HP Printer Ink Costs Almost Twice as Much as Human Blood
We knew printer ink was expensive, we just never bothered to put it into perspective before. And now we don't have to, because somebody else already did, and the comparisons are pretty eye-popping.
In a graphic comparing the "relative price of different liquids," a single mL of HP black ink #45 runs about $0.70. That's nearly twice as much as a mL of blood, which according to the data runs less than $0.40. It's also almost 14 times more expensive than Penicillin, which runs a little over $0.05 per mL.
So there you have it. Assuming the numbers are accurate, penny pinchers may be better off pricking their finger and refilling those empty ink cartridges with their own blood (please don't try this). Of course, there's always generic ink, which while usually significantly cheaper than "genuine" ink from the printer's manufacturer, have also been known to clog print heads.
Have a favorite generic ink manufacturer/vendor? Post a link in the comments section below.
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tonerguy
June 08, 2010 at 8:08am
OEM branded ink and toner cartridges are very expensive. Consumers have the right to seek out reputable sellers of aftermarket ink and toner cartridges. All HP aftermarket cartridges are "remanufactured" cartridges. This means that they are "re-used". Reputable vendors sell remanned cartridges that have new parts, new toner, new chips and have been subjected to quality control testing to ensure they are operational. These cartridges will work just fine in the printers they were designed for and they usually cost 50%-75% less than the new cartridges. Here is a reputable web site that we found: http://www.printerexperts.com/hp-compatible-cyan-toner-cartridge-q3961a-and-c9701a-4k-page-yield.html
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damicatz
December 31, 2009 at 11:27am
If you stick to American made inks, you'll be fine.
In particular, I recommend inks by a company in the US called Image Specalists. There is a company in Canada called Precision Colors that sells IS inks in cartridges usable by your ink jet printer and it's considerably cheaper than"genuine" ink cartridges.
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Biceps
December 31, 2009 at 10:44am
I have used them for years, and they are great. Good prices, relatively long-lasting cartridges, and I have never had a clogged print head (or if I did, I didn't know it).
And, no, I don't work for Cartridge World, and did not receive any compensation for this testamonial.
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johnnymegabyte
December 31, 2009 at 8:34am
FACT: KISS comic book from the 70's was printed with real KISS blood
Printer ink costs more than blood, so what, milk is more than gas ... and the list goes on
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stige
December 31, 2009 at 7:39pm
really? milk costs more than gas?
can i live near you?
milk - $2.59 a gallon (Lucerne) at Safeway
gas - $3.09 a gallon ("Regular" 87 Octane unleaded fuel found at the nearest discount place. Shell / Cheveron / etc... have 87 for around $3.29 here.)
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nightkiller
January 05, 2010 at 4:46am
There are 3.785 liters in an American Gallon.
Gasoline is .94 cents per liter for 87 Octane fuel which is equal to 3.56 per American Gallon.
Milk is 3.99 for four liters or 3.78 per American Gallon.
You choose a flightless bird as a mascot and wonder why it doesn't take off?
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QUINTIX256
December 31, 2009 at 11:36am
Yah, but neither gas nor milk is priced by the mililiter.
You can have your recession. I'm not participating.
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MeTo
January 01, 2010 at 5:31am
Go to the hosptial and have an operation and the blood you buy will be by the pint not milliliter.
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Jubei
December 31, 2009 at 7:40am
HP #45? They could have used a newer cartridge. You know, like one found in a printer sold today.
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compro01
December 31, 2009 at 8:34am
Ok then, let's use the HP 74, which costs $15 and contains about 5mL of ink, so that comes to $3/mL
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Jubei
December 31, 2009 at 12:58pm
Oh I wasn't doubting the cost (and the 45 is better than some newer ones, worse than others), I was just wondering why they would use something not found in new machines. It's like compairing the sugar content of soda that was only made in the 70's vs. Soda only found today.
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Caboose
December 31, 2009 at 7:49am
It'll be the same type of ink!
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
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mango440
May 24, 2010 at 3:34am
Printers are routinely classified by the underlying print technology
they employ; numerous such technologies have been developed over the
years.
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