Ask Adrian: My generic printer ink no longer works – will I have to buy ridiculously priced official cartridges?
I have a basic HP printer I bought some years ago and I only change the ink about once every two years. Recently, the generic ink I was buying stopped working properly and the printouts are now faded. But the official ink seems extortionate. Is there any other option?
— Alan Walsh
Answer
It's a well-worn reality of the consumer printer industry that ink often costs more than the printer itself; an entry-level, wifi-connected HP or Canon printer costs from €50, but a replacement cartridge of ink can cost €75 or more.
In general, generic ink companies claim to work but my experience is that it's hit and miss. Sometimes printer companies will install firmware updates that can try to add extra measures against third-party inks, while a lack of the original manufacturer's sensors on the cartridges themselves usually trigger warnings.
Because printers and printer ink are no longer regarded as core technology for anyone, there isn't the kind of EU competition investigation into this practice that similar restrictions might trigger in the digital space.
Question
We are thinking of switching from smartphones to 'dumb' phones. The main concern is WhatsApp. As a family, we recognise that too much time is spent scrolling and time for studying is being affected. The solution has been to leave the phone at home but then there is no way of contacting each other for lifts. Do you have any recommendations for suitable phones?
— Name with editor
Answer
Some of Nokia's button phones (the Nokia 800 Tough, for example) come pre-loaded with basic versions of WhatsApp and Facebook, but no TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram or YouTube, which can be the main drains on your time.
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