Should I Buy That Cheap Inkjet Printer? - Comments Page 2

I run a little business (ISV) and about printing, we were so good on avoiding it, that 500 sheets lasted to us more than one year! If you want dramatically cut costs, just use a PDF printer and only print on paper, things you really need to print (e.g. invoices for fiscal report). After 3 years and using both a B/N laser and an ink-jet, we figured that the laser printer is the best money-saver, because the toner will not expiry so fast as the ink cartridges (yes! your ink cartridge will expiry and wears off even if you not using it!)

Received a *free* Dell inkjet printer with a dell computer I bought. Failed in 3 months right after buying some ink. I moved to a cheaper Epson(separate ink cartridges) all in one and haven't been disappointed in 2 years since.

Nice article Bob, well I have tried so many types of printers, but the best combination I found was a a mono laser and a colour inkjet. I use Samsung mono laser 58$ a toner and Epson T13 with CISS system.

I have found that if you have a device, such as a Fax machine, or portable printer to travel with, that only gets used several time a year, an Ink Jet printer is not the way to go. The ink cartridges tend to dry up. A laser printer can sit for months and print the 1st time when needed.

I did fin that soaking the Ink Jet cartridges in a half inch of warm water for 3 to 5 minutes would often revive the old cartridges for awhile.

I've hard various inkjets and the most common problem is not using them enough to keep the ink flowing. So far, my HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 is the most expensive I've owned, but also the most reliable. Previously I had Kodak (supposed to be cheapest to run, but had real ink problems) and Canon (head died, too costly to replace).

Forgot to mention, I also use a Brother laser, which is partly why the inkjet doesn't get much use. But I do need color now and then and prefer inkjet to laser for that purpose. Both laser and ink jet are wireless - a great addition to their features.

I purchased an Epson C62 for my daughter at college ~ 8 or 9 years ago.... she used it until graduation, but told me the printer quit. I picked it up on a visit and took it home to check it out. It had a pen stuck in the sheet feeder. I pulled out the pen and have been using it for over 5 years now. The cartridges for this unit cost ~ $2 each.

Thus, this printer has been a good investment as it is still going strong at ~ 10 years & I never use more than about 2-cartridges of each type each year.

Rule number one: Have all of your photo prints made at Walgreens, Wal-mart or wherever! They last longer, look better and for 9 or 10 cents each, the savings are HUGE. I've had a Canon MP-610 for several years now and am still re-filling the original cartridges with cheap ink without any issues. I've noted that the lower cost printers tend to have very small ink capacity cartridges and NOT a small price. As always, your mileage may vary.

I had a HP printer for years but it finally died. I needed a printer in a hurry and bought an el cheapo canon. Muche better software than the hp but the printing costs were horrendous. Small capacity cartridges that last for no amount of time and are around $40. Finally bit the bullet and bought a continuous ink supply. $110 dollars or $140 installed. Magic. Refill ink for them is around $16 per 100ml. It looks like lasting a year on the original setup.
This is of course in Australian dollars as I am in oz.
Do yourself a favour and get a continuous ink supply.

Regardless of the numbers you want to print, at home use the inkjet is a losing proposition. I had an Epson inkjet and it was not only costly but unreliable and cumbersome.
The home solution is a black and white HP laser printer using re-filled cartridges bought from reliable sources. Since than no printing headaches, no money waist.
Cheers,
Mike

It's true that cost of ink is more than a printer's cost but its a good idea to buying color separately instead of buy all-in-one cartridges.
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