Best printers for cheap ink?

[Eureka]

I just need a basic multifunction printer. I don't need anything fancy, wireless would be nice but not a must. What I do want is a printer with cheap, easy to get ink replacement or refills. I don't need a laser because I print maybe a few times a month, just to make copies.

Any ideas? Which brands would be best in terms of ink replacement?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Brother doesn't chip their ink. 3rd-party refills are cheap and available. Printers themselves are pretty high-quality.

 

[greenhawk]

if only going to be printing a few times each month, might be cheaper to just pay a business to print the stuff for you. less hassels and none of the "need new ink as the last one went dry before I used it" issues.

that of course assumes you have the time and access to such a place.

 

[Eureka]

It's not the time.. basically it's for making copies "on the spot". Or having to scan things in. The closest print shop that I know of (walgreens) is a bit of a hike.

I'll start looking for a brother printer, thanks.

 

[Ketchup]

An HP with two cartridges will do you well (black and try color). The cartridges won't dry out like those with 4 separate cartridges, the print head is built into the cartridge, and you can find replacement cartridges online for cheap.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you're only printing a couple times a month, you'll want a laser - the inkjets will dry out sooner rather than later, regardless of brand. Laser printers don't do that.

Get a used Brother B&W laser MFD and you'll probably throw it out before you run out of toner.

 

[VirtualLarry]

An HP with two cartridges will do you well (black and try color). The cartridges won't dry out like those with 4 separate cartridges, the print head is built into the cartridge, and you can find replacement cartridges online for cheap.

HP ink? With printheads included? Cheap? What's "cheap" to you, $15? When I said Brother ink was cheap, I was talking about $2/cart or less.

 

[MontyAC]

Go with the Brother brand. Chipless ink cartridges are so much cheaper. I'm still using a Canon PIXMA ip6000d for color printing.

 

[gus6464]

Laser. Don't get an inkjet unless you like to throw money in the trash.

 

[Eureka]

Now, I thought lasers wasted a lot of ink on warming up the toner? I remember hearing this a long time ago.

It does seem in general that Brother is more popular for ink cartridges. I have an HP now (which doesn't start up anymore, I've yet to figure out why), but cartridges are definitely not cheap.

 

[FrankSchwab]

Lasers only consume toner when you actually print. Ink jets often consume ink everytime they prepare to print (e.g. Power on), and everytime they're done printing.

For occasional printing, get a laser because an ink jet in low usage is just a big, expensive PITA. A laser can sit, unused, for years and then work perfectly on the first sheet out. An inkjet will seldom work correctly after sitting for two weeks.

From a cost perspective for a often-used inkjet, there's nothing better than a continuous inking system like cisinks.com sells. I bought a setup two or three years ago for my HP Deskjet, and it has worked like a dream since then. I let the kids print all the homework and dog pictures that they want to print, and simply don't have to worry about the cost.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Any laser printer that has toner and rollers stocked at monoprice.

 

[bigboxes]

I've been using Canon for quite a few years now. HP is not cheap, although I've never looked for generics for them. I had Epson as well. I know about the chip and that's why I switched form Epson. Canon then went to chipped as well. However, I've always found generics for them. Printers today are made cheap. How else would you explain having a printer, scanner, and copier (fax for those that still use them) all in one for under $100? That's amazing. Unfortunately, manufacturers have cheaped them out so instead of being repairable the are replaceable. I always tell my customers to buy generic print cartridges and be happy if they get a year out of their machines. If they get multiple years out of them... great! Their business model is the ink. They change them just enough trying to force you to buy their overpriced ink. My Canon requires 5 ink cartridges, cyan, magenta, yellow, black and photo black. I buy my ink off of Amazon and just get them in sets of five (10pk or more). I get a great deal and as long as the printer doesn't crap out I don't worry about running out of ink. Ten bucks and I am able to replace all my ink tanks. Try that with the name brand.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Now, I thought lasers wasted a lot of ink on warming up the toner? I remember hearing this a long time ago.

Not true at all.

It IS true of wax-based color printers like the Xerox Phaser 8xxx series.

I hated those things.

It's also true of inkjets (they'll initiate cleaning cycles at regular intervals that use a bit of ink.)