EggXpert

If you constantly run out of ink and paper in your printer perhaps it is time to get a newer, more efficient model.

I personally have a iP4500, it has one separate black ink cartridge for documents, and then four separate ink cartridges for photos [black, cyan, etc.] totaling five. It also has automatic duplex printing, so all my documents are automatically printed on both sides of the paper. 

What I really like to do is lower the quality of document printing, it saves me ink, and time. Since I mainly print work sheets and school work I really could careless about how nice the ink is, since usually we throw them away.

I have gone through 100 printings throughout one year and I am still on my very first set of ink cartridges! 

 

Main Points:

Get a printer with automatic duplex printing, it does the work for you so printing on both sides isn't a hassle

Having separate ink cartridge for documents [and photos] can help a lot, the smaller ink cartridge can also work as a back up when you run out of ink

Print in gray scale unless if your boss/teacher/etc. specifically asks for color

If you don't have margin restrictions, then go ahead and modify them to save a sheet of paper

 

Additional notes for the iP4500:

You can have the printer autmatically turn off after a set amount of time and have it automatically turn on when it's needed

Works well with Windows 7, does nothing with certain motherboards 

Can print on letters, note card, etc. with the right settings

If you want to buy a iP4500 click here and if you care about free shipping make sure to click the little box :D 

 

Most printers should have an option to lower the printing quality and set it to grayscale.

Best way I found to save ink and paper...........Unplug my printserver so the girlfriend can't print out her idiotic coupons, lol

Nice suggestions to save ink and paper.  I will also tell my father to do so. Thank you for sharing

Allen750:

I have gone through 100 printings throughout one year and I am still on my very first set of ink cartridges! 

even the smallest cartridges are 150pages rated.....

The real question is how many pages of B & W only will you be printing.  a cheap laser printer almost always provides a better value and a better copy.

Tallon41

Doesn't it depend on what you're printing? Size, space length, color, etc.

 

But yes, if you don't print often a cheap printer will do just fine. But lowering the detail and quality can really stretch it out.  

Allen750:

Doesn't it depend on what you're printing? Size, space length, color, etc.

yes, but I'm referring to the 'stated' number of copies that a cartridge is rated-for, (there is some formula like 5% coverage per page,) and 150 is the LOWEST I've seen lately...though as always they say "your milage will vary ! "

Allen750:

But yes, if you don't print often a cheap printer will do just fine. But lowering the detail and quality can really stretch it out.

I'm saying the opposite....if you print a LOT, then get an inexpensive LASER black and white printer....they're faster and usually have better quality, and the cost per copy is significantly lower due to the high number of copies that you get per toner cartridge vs. inkjet tanks. [by lowering the detail and quality you still can stretch it even further as you said.]

basically, I'm saying that it's better to have two printers.  A laser for b & w, and a photo color printer [one that prints on CD's is cool too btw...]

Tallon41

Do you have any suggestions/comments/advice about the all-in-one printer/scanner/copier machines? My sister homeschools and does a ton of

printing (most b&w, but she also needs color. Of course, I'm also asking about laser, not inkjet.

 

I mostly print out PowerPoints. What makes me mad is that Microsoft PowerPoint only allows up to 9 slides per page to print out! If only there was a way to put more I would save tonnes of paper!