Posted on 10/26/2015 11:52:08 AM PDT by ru4liberty
I have an ink hog Canon MG5220. Not only do I get dull colors and muddy resolution when I print, the cartridges don't last worth squat. I don't use that much color in my printing, yet it seems like I'm always running out of one color or another. The replacement package of ink tanks is about $60, so I have decided to look for a printer that doesn't drink the ink.
I would prefer to spend less than the cost 2 packages of replacement cartridges (>$120). I want color integrity so that what I'm seeing on my computer screen is what prints out.
What I print:
- Recipes for sharing that I usually format with a small graphic of the completed dish or a main ingredient
- Flyers that I occasionally develop for local businesses
- Calendar pages for friends' fridges with a pic of their pets or kids (about 2 or 3 each Christmas)
I don't or haven't printed pics as actual pics (something to be framed), but I would like to have that option in case I ever want to.
Can anyone recommend a good printer for me? If possible, I'd prefer not to order it, rather find one in-store that I can buy and bring home. I'm not locked into that; it's just a preference. What I really want is a reliable printer that doesn't gobble the ink.
About a month ago I was reading about a new line of printers from some major manufacturer. What was interesting is it totally reversed the cheap printer expensive ink crap.
They went for $400 but Ink is just a commodity product and it would hold a ton.
They are just being introduced, and if you print a lot could be worth looking at.
I just use BW laser printers now. I got out of the Ink Racket.
I have a Canon Printer and two HP printers. The Canon printer is kind of weird. I don’t know about the Brother printers. But my HP printers are easy, quick and reliable.
That's a good suggestion, providing such vendors are close by and you have a lot to copy. For every day house use for photos and text, I would recommend HP Laser.
Although my 4 year old HP Photosmart 8150 is still cranking them out...cartridges are the killer. Time to buy a laser.
Here it is. Epson...
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=1178407&gclid=CN3rjo_w4MgCFQaOaQodPxwAGg&is=REG&m=Y&Q=&A=details
Have you thought about HP Instant Ink?
https://instantink.hpconnected.com/us/en
This seems like a very affordable option for casual printers. If you want to do it, you need to buy a compatible printer.
Dump the inkjet and get a laser printer. Inkjet printers run out of one color of ink it seems like every month and are a rip off and real hassle. The laser printers last for years on the same cartridge! I do all of my flyers in black and white but on color paper. Brother is a good one to choose from.
I just checked Amazon and you are absolutely correct. I never thought to look for COMPATIBLE ink cartridges.
Thank You for the great tip.
That’s what is killing me. I don’t use the printer often enough to keep the ink cartridges from drying out between uses. It sucks. I’m considering going to the library when I need a printout and screw paying for ink I can’t use.
LOL!
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I’ve got the HP Envy 5660 all-in-one printer. It uses only two cartridges for full color; I’ve gotten good usage from the standard cartridges, and it starts printing pages with very little delay. It also scans and copies.
HPs are the best when new. Unfortunately HP driver support sucks and the printer will be without a working drive in 2-3 years.
I gave up on HP, I now have a Brother and it is so easy to use, even my 4yo grandchild knows how to use it for scanning his face and hands and for making copies of coloring book pages.
At least once a month it updates the drivers and just works solid.
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Stratitec-Inkjet-Refill-Premium/dp/B000IDBULM
No instructions. And some ink cartridges need the electronics reset. Sounds like a very inexpensive way to go, refilling your own cartridges.
Agredd. HP C4180 is a nice unit. I’ve had mine for many years. 10 at least.
You will find good laser printers for $50. Black ink only. I have one by HP and it is solid. But you will find ones by Samsung and Brother in the same price range. For a little bit more you can get it wireless....
But I always just get the non-wireless. The one you connect via USB. The black toner lasts a long time and I last bought a refilled toner for $14 on ebay shipping included.
YIKES!! now only $9 for toner cartridge http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PK-TONER-FOR-HP-CB435A-LASERJET-P1005-P1006-P1007-35A-/400989023793?hash=item5d5cceee31:g:s-EAAOSw9r1V-iPS
Samsung Wireless Monochrome Laser Printer (SL-M2020W/XAA)
from Samsung
724 customer reviews | 203 answered questions
Price: $51.48 & FREE Shipping. Details
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JCA4GQS?keywords=black%20laser%20printer&qid=1445891968&ref_=sr_1_5&sr=8-5
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on ebay replacement cartridges for this model go for $20////prints about 1000 pages
I have an HP Officejet 7310 All-in-one, that is over 10 years old and is going great. I do not print a lot so maybe that is the reason it has lasted. I hope I have not jinxed it and that is is going to die tomorrow.
Get a laser printer that uses a cartridge that provides both the drum and toner. Check in advance to make sure that refills are cheap.
For color photo printing, the Kodak is hard to beat. Mine did a great job, couldn’t tell the pictures from the ones I had printed at Walgreens, nobody yet has been able to pick which is which. Ink is the lest expensive of them all but color photos drink the stuff no matter what printer you use.
For everything else you listed, a color laser jet is the way to go, HP is probably the best in laser jets. I’ve had 4 or 5 HP B/W laser jets, all used. Toner cartridges usually get at least 3000 pages, often more, print quality is great, you can only tell it from print shop if you look under magnification. When I had a computer repair shop I did all my business cards and shop printing with a HP laser jet that was 10 years old when I bought it used.
Color laser jet does a very nice job, same almost print shop quality but I don’t think they make one that does good photo quality yet. In some cases you can get just the toner and refill the cartridges, our shop printer was that type, but it was $400 used. (refurbished, but done well)
Laser jet is also the most economical. When you figure the cost of ink for 5000 pages vs the cost of toner for the same, and the initial cost of the printer, it’s a no brainer. By the time you print 5000 pages with ink jets you’ve usually bought 2 or 3 printers at 100 bucks each plus a dozen ink cartridges at up to $60 each. (the Kodak was $32 last time I bought them, for both B/W and color)
Laser jet also does not run if you spill a glass of tea on it. The way it works, it passes the paper through a drum that prints an image on it using an electrical charge, the toner is the opposite charge and sticks to the image, then it passes through a 350ºF heater that melts the plastic polymer toner onto the paper. That’s why the paper is warm when it comes out. Permanent and excellent print quality, won’t run at all. I used to dip a business card in a glass of water to demonstrate it to customers. Try that with an ink jet...
For economical printing, especially for businesses, laser jet is the way to go. Print quality is unsurpassed, it looks exactly like a print shop did it until you look under magnification. Only then can you see tiny spots where bits of toner stuck to the paper away from the actual printing. I also did my resumes and those for customers on a laser jet. I can’t tell you how many people told me they were the best looking resumes they had ever seen. Customers called back and told me the same thing.
Stay away from HP.
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