Printer Thoughts?

**Bill Harsey** · 10-22-2009, 20:34

Getting ready to throw out another HP printer here.

Anyone have any thoughts about printers?
Would be nice to print some photo images for presentation and portfolio once in a while too.

Edited to add:
beer will be owed for good answer(s).
Thanks!

Paslode · 10-22-2009, 21:50

Of the (5) HP Inkjets I have purchased, they were all in the trash within 1 year of purchase. I had a Minolta Color Laser that made great prints but it bit the dust after 3 years.

The longest running printer I have is a HP1300 Laser Jet that is 4-5 years old. The next is an HP CM1015 MFP color laser. It runs great, make great color scans and color prints...but the (4) cartridges are about $75 ea.

Mom has had good luck with her Color Samsung Laser, she prints landscape job photos with it that look really nice.

ES 96 · 10-23-2009, 01:59

Are you needing full color capability with this replacement printer? Many I know including myself run a b/w laser for high output stuff and have a good inkjet reserved for color. If it's a high output laser that you need a cheap/used but older model of HP might be the ticket (4, 6 series) as they don't die very easily and can be had for cheap if one can find them. My '97 HP 6MP won't die and was bought from a University surplus sale for $40. It was a dept printer with tens of thousands of sheets through it already when I bought in '05. A ~3000 toner cartridge is about ~$45

A number of my clients still have their old Apple laser printers made in Japan by Canon, bought in the mid nineties, but hooked up to their latest Intel Macs. These are at least 800dpi rated. As we are all finding out printers aren't built like they used to be and are outliving many of the current generation.

Mitch · 10-23-2009, 03:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

Getting ready to throw out another HP printer here.

Anyone have any thoughts about printers?
Would be nice to print some photo images for presentation and portfolio once in a while too.

Edited to add:
beer will be owed for good answer(s).
Thanks!

I have lots of thoughts about printers - most of them are bad.

I bought a $500 300C right when they came out - many many years ago, it lasted ablut 6 years before it gave out - a great printer.

I replaced it with another great printer, the HP 720 - it had better resolution and was faster. But I noticed that the nice 32 ml ink reservoiers had been changed to less than half that, yet the price was about the same.

Another 5 or 6 yeqrs go by - always getting good service and good quality pictures when it suddenly died. I started pricing HPs again - price was way down, nothing seemed higher than $200 - and you could get several that were just as good as the 720 for less than $99. But then I looked at the ink - price for the cartridge was about the same, but now they only held about 5 ml.

I would easily spend Over a $150 per year just on ink - so then I looked for the best quality printer I could find that also had the best ink value.

What I found was the Cannon - that was 3 yers ago - still works great. Paid $160 for it - it also has a good scanner. the color cartridges hold 13 ml each and he black holds about twice that amount - a five pack for that, which includes the big Black ink reservoir costs today $56.

On recent problem, which was institued for guys just like me, is that all the ink manufacturers (cannon included) stopped printing the ml valure on the cartridge - they now say, "number of copies" - that is a very subjective value and would be totally dependent on what and how you print. The mililieter number is a fact and is measureable. That bothers me too.

You can still buy the MP600 - it lists for $179, comes with one set of inks. Also, ther are several Ink websites where you can get ink at half that price in some cases - but most at least 25% less.

Check it out - I reccommend it.

here is the web location: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=116&modeli d=13800#BoxContentsAct

**Kyobanim** · 10-23-2009, 04:41

I bought a Dell 1320c color laser well over a year ago for around 300. It was off the refurb site. Just changed the first toner cartifidge this week. Have never had a problem.

I get very high quality prints, including photos.

Think about spending more for a quality printer. Ink jets are just throw aways anymore.

Sdiver · 10-23-2009, 04:56

When it comes to printers, only one thing comes to mind.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfCYzJAgwrw

I don't think there's one out there that REALLY works well.

Sir William......I wish you the best of luck in your quest.

bravo22b · 10-23-2009, 05:52

I got rid of an ancient HP Officejet last year and got a Canon Pixma MX850. If high volume is a requirement, I don't know that this printer is what you want; I think it's more like home office duty. However, the thing does just about everything and does it well. Excellent quality photo printing, very good scan quality, automatic document feeder, two sided scanning and printing, plus all the other stuff like having a card reader, LCD screen, and networking/wireless capability. I also think the software it comes with is pretty decent. I'm sure that there is already a newer version of it out, and they probably have heavier-duty versions as well. In general, these things seem to get excellent reviews.

Best of all, cheap. I think I paid like $160 for it. At that price, even if it only lasts three or four years I will feel like I got my money's worth.

My 2 cents.

JJ_BPK · 10-23-2009, 06:32

We've had good luck with Cannon. Currently on the third one in 12 yrs. I like the fact that you buy individual ink cartridges. Our current is a 530 series, multi function, scanner, printer, fax... Picked it up on Amazon for under $200.

I printed pictures at one time, but have learned that the print service at the drug store is far better, quicker, and uses the archival paper & ink.

I just take a cd with what I want,, ba da bing,, 15 minutes it's finished..

My $00.0002

Good Luck..

Red Flag 1 · 10-23-2009, 16:08

Bill,

If you are using Windows Vista, it may not be the printer!

RF 1

**Bill Harsey** · 10-24-2009, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Flag 1

Bill,

If you are using Windows Vista, it may not be the printer!

RF 1

We have Windows XP. but interesting info.
Printer full quit picking up paper, no matter what hammer I used.

Did the math on what was said here and found a Canon printer, it's hooked up and working, just have to figure out how to run it.

boy do I owe a lot of beers...

Thanks everyone.

DinDinA-2 · 10-26-2009, 20:15

A few printers ago I had the same problem of it not "picking up" paper. The rubber rollers that pick up the paper had become hard and shiny. I used some solvent to soften the rollers and it worked great for a while. Eventually that fix quit working.

TDude90 · 11-06-2009, 11:15

As an IT guy, I have found that as far as basic consumer printers go, they are all about the same... you pay about $100, and you get what you pay for. And this is fine for most people.

If you are really going to use it a lot, get a laser, as they will greatly outlast any ink jet. No specific brands stick out as much better than the other, but HP and Xerox I at least can confirm to be decent.

SF_BHT · 11-06-2009, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by DinDinA-2

A few printers ago I had the same problem of it not "picking up" paper. The rubber rollers that pick up the paper had become hard and shiny. I used some solvent to soften the rollers and it worked great for a while. Eventually that fix quit working.

Bill

DD hit it on the head. We have a lot of printers in our office here and this happens a lot. I make it a habit to clean the rollers every 6 months with gauze and rubbing alcohol. This will clean the wheels off and make them pickup your paper.

Try it and you may get it back up and running and have a backup printer.

Just my 2 cents....

**Bill Harsey** · 11-06-2009, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by DinDinA-2

A few printers ago I had the same problem of it not "picking up" paper. The rubber rollers that pick up the paper had become hard and shiny. I used some solvent to soften the rollers and it worked great for a while. Eventually that fix quit working.

As SF BHT advised, I will do as you say from now on.

SF_BHT · 11-06-2009, 12:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

As SF BHT advised, I will do as you say from now on.

FYI: Key thing only use rubbing alcohol. Solvents will degrade the rollers over time....