Color Printer Recommendation

[jimbofoxman]

Looking for a recommendation on a color printer, laser or inkjet. We are looking at probably 325-400 pages per month in our busiest times. Winter months would be far far less. April to Sept will be heavy. Network ability isn't that critical, but may over time be desirable.

Suggestions?

 

[Zepper]

What factors are important in your output? General purpose or strictly photo printing? Do you want a very low TCO?

I still think that the Canon iP4300 is the best general purpose inkjet printer out there for the money. If you need more output capacity, add another... And it can compete with laser printers on cost per page using clone ink or refilling yourself.

.bh.

 

[jimbofoxman]

we are just going to be printing letterhead type stuff that has color in it. It will have 1 photo in it, that's basically a photo of the customers salesman. So no photo printing in the sense of photo for scrap books, hanging on wall, etc. We are in an old feed mill that has retail space, offices and storage. We see a lot of dust. So while I don't a long life outta things like this.........I want something that's going to handle the volume but not kill the wallet. $600 might be a good cap. But I also know, once we have this machine it might get used for more than just the initial intent.

 

[Lemon law]

Your problem with a cheap prosumer color Laser is that after about 2500 pages or so, you will be replacing all the toner cartridges at a cost equal to the purchase price of the printer. And from what I have seen in terms of consumable cost per page for a color laser, its going to be about equal to the cost of a Canon inkjet using OEM cartridges---but here I am talking Canon printers using the CLI-5&8 cartridges of which the ip4300 is just one of---and about $100 purchase price---its a no brainer. Triple that price and you can get a nice Canon multifunctional using those same cartridges---and add scan, copy, and fax to the printers bag of tricks.

And as Zepper says---using either refilling or clone cartridges can really slash your per page consumable costs.-------but defeating the Canon chips does take some education---which you can get by visiting the nifty stuff forums or steves digicams---just google either name.

If you want hassle free refilling or clone cartridges---look for previous generation Canon printer--using the BCI-3&6 cartridge line---something like a ip4000 or its multifunctional equivalent in the form of a MP780------those are real rare birds now a days---scour ebay or check on refurbished printer sites.

 

[kevnich2]

If your looking for good speed, reliability and not having to replace the printer alot, your looking at a color laser printer. However, as previously mentioned, color lasers cost alot in consumables. If this was only black & white, it'd be a no brainer (laser). The problem with inkjet printers is that they get ink buildup where the ink cartridge sits and the printer needs replaced every 1-2 years. With laser, this isn't a problem, you just replace certain parts every 10-20,000 prints. Depending on your budget you may want to look into a leasing option for a color laser. That's what our office does. We pay a price per page and we got our consumables free in our contract along with maintenance service.