On Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:15:15 +0100, David Hearn
wrote:

Hmm - Interestingly non Epson cartridges in my recently
purchased Epson R220 still show the ink levels...

That's because the Epson chip system was easy to crack, as I
understand it.

Al D

Originally the chip system was there to stop people from using 3rd party
cartridges and refilling OEM cartridges. In 2002 the EU said this was
to be made illegal from 2006.

So, now whilst you can refill your cartridges without having the
cartridge refuse to work (or have to be reset) - they just disable the
ink level check and other functionality that the chips now provide.
This is following the letter of the law, but not the spirit.

I wasn't aware of the EU ruling. That's good news. All we need now is
a way to resotore the ink-level monitoring. Hence my suggestion for a
makeshift ink-level-monitoring ghizmo.

Al D