my printer has gone wacko, need input

[tizodq]

My hp 952c inkjet has started making this "grinding" sound when the head with the ink moves but it would still print pages fine. But now the black ink cartridge is running out and some of the pages are printing weird. So im going to need a new printer I think. I don't want to break the bank on a printer as I only use it right now to print papers for school. i do not have a digital camera and i probably won't get one for a while.

So what would you guys recommend for a printer? My printer knowledge is pretty weak. Thanks for all your help.

 

[drag]

I went down lately and bought a HP copy/scan/printer from wallmart for around a $100.

It's cheap and made out of lightweight plastic, but works well for what I need it for. If I wanted to I could get some glossies and print out picture quality stuff, but on cheap printers you tend to use a LOT of ink for this sort of thing.

The scanner is nice, as good as any cheap scanner can be. I don't ever want to frikin' use it as a copier, though (ink costs to much for that BS).

The slightly ($15+) upscale model has facilities for a veriaty of camera flash cards, but I got the cheaper model.

Not the best thing in the world, but for someone who just needs a printer to have a printer then this guy would work just fine.

 

[tizodq]

thanks for the response drag

but i was just reading that hp's ink cartridges are really expensive compared to other manufacturers. anyone have any other input?

 

[tizodq]

bump for the morning crew

 

[Macro2]

Canon i560 at Sams or Costco for $89.

Don't buy another HP.

 

[xXgambitXx]

hey "drag"...is that the 1210. probably is, that's their cheapest AIO printer.

personally, i've always had good luck w/ HP printers. i work part time at an office supply store and that's what most people get anyway.

"tizodq"...as far as the cartridge prices go, they're a little cheaper than lexmark but more expensive than canon/epson. the only advantage to the hp cartridges is that the printhead is built into each cartridge (except the 7000 series). the good thing about this is that every time you replace the cartridge, then *bam*, new printhead. canon/epson cartridges tend to be cheaper b/c it's just the ink and the printhead is built into the carriage which usually can't be replaced w/o a new printer. so the quality of the hp printer will remain the same as long as you keep feeding it cartridges.

the only thing i don't like about hp is that they're jacking people w/ the ink volume in their cartridges. the cartridges in the older machines had TWICE the volume of ink as the new cartridges and they're about the same price. that's pretty shifty.