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Best inexpensive printer for general purpose use?

N

Nebben

Senior member
I had a Canon photo printer, can't remember the model number. iP-something. I want to say 3000 or 4000 or something, but who knows 🙂

Unfortunately it's no longer in my possession. I need a new, cheap printer that'll get me through the last couple years of my college education. I'll be printing mostly just text, but I'll probably make use of photo-printer qualities if the option's available.

What's the best one for the money right now? Something in the $50-75 range would be good. Cheaper the better, as long as it's not a piece of junk.
 
Cheapest would be a black & white laser then going to a drugstore or office store when you need a photo or color chart. This assumes you don't need color often.

Samsung makes good ones for under $100, HP & Brother have good ones at higher prices.
 
I second buying a Laser Printer. Much better ratio of pages per dollar. Plus, you don't have to worry about toner going dry like you do with inkjets.

And I also recommend HP, Brother, or Lexmarks. I've owned a Brother HL2700CN (Color) for about 4 years and have had no problems, and haven't even had to buy new toner yet.
 
You can't do better than that Canon (among current production models) either for up front cost or TCO (can compare with laser for b/w if you refill your own). Get clone ink tanks now from our buddies at SwiftInk.com (check at the top of the Hot Deals section for his latest offer). And the output quality from the iP4300 is excellent as always.

.bh.
 
Canon or Epson. I personally like Epson because its what I have. Make sure whatever you get has seperate color ink carts. You save a bundle by buying only the color that runs out instead of the whole single color cart.
 
your going to laugh but I like my brother printer.
I have one of those all in ones, fits my light home office needs just fine.

my .02
 
SE66,
. Which model Brother do you have? I like their networking capabilities but I've heard their printed output, especially photos to be significantly inferior to the majors'. And they had a serious firmware problem that would cause the machine to lock up. I also like the fact that they still use passive ink tanks.

.b.h.
 
HP Deskjet 840C - you can probably buy it new on ebay for under $40 after shipping. Color printing is a bit slow but text printing is fast. My 840C is already 7 years old but it's still going.
 
I'll fourth(?) the laser recommendation for all around printing, esp. for college. You'd go through a TON of inkjet carts. printing out paper after paper, but probably would only have to replace the toner drum once, if that, during your college career.

Buy a cheapie inkjet for color if you need to later. Watch the sales, too. Just picked up a Canon Photo printer, the iP6120D, for $20 from CompUSA two weekends ago. Was on huge markdown with no rebate involved. Cannot beat $20 for a cheapie printer.....cheaper than a couple of inkjet carts, and it was brand new.
 
Originally posted by: herbiehancock
I'll fourth(?) the laser recommendation for all around printing, esp. for college.

.....snip....

Buy a cheapie inkjet for color if you need to later.
Click to expand...

I give it a fith vote. I got a used but clean Laserjet off Ebay for $80 shipped about 2 year ago and I'm still using the same toner cartridge. I don't print that much but for B&W text, memos, etc. I could throw it away tomorrow and be well ahead. I think most lasers average at least 2,500 - 3,000 pages per fill up. Well worth the money, IMO.

 
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