Method for imaging with an imaging apparatus that facilitates the use of a starter cartridge

1. A method for imaging with an imaging apparatus, comprising the steps of:

designating a supply item for use in said imaging apparatus as one of a first cartridge type and a second cartridge type;

establishing for said imaging apparatus a first operational state and a second operational state, said first operational state corresponding to a first period of imaging apparatus use when said imaging apparatus is new, and said second operational state corresponding to a second period of imaging apparatus use following said first period of imaging apparatus use; and

determining whether said imaging apparatus is operating in said first operational state, said imaging apparatus accepting said first cartridge type for imaging only if said imaging apparatus is operating in said first operational state.

2. The method of claim 1 , said first operational state and said second operational state being delimited by an imaging apparatus usage threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 , said usage threshold relating to one of an ink drop count, an image count and a page count.

4. The method of claim 2 , said usage threshold being set such that said imaging apparatus remains in said first operational state so long as one of a monochrome ink drop count and a color ink drop count has not satisfied a usage threshold condition.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said imaging apparatus includes an ink jet print engine, and said supply item is a printhead cartridge.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said imaging apparatus includes an electrophotographic (EP) print engine, and said supply item is an EP cartridge.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first cartridge type is a starter cartridge.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second cartridge type is a normal cartridge.

9. A method for imaging with an imaging apparatus, comprising the steps of:

designating a supply item for use in said imaging apparatus as one of a starter cartridge and a normal cartridge;

establishing for said imaging apparatus a starter operational state and a normal operational state, said starter operational state corresponding to a first period of imaging apparatus use when said imaging apparatus is new, and said normal operational state corresponding to a second period of imaging apparatus use following said first period of imaging apparatus use; and

determining whether said imaging apparatus is operating in said starter operational state, said imaging apparatus accepting said starter cartridge for imaging only if said imaging apparatus is operating in said starter operational state.

10. The method of claim 9 , said starter operational state and said normal operational state being delimited by an imaging apparatus usage threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 , said usage threshold relating to one of an ink drop count, an image count and a page count.

12. The method of claim 10 , said usage threshold being set such that said imaging apparatus remains in said starter operational state so long as one of a monochrome ink drop count and a color ink drop count has not satisfied a usage threshold condition.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said imaging apparatus includes an ink jet print engine, and said supply item is a printhead cartridge.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein said imaging apparatus includes an electrophotographic (EP) print engine, and said supply item is an EP cartridge.

15. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

a print engine; and

a controller communicatively coupled to said print engine, said controller being configured to perform the steps of:

determining whether said imaging apparatus is operating in a first operational state or a second operational state, said first operational state corresponding to a first period of imaging apparatus use when said imaging apparatus is new, and said second operational state corresponding to a second period of imaging apparatus use following said first period of imaging apparatus use;

determining a type of imaging supply item loaded in said imaging apparatus; and

imaging with a first type of said imaging supply item only if said imaging apparatus is operating in said first operational state.

16. The imaging apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said first type of said imaging supply item is a starter cartridge.

17. The imaging apparatus of claim 15 , said first operational state and said second operational state being delimited by an imaging apparatus usage threshold.

18. The imaging apparatus of claim 17 , said usage threshold relating to one of an ink drop count, an image count and a page count.

19. The imaging apparatus of claim 17 , said usage threshold being set such that said imaging apparatus remains in said first operational state so long as one of a monochrome ink drop count and a color ink drop count has not satisfied a usage threshold condition.

20. An imaging system including an imaging apparatus, comprising:

a print engine; and

a controller communicatively coupled to said print engine, said controller being configured to perform the steps of:

determining whether said imaging apparatus is operating in a first operational state or a second operational state, said first operational state corresponding to a first period of imaging apparatus use when said imaging apparatus is new, and said second operational state corresponding to a second period of imaging apparatus use following said first period of imaging apparatus use;

determining a type of imaging supply item loaded in said imaging apparatus; and

imaging with a first type of said imaging supply item only if said imaging apparatus is operating in said first operational state.

21. The imaging system of claim 20 , wherein said first type of said imaging supply item is a starter cartridge.

22. The imaging system of claim 20 , said first operational state and said second operational state being delimited by an imaging apparatus usage threshold.

23. The imaging system of claim 22 , said usage threshold relating to one of an ink drop count, an image count and a page count.

24. The imaging system of claim 22 , said usage threshold being set such that said imaging apparatus remains in said first operational state so long as one of a monochrome ink drop count and a color ink drop count has not satisfied a usage threshold condition.

25. The imaging system of claim 20 , said controller being incorporated into at least one of a host and said imaging apparatus that contains said print engine.