Printer Recommendations

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

My 75 year old Canon that came with my Win95 Gateway in the last millenium is not as spry as it used to be.

Time for a new printer.

I don't need:
--photo printing
--much color printing, in general
--speed
--bells
--whistles

I do need:
--inexpensive
--good cartridge economy (in other words, cheap printer, expensive cartridges = bad economy)

My needs are so limited---set lists, labels, tab. Really light-duty stuff.

So, what are the current faves here in late '07?

This guy charges too much per page and he wears a funny hat.

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Jon;
All of the inkjet and laser printer manufacturers hope to make money by selling replacement cartridges/toner. That is why they keep producing less expensive printers each year. A well built printer may consume the same amount of ink as a cheaply built model, from the same company. Prices are dropping rapidly on laser printers, including color models, which have three color and one black toner cartridges.

Places like NewEgg and Tiger Direct often have buyer feedback on products they sell, including printers. If a printer gets good reviews from 50 or more buyers, I would take that as a positive vote. If another model gets panned, why waste your time on it?

Regarding inkjet cartridges, try to pick a printer that has high capacity black ink, if most of your work will be documents. Many printers now offer three individual color cartridges, which allows you to replace only the colors you use the most. My last Canon printer, a S-520 lasted several years and gave lots of time per cart.

Large capacity cartridges can bite you in the ass if you don't print often enough; by drying up at the nozzles. Sometimes they can be revived by q-tipping the nozzles with rubbing alcohol, or hot water, but no guarantees.

If you opt for a laser printer, a decent model will indicate the expected life span of the "drum unit," and the average pages you can print from a toner cartridge. Laser carts are much more expensive than any inkjet cart.

There are many online sources of aftermarket inkjet and laser toner cartridges, like the one I have used for several years, 123inkjets. These companies purchase cartridges that are manufactured to be the equivalent to the OEM models they replace and do a fine job.

Last, you can take your used cartridges to Walgreens or Office Depot and they will refill them for you, at a low cost. There is a limit of about three refills before horrible things start to occur with your cartridges. And, I don't believe they can refill laser toner, so you're stuck buying new, or re-manufactured toner.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

yeah, Wiz---I'm well aware of that loss-leader aspect of the industry. That was what I was referring to with the cheap printer, expensive cartridges = bad economy statement. I have dealt with the dried up nozzle problem with the same mixed results so I do worry about that issue. My needs are really as modest as I said. I'm just hoping that someone can tell me "*****" is a cheap no-frills printer that gets the job done and the cartridges won't kill you. It would be sweet if I could find something that fits the bill for $50 or less.

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Jon;
You should check the local ads for sales at big-box stores. With Xmas coming many computer peripherals will go on sale. You might could pick up a decent printer at a big discount; one that has not-too-expensive replacement cartridges, possibly even bundled with the purchase. Watch for a printer that usually sells for over $100 and is on sale for say $69.95.

Look for computer shows in your area. You may find some incredible bargains at such a show, but there is a lot of risk regarding warranties, from migrant vendors.

Regarding your desired price of $50.00; I wouldn't go there. If it is that cheap it is probably no good anyway, and may be a rebuilt printer.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog

Joe Harwell · From: "I've never been bad." ........ Many, LA

Hi Jon-

Sounds like a laser printer is what want.

I've used HP's mostly in heavy production use environment with no problems.

But lately, I've migrated a few Dell(made by Lexmark) into that heavy use to see how they would fare.

I'm very impressed with the quality, dependability, and exceptional cost savings of the Dells.

On the lower end of Dell is the 1720 Laser Printer at around 160.00 shipped 'til Dec. 13.
Standard capacity 3000 page replacement carts at around 70.00.
Mileage on carts always varies depending on the amount of page coverage.

I'm looking close at this one myself.

Good luck with your search-
_________________
Joe in LA

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak & the strong; because, someday in life you will have been all of these".

Richard Bass · From: Sabang Beach, Philippines

I picked up an inexpensive HP 1400 model at Walmart for 35 bucks, it comes with one cartridge and works very good. a replacement cart is around 15 bucks. Its small enough to take on vacation and economical enough to print a lot of docs. It works fine with just the one cartridge
Richard

Mitch Drumm · From: Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake

I recently bought a Brother HL 2040 laser printer and am very satisfied.

List $120, but frequently sold at big discounts by Staples and other vendors. I paid $57 after tax and delivery. Staples has a legit rebate policy that takes no more than a month.

Black and white only. The included toner has a capacity of 1500 pages. I think the replacement toner packages have a 2500 page capacity. It is smaller, quieter, and quicker than the HP inkjet it replaced. It prints probably 15 pages per minute. You can read many reviews of it at Newegg.com and elsewhere.

I effectively never need to print color and was tired of the inkjet cartridge bandwagon.

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

I also have the Brother HL 2040 laser printer, I got it over a year ago. There was a rebate, my cost was about 60.00. I'm still on the original toner cart. I've had no problems with it.

I don't print too much, and had constant problems with ink jet cartridges drying out, so this printer was a major improvement.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Look at Kodak. I have their 5100 all-in-one.

Actually I believe with 'recommends' from either Wiz or Jack Stoner. Check out archives.

The ink replacements are around $10-$13. They have a 5-color and black 2-system setup. ie - 2 cartridges.

But they dry up, as well.

I don't give a hoo-hoo about printing in color.

But as we all know - if the color cartridge runs out and you still have plenty of black left - UUNNNHHH!!!! - no black printing allowed. VERBOTEN!!

But, it's a pretty good printer, in spite of what we're disgusting here.

I hate printers. They are the quintissential RIP-OFFS.
_________________
Chip
Williams U-12 8X5; Keyless; Natural Blonde Laquer.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I've been using Epson for the last couple of years as they are the only ones on the market that will print directly on ink jet printable CD and DVD's. They have separate color ink cartridges for each color, thus you do not have to buy a new color cartridge when one color runs out. I've seen disc printing capable Epson's for under $100.

The Kodak's as mentioned tout the lower cost for cartridges. As the Kodak's are relatively new there isn't much reliability data on them yet.

I would avoid the Lexmark/Dell's (Dell's are made by Lexmark) as they are the lower cost units - but you get what you pay for with the lower cost units. Along with poor/marginal mechanics they have a history of many cartridge problems.

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

Thanks to all. With your input I'm narrowing this down. I'll either order or go out & buy something today or tomorrow, most likely.

Lou[NE] · From: Weston, NE USA

Dale Gray · From: Colorado, USA

Like my H P 8250 $80.00 at Staples, may be discontinued by now but carts are $9.99 most places and has high cap black and will black only when color runs out. Dale

3
_________________
GFI SD10.Vegas 400, Oblong pedal, Rocket Scientist.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Lou,

Of the 2 printers I've ever owned (an HP and now the Kodak) That 'print black check-off option' still didn't allow black printing (when the colors ran out).

I'll bet some printers allow that option, but I'll bet, too, they're out of my price range.

Forum Index > Computers		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: