We’ve decided to take page from the music and movie (DVD) industry and call Tuesdays, “New Cartridge Tuesday”. Each Tuesday, we’ll take the time to let you know about our latest cartridge release and give you some information on that new cartridge. So as you rush out to buy your copies of Norbit, The Messengers, and Seinfeld - Season 8 make sure you pick up the following printer cartridges.

This week we are proud to announce the release of the compatible version of the Canon CLI-8 series of black and color ink cartridges. So far the CLI-8 cartridges have been used exclusively in Canon’s PIXMA and PIXUS inkjet printers. We’ve had a great response from customers purchasing the Canon brand of these cartridges. Once added to our website the series quickly became one our top selling cartridge sets. We expect that this popularity will shift over to the compatible CLI-8 series (CLI-8BK, CLI-8C, CLI-8M, CLI-8Y) because of their high quality and lower cost. You can purchase these cartridges individually, or as a set of four with our compatible CLI-8 4 pack color ink tank set.

While the Canon manufactured cartridges are priced at $14.99 each, the compatible versions of these cartridges are priced at $9.99 each. When you buy three or more of each individual cartridge you only pay $8.99 each. You will also pay $8.99 each when you purchase the 4 pack color ink tank set.

So far we have been calling them compatible, which they are, but they also have an element of being remanufactured to them. Canon manufacturers these cartridges with a chip on them. The printer communicates through the chip so the correct amounts of ink are dispersed on the page. Chips from the Canon manufactured cartridge are collected and then used on these remanufactured/compatible cartridges. Bottom line is that you are receiving a cartridge that is made of completely new plastic and other components. They only piece that is not completely new is the chip. By reusing the manufacturer brand chip we can provide a higher quality product and prevent the silicon and other components that make up the chip from being thrown away (recycling!).

Pacific Ink’s preliminary test release provided great reviews of the product. If you have already used this cartridge, let us know what you think.

Our compatible version promises to print with the same quality you have experienced when using the Canon manufactured cartridge. Just as we do with every other cartridge we guarantee the compatible CLI-8 cartridges to your satisfaction. Give us a call if you are not happy with the cartridge.

The HP DeskJet 2360 inket printer allows you to print vibrant photos and crisp black text. HP has made use of the DeskJet series as a good hybrid of photo quality and every day text printing. It is a good general use printer. It also features a print cancel button to help you in those times of need when you accidentally click print, but really did not mean to. We have not had any experience to how quickly the cancel button stops the print though. In the past, print cancel buttons still allow 1/2 to 3/4’s of a page to be printed before it stops.

The printer prints up to 20 pages per minute in black/white, and 14 pages per minute in color. It also features five different print modes: Fast Draft, Fast normal, Normal, Best and Maximum dpi. Most printers only allow you three. The DeskJet 2360 has a compact design and holds, a maximum, 100 sheets of standard sized paper. It was designed NOT to be a desk hog.

The printer can be purchased for as low as $49.99 and uses the HP 21, HP 22, and HP 58 inkjet cartridges. Fully compatible, remanufactured cartridges are available for this printer to save you some money. Of course, Pacific Ink has them (shameless plug!).

Here’s what users of the 2360 are saying:

If you own this printer, let Pacific Ink know what you think.

Xerox has invented invisible ink! This is pretty cool.

It was announced this week that Xerox has developed an invisible ink that fluoresces under ultraviolet light and can be used by most commercial printers. Developed by the Xerox Innovation Group, the invisible ink is created by using a special combination of toners that creates the effect by using inks that react with the fluorescent agents paper manufacturers use to make their paper seem brighter.

What is the benefit of this?

Well, a four color digital printer can print anything it normally would, but could also print an individual identifier on each document using a fluorescent identifier. The best news is that it would seem there is no need for new printers, just new toner cartridges that hold the updated toner powder.

This technology has immediately been compared to that which is used to print currency (watch out!). High denomination bills are printed with a fluorescent coloring, but the equipment used to print money is very expensive. This technology allows for users to use it at a relatively low cost.

The ramifications of this are big. Let Pacific Ink know what you think.

Lexmark is at it again! This week they filed lawsuits against ink cartridge refillers who they claim have been cutting in to their profits for years.

Lexmark is after North Carolina based Static Control again because they want static control to stop competing for their remanufactured cartridge business. Lexmark v Static Control started back in 2005 and focused up Lexmark’s Smart Chip technology. Now we are back for round 2 with Lexmark claiming Static Control has violated copyright law.

Lexmark claims that of the 10 million toner cartridges it shipped last year cartridge remanufacturers took away 27% (about 2.7 million) of the empties for remanufacturing for reselling. This could be worth as much as $200 million.

One good lawsuit deserves another, so Static Control has filed a law suit of its own. Static Control has accused Lexmark of monopolizing the toner cartridge market and falsely representing their products.

More to come . . .

What do you think about this? Sounds like a “deep pocket” approach to me.

Vyomesh Joshi, HP’s Executive Vice President of the Imaging and Printing Group, recently gave an interview and participated in a round table discussion at the Future in Review Conference. Here are some excerpts (you can read the full article here).

1. HP has been focused on being a printer business. They now need to shift to being a printing business.

Joshi says HP needs to focus on pages rather than printers. There are more than 48 trillion pages printed per year (Wow!) and in terms of a market share, HP only holds 2%. He sees a lot of opportunity in the pages.

Anyone see the need for more extensive use of printer ink in making the shift to this model? 48 trillion pages printed and HP only makes up 2% of that 48 trillion. That’s a lot of ink!

2. The Content Consumption model

Joshi believes that in its shift, HP needs to look at a Content Consumption model. There is a huge push today for the consumers to create and then consume the content they create. Given the technology that exists it is very easy for individuals to create content and then quickly distribute it for others to consume (that is what we are doing here). All of this can be done from their homes using a digital camera, Internet connection, various forms of inexpensive software, and a printer. The technology that was supposed to have created a paperless society has created a society that prints a lot more, maybe not always on paper, but on other mediums. HP’s goal is to be a source of printing on any medium.

3. Inkjet printing and DNA sequencing

Joshi believes that HP’s inkjet technology can play a big part in supplying technology that works in medical areas like drug delivery and DNA sequencing. He claims that HP’s core competency is making a pump that can accurately deliver liquid. Their pump (internal component of the inkjet printer) accurately delivers nanoliters of liquids, and they make a half a billion of them a year.

4. 3D Printing

HP has made 3D prints in their labs. It requires layering of materials, and the primary concern is the strength of the material used. He said the problem is not in the printer, and that HP could inkjet anything. The limiting factor is the material they are printing on.

5. On Kodak

(We are just going to use the direct quote on this one) “Kodak says they are half the price on photos only, not black and white. You will find that claim is not really valid. What do customers print in the home? Seventy percent of it is black and white. Kodak has patent issues. The problem is going to be any kind of business you want to build, it has to be a real business model. Look at Dell, they started (in printers) three years ago, and still can’t make money.”

6. On Memjet

(Direct quote on this one too) “It’s very interesting; they are claiming they have a prototype of one. It takes years to commercialize the technology. We always love competition; it gives us a wakeup call.”

Let Pacific Ink know what you think of Joshi’s comments.

This is for the science buffs out there!

We’ve joked (a little, and probably not to successfully) about the release of Epson’s new Micro Piezo print head technology. While most people just care about the end result, the print out, there are a few that want to know what the heck the Mirco Piezo print head is all about. So, this post is for them.

Micro Piezo actually comes from piezoelectric or piezoelectricity. Piezoelectricity is the ability of crystals and certain ceramic materials to generate a voltage in response to applied mechanical stress. Epson took this technology and put it in to all of their inkjet printers. They place a piezoelectric crystal in each nozzle of their print head rather than a heating element (as is done by HP, Dell, Lexmark, etc.). When a current is applied to the crystal it changes its shape/size and a droplet of ink is forced from the nozzle. According to those that “really” understand all this, a piezoelectric inkjet printer allows one to print with a wider variety of inks with higher quality than thermal inkjets. It also allows for much more economical ink usage.

Do you have any stories to share about your experiences with an Epson printer versus printers made by any of the other manufacturers? Share them with us.

The Canon PIXMA iP6700D is a very good printer for those wanting to print photographs. But those thinking they will be getting a machine that they can use to print their text based documents as well might be disappointed. Its text printing prowess is mediocre at best.

Canon designed the machine as one to print photos with, but strangely enough put in a duplexing feature. I haven’t heard of to many people printing two sided photos! The 3.5 inch LCD screen allows you to view and edit photos directly from your memory card (the printer comes with a built in memory card reader). Its photo print quality is quite impressive and the machine is Bluetooth capable.

Here is what Canon’s description of this photo printer:

This versatile machine is a photo-printing powerhouse. Its patented print head technology and six ink tanks produce beautiful, long-lasting prints with startling color and detail. The extra-large 3.5 inch color LCD viewer lets you enhance images before printing and advanced paper handling increases your productivity. Plus, you can print from your computer, compatible memory cards, cameras, Bluetooth devices and even camera phones. Snap and print, wirelessly - Print wirelessly right from your infrared-enabled mobile camera phone Print wirelessly - Print from a compatible Bluetooth device in another room, using our optional USB Bluetooth adapter Print 2 sided and save paper Life-like colors - Two high-intensity photo inks plus four conventional inks equals precise, life-like color values Faster data - The USB 2.0 interface enables the fastest possible image transfers Print Speed - Up to 4×6 borderless photo as fast as 47 seconds, 8×10 photo as fast as 76 seconds Nozzle Text - 512 x 6 colors (C, M, Y, BK, PC, PM), 3072 Total Print Resolution - Up to 9600 x 2400 dpi Black, Up to 9600 x 2400 dpi Color OS Compatibility - Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98 and Mac OS X v.10.2.8 to 10.4.x8 Standard Interface - USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, Direct Print Port (cables not included), IrDA version 1.2 (JPEG only), Bluetooth version 1.2 Buffer/Ram - 42KB Paper Sizes - Credit Card (2.13 x 3.39), 4×6, 4×8, 5×7, 8×10, Letter, Legal, U.S. #10 Envelopes Direct Printing supported card formats - CF, SD, MMC, SmartMedia, Microdrive, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro

The iP6700D is definitely a machine designed for printing image heavy documents (pictures, graphics, image heavy web pages).

This printer utilizes the CLI-8 (CLI-8BK, CLI-8C, CLI-8M, CLI-8Y, CLI-8PC, CLI-8PM) series of cartridges. The series is made up of individual ink tank cartridges (one cartridge for each color), so you simply have to replace the color you run out of, rather than the entire set. At this time only Canon brand cartridges are available, but we expect the 100% compatible versions to be available in early June.

If you own this printer, let Pacific Ink know what you think.

Add this one to our ever growing list of uses for inkjet printers.

Nanoident Technologies, a company in Linz, Austria is producing organic semiconductors (microchips) by spraying intricate patterns of specialized ink onto layers of foil and polymer. How does it work?

A modified printer uses 128 inkjet nozzles to spray a pattern onto different layers of foil or polymer. They layers are then put together. Pretty simple!

Using this technology the company is capable of producing 40,000 square meters of semiconductors a year. Traditional methods can also produce 40,000 square meters a year, but at a much greater cost. It would cost about $1.3 billion and require 5,000 employees. The Nanoident printing method only costs $10 million and requires 50 people. Printed semiconductors also have larger features than the traditional silicon chips. They can be printed with more than 100 times the features inserted in to silicon chips.

Despite the advantages, the organic chips will not be put to use in computers. They are far slower and degrade faster than silicon chips. They will instead be used for single use applications.

Back in late April Lexmark announced that their quarterly profits were below their estimated target. This in turn caused their stock share prices to drop. We could go on for a while about the stock market and the relationship between missing your target earnings and plummeting stock prices, but that is probably a topic for a completely different blog.

Instead we will discuss what Lexmark decided to do about the problem. At the time they made the announcement they said that a part of the problem was a decline in inkjet and laser printer sales (inkjet sales were down by 10% while laser were down by 6%). They also said that sales of supplies — printer cartridges — was flat.

In 2006 Lexmark presented a plan that would reduce the sales of unprofitable inkjet and laser printers. Such a plan is the complete opposite of plans used by HP, Canon, Dell, and just about every other printer manufacturer out there. We are not fully aware of the level of profitability these other companies have on printers they sell, but we do know that they depend more on the sale of the cartridges that go in those printers to make the real money.

This move by Lexmark would seem to be a form of suicide. Reducing sales means reducing the number of printers in the market place and thus reducing the number of printers in homes and offices. Bottom line is then that the number of printer cartridges sold for these printers would decrease.

Now we see the results of their plan. Declining printer sales, flat printer cartridge sales, earnings below target.

Hopefully Lexmark can find its way out of this. We just found it strange that they presented a plan that would have them sell less printers (and therefore less printer cartridges), like their competitors. Or, a plan that would have been more like the one Kodak is deploying (more expensive printers and lower priced ink).

Pacific Ink wants to know what do you think?

Yesterday’s post also led me to another interesting story. Actually, it was only a paragraph or two within the same story, but I found it pretty interesting and kind of comical. So much so that is deserved its own post. This just goes to prove there is a niche to be found for everyone.

Dr. Will Miller is a noted pop culture psychologist and the self proclaimed “Ink Shrink”. Your are reading this correctly, an INK SHRINK. Now, the question has to be asked, what on earth does an Ink Shrink do, or what could he possible useful information could he lend to the world. Well, useful or not is up to the reader, but here is what he offers.

According to Dr. Will the typical home printer users fits one of three profiles — Squirrels, Squids, or Snakes (Any guesses as to where this is going yet? Keep reading.) Using his expertise and results from the Kodak survey the profiles can be described in the following ways.

Squirrels - Conscientiously concerned about conserving ink.

Squids - Not concerned about wasting ink; strong likelihood to print whatever, whenever.

Snakes - Printing personal documents away from home or having others print for them.

In an apparent plug for the benefits of the new Kodak ink cartridges, Dr. Will said “Printer innovations, like Kodak’s new premium ink, can reduce undue stress and ink conservation maneuvers for the squirrels and snakes among us.” He then went on to say, “It can also drive thicker family photo albums, less ink sneaking at the office and better printer privileges for the kids.” Sounds like someone was on Kodak’s payroll for this one. Combine survey results with some pop culture and hopefully that equals some sales.

For those interested you can take a survey and find your profile at www.inkisit.com. The questions are pretty funny. It is a Kodak sponsored site so be prepared.

I am a squirrel!