Computer chips are used in almost anything electronically powered, ranging from handheld devices to kitchen appliances and everything in between. But the global pandemic has caused a significant shortage, and the automotive industry has been hit especially hard.
The semiconductor industry had already been somewhat wobbly before the pandemic. But as working-from-home started to gain traction, more remote workers required better equipment. This created an initial run for tech and gadgets, and manufacturers couldn’t keep up.
The shortage has rippled around the globe, and it might be with us for a while. Read on to find out how the scarcity of semiconductors is affecting printer cartridges.
Depending on the type of printer you have, the manufacturer might have put some anti-piracy steps in place. Printer ink is notoriously expensive.
In most cases, a physical printer is seen as a one-time purchase and is often sold at low costs. Ink cartridges are a significant expense and need to be replaced regularly. To prevent unauthorized or third-party (and more affordable) cartridges from being used, makers insert special chips so printers can detect authenticity.
If the chip isn’t present or gives off the wrong information, the printer will refuse to accept the cartridge. This will often lead to the printer not working, and you won’t be able to scan a document.
But the chip shortage has derailed those prevention methods, causing manufacturers like Canon to concede. Canon has been forced to sell cartridges without the authentication chips for certain models in some regions, creating a different headache for users.
The models that can accept chip-free cartridges are:
Not long before my mother passed away, she needed medical tests in another state. She asked me to carry her COVID-19 vaccination card and said, “Be sure to put the card in a safe place where we can find it quickly.” There’s a much better way to have proof of that fragile card.
🖊️ Ever write checks? Use a pen (4-pack for $10) with specially formulated ink that gets trapped in paper, helping to prevent criminal check washing and other document alteration.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Do you prefer Times New Roman, Arial, or even Comic Sans? Here’s a surprise: The font you choose could actually affect your wallet.
Let the ink flow: HP’s recent firmware updates block cheaper non-HP ink. HP says it’s for security and to stop counterfeits. Yeah, sure. The folks suing say they were bait-and-switched, and they want repayment for their now-useless off-brand cartridges — plus, a ban on restrictive printer software. I hope they win.
Technology is truly amazing — when it works. But for whatever reason, sometimes things don’t go as expected. Scratching your head over missing settings or weird behavior can be incredibly frustrating until a solution is found. Tap or click here for details on two major problems with Apple’s iOS 15.
Leave your printer on: Turning off your printer can trigger maintenance tasks when you turn it back on, which sucks up expensive ink. Instead, let your printer go into energy-saving mode when it’s not in use.
🖨️ Printer secret: Most printers have a “draft mode” that uses lots less ink when you don’t need anything fancy. (Some call it “economy mode” or “fast mode.”) To try it, open a document or file, hit Print, then go to Properties or Preferences and look for Draft mode.
The award for “Best Font for Saving Printer Ink” goes to … Times New Roman! When it comes to ink, you’ll get almost 30% more pages printed with it over Arial. The smaller, the better; use a font size of 10 points or lower if you can read it.
🖨️ Streaky pages? You’re getting that “Low ink” warning. Before you swap the cartridge, shake it. Really! Remove the cartridge and shake it. This trick helps you use those last drops of ink.
Out of black ink? Before you print, change the color to #010101. It’ll look black, but it’s really 99% gray. While you’re at it, knock down the font size and switch the typeface to Courier New or Garamond. They use the least ink.
Printer pro tip: If you run out of black ink right before you need to print a doc, don’t panic — just change the font color to dark gray or blue. You probably won’t even be able to tell! OK, now order some ink.
