Ink & Toner Buying Guide

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Ink and Toner Buying Guide

By Laura Cavallo, 06/04/04

The "paperless office" is a growing trend in business and home office management. Even so, a printer is still a must-have in any computer environment. Most of the printers sold today are color inkjet or black-and-white laser printers. Both create sharp printouts and offer a variety of options for cartridge replacements.

Here's a quick synopsis of ink and toner cartridges to help in your selection.

Introduction to inkjet and toner cartridges
Printer-brand cartridges
Generic cartridges
Other options

Introduction to inkjet and toner cartridges
Ink cartridges are usually less expensive and offer color printing at an affordable price. Ink cartridges are designed to spray ink on a sheet of paper, producing high-quality text and graphics. Depending on the manufacturer and model of the printer, ink cartridges come in a variety of combinations — some use a single, four-color cartridge that includes black, some use a tricolor cartridge and a separate black one, and still others use totally separate tanks for each color (an economical choice if you do a lot of color printing).

Toner is a special type of ink used by laser printers. Housed in a metal container, it consists of a dry, powdery substance designed to stick to a piece of paper. Most toner comes in a cartridge that you insert into the printer. When the cartridge is empty, you can replace it or have it refilled. Toner cartridges usually provide black-and-white printouts only; however, color laser printers and their color cartridges are increasing in popularity.

While your options are varied, before purchasing your cartridge replacement, always make sure it is compatible with your printer. Whenever possible, it is best to have the brand and model number handy to ensure compatibility.

People often don't think about replacing their cartridge until the ink or toner runs out, so it's always a good idea to plan ahead and purchase extra cartridges to keep you up and running.

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Printer-brand inkjet and toner cartridges
As the name implies, these cartridges are manufactured by the original makers of your printer and are a safe bet for quality and compatibility. Browse BestBuy.com's selection of ink and toner cartridges.

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Generic inkjet and toner cartridges
These are brand-new cartridges that are not made by the original manufacturer of your printer but meet the same standards. These cartridges are often lower in cost and can sometimes be refilled. However, be sure to read the compatibility information before purchasing. Browse BestBuy.com's selection of ink and toner cartridges.

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Other options
Ink refill kits are a cost-saving and environmentally friendly option. A big advantage of the refill option is that you can run out of ink or toner, and in a matter of just a few minutes, have your cartridge back in service. On the other hand, it can sometimes take a few tries to get the knack of refilling the cartridge. And remember, not all cartridges can be refilled successfully, so do the research before investing in a refill kit.

Remanufactured, or recycled, ink and toner cartridges are units that have been refilled with ink by the manufacturer. Ink cartridges are also given a new print head at the time of service. If environmental conservation is your goal, recycling is an excellent option. When purchased from a reputable company exercising quality control, these cartridges can perform as good as new.

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Ready to buy?
BestBuy.com offers a wide selection of new inkjet and toner cartridges, including both printer-brand and generic types. You can even shop by popular printer brands:

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