy those crap ass color inkjets bought it because they "might want to print some photos" And boy do they get raped for that mistake. My opinion is most people are best served by buying $100 laser printer and then taking their cameras card to costo to print the occasional photo. They'll look better, it'll cost less and it'll be less of a hassle. Not to mention that since the majority of your printing is B&W you'll spend probably 1/10 (no joke) as much on ink carts. My wife bought some photo printer against my recommendation and keeps complaining about it. I just tell to put it in the trash where it belongs. I don't even want to hear about that thing.

Seriously, inkjet is a cancer.

You need to beat that bitch - seriously, put her in her place!

Jokes, jokes!

Color laser for me, and a scanner and POSSIBLY an inkjet with an ADF, in case I need to scan more legal documents.

 

[theeedude]

I don't own a printer for this reason. Too much hassle, I'd rather just print stuff at work

 

[nerp]

I'm tempted to root out an old Epson Apex 80 dot matrix and figure out how to print with that for text. I'm in the mood to print some short stories and notes out with some loud and nostalgic 9-pin madness. THAT was cheap printing.