# Troubles With My Computer Printer. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 5, 2020, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troubles-with-my-computer-printer/855093 "2020-06-05T11:04:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troubles-with-my-computer-printer/855093/1 "2020-06-05T11:04:27Z")
I have to tell you first off, my computer printer is rather old. Like 5 or 10 years. And it is showing expected signs of age. That having been said, my computer seems to use up ink too quickly. And it has always been that way. Even when I first put in the new cartridges, and make only a couple copies (maybe 5-10), it says I am already a third of the way down with the ink. The only thing I can think of, is am I using the wrong paper? I know that the paper often curves a little, like it has too much ink on it. Could that be it? Thank you in advance for your helpful replies:). :):):):):):)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troubles-with-my-computer-printer/855093/2 "2020-06-05T13:38:19Z")
I probably can’t answer your question, but unless you furnish information about the printer, make & model, as well as the cartridge information, I don’t think anyone else will be able to do so either. Are you using paper suitable for ink jets? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troubles-with-my-computer-printer/855093/3 "2020-06-05T17:09:49Z")
My first guess is the printer is set in “Best” mode, or something is causing it to blow a lot of ink out to “clean” itself. If you can handle the upfront cost, get a laser printer. I get a year and a half or two on a set of toner with mine, and it never clogs or needs to waste ink with “cleaning.” ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troubles-with-my-computer-printer/855093/4 "2020-06-05T18:22:39Z")
What kind of data are you trying to print? If you are sending an all-black image to the printer, I’d expect 10 solid-coverage pages to be the best you are going to get. A typical business letter is about 5% coverage, so you can expect better mileage. I agree with **gotpasswords.** For ordinary office printing, laser printers are a much better deal, for many reasons. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troubles-with-my-computer-printer/855093/5 "2020-06-06T00:11:06Z")
I’ve been in IT for more than 25 years, and I can competently say that the ink jet printer is the invention of the devil. They are nothing more than a money grub and hole. A decent laser printer is always much more economical and easier to maintain than an ink jet. So I agree with the posters before: get a laser printer. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troubles-with-my-computer-printer/855093/6 "2020-06-06T09:33:50Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I probably can’t answer your question, but unless you furnish information about the printer, make & model, as well as the cartridge information, I don’t think anyone else will be able to do so either. > > Are you using paper suitable for ink jets? Sorry about the late reply. My printer is an inkjet I think. IAE it takes _hp 60 Black and 60 Tri-color_. I may go on my PC tonight, at which point I will get more information about my printer make and model. Thank you for your patience in the meantime:). ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troubles-with-my-computer-printer/855093/7 "2020-06-06T17:56:19Z")
FROM MY PC: _HP Deskjet F4400_. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/troubles-with-my-computer-printer/855093/8 "2020-06-07T01:56:56Z")
Also the printer leaves a ghost image on letters when I print a Wordpad document. It actually looks kind of stylish, like it is supposed to be there. Could it be on the wrong setting? 🙂