Chance of inkjets getting cheaper to maintain?

[JudySmith]

Is it technically possible that they'll ever start producing inkjet printers which, like an ordinary pen would still print even if it's just used, say, just once a year?

I know this may sound like a stupid question, but I've still hung on to my ancient Okidata OL400 b/w laser printer which prints dirty all the time, and I haven't ever purchased an inkjet printer for the sole reason that inkjet maintenance is a pain (from what I gather when browsing the www).

Over and out.

 

[dkozloski]

As Mark Twain would say, the stories of his death have been greatly exaggerated. I have both an Epson and an HP inkjet printer that never fail to work well no matter how long they have been idle.

 

[freebee]

Certain printers need to be printed right out of the box. Setting up a new canon for example, and letting it sit without printing for a month ruins the printheads. Just do a little printing once a week is fine.

 

[sciencewhiz]

people want inkjets that has ink that dries quickly once they print, but they don't want ink that dries in the ink cartridge.

 

[JudySmith]

Originally posted by: freebee
Certain printers need to be printed right out of the box. Setting up a new canon for example, and letting it sit without printing for a month ruins the printheads. Just do a little printing once a week is fine.

Any chance of them coming out with a printer that will automatically turn on once a week to print a copy, then power off?

Sorta like auto-pilot, like an automatic babysitter.

 

[farmercal]

Certain printers need to be printed right out of the box. Setting up a new canon for example, and letting it sit without printing for a month ruins the printheads. Just do a little printing once a week is fine.

Where in the world did you get your so knowledgeable information? I have a Canon S600 inkjet printer and can leave it idle for two to three weeks, crank it up and print just fine for as long as I want. I have never had the ink dry up and ruin the print heads in this printer and it is by far the BEST printer I have ever owned. To be honest, I don't understand why it doesn't dry up nor do I understand why the head never needs cleaning (like other printers)...it just works!

 

[JudySmith]

I wonder why this is never included as a criteria in "tech specifications".

For example, see tech specs in pricegrabber (see url further down). I see no information regarding how quickly printheads are rendered unusable due to ink drying out. This oughta be a top criteria among specs. Yet there's nothing. How come?

And, again, I wonder why they don't have an auto-print feature as I questioned above.

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=632452/ut=431f3aeef5baf0ce[

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
people want inkjets that has ink that dries quickly once they print, but they don't want ink that dries in the ink cartridge.

They could create somethin like automotive paint... you have the paint, which has pigment in it... then you have a hardener... and the paint won't cure until you ad hardener to it, then it cures really fast. That way your ink wouldn't dry up in the cartridge, but it would dry quickly when you print

The only complaint I have is the cost of ink... sheesh... print a few 8x10 pictures and you gotta buy another $50 ink cartridge. :Q So much for using a digital camera as a replacement for your 35mm camera.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
The only complaint I have is the cost of ink... sheesh... print a few 8x10 pictures and you gotta buy another $50 ink cartridge. :Q So much for using a digital camera as a replacement for your 35mm camera.

That is the whole economics of inkjet printers. They sell the printer at a loss, then rape you with the ink prices. The only way to change that is for them to raise the inkjet prices back up.

 

[DaveSimmons]

, but I've still hung on to my ancient Okidata OL400 b/w laser printer which prints dirty all the time, and I haven't ever purchased an inkjet printer

FYI you can get very nice lasers now for under $300 if you want to replace this -- I just purchased a Brother HL-5040 to replace my dead HP 4ML. You can't beat lasers for text quality, cost-per-page or toner shelf life. You can also get an off-lease HP 6L from www.pcsurplusonline.com for $120 shipped.

Maybe someday they'll do something for inkjets like have the cart / printhead retreat into an airtight compartment? Or make an ink formula where only a tiny layer on the surface dries.

 

[Belegost]

I would recommend picking up a newer laser model. As someone mentioned above, they can be bought really cheap now.

I paid $150 for my lexmark e210, I've had it about a year, and printed something like 3000 pages with it. I changed the toner cartridge that comes with it, and the new one, rated for 5000 sheets, cost $80.

As for color printing, do that at a copy shop. I know I only need to print in color perhaps once every 3-6 months; I have two color inkjets in the house, both of which have dried up cartridges, I won't buy new ones because it's simply not economical, when a trip to Kinko's to print it out on their nice machines costs maybe a couple dollars.

 

[JudySmith]

Originally posted by: Belegost
I would recommend picking up a newer laser model. As someone mentioned above, they can be bought really cheap now.
I paid $150 for my lexmark e210, I've had it about a year, and printed something like 3000 pages with it. I changed the toner cartridge that comes with it, and the new one, rated for 5000 sheets, cost $80.

Wow, it sounds good, and now I see it at Electrified.com for $98. Problem is, they don't accept personal check, and I don't have a credit card.

Is it easy to change the toner on the lexmark? Because I have found it very stressful changing the toner on the Okidata.

Maybe I should also hold out for such time as there'd be an inexpensive all-in-one, PCS, space-efficient laser - not necessarily color - I can suffice with a b/w PCS.

 

[JudySmith]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

, You can't beat lasers for text quality, cost-per-page or toner shelf life. You can also get an off-lease HP 6L from www.pcsurplusonline.com for $120 shipped.

Thanks for the info! I note that they don't either accept personal check.

Seems that Newegg is one of the few (or the only one?) who accept checks.