We have one of those Epsons All-in One and if you run out of color then you can't print in black. If you never use color and you just want to default to black you can't do this. Epson says that you are always using some color so that it never dries out even though you may never use color.

Bad use of earth's resources. We will get rid of this printer by the way. What is this technology called where you can't use black if the color is out? Or is there such a name?

Also we want to find a reliable printer and don't want to go with Epson or HP. Is there anyone that knows the better printer to buy just for black ink?

Or fax and black ink?

Or all in one with fax that does not have this resource-hog technology?

What about Canon, Brother or Lexmark?