Printer Advice Wanted

[Barkeep49]

I am looking to get a printer after several years of not having one (thanks for all the free ink work!). I need it to be wireless or bluetooth and just want it to print fast (and in color). Photo, all-in-one, fax, scanner, etc not needed. .

[dwardzala]

Pick you printer based on ink cartridge cost. They all print well.

Also, I don't think you can get just a printer anymore, they all have scanners (at least at the big box stores).

[JPhillips]

I'm looking for a good deal on a Kodak printer as their ink is much cheaper.

[Matthean]

Pick you printer based on ink cartridge cost. They all print well.

Also, I don't think you can get just a printer anymore, they all have scanners (at least at the big box stores).

As somebody who has worked at an office supply store for 7+ years, I'll add my two cents and try to be short. :lol: The cheaper the printer, the more screwed you get on ink. Period. There are just basic printers, but there really isn't great savings in getting one. You are rather likely to find a cheap all-in-one on sale for less than just a pure printer. Oh, and the selection for pure printers sucks. Also note there are two generic types of inkjet printers. One for home, which focus on photos and tend to have smaller ink cartridges since people print less and ones for business that you get a better bang for buck in terms of prints.

In terms of brands I'll just cover what ones we sell. HPs are decent. They pretty much are all wireless and most of them have e-Print so you can e-mail your printer from your phone and have something printed out when you get home. They were the cheapest prints in their business model inkjets until Lemark decided to make that their focus.

Lemark. I think all of the them are wireless and they might have been the first company to do so. Cheapest black ink on the market, but it's only their business type models that do it. $4.99 for 510 prints though. Everything else for ink is rather comparable to everybody else.

Epson. Known for print speed and highest resolution. The high resolution might explain why people complain the most about running out of their ink. I'm sure part of it is being people buying the standard yield cartridges on a cheap printer and being amazed the ink didn't last as long as they thought it would. They are the most pain in the butt from a retail company level to deal since they don't let us make an refurbished version of their ink. We can't recycle their ink and give customers credit for it.

Brother. Odd to say this, but they seem rather solid enough even if they don't stand out in anyway. They tend to toss in a fax option more than other companies. I think of them more as a laser printer company versus a inkjet one, but if I had to, I would totally buy a Brother inkjet printer.

I personally own a super basic 3-in-one HP printer. If I bought one now, I would go up to where I could insert my SD cards into it and print straight from the printer versus using my PC.

[Matthean]

I'm looking for a good deal on a Kodak printer as their ink is much cheaper.

There's a reason for that. (points at previous post)

EDIT: I forgot to mention Kodak. They are more on the recent side for additions. Cheap ink, but it's you get what you pay for so don't expect a lot of prints out of them either.

[OldGiants]

Your want a ZPrinter650:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak7IQ8c-dbk

[stevew]

I have a Kodak, which I actually somewhat like.

Ink is pretty cheap, although the part where you can drain a color cartridge and not be able to print black and white is pretty stupid.


5200 series kodak that's wi-fi is what i have.

[MizzouRah]

I always buy HP. Have a cheap all in one and use it quite a bit and maybe need a black or a color cartridge once every few months.

Ink is definitely where the printer makers make their money.

If money is no object, color laser is what you want and again, HP imho is the best.

[fantom1979]

Officemax sells a color laserjet for $199. It has pretty good reviews on their website, but I have no clue if it actually is any good.

http://www.officemax.com/catalog/sku.jsp?productId=prod3210588&cm_sp=spb-_-laser-_-HP%20Color%20LaserJet%20Pro%20CP1525nw%20Wireless

[gstelmack]

Canon Pixma here. Lots of models you can check features against, prints great photos and documents, and is fast.

[Matthean]

Officemax sells a color laserjet for $199. It has pretty good reviews on their website, but I have no clue if it actually is any good.

http://www.officemax.com/catalog/sku.jsp?productId=prod3210588&cm_sp=spb-_-laser-_-HP%20Color%20LaserJet%20Pro%20CP1525nw%20Wireless

Might have to check, we also do up to $50 off for bringing in old printers as well. Not sure if it's on that one, or not. We do have a Lexmark inkjet at the same price/discount that has the $50 off for a recycled printer and that's the inkjet with the $5 black ink.

[dwardzala]

Canon Pixma here. Lots of models you can check features against, prints great photos and documents, and is fast.

I like the PIXMA (have 2) but cannon really gets you on the ink if you buy their brand.

[cubboyroy1826]

I have actually been looking at laser printers that print duplex. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on duplex laser black and white printers.

[Matthean]

I have actually been looking at laser printers that print duplex. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on duplex laser black and white printers.

HP and Brother. Duplex printing "generally speaking" adds $50 to the cost. Since it's just for black printing, you should easily be able to find one under $200. I can't recall our cheapest. I know we have done laser printers for $49, but they aren't duplex printing either.

[cubboyroy1826]

I am a huge Brother fan and have had Brother laser printers for the past few years. The toner is not the cheapest but is not the most expensive and the machines seem to run forever. I think the about $200 is the price point I have seen on the duplex printers I just wasn't sure if the technology is where it needs to be for the duplex to be reliable.