Last week we were able to release both a remanufactured and genuine HP 85A (CE285A) toner cartridge on our web site.

The HP 85A is a monochrome (black) toner cartridge that yields up to 1,600 pages. The remanufacured CE285A yields the same number of pages as the HP brand cartridge, but costs $28 less . . . using remanufactured cartridges has benefits!

These cartridges are designed for use in the HP LaserJet Pro M1212nf mfp and the HP LaserJet Pro P1102 printers.

Let’s take some time to talk about the HP 60 black ink cartridge.

When shopping for this cartridge, you are going to want to use one of two different numbers, with HP 60 or HP CC640WN. The latter is the “long” name that HP gave to the cartridge, more of an internal product number. Most consumers will know this cartridge as the HP 60 black ink cartridge. When you find the retail packaging in the store, it will have a big number 60 on the box (you can’t miss it). If you are shopping by UPC number, then you are going to want to use 8 83585 70253 4.

HP released this cartridge back in early 2008 as part of its Vivera ink line. The cartridge shape and design is the same as is predecessor, the  HP 56 cartridge. The primary difference is that the HP 60 features a different color top and a different print head. HP also took another step and introduced the HP 60 XL cartridge as an alternative to this standard black ink cartridge. The 60 XL cartridge yields 200 more pages and costs $20 more dollars. Why should you consider paying more, because when you break down the cost per page, you are going to pay 1.6 cents more per page by using the HP 60 instead of the 60 XL.

Folks who are buying this cartridge are very happy with the quality of the prints it provides. The most common complaint on this black ink cartridge, as is the complaint with HP cartridges in general, is that it is to small (does not hold enough ink). Why design something that requires such frequent replacement?

There are quite a few different inkjet printers that use this cartridge. Most notable are the HP Photosmart, HP Photosmart C4780, HP Deskjet D2500 Series, HP Deskjet F4200 Series, HP Deskjet D1660, and HP Deskjet F4400 series.

Although you can find some deals by looking around, most retailers sell the HP 60 black ink cartridge for $14.99. If buying online, you can find stores that offer free shipping and you’ll save on sales tax. Again, if buying this cartridge I would suggest you spend the extra $20 and get the 60XL cartridge.

HP 60 Black Ink Cartridge - $14.99

Your HP DeskJet 2050 printer has some lights blinking. What do they mean?

The lights on the front of the printer indicate the printer’s status. The lights can be on or off, blinking or not blinking, depending on the status of your printer. The power light, attention light, and check ink cartridges light can all blink in distinctive patterns to indicate status or errors.

If the power light is blinking and the attention light is off, the printer is busy processing a print, scan, copy, or maintenance job. Wait for the current job to finish before starting another job.

If the power light is blinking for 3 seconds, then returns to its previous state and the attention light is off, you should wait for the printer to finish processing its current job before starting a new one.

If the power light is fast blinking, the attention light is on, and the check cartridge light is on, you should make sure to check to make sure the cartridge access door is fully closed.

If the power light is fast blinking and the attention light is on, you should: 1) Check to make sure you are not out of paper. 2) Make sure the output tray is open. 3) Check for a paper jam.

If the power light is blinking, the check color cartridge light is blinking, and the check black cartridge light is blinking, you should: 1) Reset the printer (this blinking light pattern represents a fatal error or a scanner failure). 2) Take your printer to a repair person.

If the power light is on, the attention light is off, the check color cartridge light is on, and the check black cartridge light is on, you should: 1) Install a new printer cartridge (one is missing). 2) Remove and reinstall the printer cartridges (the cartridges are not installed correctly). 3) Replace the problem cartridge.

If the power light is on, the attention light is off, and both the check cartridge lights are blinking, you should buy a new set of printer cartridges (from Pacific Ink!). You don’t need to replace the cartridges in the printer yet, but you are running low on ink. If you order when the printer tells you that you are low in printer ink you will have the new cartridges ready for when the one’s in your printer run out.

The DeskJet 2050 is very popular right now, it appears that HP has got it right with this one. Do you own one? If so, let me know what you think of it. Thanks!

This is a sure fire sign of a paper jam.

If paper jams inside your HP DeskJet 2050 printer , the printer will stop printing, the Power light will blink, and the Attention light will turn on. Here’s what you need to do to fix it.

Solution #1 – Clear the paper jam

Step one: Remove any loose paper. Remove any loose sheets of paper from the input tray and the output tray.

Step two: Clear the paper jam from the base of the All-in-One. Use the following steps to check for and remove jammed paper from the base of the HP product.

Step three: Clear the jam from inside the All-in-One

Step four: Clear the jam from the front of the All-in-One. If you cannot remove the jam from the base or inside the product, follow these steps to remove the paper jam from the front.

Solution #2 – Perform a power reset

Step one: Perform a power reset

Step two: Print a self-test report

Step three: Search for more information. If you are still experiencing issues, see the HP Product Support Home Page, and then search for another document that relates to the symptoms you are experiencing.

Solution #3 – Service the product. You are going to have to some research on this one and try to find a reputable printer repair person in your area.

For more a more detailed version of these instructions, click here.

Did these tips work for you? Take a second to let me know. Thanks!

I’m talking about HP folks! We all know them as the “400 pound Gorilla” in the printer and printer ink cartridge world. Well, now they are the 2 billion pound gorilla of the e-waste recycling gorilla.

HP set a goal of recycling 2 billion pounds of its electronic products and supplies, and guess what, they achieved it. As part of the goal, HP also wants to reuse 450 million of those pounds by the end of 2010. HP has introduced their DeskJet D2545 printer, which is made almost entirely from recycled plastic material (83% of the printer’s plastic is recycled). This printer uses the HP 60 ink cartridges, which are molded from recycled plastic resins.  As if HP had not reached new recycling heights with just these to steps, they also replaced some of their PC packaging with a reusable bag made from 100% recycled materials.

Way to go HP!

Let me know what you think about HP’s environmentally conscious changes. Thanks!

This week we added the HP 72 series of ink cartridges for use in the HP DesignJet T1120 printer. We are now offering a series of 11 different black and color cartridges for this 24″ or 44″ wide format inkjet printer uses HP Vivera inks. The cartridges used in this printer are:

	HP 72 C9370A Photo Black Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9371A Cyan Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9372A Magenta Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9373A Yellow Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9374A Gray Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9397A Photo Black Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9398A Cyan Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9399A Magenta Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9400A Yellow Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9401A Gray Ink Cartridge
	HP 72 C9403A Matte Black Ink Cartridge

Cartridges come in capacities of either 139ml or 69ml.

If you’ve had an opportunity to use this printer and these cartridges, please take a minute and let our other readers know about your experience. Thanks!

I am not talking about those of you who have your home computer (home office) set up in your living room! I’m talking about HP’s goal to put a printer in your living room, right inside to your entertainment center and make it an every day computing delivery device. That’s right, your HP printer right next to your Blu-ray DVD player, your DVR, and your 7.1 surround sound stereo.

HP’s new Envy All-in-One has a detachable 7 inch touch screen that can double as a Web browsing tablet. It is designed for quiet use and to fit in with your entertainment center . . . for your living room. You’ll be able to sit on your couch, browse the web (on the tablet), and print anything you wish, or at least this is what HP hopes you will do. These printers will range in price from $99 to $399.

It seems HP is hopping on board the digital content band wagon and trying to make it easier for consumers to print this content from just about anywhere.  Their benefit? They get to sell you more printer ink!

It is well known that printer cartridges comprise a very large portion of HP’s annual revenues. They more they can get you to print, the more revenues they can earn. So, HP’s plan is to make the print as vital a computing device as your computer is. To help their cause, HP has even formed a partnership with Apple to use their AirPort networking capabilities (called AirPrint). To motivate you to print, HP will be expanding its print apps to include apps from Martha Stewart, United Airlines and a few different recipe sites.

Make room in your “remote boat” you now get to add a 7 inch touch screen to your collection.

What are your thoughts on HP wanting to put a printer in your living room? Take a minute and let me know. Thanks!

Today we released the HP 78A CE278A Toner Cartridge. This monochrome (black) toner cartridge yields up to 2,100 pages of print and can be used in the HP LaserJet Pro P1566 and the HP LaserJet Pro P1606dn.

Owners of this printers are in love with their speed. The boast, an industry leading, a first page out speed of seven seconds. They also love how quiet the printer is. Of course, when a printer is printing it is impossible for it to be silent, but when not printing the owners say you can’t hear a thing.

These printers also feature, the much loved, duplex feature (two sided printing). Duplex printing is environmentally responsible and very convenient.

Any complaints? Not many! Just the usual difficulty when installing and the printer software is not recognized by ones computer. This is common to all printers, so I really don’t see a reason one should bash the printer because of it.

As of this post, CNET has not yet reviewed the printer. They some great testing, so we’ll wait and see what they come up with.

Do you own either of these HP printers? If you do, take a minute and let me know what you think of them. Thanks!

Pacific Ink added some new HP cartridges this morning. Now available! The HP 61 and HP 61XL inkjet cartridges.

These cartridges work in the HP Deskjet 1050, HP Deskjet 2050 and HP Deskjet 3050 printers. We are offering both the high yield (XL) and standard yield versions of these cartridges. The standard yield versions yield 190 pages (HP 61 CH561WN Black Ink Cartridge) and 165 pags (HP 61 CH562WN Color Ink Cartridge. The high yield cartridges yield 480 pages (HP 61XL CH563WN Black Ink Cartridge, High Yield) and 330 pages (HP 61XL CH564WN Color Ink Cartridge, High Yield).

Which cartridge would I recommend using? That depends on your printing volume. If you plan to use the standard yield black cartridge, you are going to pay about 7.3 cents per page printed. The high yield cartridge will lower your cost per page to 5.8 cents. A (almost) 2 cent per page difference is not going to make a big difference in your budget if you are only using 2-3 cartridges per year. But, if you are using more you may want to consider the high yield. Take a minute to do the math. The high yield might make more sense. In addition to the savings you’ll also be changing your cartridge less.

You’ll save just over 3 cents per page when you use the high yield color cartridge instead of the standard  yield.

Have you had a chance to use these cartridges or these printers? If so, take a second and let me know what  you think of them. Thanks!

Here’s an interesting fact about HP printers cartridges, they are regionalized. This means that HP creates different printer cartridges for different regions of the world so that I cannot take the printer I own (here in the United States), go to Australia, buy cartridges there, put them in my printer, and expect it to work.

Put shortly, a printer bought in one region of the world will not recognize printer cartridges bought in another region.

So far as I can tell, HP has established seven different world region markets (European, UK, Latin American, North American, Asian-Pacific, Western Hemisphere, and Mexico). Printers produced for these regions are programmed to only recognize cartridges produced for these regions as well. If you try to use a printer from one region and a cartridge from a different region, your printer will give you an error message. Your printer will be rendered useless until you can get cartridges that match its region.

The conspiracy theorists claim this is just another attempt by HP to make more money. They are holding those that want to roam the world, with their printer in tote, hostage. Huh? I have to think HP has a much better reason than this.  Can anyone provide it?

For those that plan on moving to a different HP printer region soon, don’t worry to much. I did read a few stories of HP being able to “re-regionalize” a printer, you just need to contact their support center.

What do you think of HP’s printer and printer cartridge regionlization? Take a few seconds and let me know. Thanks!