A good printer would be?

[rauk]

I don't go through printers very often, but I would suggest that, for text and the odd pic, any modern printer would do the job. However, for long term economy, get one with separate ink cartridges - Epson and Canon are the most likely to have this lower down the range, but HP with separate cartridges might come in range. As you mainly do text, you will likely find 3rd party ink cartridges give very acceptable results - again Epson and Canon (from my UK experience) are the best supported on the replacement cartridges front with HP being rather more difficult. Modern all-in-ones are very capable in all departments and often about same price as your bog-standard single function printer. And, if you use a printer frequently, never turn it off as it wastes ink every time you turn it on as it recharges/cleans the heads. Where the balance is between leaving on and turning off to save energy or ink is something I can't tell you. To note HP recommend, from my experience, to leave any of their printers that have ink recirculation systems switched on - probably only higher end ones that have recirc', but read the model's literature 1st. Final 2 tips: 4-ink systems are absolutely fine for most things, more inks only being required if you are getting really picky about skin colours etc in photos .. and .. check out popular-range end-of-lines at your local retailer as it's a competitive market and new lines often bring only minor improvements and re-styling - yesterday's model is likely to be a real bargain while still being extremely capable. I personally wouldn't buy anything other than separate-cartridge models from Epson, Canon or HP (in no particular order) and have had, or bought for others, various models with no regrets.

 

[Tarka Dal]

I've had 2 HP units. Steer clear as the software is a nightmare...

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Unless you print thousands of pages a month, I'd get a cheap black and white laser printer. The least expensive brands are typically Samsung or Brother.

List prices are under $100, but they can often be found for $60 or less on sale or with a coupon.

I paid $58 for a Brother about 4 years ago and have had no issues at all. Completely painless installs on XP, Vista, and now Windows 7.

It's a good move to get off the inkjet cartridge game--I was paying $30 for HP cartridges at least once a year, even though I didn't print a lot. Apparently, inkjet cartridges have a certain shelf life if not used up.

The toner that comes with laser printers has a long shelf life--I read it's at least 5 years. I am still on my original toner after 4 years and have had no problems.

 

[rauk]

JTW says he prints occasional colour pics so B&W laser obviously won't meet the requirement. However, as a reference point, could anyone offer a rough order cost for B&W every-day laser printer toner cartridges together with average page output/life? I'd be most interested as have never considered laser versus ink-jet myself for home use having considered (perhaps wrongly) that lasers didn't really come into their own until talking about 10s to 100s, maybe 1000s prints per day. Also, any views on photo quality output from modern "affordable" colour lasers? Views on colour toner costs/output versus ink-jet would also be appreciated.

 

[profdlp]

...any views on photo quality output from modern "affordable" colour lasers? Views on colour toner costs/output versus ink-jet would also be appreciated.

Besides my old Brother HL-1440 I added a Brother HL-4040CN about eighteen months ago. It cost me $200 and is still on its original four cartridges. (Full disclosure, this is partly due to my knowing how to trick the printer into thinking the cartridge is still full, meaning that it prints to the bitter end and not when Brother decides it's time for a new one.)

Replacement cartridges run about $75 each and are rated at double the capacity of the ones included with the printer initially.

I am quite happy with the photo output of my color laser printer. Purists will tell you that an inkjet with a photo cartridge installed does a better job with subtle shades of color due to having six shades of ink available versus the three on my printer, but I can't see any difference. I do think the long-term quality of the pictures I've printed is much better on the laser, meaning I don't see the fading and dullness that my old inkjet photos seem to have as they get older. To be fair, eighteen months may not be long enough to really judge that. (I also will just print out a new copy if and when the old one starts to look a little shabby.)

The best advice I can offer as to cost is that you will likely save money over the long haul with a laser printer (there is a reason they are so popular in office environments, and it's not just due to speed), but your expenses will be spread out more with an inkjet. Put another way, you'll spend more up front for a color laser, have no expenses at all for thousands and thousands of pages, then cough up big again when your toner cartridges finally bite the dust. It seemed like I was spending another $15-$30 or so for a new inkjet cartridge practically ever other month. This is not so hard on the monthly budget but adds up to quite a bit of dough over time. I haven't spent a dime on printing costs (other than paper) for my laser - yet - but when I do it will be like buying a whole new printer, albeit with double the life expectancy due to the full-size replacement cartridges as opposed to the half-size cartridges most companies include with the printer.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Rauk:

I just checked.

I bought my Brother black and white laser printer for 54.91 in September 2007.

Total cost $54.91; total expense other than paper since then: zero.


I don't print much--maybe 500 pages in the 34 months I have owned it.

So figure 54.91 dollars divided by 500 pages. That is 11.0 cents per page and declining.

On a monthly basis: 54.91 divided by 34 is $1.62 per month and declining.

It has a "toner saver" mode, which I don't use--it would drive the cost per page even lower.

I'm still on the original toner. A replacement toner at New Egg is currently 50.98 shipped.


If I had stuck with the HP inkjet I had, I would likely have had to buy 2 sets of cartridges for it since due to shelf life issues. They were about $30 a pop.

If I recall correctly on the HP, if the color cartridge went bad or ran out, the printer would not continue to print in black and white--you had to have both cartridges in working order or it would not print at all.

No shelf life issues helps over the long haul.

I've heard of people simply buying a new lower priced laser printer on sale rather than buying a new toner.

New Egg is currently selling a Samsung black and white laser for 49.99, free shipping.

The laser has superior print quality to the HP inkjet. The ONLY advantage to the HP was the color capability--if I absolutely had to have a color print, I could go to Kinko's and have them do it. In reality, I have not even needed to do that.

 

[merkat106]

Something like this: Amazon.com: HP Photosmart C4680 All-in-one Printer (Q8418A#ABA): Electronics
Its under $100 and HP has gotten more efficient with inkjet usage.

I have a HP Photosmart and I am quite happy with it.

 

[WindowsStar]

Great printer for the price $109.99 plus it is networkable so you can share it between 2 or 3 computers.

The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

I know you said no color but for a $100 more you get color and a top notch printer. We have many of these and they are great. No issues they just print. We have upto 10 people connected to them and they work fine.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=1320cNW&s=bsd

 

[Reilly]

i love my Canon i250 works wonders

 

[mafhh]

HP laserjet if you are mainly printing text and black and white pictures.
HP Color Laserjet if you print mainly text and simple color pictures.
Canon or Epson Inkjet if you plan on printing photo quality pictures.

I have all of the above and use them the way I described above.
HP Color Laserjet 4500DN
Pros: sharp text
Cons: $500 for a full Toner Set

HP P1006 mono Laserjet
Pros: fast and sharp text
Cons: no color

Epson 1280 Wide Format Inkjet
Pros: high detail color photos
Cons: wastes ink if you don't use it often due to cleaning the print heads.

Kodak 8500 Dye Sublimation Printer
Pros: Photo quality prints that is water proof
Cons: this model only has Windows XP printing support

And Hp Laser jet (black & white) prints photoes with enough detail?
Plus, does it not waste or use too much ink?
and finally, how much ink does the color HP Laser jet use and does it have to be used frequently.

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[rauk]

A good printer would be? (B&W photo)

I never did say thanks for comments re laser B&W photo quality - sorry.

Stayed with inkjet option - I'm not unhappy. Keeping it powered on continuously helps keeps ink costs down. Thanks though.

 

[acurasd]

I would recommend the Brother HL-2170W

That printer is a Beauty....

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-2170W-Printer-Wireless-Interfaces/dp/B0010Z3LGO

It is not that expensive....

I bought mines for 65 dollars.. If you get lucky with deals from Staples or Officemax.

*Warning*
Steer clear of the HP Photo smart Premium c309a

That Printer and the software are both nightmares!