Printer cartridges refer to the ink that is needed by a printer in order to print sheets of paper. It is often also referred to as toner or simply printer ink. There are a few things you need to know when setting out to buy printer cartridges to ensure you get the right one. This article acts as a quick cheat sheet of all the basics with regard to printer cartridges. Here you will find an explanation of the different types available as well as learning how to buy the right type for your printer.

First of all it is important to establish the differences between printer ink, cartridges and toner, because there is in fact a difference. Printer ink is self-explanatory - it is the substance needed to print. Ink cartridges refer to the container that the ink is held in. To keep things easy and free from spillage, printer ink is held in cartridges which can easily and simply be slotted into place in the printer. Toner also acts like ink but it is a different substance altogether. Toner is only used in laser printers. It is a type of powder rather than a liquid and is used by laser printers to create the actual printing. Although these terms all mean the same sort of thing, it is important to know the differences between them.

When you set out to buy a printer you will be presented with a few different choices. If you want to do a large amount of printing then a laser printer that uses toner will probably be the best choice. Not only is the printing of excellent quality but it prints very fast indeed. If the printer is for a large office where regularly printing is carried out, this may be the best choice. If you don’t do very much printing but just need a printer very occasionally then an ink printer will be more appropriate. These are cheaper than their laser rivals and the ink is much cheaper in particular. Although the printing quality may not be as high, there is very little in it, and to the untrained eye the printing quality looks fairly similar.

You will be surprised at the cheap value of printers found in the shops. They are kept cheap because the manufacturers are aiming to lock the consumer into a contract of sorts. Each printer requires a different type of ink cartridge or a different type of toner. These are not cheap and are how the printer companies make their money. If they keep their printers low then they have more chance of enticing you in and thus locking you in to years of purchasing their own brand of ink cartridge. When you buy a printer therefore you should base it entirely on the price of the cartridge as this is where the real money comes into play.

It is always better to buy your printers online because here not only can you compare prices easily but you have a large amount more on offer to you. Your local shop is likely to only stock one or two models and there will be a premium on them too. There are plenty of low prices and discounts available online so if you want to get the most for your money, shopping online is absolutely vital. If you already have a printer then you will need to match up the model number with the ink cartridge in order to make sure you select the right one. Buying online makes it much easier to ensure you get this right!

Buying printer cartridges can be a bit tricky for someone who is new to the idea of printers and printer ink. There are a few traps to look out for. If you want dell ink cartridges or in particular a dell a920 ink cartridge then you should always look online first.