Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

[lakelover]

After not so many years, my Canon Pixma ip4300 has died, more or less. At any rate, the print quality got real bad and after all the maintenance tools were used, and trying several work-arounds from other forums, it's still NG. I can't even print a reliably functional bar code when I print USPS Click 'n Ship labels now. After contacting Canon tech support a couple times about the issue, they say I need a new print head & they cost as much as many new printers generally.

The ip4300, I had mixed feelings about. The photos it printed on photo paper were great; on plain paper, not so great. Black & white printed text pages were OK; it's the noisiest inkjet I ever heard; ink costs are just too high. I know that's the name of the game with inkjets, but compared to many other brands, Canon's are on the high side.

My usual printing consists of mostly text/shipping labels, but every couple months or so I might print the equivalent of 15-20 full page color photos on photo paper, so I like multi-color ink tanks. I like auto 2-sided capability, but would be prefectly happy with a plain printer, I don't really need an all-in-one copier/scanner/printer etc. I'd like to keep the printer cost <$200 if I can.

What do you folks use for printers?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

Inkjets suck - all of them. Take a look at a color laserjet printer.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

Your head is spinning because you are over thinking it. Printers are throw away's these days, they don't make money on printers, they make money on cartridges, printing pictures on regular paper is a waste of time, printers are optimized for photo paper.

I rarely print anything these days, when I do, it is a black laser printer, if I need color I take it to someone that specializes in color printing.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

Inkjets suck - all of them. Take a look at a color laserjet printer.

Maybe, but the lasers, at least any of the ones with decent ratings, are out of my price range.

Your head is spinning because you are over thinking it. Printers are throw away's these days, they don't make money on printers, they make money on cartridges, printing pictures on regular paper is a waste of time, printers are optimized for photo paper.

I rarely print anything these days, when I do, it is a black laser printer, if I need color I take it to someone that specializes in color printing.

You could be partly right on the over-thinking, but my priorities are: makes good photos on photo paper, and the ink doesn't put me in the poor house. I'd be happy even to get somewhere in the lower price-per-page cost range.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

You could be partly right on the over-thinking, but my priorities are: makes good photos on photo paper, and the ink doesn't put me in the poor house. I'd be happy even to get somewhere in the lower price-per-page cost range.

Then all I can say is good luck, I have never found a "cheap" inkjet printer. Printers are cheap, ink is expensive. That is by design, they are going to get you one way or another, it is amazing how much we spent on ink, when I was in the Military. The ink jet business is not designed to be cheap.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

The ink jet business is not designed to be cheap.

Yup, as I mentioned:

I know that's the name of the game with inkjets, but compared to many other brands, Canon's are on the high side.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

As I said, Lakelover...

Good luck.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

Maybe, but the lasers, at least any of the ones with decent ratings, are out of my price range.

Once you figure in the consumables you go through in a year, you might be surprised.

HP LaserJet Pro 200 color Printer M251nw | HP? Official Store

 

[lexer440]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

I rarely print anything these days, when I do, it is a black laser printer, if I need color I take it to someone that specializes in color printing.

I do same, canon BW laser and I email any color output to a print shop. I bought a Canon because of the quality and it was the only one that came with a FULL toner cartridge, most only come with a demo cartridge that does not last long, read the box!! And it only cost me $199.

Edit, I don't have much knowledge with inkjets but i have always believed if print quality is important you want a canon, if paper handling is important then hp win that one. Ink? is just expensive but a friend of mine saves a lot by ordering from online and buying several at once.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

Have you looked at getting a new print head? They should be under $30-$40.

I've had a Pixma MX700 for quite a few years. They're still available if you look. Best printer I've ever had. The cartridges are really easy to refill, you can save a small fortune. Print quality seems pretty good, and it just keeps on printing.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

We have an epson workforce 610 that we are really pleased with. Lov ethe wireless ability to move it where ever you want. We make a lot of use of the scanning and copying functions as well.

To save money on ink, we get them refilled at Costco. The software, drivers etc, is much better than the hp stuff as well..

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

Regular black laser printer for me too. I hate inkjets and all their problems.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

I also will never own another inkjet. After throwing away at least two seemingly high-end ones after they clogged up and/or broke in some other way I'm just done them. I've had a Canon multi-function laser for I think over 5 years now and I've only replaced the toner once and it was reasonable. I'd recommend any of these Laser Printers: Get Laserjet Printers, Color Laser Printers & More from OfficeMax

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

Your head is spinning because you are over thinking it. Printers are throw away's these days, they don't make money on printers, they make money on cartridges, printing pictures on regular paper is a waste of time, printers are optimized for photo paper.

I rarely print anything these days, when I do, it is a black laser printer, if I need color I take it to someone that specializes in color printing.

A good lesson, hard learned. Ditto on the B&W laser printer.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

My HP Deskjet 882C is almost 15 years old.

I have replaced the belt, didn't even think of ordering one from HP, Googled the belt # and got one for just a couple bucks. Not a problem changing it.

Print heads are part of the ink cartridge, refill once then buy a new cartridge.

I seldom use color, upload to WalMart or Walgreens, pics are noticeably better than default 'Photo Quality' settings.

The HP is still working fine as like it did on day one, which is far more than I can say for the printer on my Brother MFC, the printer crapped out shortly after the warranty died.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

I bought a Lexmark Pinacle Pro 901 a year or so ago. Black ink is only $5 for the standard cartridge. Can run it bluetooth and USB if you like so you can print from the desktop, laptops or your cell phone. Printhead is in the machine and not in the cartridge so ink refills are just ink and not a printhead too. The printhead itself is easy to clean if need be.

Can print photo quality but not the greatest. You can have photos emailed or on a memory stick printed at Walgreens, Office Depot, or many other places.

Interface for scan or fax can be accessed from the control panel or software on the computer.

I don't have a problem with it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

I bought a Lexmark Pinacle Pro 901 a year or so ago.

Probably one of the lowest rated printers I had ever seen on Amazon for an all in one.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

A good lesson, hard learned. Ditto on the B&W laser printer.

+ 1 ^

I picked up a HP 5L LaserJet B&W....one of the old wood-burning, steam powered ones... at a garage sale three years ago for $10-.
The power cord was cut and the guy couldn't be bothered fixing it. He even had an extra cartridge which I still have not needed.
It is a bit reminiscent of the Energiser Bunny.....it just keeps going....and going....
I don't print a ton, but I am amazed that the original cartridge is printing happily. Any inkjet printer I have owned would have dried up cartridges long ago.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

I am running what has to be a 15 y/o HP 2100. I bought it used from a computer repair service. Every now and again I buy a generic toner cartridge for it and it keeps motoring on. I do use an HP OfficeJet 6210 as well. I never buy the color carts for it though. I just use it for faxing, scanning and copying. That's just enough to keep the cartridge from drying up.

I also got the Mrs. a Brother HL2270DW B&W wireless laser printer for $99.00. Had it for two years now and it works real well. It came with a starter toner cartridge that I was able to refill with a kit off the internet. Her computer station was in an area where we could not place a printer nor string a cable AND I was never able to get her Win 7 computer to talk to my XP computer that the HP 2100 was hooked to.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Inkjet research, can you recommend one? My head is spinning!

Probably one of the lowest rated printers I had ever seen on Amazon for an all in one.

Guess I must have gotten lucky. No problems with mine at all. What problems did you have with yours?