Printer Advice

[seadog]

My printer has been acting like the fairer sex for well over a year - very unpredictable. Anyway, I've put up with it simply because I couldn't stand canning the ink cartridges. Today it finally ran dry so I'm now looking for a replacement printer.

First, since it took me a long time to use up the ink it's obvious I don't print much. Secondly, it's my understanding that printing your own quality photos is not as cost effective as out-sourcing to say Wal-mart. Unless I'm missing something here, I guess my real needs would mean a lower end product. I do have limited space so a printer with a small surface foot print would be better.

Any bargains out there that are worth taking a look at?

[ramirami]

Originally posted by seadog
Unless I'm missing something here, I guess my real needs would mean a lower end product.

just get the cheapest lexmark printer you find at wal-mart,target etc...should be around $35....when you run out of ink..throw the printer and buy a new one....

[Sunday Rider]

There are more environmentally friendly things to do than above, shame on you Ramirami.
But he is partly correct. I would go with a middle of the road HP printer. If you have kids and you show them how to make greeting cards, then you will use the printer more.
If you think you will still use it very little, then ask the sales person about the cheapest ink replacement, and match that to the printer. This may not always be best, because some of the cheapest inks don't go a long way either.
That brings you back to the mid price HP.

[RSeery]

Now's the time to go with an inexpensive laser printer. Tell the crooks selling the inkjet printers for cheap and the ink expensive what you think of them--with your MONEY.

Check techbargains.com. I see new laser printers there all the time for like $200.....

[iivtecracerii]

why is ink so expensive
i bet i spent more on ink than what i bought the printer for. refilling is much cheaper, but i seem to be getting poorer print quality. my color one (cyan mainly) doesnt like to be refilled - whatever i squeeze in, the same amount leaks back out the print head.

is there such a place where they will buy your old used ink cartridges? that might help offset the cost of ink

[ramirami]

Originally posted by Sunday Rider
There are more environmentally friendly things to do than above, shame on you Ramirami.

I do recycle my old printers (mostly sell them at work)

[seadog]

Originally posted by ramirami


I do recycle my old printers (mostly sell them at work)

You buying low and selling high? lol

[Sunday Rider]

Originally posted by ramirami


I do recycle my old printers (mostly sell them at work)

Okay you are off the hook, and you make some money to buy more Pilot accessories!

[RSeery]

i bet i spent more on ink than what i bought the printer for

The crooks are counting on that. They make much more on consumables. The price of ink carts is artificially inflated to cover the cost of the printers and make them more money. The have built technology into the printers and carts to make it difficult or impossible to successfully refill/reuse cartridges. They have sought to restrict the use of 3rd party carts. They may give you problems honoring a warantee if they determine you have used refilled carts. Deskjet printer ink costs more per fluid ounce than Dom Perignon. It is the biggest scam this side of OPEC.

[Pairallel]

Just 2 comments on the items mentioned in this thread:

1. You can get a nice HP laser for about $160 at Staples.com with the instant coupon or another internet coupon (do a Google search to find one). However, I don't know what the toner cost per page is....

2. Read the latest Consumer Reports...it covers printers and ink cartridges. You can get replacement ink cartridges at Staples for about 30% less than HP or Canon which are rated just as good. I think the Epson replacements were inferior though.

[tim.s]

If you go for another color inkjet, get one with separate ink cartridges. My Canon S800 uses 5 color cartridges plus black (two of the colors are only for photo prints).

If you happen to print alot more of one color, you only have to replace that cartridge instead of an "all in one" color cartridge.

[iivtecracerii]

ordered an office max remaufactured cartridge the other day. put it in today. printed self test page....the magenta is purple
im thinking i should demand that they give me an HP one instead of another OMX reman.

[FLPilot]

Just bought an Epson c64 myself at staples for like $60. I like it because it uses 3 separate colors cartridges and 1 black like tim.s has suggested with his printer.

[krygny]

They're all cheap, but I would stick with HP or Epson. Lexmarks are soooo cheap, most are given away in package deals.

Most printers are practically given away at little or no profit, anyway. Like video game consoles, they get you on the cartridges.

I don't see how you can keep a printer more than 4 or 5 years. Chances are, the ink cartridges will only be available for about 3 years after they stop manufacturing the line of printers. Even if the printer is working fine after 5 years, you won't be able to find ink. And ink has a limited shelf life, so don't bother to stock up if you don't do much printing.

Bottom line: Printers are designed to be extremely disposable.

[seadog]

Originally posted by FLPilot
Just bought an Epson c64 myself at staples for like $60. I like it because it uses 3 separate colors cartridges and 1 black like tim.s has suggested with his printer.

I was holding off on a decision pending your much anticipated post to this thread. But, no coupons or promo codes? What a let down!Did the Epson C64 come with a black ink cartridge and USB cable?

My menopaused printer is a HP 632C and it has an all black in addition to a tri-colored cartridge. For the type of printing I do, the tri was probably a waste of money.

About two months before I ran out of ink I did experience intermittent drying of the ink that was always resolved on the first page printed out. Is the toner used in laser printers also subject to drying or any other problems with limited usage?

Thanks for all the response.