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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

That Printer Ink Leaves A Nasty Nick

Compiled By Bill Sallquist

Ever wonder why computer printers are so cheap but the ink cartridges they use are so expensive?

One industry analyst calls it the “razor-and-blades strategy.” The idea is to sell the razors cheap and rake in big profits from the consumables - the blades - needed to keep the razor functional.

Printer manufacturers have simply borrowed a tactic used successfully by razor and cell phone companies, among others.

Knight Ridder

Second wind: The rapid pace of technological change has produced a steady stream of obsolete computers.

Some gather dust on shelves while others wind up in landfills. Still others are recycled for use by schools, kids or other nonprofit agencies that otherwise may do without.

Computer adoption has become a cottage industry of sorts, with lots of players and growing competition.

Dallas Morning News

Online Glance, compiled by Bill Sallquist, appears each Monday on the Business page.