Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2020 October 22

= October 22 =

very old inkjet color cartridge
HP78 color cartridge, expired 2006 likely to be useless, right? Is there some reasonable alternative for occasional color printing at home? I don't mind the exhorbitant price of ink that much (like $30 for 30-ish full page prints or 100 or so smaller prints), it's just that the cartridges dry out before I use them much, so the effective cost is much higher than that. By comparison, a monochrome laser printer cartridge lasts pretty much forever without drying out (I've been on the same one for 5+ years). Maybe I'll try some knockoff cartridges. Meh. 2602:24A:DE47:BB20:50DE:F402:42A6:A17D (talk) 07:45, 22 October 2020 (UTC)
 * How often do you print? I print so little, that if I want something on paper, I take a memory stick into Staples and have them print it for me. It's costly on a per sheet basis, but cheaper than having a printer at home doing nothing. --TrogWoolley (talk) 11:00, 22 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Ditto - I wouldn't even attempt "occasional color printing at home". I make do with a monochrome laserjet, because I do have frequent printing needs, and my color stuff, if any, is outsourced. Elizium23 (talk) 22:55, 22 October 2020 (UTC)
 * I'm aware of the possibility of printing at a store and I do it sometimes, but it would be convenient to be able to print at home, especially since covid makes going to the store more of a hassle, plus it's less private (maybe I want to print a snarky political cartoon or something). I already have a working old color inkjet printer--the only problem is the ink cartridges drying out.  I agree that monochrome lasers are great and my main printer is one of those.  Anyway, thanks. 2602:24A:DE47:BB20:50DE:F402:42A6:A17D (talk) 05:46, 23 October 2020 (UTC)
 * I can recall a suggestion from maybe 25 years ago of reviving dried up cartridges by boiling them in water for a couple of minutes. Never tried it. HiLo48 (talk) 08:52, 23 October 2020 (UTC)
 * I once brought some cartridges back from the dead by __gently__ washing the jet area, then leaving the jet areas resting on soft wet toilet paper for a few days. Be warned though, the jets are delicate and if you are too vigorous you'll destroy them.  Personally I find the investment in a colour laser pays off, modern ones will happily sit idle for weeks, then spew forth dozens of sheets on command with no drying out. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 10:20, 23 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Yes, I agree with that advice from U|Martin of Sheffield. HiLo48 (talk) 21:09, 23 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Yes, with prices starting at €150 apiece a color laser printer would be a reasonable alternative. 2003:F5:6F14:9A00:9DC:B0EE:1ED9:2F7B (talk) 11:02, 24 October 2020 (UTC) Marco PB