Printers with external print heads?

[Walter R.]

I am using Win xp. My deskjet 970 cse is about ten years old but still
running great. I use cheap recycled cartridges which have a built-in
printhead and a large tank. (HP 45)

With the advent of Win 7, there is no driver for this printer, except a
half-assed generic driver from Microsoft. HP does not make drivers for this
printer for Win 7.

One might consider this a good reason for sticking with Win Xp. But, I am
seduced by the Aero eye-candy which I can not live without! What junk for
adolescents!

Is there a Win 7 capable printer on the market that uses external,
refillable printheads with large tanks and cheap refills??

Well, I does not hurt to ask.

 

[Andrew Rossmann]

I am using Win xp. My deskjet 970 cse is about ten years old but still
running great. I use cheap recycled cartridges which have a built-in
printhead and a large tank. (HP 45)

With the advent of Win 7, there is no driver for this printer, except a
half-assed generic driver from Microsoft. HP does not make drivers for this
printer for Win 7.

One might consider this a good reason for sticking with Win Xp. But, I am
seduced by the Aero eye-candy which I can not live without! What junk for
adolescents!

Is there a Win 7 capable printer on the market that uses external,
refillable printheads with large tanks and cheap refills??

Do you really need all the features in the 'true' HP drivers? The basic
Windows one may work just as well.

I think most HP's still use cartridges with built-in heads. Most
cartridges are much smaller, though. On the other hand, the quality will
probably be better, even with the most basic printer.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/


Just for accuracy, that half-assed printer driver you think MS made...
it was actually made by HP to provided to MS, who at best, tested it to
make sure it didn't break anything relating to the printing functions.

Are you one? If not, I guess it is also junk for people older or
younger than adolescents ;-)

The printer companies gave most of that out a while ago. Too easy to
lose the ink market to third parties. If anyone is still make such a
printer in the inkjet market it will probably be HP. Canon printers
pretty much all use user replaceable heads and separate ink cartridges.
The heads average about 18-24 months lifespan with average use.

What you might want to consider is buying a CIS (continuous inking
system) for a printer. They are mainly made for Canon and Epson
printers, and consist of a kit that allows you to use bulk ink bottles
connected to tubes that feed the heads. This allows you to use 3rd
party inks.

Epson heads are all permanent. I don't know if HP's can be fitted with
CIS or not, or who makes them. Most HP also have semi-permanent heads
now, but again , they are user replaceable.

The other option is some 3rd party ink companies make refillable
cartridges and maintenance chip resetters.

Art