I've been buying HP printers and new HP ink for 20 years and have found them reliable and high quality (and I've purchased Lexmark Brother and Cannon printers/ink in the past). I write in gray marker the date of each color's installation and have been averaging around 3-4 months between replacements on each color including the large black cartridge. If you ever have a problem HP has very thorough diagnostics on their website that will help you with cleaning your ink jets re-aligning them and or replacing internal ink jets.
I have had a couple of HP Printers during my many years of having my own Private Practice. This HP Ink Combo pack is so Awesome! When I put the new ink cartridges in I feel like they last forever. In the past I felt like I had to change other brands of ink cartridges so often but these after you put them in you won't be bothered by having to purchase new ones for a really long time. Sometimes it's been so long I forget what number "950" it is that I use. And the quality of color it provides is in a league of its own! And bring back your empty ink cartridges and you earn money back. This is a Win ~ Win Purchase!
Finally HP has put together an ink package that includes both a high capasity black cartridge and the colors needed. The combo pack should be priced lower but Staples ink rewards and ink discounts brought this combo package down to a more reasonable price.Because I had a coupon for 20% off I could NOT use my special Staples Ink discount card which when I purchased it I was told I could use it every single time regardless of how many coupons I had. Disappointed but still this cartridge pacage makes the trip to Staples easy and fast