We dont print much so the inkjet cartridges tended to harden up at the tip, I guess. After waayyy too much trouble we went to a Brother laser printer and have never looked back.

 

Yeah gcrank1 had that happen before but am doing a lot more printing now with constantly updating wife's prescription Rx list, printing targets, etc.
Rudy

I like HP Officejets both at work and home 1Rudedawg. Currently using mostly 8600 series. That may be a little pricier than you're looking for but they hold up to commercial use and they last a long time.

My only complaints are that the ink is expensive and every time they upgrade a model number they change the ink cartridge numbers.

Good luck on your search,

Frank

Thanks Frank, I'm currently looking at both the 8000 & 9000 series as they are in line with our budget. I expected the cartridges to run higher but if the printer quality is as or close to what we used at work that's probably the route we'll take.
Rudy

 

I like HP Officejets both at work and home 1Rudedawg. Currently using mostly 8600 series. That may be a little pricier than you're looking for but they hold up to commercial use and they last a long time.

My only complaints are that the ink is expensive and every time they upgrade a model number they change the ink cartridge numbers.

Good luck on your search,

Frank

 

Price wise
Brother ecotank is what have it's the cheapest option.
Epson ecotank is good if you are doing photography
Only downside is you need to run a test page once a week or nozzles will clog.
Hp has their version of ecotank but I haven't used one yet.
Stay away from anything where all the colors are in one cartridge.
If you can spend a little more and don't print alot the laser is a nice option. But make sure remanufactured cartridges are available. Otherwise you will pay more for replacement ink than the printer cost.

Sent from my 9029Z using Tapatalk

 

I switched to Epson about a decade ago due to HP's "control" over ink. Even from Costco, prices were just stupid. It was cheaper to buy a new printer than replenish the ink for the HP I had (which was temperamental, at best!)

Unfortunately the same kind of "control" showed up for Epson ink a few years later, but there are ways around it. Just have to deal with the supplier directly (and have never had any issues), as they are banned from Amazon and such.

 

I have an HP Officejet Pro 8720 that ran about $250 when I bought it at Office Depot about two years before I retired- four years ago... I use it quite a bit and it has been a great machine so far. Wireless connection to my router, phone, and computer have made it especially handy for my uses and the one thing I checked before I bought it was to ask the salesperson what was the best for using ink and several pointed to this machine. My cartridges last a very long time - so even though they are relatively expensive, the per page price is pretty reasonable IMO. I've also found the cartridges on ebay and other places for about half price from people who have upgraded printers and had brand new cartridges left over. Print quality has always been excellent...


Just got an email from HP- it looks like they are having their annual Holiday sale at the moment...


Bob

 

The FIRST thing to do when buying an inkjet is to see if aftermarket ink is available.

That's why I bought the EXCELLENT Canon TR8500

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304217038921?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item46d4bfa049:g:g8YAAOSw3rJhTXIX&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSzaVbXtmGxqmWnpn8RLN2q1fNKLbFzU4W3h6oDQgG9rqxOAsKXdlTpJTnHJG3gLx%252B%252FhVYKDM6ImLVPVPWylnS%252BydupTxvLNXzkIf423LRrhp3uE%252BOpuj9GtY9yRKU4kiTlo5Xi2vfVB5iIfzWZkFmrSVwlIWgXTwIFSCVAed3250sCn%252BHnPTrvON%252BviQFXg2IpooqRRlDKb6UfhGj%252BwamGi3RBORHDrNn4dmX1buen%252BoL2bUzkAgS68wko7R0Hn%252BkC5Vc0tMTiDBFkGkUwfoS0%252Fq%252B8jp3bM6SKQbgkrBcvoljk8HJV6BzOkWUbhGXTjuSkF5xwF8WM%252Fh4auuEvlaSYH2NKpzsIhjF3RhKGyFLoJYjBAkis%252F6OyDosFxIRhzeRDfs18jNlrkBVAFuVO%252BSdff8hKcT2vwDxq92m3X1W1ugCQDlxzQ0pFDg8oNV1C6F7yITL4IBSIBnkICIfg6YEeUFXm8OVGVdUUkWlMDZpESLOB4pxeoT1wvX%252FxfxXusgTdgn2B1yyjy%252FONUPhIULV5igR9FQUVIByGtk%252FL1vpp6hwbtx%252FXnyh8C6cAxEOZzXa2IIY%252BP4TcEFkF30lZXd1aciuy5uU9LzltbNRiWXVmn2GYe0fRCrX7gAu5cDDHlQC00GQ8EvpbwOhRoBRWNnwhffUcqY9txL2Ob35Z5xFNPvMjNPXO5wc4UBNnlTXWksUrIucICcghv1ESNw8DWRW9pVnuw7eAxxl8GksyEV53lwftOI6OF6FFJGc2kHffTwMI1xquB5arCru7UhZzfF0Bj03WWRuSA5LO3YGvR33%252FgU6bZ3A7ip%252BOhs1LipQZsMgEKN1CfrLCMch36uBuMS4Vw%253D%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBMnNPb4bRf

 

We use lasers for some applications in the office but I like color for my desktop and home printing needs and am willing to pay a premium for it. Everyone has their own idea of perfection.

Heck Staff Sgt Infidel drives a Dodge

Frank

 

Be careful. My wife and I were using a B&W laser jet my daughter gave us from the office. Perfect. My wife started working from home March 2020 and needed color and fax capability. Got a HP Officejet Pro 8025. PITA!!! If you don't use it at least daily it goes into Printer Maintenance Mode and cycles the head grunting and groaning a couple minutes wasting your ink. Non of our older color Lexmark printers did that. So our 149.00 Pro printer has gone through about 300 bucks of ink since we got it. We didn't print 300 pages in that time. Choose wisely!

 

Not positive what one we have, but I'd recommend any printer other than it.

HP 2652 deskjet, only modern electronic my wife has ever threatened to dropkick. Someday it will completely die, and it will get packed with tannerite and shot unceremoniously.

 

I just looked at this because I have not had a printer now for around 15 years..I really should get another one..It was the ink costs that was my main concern when I did have one..

 

HP has a lot of printers that use their instant ink program. Much cheaper, no hassles, no running to a store or looking online for ink.

If you own or are looking to buy any HP printer, check to see if this option is available. We have saved a lot of money in ink since buying our last one, a 8610. It's been working solid for quite a while now and without any hassles ever.

Trust me... if you use ink this program is a game changer. We have never run out of ink since owning this printer, and are paying a lot less than we ever paid in the past. They also have some type of new Platinum plans that come with a printer and ink for $8=$15 dollars a month, with printer upgrades every couple of years.

HP Instant Ink program

I've got no affiliation with HP.

 

I've been happiest with Epson printers. I use a Workforce now that is great for my photography and has a scanner and fax. I never thought I would need the fax but it came with the unit. I've found I need it a lot these days.

Most printer's ink is so expensive it's better to buy a new printer when you run out. On my Epson I haven't had that problem. I but the double ink cartridges direct from Epson. You can get them cheaper from a lot of vendors but I found the colors weren't a vivid and since print a lot of photos for people I need the OEM inks.

Cannon makes some decent printers although I haven't used them in years.

 

I'm actually surprised that more companies don't market their inks directly more often. Cut out the middle man and profit more while giving the end customer a better price.

I've had the same experience with 3rd party inks, often they just aren't what they seem to be.

The HP inks ordered direct also use the "larger fill" cartridges. Obviously much heavier compared to the ones you buy in stores. That's a plus as well.

Forgot to mention... with the HP Instant Ink thing you don't have to order... ever. The printer connects via Wifi, and it learns your printing habits. It sends you ink based on the levels and your habits, so you have the new one well before needing it, regardless of color. I've had a couple times we printed a moose load compared to normal in a short period of time, and we still never ran out.

 

Thanks everyone for your responses. I've taken notes, looked online at reviews and have narrowed down a few models including some color laser printers that are currently in stock at our closest Office Depot. We'll stop by there Tuesday after her doctor's appointment. :t

 

It'd be hard to go wrong whatever you pick Rudy

This thread reminds me how lucky we are now with plug and play hi-def color printing technology affordable for almost everyone.

When I got hooped into being an office pogue in the Marines in the early 70's we had manual typewriters and copies were made with carbon paper. Handouts went to the base print shop.

Then after college (and taking a boatload of hard to read mimeographed tests) I came to work at the company my wife and I now own. No computers, no cell phones. The copier for the whole office was a leased Savin that used rolls of thermal paper. Flyers and brochures still went to a printer. Calculators had only recently come down enough that everyone had one on their desks. Spreadsheets were still done long hand on Wilson-Jone columnar pads.

We've come a long way :bthumb:

Frank

 

Forgot to mention... with the HP Instant Ink thing you don't have to order... ever. The printer connects via Wifi, and it learns your printing habits. It sends you ink based on the levels and your habits, so you have the new one well before needing it, regardless of color. I've had a couple times we printed a moose load compared to normal in a short period of time, and we still never ran out.

We have done that. BUT the problem is if you don't use it daily it goes into the Maintenance Mode constantly. So you skip a day and want to copy and print 1 page it goes into that mode. Like I said. PITA. None of our other printers have done this. Plus even if set on B&W print only all the maintenance uses up the color cartridges also. We used to buy 2 or 3 black before any color on the other brands. Not this one. They all empty at the same time.

 

I remember having that clogged head issue on a really old printer, but none of the HP printers we have had. And though it does occasionally do the maintenance mode thing, it's pretty rare. At times we go several weeks without printing.

I forget the exacts, but I've fairly sure the one we have is at least 6-8 years old now, and had heavy use for at least a couple of those, and it's never missed a beat.

 

unless you are going to use the inkjet on a regular basis you may want to skip it and buy a laser printer.

I was buying inkjet for my dad to print on CD/DVDs and when he was using it on a regular basis, it was fine. Not alot of heavy use, but it kept the nozzles clean. Once the frequency became less and less, the nozzles would clog and even using up 1 or 2 new cartridges, it was still a no go.

Also, some of them inkjet do have a limited use/life and if you run them dry, you may ruin them. If you are going to insist on buying an inkjet then do your research if you can replace the nozzles and if you can buy aftermarket ink/cartridges.

since my dad quit printing on CD/DVD, and still wanted a printer. I was finally able to nail down he could get by with a b&W printer. Since he wanted to "copy" documents at times, but it wasnt "important" at that time to get a scanner/printer, i didnt deal or worry about it. But now things change and its "important" now.

the old saying..."measure 2x - cut once"... can be adapted to this....So spend more time figuring out what you may want/need/use in the future and then buy. And fwiw, i ended up getting a 3in1. Scanner/copier/printer/fax. He admitted loving the scanner to scan any documents he needed. I also got a duplex scanner/printer version too.

also, i can leave the laser printer idle for years and its not a problem.

If you insist on color, then look at a color laser printer.

 

We don't use a printer as much as we did before retiring but if an ink jet requires printing once or twice a week to keep the ink and nozzles clean that's not an issue at all. We almost do that now updating my wife's prescription rx list and me printing targets, etc. both in b&w plus color. I'm pretty much shying away from HP after hearing about the constant maintenance mode issues and primarily looking at Epson, Canon & Brother for the time being.

 

fwiw, go for what you want. You will figure out the easy way or hard way if your decision was the right one.

there are fan boys for everything if you havent figured out.

and fwiw, i had all the various brands too. Just speaking from that POV since im willing to try, research on whats out there that will suit MY needs best. Not some fanboy rave on something.

the only HPs i had were the lasers and they worked great and lasted years. My last one it started to make some noise but it still worked and i gave it to a co worker since toner cartridges were getting scares and expensive. He still uses it since its not used alot anyway and he says its still working and thats 5 years ago now.

Im using a OKI B&W laser and its been fine for years but as with the HP, the toner cartridges are getting expensive and OEM ones hard to get.

Before this i had a brother. It was also a great printer and for the most part i would have kept it but for the toner getting hard to get and also expensive.

All of the laser printers i had worked great and lasted along time. Its just that eventually i will replace due to the cost of toner/drums.

and as one of the later posted replied, they get whats on sale and run until it drops. I know of some will get whats on sale and then use till about any cartridge is empty and then give/sell it for cheap and repeat. the inkjet get you on the cartridges. If you are lucky you can find some decent refills, but i do my research on this before i buy. Some aftermarket refills will only cause you issues. On my epson, it did and so i want back with OEMs. On my nice cannon i refill myself.

good luck

 

I'm a retired IT guy, but being retired means I'm also out of date on the latest knowledge - so factor that in:

1) Epson printers are junk. They always have been, they are now, they probably always will be. Any inkjet that uses the "tank with hoses and nozzles" technology is to be avoided like the plague. My opinion, I wasn't impressed with them in 1979, and I'm not impressed now.

2) I worked in an "HP shop" - everything was HP. Their inkjet technology is far superior to Epson and Epson-like printers. With that said, HP isn't the best with keeping up with drivers.

3) If you can afford it, skip Inkjet and go to laser. We currently have an HP all in one B&W laser. The rare times we need color printing, we just go to CVS - maybe once a year or so.

4) Do *NOT* buy/use 3rd party or "remanufactured" toner/ink in your printer - at least for HP printers. IT. DOES. NOT. WORK. RELIABLY. BTDTGTTSGOO! Other brands of printers may be better in this regard.

5) "Next time" I'm in the market for a printer (It would be a laser), I'm going to take a hard look at Canon and Brother. Users of these brands have reported to me far less problems than HPs, and they may have better driver updates.

All my opinions and experiences, YMMV and all that....

 

The Epson ink reservoir is well worth it. We used to only occasionally need a printer, and every six months we’d discover that the expensive ink cartridges had dried out. I bought a new Epson for school a few years ago and it’s been incredible. Despite printing thousands of pages over a three year period, the black ink reservoir is only half down and still running strong. I recently went to use it after a six month idle spell and it fired right up and inked just fine.

 

Funny how experiences differ.

I switched to Epson because I was sick of having to replace a broken HP every couple of years, plus their ink prices and restrictions on aftermarket.

My ex still has the first one I bought about 8 years ago, and the same model I bought six years ago for myself still works fine. I'd never owned an HP that worked for more than a couple of years.

 

I usually buy the $59.95 close out Cannons, run them till they drop, rinse and repeat. My biggest printing jobs are targets

 

I have been using a Canon ink jet printer for many years. I don't print much but it has always worked. Given that I don't use it often I must say the print tips have never dried. It may not be the newest, fanciest or fasted but it suits my needs.

Since it is old and nothing lasts forever I have been looking around for a replacement. Over the years, laser printers have become almost reasonable in price. I did some preliminary research and it seems toner cartridges are more expensive than ink cartridges. Maybe they last longer so I don't know about the cost per sheet. If anyone has more, reliable information I would be happy to know that.

Meanwhile I am looking at newer ink jet printers.

Good luck in your quest.

 

I have been using a Canon ink jet printer for many years. I don't print much but it has always worked. Given that I don't use it often I must say the print tips have never dried. It may not be the newest, fanciest or fasted but it suits my needs.

Since it is old and nothing lasts forever I have been looking around for a replacement. Over the years, laser printers have become almost reasonable in price. I did some preliminary research and it seems toner cartridges are more expensive than ink cartridges. Maybe they last longer so I don't know about the cost per sheet. If anyone has more, reliable information I would be happy to know that.

Meanwhile I am looking at newer ink jet printers.

Good luck in your quest.

do the math if you want. You can look up specs on teh printers and use the numbers the OEMS gives. the numbers are just an ESTIMATE anyway depending on what you print or dont.