It has always been difficult to compare printer cartridge
suppliers. They all used different methods of testing their
cartridges, and the specifications from one couldn't be
compared with another.

This has changed in the last couple of years, however. In
mid-2004 most of the top ink suppliers started to work under
the International Standards Organization' s requirements for
testing monochrome inkjet cartridges.

The ISO is recognized for developing standards for many
different industries to offer a standardized, unbiased way of
comparing or rating products.

With the ISO standards for printer cartridges, it give the
consumer a reliable way of comparing brands and manufacturers
of ink. The reported yield from their cartridges are all
determined using the same methods, so the numbers are directly
comparable.

The following are the things that are specified in the ISO
standard:

- The test prints must use the printer's default settings
- The tests are performed under strict temperature controls
- Both the cartridges and the printers used for testing must be
available to the average consumer
- 9 of each cartridge must be tested for statistical validity
- 3 cartridges must be tested on 3 different printers to
eliminate a single printer causing the numbers to be skewed

Aside from raw numbers, you should also consider some other
things when deciding on your ink supplier. These things include
delivery, reliability, and general quality. It won't matter if a
supplier has the best price if they can't get your cartridge to
you on time or it's hit or miss whether it will work properly.

If you do a fair bit of printing, you can also keep your own
notes about different suppliers to see which ones last the
longest and are the most cost efficient. It never hurts to have
more than one supplier you can deal with, in case they are ever
out of stock of your particular cartridge model.

About The Author: Frank Bolsom reviews printer cartridge
suppliers for the Inketeria website. For more helpful tips and
advice for saving money on your printer ink, visit
http://www.inketeri a.com