Presently it is wise to contact the seller to be sure WHICH 564XL Black (not photo black) cartridge that he actually sells. The Amazon web pages for this product may show the wrong HP part number. I received the present replacement part in May 2011, a few months ago I got the earlier part.
This particular web page shows a picture of what is more likely the old 564XL Black ink cartridge - because the package seems to show "3X the pages" but has the data indicating the new 564XL Black ink cartridge part number - which package (the one I recently received) shows " NEW lower price, smaller size Up to 2X more pages".
The previous 564XL Black ink cartridge was thicker and as indicated on the package offered up to 3X the printing of the regular 564 Black ink cartridge. Its HP number was/is CB321WN#140 (option 140 on package). Cost about $30.
The replacement 564XL Black ink cartridge is now (one-half) about the thickness of the 564 color ink cartridges and indicates 2X the printing (550 pages) as the regular 564 Black ink cartridge. Its HP number is CN684WN#140 (option 140 on package). Cost about $22 - here and on the HP web site.
HP no longer indicates the actual amount of ink in the cartridges it sells nor apparently do the phone support people know. The HP part number is on the bottom of the package.
Ignoring any cost change contribution of cartridge parts such as plastic, electrical and packaging, you pay about 10 per cent more for the ink in the new replacement 564XL ink cartridge. Shipping cost differences affect the final cost and should be noted.
It is not uncommon for a business to increase the cost of a product in this way and remember that the cost increase may be simply because of the increased cost of production and materials.
I would have preferred HP to keep the larger cartridge and increase its cost - maybe future HP printers won't even allow larger cartridges, just one size, filled to different ink levels as already is done. If you dislike HP's action then write a letter to HP corporate - don't bother with the usual HP support - it's not a technical problem, it's a marketing-business decision. HP 564XL Black Ink Cartridge in Retail Packaging (CN684WN#140)
And more expensive per page. OK - costs go up, but suddenly making it half the size (it seems about half the size). Instead of 800 or so pages you now get around 550 or so pages. But we probably won't get even 400 pages with this new cartridge.
They should call it something different. This product gets 1 out of five stars on the HP website!'
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