A printing cartridge is releasably engageable with a printing device having a linear reader for reading a barcode and a central processor capable of interpreting data carried on a barcode. The printing cartridge includes a housing. Media and media colorant supply arrangements are positioned within the housing and contain a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively. Feed mechanisms are positioned in the housing for feeding the media and the media colorant to a printing mechanism. A barcode is depicted on the housing, the barcode being readable by the linear reader and defining a code representing data relating to the media and the media colorant.