Kodak’s new printers use ink that’s cheap cheap (like a birdie)

It’s a long-established truth that printer companies make their money on the ink refills, not on the printers themselves, just as razor companies make their money on blades, not the silly little metal handle you buy, and heroin dealers make—you get the idea.

Add to that the fact that ink is apparently one of the most expensive liquids that you can buy, having beaten out close contenders “human blood” and “penicillin” and you’ll be dancing with joy to hear that Kodak is going to start selling cheap ink. $10 for a black ink cartridge and $15 for a color ink cartridge? My god, it’s a revelation . The ink will also supposedly last for a hundred years, far longer than the fifteen or so that most current dyes get.

The catch? Well, the cartridges will supposedly only work with Kodak’s new printers: the EasyShare All-in-One models that include a printer, copier, and scanner. The three versions will retail for $149, $199, and $299 exclusively at Best Buy next month. Their hope is to appeal to consumers who have limited their printing output due to concerns about cost. Will it work? Well, if my HP LaserJet 2100 ever gives up the ghost, I’ll definitely give it some thought.

[via Ars Technica ]