{"id":9117,"date":"2013-11-01T18:41:33","date_gmt":"2013-11-01T22:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=9117"},"modified":"2014-11-01T18:43:55","modified_gmt":"2014-11-01T22:43:55","slug":"did-the-ink-really-disappear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/enx-features\/2013\/11\/did-the-ink-really-disappear\/","title":{"rendered":"Did the Ink Really Disappear?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A few months ago, <em>Consumer Reports<\/em> published an article purporting to measure the amount of ink wasted in today\u2019s inkjet printer\/MFP systems (<em>The Case of the Disappearing Ink<\/em>, August 2013).\u00a0 The tests were conducted in response to readers indicating \u201cink seemed to be disappearing faster than usual with light printer usage.\u201d\u00a0 CR proceeded to test \u201chow much excess ink is used to print pages intermittently compared with printing the same number of pages at once.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Surprise! More ink is used when printing intermittently.\u00a0 Manufacturers of toner-based laser MFPs all threw parties in celebration (none of which I was invited to).\u00a0 At last, their sales strategy claiming that ink jet pages (especially color) cost about a billion dollars each was going to work!<\/p>\n<p>But, not so fast, bucko!<\/p>\n<p>There are some serious issues involved here.\u00a0 Inkjet systems are slowly but surely becoming mainstream, not only in the SOHO market, but in the general office as well as the production segments \u2013 all filled with toner-based systems that, if inkjet succeeds, could be at risk.<\/p>\n<p>Consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>HP has launched their Officejet Pro series of MFPs offering full color speeds of up to 70 PPM for only $799.00.\u00a0 That speed surely takes the product out of the SOHO market and places it squarely in the workgroup.\u00a0 Some say that, since many of these systems are sold by VARs, they are concerned about service.\u00a0 I say, \u201cBuy two.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s still less expensive than the toner based systems.Of greater significance, these new systems make use of HP\u2019s PageWide technology, using a fixed print head as wide as the page.\u00a0 Because the print head doesn\u2019t move, as is the case with most inkjet printers, imaging speed is limited only by the speed of the RIP and the speed with which the system can move paper.<\/li>\n<li>Memjet also uses a page wide fixed print head for their inkjet systems.\u00a0 At present, the company is focused on the production print environment using OEM relationships that incorporate their ink and print head technology into their own systems.\u00a0 Some of these OEMs include Delphax, Canon\/Oc\u00e9 and Fuji Xerox.\u00a0 We would expect to see this technology migrate to the office environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n(Note: In January 2013, Parts Now became the initial distributor and reseller for Memjet-powered C6010 color printers in North America.)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Inkjet technology has had a profound impact on the production print environment where companies such as Kodak (yes, Kodak!), Canon\/ Oc\u00e9, HP Ricoh and even Xerox prevail.\u00a0 Faster, better, cheaper seems to be the mantra here.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\nBut, let\u2019s focus on the office and\/or SOHO environment where Consumer Reports says we\u2019re wasting a ton of ink and money.\u00a0 Yes?\u00a0 Well, like a true consultant, I\u2019ll have to say, \u201cIt depends.\u201d\u00a0 First and foremost, it doesn\u2019t really matter how much ink is used for printer maintenance.\u00a0 What matters is how many pages you get from a cartridge.\u00a0 Most OEMs publish approximate yields for their cartridges.\u00a0 But, actual experience can cause the real number to be higher or lower.\u00a0 Factors such as run lengths, page coverage, the type of paper used, temperature, humidity and frequency of use all have an impact.<\/p>\n<p>Have you ever looked at the mileage ratings on the new car sticker?\u00a0 They are the result of a test in which the car <em>never actually hits the road.<\/em> Look for the telltale words, \u201cYour actual mileage may vary.\u201d\u00a0 Inkjet cartridges are no different.\u00a0 Most vendors determine yields using an ISO test protocol where a print job is started and not stopped until the printer runs out of ink.<\/p>\n<p>Do you use printers that way?\u00a0 Do your customers?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 So, in a sense, the test is irrelevant to results obtained under actual use. To be fair, Consumer Reports made the same assumption.\u00a0 So they used the tested printers \u201cintermittently,\u201d printing only a few pages a few times each day.\u00a0 That seems closer to actual use, except for one detail.\u00a0 After each \u201cintermittent\u201d job, Consumer Reports testers turned the printer off! When was the last time you did that to an inkjet printer?\u00a0 If the test protocol called for five jobs per day, testers turned the printer off five times.\u00a0 What\u2019s more, <em>they turned the printer on<\/em> five times each day.\u00a0 And, when you turn an inkjet printer on (virtually <em> any<\/em> inkjet printer) the system will go through series of self-diagnostic checks and will clean the print heads.\u00a0 What is used to clean them, you ask?\u00a0 INK!\u00a0 Well, then, doesn\u2019t that reduce the yield?<\/p>\n<p>The answer, in a word, is \u201cnot necessarily.\u201d\u00a0 Oh wait.\u00a0 That\u2019s two words.\u00a0 Remember again, it\u2019s not how much ink you use, but the page yield per cartridge. If the manufacturer says a cartridge yields 1,000 pages and that\u2019s what you get, does it matter how much ink is used to clean the print heads?\u00a0 Does it matter how much ink is left in the cartridge when you weigh it?\u00a0 NO to each.<\/p>\n<p>Cleaning the print heads and, in some cases, filling the ink sump, are essential maintenance procedures.\u00a0 Most toner-based products use a toner reclaim tank which, periodically, must be emptied.\u00a0 Does anyone weigh that toner and deduct it from the page yield?\u00a0 NO!<\/p>\n<p>Some inkjet manufacturers actually put extra ink in the cartridge to perform maintenance procedures without impacting yield.\u00a0 Great idea!\u00a0 On the other side of that, some users have tried to sue those manufacturers because there was ink left in the cartridge when the printer interface indicated it was time to install a new one.\u00a0 That ink was never meant to be used.\u00a0 So, who cares how much was left?<\/p>\n<p>When comparing ink jet to toner, do the math.\u00a0 How many pages were promised?\u00a0 How many were received?\u00a0 At what cost?\u00a0 Then, make sure you consider the variables. What coverage (per color) are you assuming?\u00a0 Are the ink jet printers left on between jobs?\u00a0 Overnight?\u00a0 Were the expected yields on either system determined by testing to ISO standards (producing pages until ink\/toner runs out)?<\/p>\n<p>Without testing assumptions you risk your credibility.\u00a0 HP says that their Officejet Pro inkjet MFPs can print in color at half the cost of toner based systems.\u00a0 You may disagree.\u00a0 But, suppose it can?<\/p>\n<p>Never base your strategy for success on the failure of your competition!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A few months ago, Consumer Reports published an article purporting to measure the amount of ink wasted in today\u2019s inkjet printer\/MFP systems (The Case of the Disappearing Ink, August 2013).\u00a0 The tests were conducted in response to readers indicating \u201cink seemed to be disappearing faster than usual with light printer usage.\u201d\u00a0 CR proceeded to test \u201chow much excess ink is used to print pages intermittently compared with printing the same number of pages at once.\u201d Surprise! More ink is used when printing intermittently.\u00a0 Manufacturers of toner-based laser MFPs all threw parties in celebration (none of which I was invited to).\u00a0 At last, their sales strategy claiming that ink jet pages (especially color) cost about a billion dollars each was going to work! But, not so fast, bucko! There are some serious issues involved here.\u00a0 Inkjet systems are slowly but surely becoming mainstream, not only in the SOHO market, but in the general office as well as the production segments \u2013 all filled with toner-based systems that, if inkjet succeeds, could be at risk. Consider: HP has launched their Officejet Pro series of MFPs offering full color speeds of up to 70 PPM for only $799.00.\u00a0 That speed surely takes the product out of the SOHO market and places it squarely in the workgroup.\u00a0 Some say that, since many of these systems are sold by VARs, they are concerned about service.\u00a0 I say, \u201cBuy two.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s still less expensive than the toner based systems.Of greater significance, these new systems make use of HP\u2019s PageWide technology, using a fixed print head as wide as the page.\u00a0 Because the print head doesn\u2019t move, as is the case with most inkjet printers, imaging speed is limited only by the speed of the RIP and the speed with which the system can move paper. Memjet also uses a page wide fixed print head for their inkjet systems.\u00a0 At present, the company is focused on the production print environment using OEM relationships that incorporate their ink and print head technology into their own systems.\u00a0 Some of these OEMs include Delphax, Canon\/Oc\u00e9 and Fuji Xerox.\u00a0 We would expect to see this technology migrate to the office environment. &nbsp; (Note: In January 2013, Parts Now became the initial distributor and reseller for Memjet-powered C6010 color printers in North America.) Inkjet technology has had a profound impact on the production print environment where companies such as Kodak (yes, Kodak!), Canon\/ Oc\u00e9, HP Ricoh and even Xerox prevail.\u00a0 Faster, better, cheaper seems to be the mantra here. &nbsp; But, let\u2019s focus on the office and\/or SOHO environment where Consumer Reports says we\u2019re wasting a ton of ink and money.\u00a0 Yes?\u00a0 Well, like a true consultant, I\u2019ll have to say, \u201cIt depends.\u201d\u00a0 First and foremost, it doesn\u2019t really matter how much ink is used for printer maintenance.\u00a0 What matters is how many pages you get from a cartridge.\u00a0 Most OEMs publish approximate yields for their cartridges.\u00a0 But, actual experience can cause the real number to be higher or lower.\u00a0 Factors such as run lengths, page coverage, the type of paper used, temperature, humidity and frequency of use all have an impact. Have you ever looked at the mileage ratings on the new car sticker?\u00a0 They are the result of a test in which the car never actually hits the road. Look for the telltale words, \u201cYour actual mileage may vary.\u201d\u00a0 Inkjet cartridges are no different.\u00a0 Most vendors determine yields using an ISO test protocol where a print job is started and not stopped until the printer runs out of ink. Do you use printers that way?\u00a0 Do your customers?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 So, in a sense, the test is irrelevant to results obtained under actual use. To be fair, Consumer Reports made the same assumption.\u00a0 So they used the tested printers \u201cintermittently,\u201d printing only a few pages a few times each day.\u00a0 That seems closer to actual use, except for one detail.\u00a0 After each \u201cintermittent\u201d job, Consumer Reports testers turned the printer off! When was the last time you did that to an inkjet printer?\u00a0 If the test protocol called for five jobs per day, testers turned the printer off five times.\u00a0 What\u2019s more, they turned the printer on five times each day.\u00a0 And, when you turn an inkjet printer on (virtually any inkjet printer) the system will go through series of self-diagnostic checks and will clean the print heads.\u00a0 What is used to clean them, you ask?\u00a0 INK!\u00a0 Well, then, doesn\u2019t that reduce the yield? The answer, in a word, is \u201cnot necessarily.\u201d\u00a0 Oh wait.\u00a0 That\u2019s two words.\u00a0 Remember again, it\u2019s not how much ink you use, but the page yield per cartridge. If the manufacturer says a cartridge yields 1,000 pages and that\u2019s what you get, does it matter how much ink is used to clean the print heads?\u00a0 Does it matter how much ink is left in the cartridge when you weigh it?\u00a0 NO to each. Cleaning the print heads and, in some cases, filling the ink sump, are essential maintenance procedures.\u00a0 Most toner-based products use a toner reclaim tank which, periodically, must be emptied.\u00a0 Does anyone weigh that toner and deduct it from the page yield?\u00a0 NO! Some inkjet manufacturers actually put extra ink in the cartridge to perform maintenance procedures without impacting yield.\u00a0 Great idea!\u00a0 On the other side of that, some users have tried to sue those manufacturers because there was ink left in the cartridge when the printer interface indicated it was time to install a new one.\u00a0 That ink was never meant to be used.\u00a0 So, who cares how much was left? When comparing ink jet to toner, do the math.\u00a0 How many pages were promised?\u00a0 How many were received?\u00a0 At what cost?\u00a0 Then, make sure you consider the variables. What coverage (per color) are you assuming?\u00a0 Are the ink jet printers left on between jobs?\u00a0 Overnight?\u00a0 Were the expected yields on either system determined by testing to ISO standards (producing pages until ink\/toner runs out)? Without testing assumptions you risk your credibility.\u00a0 HP says [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1649,1814,1865],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9117"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/81"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9117"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9120,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9117\/revisions\/9120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}