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Topic: another printer question--desktop, that is
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| Author | Message |
| aspidistras | Posted – 1/7/2005 11:14:00 AM | show profile Need to buy an inkjet or laser. Don't want to spend too much and need a printer that will be reliable even if used infrequently. I had a Canon that never worked right, and the CSR at Canon implied it was because I didn't use it enough. (It still didn't work after I replaced the damn cartridges.) Hoping someone here can recommend one for this grouchy Luddite. TIA. |
| angeloy | Posted – 1/7/2005 11:37:46 AM | show profile That's a tough one. It seems that all of the basic, affordable home printers have the same problems re. infrequent use. The cartridges dry out. I've often thought one could earn a living with ''tech-thearpy'' - people pay you to smash desktop printers with a sledgehammer to vent their angst. I threw a print out of my street-level window once and it smashed on the sidewalk. It felt great. Anyway, the best thing to do in your situation is to simply use a photocopy shop. Depending on how infrequently you print, you'll spend less money that way. |
| Deadliner | Posted – 1/7/2005 5:38:56 PM | show profile Buy a cheap Epson printer (you can get one for $60 if you look around). I've had an EPSON 820 for three years and it cost me only $55. If something goes wrong, it's not like you're out $170. The print quality will be fine, even for some graphic work. Despite what most people think, you can keep an inkjet running for years. Here's some tips: * Never smoke around an inkjet. The smoke resin clogs the jets. * Use OEM ink, never third party. * Don't put it near a window or a heating duct where it will be exposed to rapid changes in temperature. * Clean the printing heads once a month, no matter how much or little you use it. |
| creatrix | Posted – 1/7/2005 5:56:54 PM | show profile Epson brand inkjets: very good. |
| VillageGal | Posted – 1/8/2005 11:23:33 AM | show profile I'm happy with my inexpensive HP inkjet. |
| kellylove | Posted – 1/8/2005 11:30:04 AM | show profile HP I also have a fairly inexpensive HP Deskjet 970 and haven't had any problems (had it for almost 2 years), even when using infrequently. I usually buy high quality (heavy weight, low gloss) paper when I'm printing clips from PDFs to send with queries & such - the paper really does make a difference and it looks more professional. I'm not a techie either and found the HP was really easy to install. ------ Kelly Love Johnson writer/editor www.microfamous.blogspot.com |
| ollie | Posted – 1/8/2005 10:59:01 PM | show profile Epson and HP are your best bets. DO NOT buy a lexmark, it's a complete waste of money, that brand puts too much ink on the paper...wastes ink, paper, and money. |
| AIC | Posted – 2/3/2005 6:22:45 PM | show profile Uhm, question. I just saw your posting, and I have been thinking about this: You have strong feelings about the printers, given your experience. I am thinking of getting an all-in-one, and I wanted to know not only how dependable different brands would be, but also how much it would cost to use them, not just their initial cost. Any _Consumer Reports_ rating or such? Thanks for your help. |
| Printingman | Posted – 2/3/2005 6:39:12 PM | show profile | email poster If you buy a Dell computer, don't buy a Dell printer. You can't run out to the local Staples and replace ink cartriges. You have to get them from Dell. It's a real pain especially since you ask them to be delivered overnight and they sometimes yes you to death and ship them ground. |
| JimmyG | Posted – 2/7/2005 10:46:30 AM | show profile I use both a laser printer, for fast and especially longer printouts, and an Epson all-in-one for color, photos, scans and especially copies. A decent laser--Brother or Samsung come to mind--costs under $100 these days. Laser ink carts can cost $60 or more, but they can last a year or more. I only recently bought a new Epson, replacing an older model for which the paper feeding mechanism went kaput. This is a CX4600, which is a very nice and compact machine, with built-in card-reader slots and such. Though it's a little slow with color prints, it cost me only about $55 after finding one on sale online and with two separate rebates. As for the cartridge issue, one of the keys with an Epson printer is to turn the thing off once in a while. The cartridges get recharged when the power is switched on. And always run a quick print test before printing anything color-crucial to see if the heads need cleaning. And one more thing. This is the third Epson color printer I've owned over a span of about six or seven years (the first one is still working with the kids' computer) and I have yet to encounter a problem using generic ink carts from ink4art, inkdaddy, etc. If you wait for an online coupon (check dealink.com for lowest online prices) you'll save as much on a batch of cartridges as you paid for the printer in the first place, versus buying OEM at your local Office Depot, which makes any potential risk well worth the savings. |
| Astera | Posted – 2/7/2005 12:10:19 PM | show profile If You're OK with B&W... I have an HP LaserJet 4L that I've had for 12 years (yes, that long!), and I've never had a problem with it. It's been moved up and down the state several times, as well as halfway across the country, and it just keeps printing. Also, I've only had to change the cartridge twice, even though I used it for many long research papers throughout my college career. I don't even know if HP makes this model anymore, but it prints quickly enough and the printouts are sharp. No color, but since I don't do any graphics work, I don't miss it. ------ adeventuresofastera.blogspot.com copyeditrix.blogspot.com |
| voxo | Posted – 2/7/2005 2:33:51 PM | show profile Samsung Someone mentioned this one - I had one, and it was fantastic. I eventually upgraded to a pricey HP for the color, but my friend who has the old Samsung says it is still operating fine. Personally I don't like inkjets - they cost too much to run. With that Samsung I think I was paying about $0.04 per page. For an inkjet it is MUCH more because of the number of times you'll replace the cartridge. |
| flyingblind | Posted – 2/7/2005 5:04:24 PM | show profile If you print a lot of text and/or don't need things in color, you might just consider a laser printer. They're pretty cheap now, far more cost-effective consumable-wise and faster printing. It'll pay for itself down the line--especially since cheap inkjet printers tend to have more expensive consumables (the company gets you one way or another). Plus, you don't have to worry about the heads getting clogged up. Avoid the ultra cheap $99 laser printers, though. They have very small toner cartridges and short lifespans. I actually went out and bought a used HP laserjet office printer. It's a networkable tank that uses cheap and easily found toner. |
| voxo | Posted – 2/7/2005 6:04:24 PM | show profile Meant to also say, best advice I have is read reviews of everything recommended to you on cnet.com. They have NEVER steered me wrong. |
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