desktop printers?? recommendations...

[Ironhead]

So, Today I wanted to print something off of my printer I have here hooked up to this computer. It starts printing fine, then after a few minutes I hear a grinding sound and all the warning lights start flashing. I try to do what I can. Turn it off and on etc., nothing. I figure that it just died on me.
It was and old HP Deskjet 920c. I have had it for around 10 years.
Guess it is just time to get a new one.

So what are my options? Laser, inkjet? Which would you recommend?
Toner is where they get you. price wise. I don't need fancy. Just a basic colour printer. Epson? Hp? Canon?

thanks for your help.

 

[sonoman]

I really think HP is the best option for home desktop printers in terms of variety and support. I'm using a 4-year old HP Desket 5100 Series printer that still works geat. Solid build, high quality (inkjet) printing, and a lot of print options.

I paid 130 back then. Hp has worked well enough for me that I will buy another when needed.

 

[Banger77]

So what are my options? Laser, inkjet? Which would you recommend?
Toner is where they get you. price wise. I don't need fancy. Just a basic colour printer. Epson? Hp? Canon?
thanks for your help.

Depends on your usage; is it for general printing then laser cause of the cost per page and no dried-out ink cartidges but, if you need to print photos then inkjet for photo quality and cheap initial cost for printer. Samsung CLP-300 Colour Laser Printer is pretty good and toner $57 for colour $66 for black but, not really good for any photo quality images. If you need photo quality prints than inkjet; I've used both Epson and Canon are pretty good with individual ink well models. As you said inkjet printers are cheap but, they get you when you need to replace ink cartidges.

HP, Lexmark or Dell. They all use ink cartridges that have the print head built into the cartridge.
Canon and Epson look cheaper to run, but when the ink dries up, you have to discard the printer.
I'm assuming that you don't print stuff on a daily basis.

That's true about Canon and Epson but, i would stay away from Lexmark thou.

 

[sdw]

HP, Lexmark or Dell. They all use ink cartridges that have the print head built into the cartridge.

Canon and Epson look cheaper to run, but when the ink dries up, you have to discard the printer.

I'm assuming that you don't print stuff on a daily basis.

So, Today I wanted to print something off of my printer I have here hooked up to this computer. It starts printing fine, then after a few minutes I hear a grinding sound and all the warning lights start flashing. I try to do what I can. Turn it off and on etc., nothing. I figure that it just died on me.
It was and old HP Deskjet 920c. I have had it for around 10 years.
Guess it is just time to get a new one.

So what are my options? Laser, inkjet? Which would you recommend?
Toner is where they get you. price wise. I don't need fancy. Just a basic colour printer. Epson? Hp? Canon?

thanks for your help.

 

[freebird]

I have an older HP inkjet, but I got very frustrated having to replace ink cartridges all of the time. My solution was to pick up an HP laser printer for just the standard run of the mill stuff (black) and I use the old inkjet if and when I need to print in color. The toner cartridges are WAY cheaper to replace, and last a lot longer than the ink jet cartridges. I find that the vast majority of my printing can be done in black (web pages, etc). I can't remember the last time I had to replace an ink jet cartridge.

 

[pokemon]

I use an Epson and love it. I have also been told by various stores that the three in ones (printer, scanner and copier) are actually cheaper than the single use printers, even though that doesn't make much sense. Maybe there is a quality difference?

 

[Noob888]

If you're not printing color, laser is the best and cheapest based on cost per use. If u do print color, have a cheapo ink jet. Lexmark will do. HP's inks are expensive. Epson tends to clog.

 

[pokemon]

It's been a while since I had a Lexmark but I found their ink exhorbitantly priced. I think there are three things to look for in buying a printer - the quality of the print job, the price and the thing we all forget - the price of the ink. Some stores, like Staples, sell no name cartridges for brand name printers and so you might want to see which printers benefit from the cheaper ink cartridges.

 

[Noob888]

With cheap printers like Lexmark, who make most office printers btw, you buy generic ink from refill centres like Island Ink Jet which have good prices. Printer manufacturers make their money not from the printer but from the ink and paper they sell you.