HP 78 - print cartridge (C6578DE)

I own an HP Deskjet 950C (Most cartridge distributors websites have compatibility tables to find the right cartridge for your printer) and I've been buying these HP ink cartridges for a few years now. So far I have never had problem with them.
I think I do an average amount of printing; A few photos, documents, maps for driving, etc. and these cartridges have always performed flawlessly.

But then you'd expect them to wouldn't ...
...don't have experience with every HP printer, but I have installed ink cartridges in a few different ones.
The process usually involves lifting the lid on the printer, wait for the cartridge carriage to move into view, pop the catch on the top and withdraw the old cartridge. Then once the new cartridge has been prepared, carefully sliding it in and replacing the catch. Close the lid and the printer should initialise itself and run its automatic ... more

I own an HP Deskjet 950C (Most cartridge distributors websites have compatibility tables to find the right cartridge for your printer) and I've been buying these HP ink cartridges for a few years now. So far I have never had problem with them.
I think I do an average amount of printing; A few photos, documents, maps for driving, etc. and these cartridges have always performed flawlessly.

But then you'd expect them to wouldn't you?

They are made by a reputable manufacturer and are specifically designed for use in my printer. They come well packaged, vacuum sealed in plastic to prevent the ink drying out, and securly contained inside sturdy cardboard cases.

They are, generally, easy to install by following the instructions that came with the printer. I don't have experience with every HP printer, but I have installed ink cartridges in a few different ones.
The process usually involves lifting the lid on the printer, wait for the cartridge carriage to move into view, pop the catch on the top and withdraw the old cartridge. Then once the new cartridge has been prepared, carefully sliding it in and replacing the catch. Close the lid and the printer should initialise itself and run its automatic calibration. It may also ask you to either align the cartridge and/or print a test page.

The only thing to be aware of is accidental damage to the print head, the metal bit at the bottom of the cartridge. On new ones it is protected by a small piece of sticky tape with a green tab, obviously this tape must be removed prior to installing the cartridge. Although in my capacity as part-time computer tech support, I have come across one instance where a printer error was due to failure to remove this tape, but I digress.
The point is to take care, as any serious scratches or dents to the print head can cause very unsatisfactory print outs and effectively render the cartridge useless.

The big downside to these HP cartridges is the cost. The high street prices range from around £30 to £40 for the 38ml and £15 to £20 for the 19ml. This, to me, seems like a lot of money for a disposable ink cartridge. However, as I said earlier, you are buying a top quality product from a respectable manufacturer. You are almost guaranteed that it will perform without fault; in fact statistically they have only a 2% failure rate. (QualityLogic, Inc. 2005)

Cheaper Printing

There are some ways of getting these cartridges considerably cheaper than the high street price. I recently bought a recycled ink cartridge for £15, that's an HP 78 (38ml).
However, as the old adage says, 'you get what you pay for'. These recycled cartridges are not going to conform to the same high standards as an original HP cartridge does. Bear in mind though, this is actually an original HP cartridge that has been used, then cleaned and refilled.

The first thing you notice is that the packaging is not as a good as the original. It is definitely adequate, sealed in plastic inside a cardboard box, but the box is flimsy and the cartridge is poorly secured inside.
Once unwrapped the cartridge appears in mint condition. No sign that it has actually been used before.
Before removing the protective tape from the print head, I take the cartridge and shake it violently. I had been advised to do this by a colleague who has had problems with recycled cartridges in the past. I assume this ensures that any kind of sediment that may have gathered inside the cartridge is shaken loose and remixed.
After this, installation goes smoothly and the printer recognises the new cartridge and initialises itself. It runs its automatic calibration and is then ready to print.

I decided to test the cartridge by printing a complex photograph at high quality. To my delight, the cartridge performed very well. In fact I couldn't find any fault with it at all. Of course I wasn't comparing it side by side with a print out from an original HP cartridge, but on its own, the quality seemed good.

This is the first recycled cartridge that I have purchased, and it remains to be seen whether future cartridges perform as well.
In an independent study performed by QualityLogic, Inc. in 2005, they found that recycled HP cartridges have a 70% failure rate. This is not good news for my future purchases of recycled cartridges, however I will continue to buy them, and not only because of the price.

Let me just explain some of the advantages of buying recycled cartridges.

The first, and most important in my opinion, is the environmental factor. Currently around 12,000 to 14,000 tonnes of used ink cartridges end up in UK land fills every year. This can be drastically reduced by recycling our cartridges. However, as a consumer I can understand that people are put off buying recycled cartridges due to their high failure rate. This is an issue that needs to be tackled so that we can buy them with confidence and make the recycling programs really work.
At the moment, the best you can hope for is the fact that every recycled cartridge distributor has a returns policy where they will replace defective cartridges free of charge. This can be a hassle for the consumer, but no one ever said looking after our environment was going to be easy.

The second advantage to buying recycled cartridges is the huge amount of money you can save. Recycled cartridges are currently selling for less than half the price of new original HP cartridges. For the average consumer who probably buys new cartridges twice a year, this can amount to a £60 saving. Well worth the possible hassle of sending a cartridge back in my book.

Conclusion

In my opinion, for the average cartridge consumer it is well worth buying the recycled cartridges. We know that the quality may not be quite as high as the original HP cartridges, but for most applications I would say that you wouldn't really notice the difference. If you are regularly printing very high quality images then it is probably worth spending the extra money on the original HP cartridge.

So when you go to purchase your next cartridge, please ask yourself if it is really worth while buying a new, original HP cartridge, or can you help save the environment by spending less money on a recycled one. 

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