Canon printer cartridges may be a good investment for consumers, as the manufacturer has been identified as the most appreciated on the internet.

In its study of social media websites and its own, amplicate.com found that of the millions of virtual opinions of printers expressed online, Canon was the most favoured brand.

Canon was the most 'liked' in a list of ten printer manufacturers that were mentioned on Twitter and Facebook most frequently.

The firm has one of the highest levels of appreciation for its printing products in all categories measured online, with almost 98 per cent of its reviews being positive.

Writing on techknowbits.com, Malvika Sampat suggested one reason for the brand's popularity is that its printers are both durable and reliable and "hence trusted the most".

Another manufacturer that featured in the list was Hewlett Packard, which ranked third with 52 per cent positive reviews. Xerox took sixth place with 27 per cent.