jflan

Welcome to TSF !

It sounds like your black printhead is clogged.
With most HP's the printhead is part of the ink tank, there are no needles, BTW.

The HP principle is that you get a new printhead every time you change ink tanks.
A good idea, but it makes buying HP ink expensive, because you're paying for a printhead, too.
So to get around that, people buy refilled or generic ink for their HP.
Generic ink is more prone to clog the printhead because quality will vary.
Some generic ink is very good, however.

Whether you're using genuine or generic and the cartridge is new, I would exchange it for another. A new cart should not be "lining" like that.

I have been around a company Photosmart 7260 and will share my opinion of that class of printer.

1. It was the wrong printer for our application because we needed a fast text printer and it was dreadfully slow.
2. It required #56, #57, #58 ink carts and it was $50.00 a whack for ink !!
3. Photo printing was OK but very slow.

If I owned your printer I would see if I could get it running properly and sell it.
You'll be much happier with a fast text printer.
Maybe your community has a craigslist free classifieds chapter ?

I like Canons and for a reasonably priced high performance machine, I would look at the current Editor's Choice on everybody's list, the IP4300
It's one of the few that excels at everything.

From PC World March 2007 :
"The Pixma IP4300 has it all : speed, impressive output quality for text, graphics and photos ; and a very appealing price."

We have three of its predecessors IP1500, IP3000, IP5000 and they're all Hall of Famers. Outstanding machines.
Canons are very stingy on ink consumption and because you are not buying a printhead each time, ink is cheaper.