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I need a new printer (sub $150)

E

EagleEye

Senior member
Well, my lexmark 5150 died a few days ago so I need a new printer. I would like to spend <$150, but my budget can be expanded.

At first, I was thinking about getting another all in one, but then I thought I might get a cheap laser printer (for black & white printing for cheaper per page cost) and then a cheap color prints (mainly for school projects that need to be in color).

Would you go this route, or would you guys suggest just one good color printer.

Thanks for the input!
 
I have a HP psc all in one, I think I got it like a year or two ago for around 100 bucks at SAM's Club. Good enough for all my school stuff, works pretty good and it is good to have the scanner bed to make copies, etc..

Not really a phographer so don't know too much, but I would say an all in one is best for someone in school.
 
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
I have a HP psc all in one, I think I got it like a year or two ago for around 100 bucks at SAM's Club. Good enough for all my school stuff, works pretty good and it is good to have the scanner bed to make copies, etc..

Not really a phographer so don't know too much, but I would say an all in one is best for someone in school.
Click to expand...

I don't print too many photos so I'm not worried about that. I was thinking of a Laser printer because the cost per page is so much less, that it would be economical in the long run, compared to black and white printing from my all in one which costs more per page.
 
Originally posted by: EagleEye
Originally posted by: Cheezeit
I have a HP psc all in one, I think I got it like a year or two ago for around 100 bucks at SAM's Club. Good enough for all my school stuff, works pretty good and it is good to have the scanner bed to make copies, etc..

Not really a phographer so don't know too much, but I would say an all in one is best for someone in school.
Click to expand...

I don't print too many photos so I'm not worried about that. I was thinking of a Laser printer because the cost per page is so much less, that it would be economical in the long run, compared to black and white printing from my all in one which costs more per page.
Click to expand...

So are you saying you are thinking about getting a laser b&w one and another cheapie in case you need color?
 
I have a Samsung ML-1740 laser. It has a nice design, doesn't stink up the room with that fried toner smell, and can easily be had for under $150. I'd recommend it if you want a personal laser.
 
HP K550 is $150 on sale. Office-grade inkjet, can use the higher capacity cartridges to save some money on ink. 37ppm for draft black/white, around 30ppm for draft color. Best quality color on plain paper is about 12ppm or about one full color page every 5 seconds. I love it. I'd buy it again for $250.

If you *need* to print photos look for an inkjet with a second paper tray specifically designed for 4x6 or 5x7 photo paper.

I personally print my photos at Walgreens, it's cheaper in the long run and they use real photographic paper/chemicals.
 
Best deal for laser is to find an HP LaserJet 4000N or 4050N on eBay. Try to find one with less than 100,000 pages on its counter. They're built like tanks but are much smaller than the old LaserJet 4. The "N" means built-in ethernet printserver. They speak Postscript, so you don't even need drivers in many cases. If you install of the HP goodies (download from HP.com) there are a million fun things to play with.

I use a 4050N at home, it prints a page every 6 seconds, 10ppm real-life. My Linux PC, Windows PC, and PowerBook (Mac) all print to it over the network. I paid $135 including shipping. I've printed a box and a half of paper on it (about 14 reams) with the toner it shipped with. Much, MUCH, **MUCH** cheaper per page to print than inkjet. A new toner cartridge is only $90 and will last a loooong time.
 
My girlfriend's sister started her first year of college just this past fall and I bought her a Dell 1100 laser printer. I got it for 95 bucks. She loves it. Prints 15 pages a minute takes up little space in her dorm and it plugs into the USB port. I just looked on Dell's website and it's 85 bucks right now
 
I think I've decided on a used 4000/4050, and just priting off any color stuff I need at Kinkos (shouldn't have to happen all that often) or at a friends house.

Thanks for the input guys.
 
That Canon Pixma IP3000 is a very nice consumer level photo / inkjet printer.

One thought to consider:

In addition looking at per page costs, you might want to also consider total costs of ownership (cost of printer itself and cost of all the refills you will actually use). Plus cost of gas to Kinkos and the convenience factor.

Unless you print a lot of stuff, it might actually end up being cheaper to own that Canon printer.
 
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