At (new printer) wits end!

[markg2]

HP 990 died after years of consistent dependability.

Do not want nor need a multi, just a plain ole single purpose inkjet PRINTER. Sounds simple right? Couldn't be further from reality.

After beaucoup research, regardless of what 'reviewers' say about any current single function inkjets, consumer's opinions are uniformly bad-->mediocre.

I settled on the HP 6940 despite users complaint of (virtual) jams. The thing works great, when it's not jammed (with no actual jam)!

I've got ~10 days remaining on my Amazon 30 return and have got to get a replacement.

Someone has to have found a reasonably priced, dependable, single function inkjet printer with decent resolution, doesn't 'eat' print cartridges, accepts legal and letter from the same tray and doesn't cost >$300!

?

 

[Maguscreed]

I also have a hp printer that jams non-stop. I finally ditched it, it had actually gotten to the point where it was easier to go to my friend down the street and print stuff.

Had my brother in law who actually repairs printers for a living look at it, and he couldn't find a single thing wrong, yet the thing constantly states the paper is jammed.... somehow the paper manages to get jammed WHEN THERE IS NO PAPER IN IT!!!!

neighbor has a cheap canon and it works great, that's going to be my replacement purchase.

 

[markg2]

You get a model on that Cannon let me know. The other problem is getting a printer model late in the cycle--you risk the ink cartridges being phased.

 

[Maguscreed]

he's out partying or something right now, but just basing it on the looks and features I think it's this one
Newegg.com - Canon PIXMA MG5220 w/pp-201 11.0 ipm 9600 x 2400 dpi Wireless InkJet MFC / All-In-One Color Printer

While it is still multifunction (which isn't exactly what you asked for) they charge pretty much the same money whether you get the all in one or just a basic printer now, so you might as well get the scanner / copy.

Anyhow if you just look around on sites like that where users review what they've bought, you'll find HP to not have the greatest rep with printers overall.

 

[markg2]

I checked the thing out at Newegg and Amazon and can't find 2 important criteria that you might know.

1. When they say 'wireless' does that mean you cannot connect the device with an Ethernet USB hardwire?

2. I've had bad experiences previously with a Cannon and it's paper handling. It had a tray that only would take letter size and if you wanted to print legal size the printer dealt with it in a ridiculously circuitous, odd and unnecessarily time consuming way.

Do you have any knowledge on these two concerns?

Btw, the gripe that I have with the muti's is that they tend to be slow printers and expensive owing to the additional feature set + (for me) unnecessary LED 'bells and whistles.'

Mark

 

[Maguscreed]

Ports USB Ports Yes
Other PortsPictBridge (Cable not included),
Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) Connectivity TechnologyWireless

Yes, in fact I wouldn't use the wireless feature unless you have too.
this model is actually a top feeder it doesn't work from a tray.
It uses this simple principle called gravity to move the paper into the print area, instead of trying to pick it up from a flat surface, it actually makes a lot of sense if you take a second to think about it.

 

[Britton30]

Newegg.com - Canon PIXMA MG8120 4504B002 ESAT Approx. 12.5 ipm 9600 x 2400 dpi Wireless InkJet MFC / All-In-One Color Printer Is a nice one too, with ethernet connectivity, but no legal size handling.
Some Pixma reviews... PC World

 

[Maguscreed]

Yeah, I'm aware of that model as well, but it's 100 bucks more on the price tag.

 

[Zepher]

You get a model on that Cannon let me know. The other problem is getting a printer model late in the cycle--you risk the ink cartridges being phased.

Well, maybe go with an Epson then. I can still order ink from Epson for my 10 year old Epson 1280 printer.
Here is a review from 10 years ago.

 

[DalekOverSeer]

i have a cannon mp490 and i just love it. the software was a breeze to setup. seems a lot of the stand alone printers right now are more than the all-in-ones.

zepher is right epson still makes great printers.

 

[markg2]

Just ordered the Canon Pixma MX882 Wireless Office All-in-One Printer on Amazon. Very good user reviews. A bit more $ than I was looking to spend but considering we kept the 990 for ~8 years this hopefully will be a good investment. I'll be returning the HP to Amazon after the Cannon arrives.

Thanks--

Mark

 

[DalekOverSeer]

Just ordered the Canon Pixma MX882 Wireless Office All-in-One Printer on Amazon. Very good user reviews. A bit more $ than I was looking to spend but considering we kept the 990 for ~8 years this hopefully will be a good investment. I'll be returning the HP to Amazon after the Cannon arrives.

Thanks--

Mark

i think you will be happy. i have never had a cannon product disappoint me yet, and the plus side for me on the mp490 was between a store coupon, a special coupon from cannon, and it already being on sale i got mine for 35 dollars.

 

[markg2]

My wife, it turns out, is less thrilled. She has a PIXMA at her office that's a dedicated printer (don't know the model or how hold the thing is). I do know it's lower end since you have to do something screwy to print legal.

Her complaint is that the thing eats print cartridges. More problematic to her are the number of different color cartridges vs. HP's 2. When a color goes low she buys the cartridges in a pack and ends up with a lot of wasted $ with extra color cartridges she seldom needs.

?

 

[Zepher]

My wife, it turns out, is less thrilled. She has a PIXMA at her office that's a dedicated printer (don't know the model or how hold the thing is). I do know it's lower end since you have to do something screwy to print legal.

Her complaint is that the thing eats print cartridges. More problematic to her are the number of different color cartridges vs. HP's 2. When a color goes low she buys the cartridges in a pack and ends up with a lot of wasted $ with extra color cartridges she seldom needs.

?

Don't buy the multi-packs all the time. Just purchase the colors that are low.
Probablythe reason they went to single carts vs the multi-carts were complaints from people having to change a complete multi-color cart when only 1 color was used up.

 

[markg2]

See I'm used to getting nailed by HP on the cartridge cost and always buy from Costco. I'm assuming that Costco (or Sam's), while selling bulk, would be packaging the cartridges as multi?

Wondering if Costco refills Cannon as they do HP?

Guess I'll find out soon enough-

 

[DeaconFrost]

I have a Kodak 7250 all in one, including network connectivity, and it was around $100. The ink is cheap, and the quality is just as good as all the HP's I've had in the past decade.

I should add, that I never mess with refills, but I don't need to even consider it now, as the Kodak inks are cheaper.

 

[markg2]

Unfortunately, considering the financial condition of Kodak, I wouldn't invest in one of their products at this time.

 

[DeaconFrost]

They're products aren't going anywhere anytime soon. They've been selling their recent line of printers at a very high rate.

 

[Heyyou]

I have been using a canon iP6600D for about 4 years and it's great. It has 6 ink cartridges that produce great photos. I made sure it does duplex printing and I paid $200 for it. You'll have to choose a current model of course, but I'm sure you can pick one from the web site, and then look at reviews and check it out at the store. My Son got a nice Canon for $90.