Need some rec's on cheap color printers

Cook1

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2004
6,315
0
86
Looking for under $75, basically just going to use to print out papers, maybe some color text. That's just about it, I know NOTHING about printers so asking the masses.
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
20,984
3
0
At that budget you are asking to be ripped off---lots of printers will come in that price range but
few will have affordable cartridges.

But given the budget, your best bet may be a non-chipped Canon ip1500 or ip2000. Avoid the chipped sucessor the Canon ip1600.

Or spend a few bucks more and look for a canon ip3000 or 4000-----even if you get the chipped sucessor---the ip4200 ---you still have an economical printer.--even if you are forced to use OEM cartridges.

But real printing economy is acheived when you have a non-chipped Canon that can take dirt cheap non-OEM cartridges.------but now you have to look on ebay to find a ready supply of non-chipped Canons.

Epsons would be good if they were not so prone to clogging, HP will rip you off on ink long terms, and Lexmark is worse.

But you can get non-oem BCI-24 cartridges for the Canon ip1500&2000 for a buck a pop on line.
And if you can find either printer---the ip1500 or 2000 --you might even get some change back from $75.

But spend a little more and get a ip3000 or 4000----and you can really print economically. I have a ip4000---and I spend more for the piece of paper than the ink.---in contrast==some cheap priners can cost you as much as thirty cents a page in ink consumable costs using OEM cartridges.

With some careful shopping you should be able to get a ip3000 or 4000 for under $120.
 

pkme2

Diamond Member
Sep 30, 2005
3,896
0
0
HPs are great printers but their replacement inkjet cartridges are very expensive. I've found a link that makes it bearable.
My Epson's are really are inexpensive to run, but like everyone knows, they tend to clog up and the heads need cleaning often. I had a bad clog and had to use cleaner cartridges to get the printer running again.
I had a Canon and it was ok but the cartridges wasn't to my liking.
I have a Lexmark that's sitting because the cartridges cost a fortune and its a so-so printer.
So what's my point? If you print a lot, the Epson is economically feasible. If you want top overall quality, HP or Canon. Forget the Lexmark and I wish you, happy printing.
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
This topic is covered frequently in the Peripherals section. A brief browse will net you the collected wisdom...

.bh.
 

pkme2

Diamond Member
Sep 30, 2005
3,896
0
0
My students have picked up HP 1220C
wide formats on eBay at excellent prices. The HP wide format does excellent color prints and using the rear insert, you can do 11x17 & 13x19.
The Epson 1520
can do 16x20. I use the 1520 and get decent results and there are used versions available at bove links.
You can get printers cheaply on the above site for whatever use you may need them for.
The Lexmark is cheap but their cartridges cost more than the printer.
 

markkleb

Banned
Feb 25, 2006
202
0
0
This is so easy!!

WALMART they have lexmark for about $25 (thats new with ink too)
PS did you get my private message?
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
Yeah, when that Lexmark runs out of ink, just hope that Walmart still has that deal running - so you won't have to buy one of Lexy's outrageously priced cartridges.

Take a look at the Brother All-In-Ones, cheap to start with and can be cheap to own as they are the only ones that still use passive ink tanks. http://www.swiftink.com et al.carries cloned tanks for most Brother models.

.bh.
 

markkleb

Banned
Feb 25, 2006
202
0
0
They have had the same printers for over a year.
Try and get HP drivers for Win64. Lexmark no problem.
When It runs out of ink I just get a new one (whole dam printer)