Well, it looks like we are going to be buying our 4th printer in 7 years.
I did an avcan search for printer info. There is one thread but its from 2006.
Whats the deal on printers?
What should I get ?
I do not do need anything special (i/we do not print photos or anything like it)
Thinking about getting a laser. (?)
HP black and white models are good. Just watch out because some of them aren't Mac supported. I had to force another model's driver on my Laser Jet 1020 to make it OSX compatible, even tho it's the same bloody printer as a 1012 model (which works on OSX). HP colour laser can be had for $130 + tax + shipping on NCIX.
I don't exactly understand your question "what's the deal with printers". You buy one, plug it into the USB port, insert paper and let it rip? I personally prefer laser because you don't have any ink running if the paper get a bit wet from drool, water, or beer. Toner also don't expire, at least HP doesn't. Epson ink printers only accept their own brand of ink and the ink itself have a timer on it that expires regardless of remaining ink inside. Finally, no need to worry about print head alignment issues and cleaning, which use a good amount of ink during the process.
'what's the deal with printers'
Yeah, that was a little bit vague.
You answered some of what I was asking.
Just looking for info on what other guys are using for printers.
I cant believe I can not get a printer to last longer than 2 years.
Might have to try a laser printer next.
Thanks moocow.
Honestly the printer racket to the home market is 100% BS. They sell you a cheap $70 printer and then get you to buy ink that costs $140 for a full set. Hermm... Then it either dries out, or won't let you print with one colour defunct, or says your empty when you have lots left. This is almost criminal. Do your self a favor and get a Laser, they are superior in many ways, one is ink won't dry out!
Heck if I needed a printer I would try and get an old HP 4 or 5 series. You know the cube looking things from the 90's. Find one with between 100,000 and 200,000 pages and you are good for another 300,000 pages which should last most normal people ages. Baring that the HP 2, 3 or 4000 is a good printer but costly new. What you should do find a good suspect on Craig's list and check out the manual before you go to view it. Know how to print a status page that can show number of pages printed. Most mid range printers are good for 20,000ish pages a month, so long as they are being used in that sort of fashion and have a reasonable page count, like I said 200,000ish you should be able to get ample usage at home for years and years and years. If I recall I think the small/medium office printers had a life cycle of 500,000+ pages. So if you get a machine with 300,000 pages left and you printer 2000/yr which is like 5 pages + a day, think of how long it will last! Avoid anything that is "3 months old" and showing 300,000 pages. I have seen it, they may really be that old but someone has been over using them and that is not good.
If you can't do that get a quality new B&W laser and you are good to go for ages, colour ONLY if you need it.
Oh and if you have in your head that you wish to print photos... you can not print photos for less cost (paper & ink) than you can to email them to your local WalMart! Seriously, there is NO good reason to print photos at home unless you are a pro working out of your home. I think a 4x6 is about 20 cents, you can hardly buy photo paper for that price. By the time it is in your hands you supply costs on an inkjet is over $1.
Agree 100% with 200hr on the photo issue. Ink jet printers are like airplanes..... bottomless pits you pour money into. I would never buy another inkjet. I bought a black & white laser (Okidata) for $99 with free shipping, and I love it! You can get other lasers (they're not really lasers, the light source is LED) for the same price if you keep your eyes open, but I chose the Okidata because it's a duplex printer (prints both sides of the page), and it's hard to find that feature at this price point.
Duplexing for under $100? I seriously doubt any other brand would have that feature. It's a nice feature but my HP 1020 shows a screen to tell you how exactly to reinsert the paper to print on the other side if you select both side printing.
HP Laserjet 4 & 5 are pretty good. Loud, smelly, very hot but pretty bullet proof. I still remember using a LJ4 as a kid and the house lights dim whenever it powers up. The only problem is that I doubt you can find toners for it and it uses the old school printer port. 200 is correct about the pricing model. Even for new laser printers, the toner cost about the same as a new one. I believe the toner that came with new printers are reduced capacity. It's a very sick trend that the consumable cost the same as a new unit. Same with video game consoles which they make money on the accessories and games.
@200: actually someone tried to sue either Epson or Canon over the expiring ink issue in US.
Yeah, the duplexing sold me, and you're right, none of the other low cost lasers can do it. Model number is B410d if the OP wants to have a look at one. And it does come with a reduced cpacity toner cartridge, but it will last until the toner is used up, and that sure beats the rotten stinking ink cartridges that dry out and become useless.
I used to have a Laserjet 4L and it was also a very good little printer. But it became redundant and I shelved it back in the Win95 days. When I tried to get it going again this spring, (after a Canon inkjet died) it refused to work, jamming the paper every time. Dunno how it became defective just sitting on a shelf. That's how I came to pick up the Okidata, and I'm very glad I did.
I would never buy another inkjet. I bought a black & white laser (Okidata) for $99 with free shipping, and I love it! You can get other lasers (they're not really lasers, the light source is LED) for the same price if you keep your eyes open, but I chose the Okidata because it's a duplex printer (prints both sides of the page), and it's hard to find that feature at this price point.
