Is This the Most Economical Printer? - Comments Page 1

HP LaserJet 4(+,m,etc) with JetDirect. I have a couple of them that I picked up for around $20 over the years. I got one with a dozen cartridges for free from a business that upgraded. I just parke it next to the wireless router and turn it on when I need to print. They have an auto power saving mode if you prefer to leave it on on all the time, but I think it still sucks up 20-40watts. Pretty easy to knock a hole in cartridge and fill it yourself on the cheap.

Finally. I like it. Now to find an Epson printer that is just a printer. I do not want a printer/scanner/fax/etc./etc. all in one(and have software conflicts with my "real" scanner).

Laser all the way, for the reasons you stated. I print infrequently, and I don't have to worry about ink drying out. You can find color lasers pretty cheap these days, certainly cheaper than this new Epson.

As far as photos are concerned, I rarely print those, and it's easier and cheaper to just use an online service or send them to the local drugstore.

I've always bought laser printers and have never understood why people get suckered into the low cost but high price of inkjets. I had an HP colour laser for ten years before the original toner needed replacing, then instead of buying consumables bought two considerably smaller Samsung lasers, one colour the other B&W. Four years later I've finally bought some more toner for the B&W model, and the colour printer is still going strong where I only use it when colour is needed.

I have an HP-4 laser printer I purchased in 1992. It's still working even with my heavy real estate office usage. I have found some of the refilled toner cartridges give streaking or smearing problems but the better quality ones seem to work fine. Printing costs ran between 3-4 cents per page when I checked in 1994. They are lower than that today with the printer depreciated down to $0 and refilled cartridges. Laser printing looks like the best deal to me.

I have been using Laser printer for the same reason you have just listed. I have purchase some HP Laserjet 6P that does all of my none color printing. It also does a good job on pictures in black & white. I am glad I am not the only one that feels that way about ink jet printers. Have a HP 8500 that I wish I had not purchase and got a laser instead. Thanks Bob

I had an Epson and had nothing but trouble with it, so I finally dumped it. Instead I got a Brother and I love it. It is a laser printer, but only prints in black & white. I don't need a color one. Don't care for those all-in-one printers. I understand that HP came out with one again that is a inkjet printer like they had years ago. It just prints things, nothing else.

I have (for years) used Canon 6 ink photo printers with tanks and gave it up due to print head issues caused by dried ink in head ( usually fixable) and head damage from a jam-up (not fixable). I quit because Canon started to mount the head in the printer and only offered to return/sell a refurbished printer. If the head is not drop-in replaceable, I would stay away from it.

I tried a color laser printer ~ 7 years ago
problem is when it prints there is a toner smell
that needs to be vented outside but difficult to do in winter. Additionally I had repair problems within a yr. Quality is better than inkjet except for photos.

Hello Mr. Rankin,

I've been using a similar printer from Brother for about two years. Its probably been one of the best investments we've ever made. As a church we make hundreds of copies per month, so over the course of this time we've saved hundreds! It is a little messy to refill, but my wife used her turkey baster giant needle. She fills it with ink and just squirts in the ink into the cartridge. The nozzles does need cleaning regularly like you mentioned in the article.

Yes I have three laser printers and one ink-jet. The drying up of the print heads is a definite problem. So I only use that for scanning (it's an all-in-one). Like a couple of the posters, I had, until 2007, a 4L that gave exceptional service. It finally died and I got a HP 2022 and then out of a closed business, got a HP 2018, and have a Brother all in one MFC 7420, the HPs use 12A carts that are not too expensive, I use a local refiller service to save money on them when they actually do run out of toner, and save about $30 per cart off new prices at the local office big box store. I do not understand why people who need to print occasionally would even consider an inkjet, given the records of the laser printers. I had a Brother printer given me off another business that closed, and I gave it to my daughter who uses it probably 2 or 3 times per year and it works every time - toner doesn't dry. I can't see the use of the Epson technology at all!

Bob,
We print all our greeting cards that we mail. That requires the best looking color images possible. so we use an HP Officejet Pro 8000 inkjet printer.

However, I'm surprised you didn't mention Continuous Ink Supply Systems (CISS). They turn any printer into an "EcoTank" printer. I've been using them for years. Its simple to add ink by injecting the ink into the expandable bladders that never let air touch the ink.
Stu

After going through a few glitchy HP inkjet AIO machines, I threw up my hands in disgust and bought a Samsung B&W Laser AIO.

Three years later, it's still printing perfectly. Those HP machines never even went trouble-free for 3 weeks!

I have nothing good or bad to say about Epson, but for me the laser technology beats ink-jet anyday of week.

Disclaimer: I have very little need for color, so B&W suits my needs perfectly.

I have always been a laser printer fan (at least once dot matrix printers became obsolete)I have tried various ink jet printers over the years but I found that even the black cartridges would dry up despite my rather heavy use of the printers in my office. I am currently using an HP 4240 laser printer which I got for free from another accountant who upgraded their printing capabilities. I also have but do not use an HP Laser Jet 4 which I keep in reserve should the 4240 ever stop working. If I need color printing I use Staples or Office Depot or FedEx Office. Several years ago I was given a brand new Cannon Color laser all in one printer. It was a beast, used very expensive toner that was not available from any re-fillers at that time. It did an OK job of printing color and was good at printing black and white but the machine was a monster in size and made all sorts of noise even when not being used. It also drew a lot of electricity. I got rid of it as soon as I got the HP 4240. One toner cartridge lasts me anywhere from 1 to 2 years and costs less than $50.00

The Epson Workforce WF 3520 is the Fastest most economical all in 1 Printer, Copier, Scanner and Faxes in B/W color and is WiFi Capable. A set of 4 individual ink tanks cost about $10.00 if you don't buy Epson Or Lexmark S405 twin of the Workforce. They both cost less than $100.00. For Standard printing I use several Canon iP7220 2 BK and 3 Color tanks also available for around 2 sets for $10.00. I had HP copier, never worked and Brother never worked.

Last year, I bought a Pantum wireless laser printer from NewEgg. They run about $30 on sale, or $40 regularly - since I've had it for only about a year-and-a-half, I can't speak to its long-term reliability, but so far, it's been great. Replacement cartridges run normally about $40, but every few months you can get one on sale for about $25-$30. I'm still using the original cartridge, and it was a lower-capacity one than the replacements. (They can be a little tricky to set up - if you have problems, the answers can be found in the NewEgg reviews for the product. And no, I'm not affiliated in any way - I just found something that, thus far, seems to be of impressive value!)

I have given up on HP after many years. The last episode concerned a half empty color cartridge that HP thought was too old to use and so I was forced to change it. Then the whole system wouldn't work and I was cleaning cartridges and replacing them for over an hour with no success. Even all new ones wouldn't work. Finally pitched the printer and bought an Epson all in one. I don't fax, but I do occasionally scan documents from books. It has been working well, prints from all three computers on the home network, and has a lot more intelligence built in. We will see how it does on ink. But HP telling me to replace a good cartridge because it is old? I am 68, I don't want to be replaced...

I have an HP Laser Jet 5P over 10 years ago and it is still going strong with daily use. I also bought a HP Office Jet 6500 and it is just a piece of junk and I hate it. Cartridges for the 5P cost around $75 and last for 2-3 years.

I am still using a LaserJet 6L from 1997. The old machine is on it's last legs. I'll get another laser printer when this one dies.

I have always had issues with All-In-One (AIO) type devices, due to the potential of single point failure with such hardware. If the fax (or scanner) part of an AIO fails, user ends up with a boat anchor upon such a large-ish investment. I have a love affair with Laser Printers and currently own two.
My Brother-2070N is a networked monochrome laser printer that I paid $95 (6 years ago). Although 'refurbished' toner cartridges get a bad rap, the replacement Brother-branded toner cartridge (@$21) was smearing at the edge of the paper and when I contacted Brother, they finally provided me with a brand new cartridge free of charge.
My Samsung CLP-315W is a wireless color laser printer that I paid $215 (5 years ago). Most manufacturers used to package new printers with reduced-size toner (ink) cartridges, yet my Samsung toner cartridges (x4) are the original ones since I am frugal what I print with this unit. When the toner cartridges will require replacement (about $100 for all 4), I will have to think seriously whether I really want to keep it around any longer.

When these printers are not in use (which is more often than not), I have them covered with towels for dust prevention, and power them down. I store both of them inside of a cabinet near my computer desk to keep them away from the elements (moisture, temperature, etc.).
When I purchase electronic hardware, I always make a habit of downloading the pdf versions of their user manuals for quick reference but even in the case of printers, I never bother to print them out since it is easier to refer to them on my pc monitor.